Sandra‘s Closet

So many of you have been asking me during the last days where I have been staying in Doha as my first post already showed some pictures of the fabulous resort. I spent a magical week at the Sharq Village and Spa operated by The Ritz-Carlton Company and experienced an unforgettable stay in the heart of Qatar.

It is located ten minutes from Doha International Airport on a private coastline with a beautiful beach offering striking views of Doha’s skyline. Due to the airport’s close proximity, you can enjoy some really impressive views on the departing airplanes.

Two fresh water pools are surrounded by the resort’s impressive traditional architecture inspired by the life and culture of ancient qatari tribes. The weather was just perfect during the last days, sunny and not too hot. The service is very friendly, the staff is greeting each hotel guest by name. I could totally get used to “Miss Sandra”.

Sharq Village and Spa is home to different highly recommended restaurants: Al Liwan (Lebanese), Al Dana (Casual), Al Jalsa (Arabian Café), Cigar Lounge, Al Wanis Shisha Terrace and Parisa (Persian), which has been my favourite. I will post some photos of my last dinner there soon. Of course, you can also enjoy a quick meal whilst relaxing at the pool at Al Seef Bar.

Al Jalsa (Arabian Café)

Breakfast at Al Dana

Al Wanis Shisha Terrace

Funnily enough, as I have just been to a Six Senses Spa in Gstaad at the Alpina hotel, I have been curious to compare both. The most important fact they have both in common, they are amazing in their own way. The Six Senses Spa in Sharq Village is respective of Qatari traditions with a separate ladies entrance, reception and exercise facilities. Something that I have also enjoyed very much, having state of the art fitness facilities just for myself.

The best part of my stay was the fairytale-like very spacious suite with a total of 165.5 square meters including a living room and two bedrooms each with their own bathroom. Fresh rose leaves on the bed were just one of the daily nice touches.

Bulgari bath amenities, a rainforest shower and a deep soaking jacuzzi tub were a daily pleasure. My trip to Doha was absolutely perfect and I am truly sad to leave. Stay tuned for more posts on my little adventures here under the Qatari sun.

LoL, Sandra

Photos used for collages: Courtesy of Sharq Village; All other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Snakes and Cleopatra – two symbols that exude seduction, power, mystery and eternity. Iconic elements that Bulgari brings together in a contemporary manner by reinterpreting the legend of Cleopatra, personified as a modern living goddess by Rachel Weisz for the new Serpenti advertising campaign, photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

The snake, a longstanding design that has characterized the Bulgari collections since the Forties, an emblem further consecrated by Elizabeth Taylor who was immortalized wearing a serpent-shaped watch on the Cleopatra set in 1962 and that still today, with the same spirit, represents a true corner stone for the venerable Roman jewelry house. A symbol that is further celebrated in the new campaign where Rachel Weisz becomes a contemporary Cleopatra.

The backdrop is at once monumental and essential – hefty gray stone boulders that bring to mind the temples of ancient Egypt in size and scale.

The Serpenti collection is available in white, yellow or pink gold glittering with diamonds, in delicate sprinklings or embossed with intricate baguette cuts, alternated or mixed with precious stones and coloured gems tones.

The new advertising campaign will be on air from September 2012 through June 2013.
I think that Rachel Weisz looks absolutely stunning and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari

Today, I would like to show you my new jewel crush: Bulgari‘s 2012 Serpenti collection which will be available starting this summer at all of the Italian brand’s boutiques.

I had a sneak preview and fell immediately in love with the pink gold bracelet and ring that are characterised by the famous stylised spiral form. The core of each jewel is constituted by an internal gold spring that ensures its extraordinary flexibility. Each individual scale vaunts a sumptuous surface of diamond pavé. A rubellite adorns the “reptile’s head”.

Don’t those two pieces just look divine?! Loved them so much that it was hard to take them off…
But unfortunately this beauty has its price. Below you can find all the details.

Dear Santa, please be good to me!

LoL, Sandra

347601 – Serpenti pink gold one coil bracelet with rubellite head and pavé-set diamond scales (8,40 cts).
Size S – 45’000CHF / Size M – 46’200CHF / Size L – 47’500CHF

347594 – Serpenti pink gold double coil ring with rubellite head and pavé-set diamond scales (2,60 cts).
Size S, M, L, XL – 20’600CHF

Stills: Courtesy of Bulgari and Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

All good things come in threes. Here is the final “Bestsmellers” post for Mother’s Day. I hope that you will find some inspiration for a little odorous surprise. Those four flankers below are lighter versions for summer, mostly related to the original fragrances.
A great gift for the warm season.

LoL, Sandra

SWAROVSKI – AURA EAU DE TOILETTE
Eau de Toilette, CHF  49.- (30ml), CHF 73.- (50ml) and CHF 97.- (75ml) – all refillable

Oriental Floral
A lovely interpretation for the warm season of last year’s luxurious fragrance composition.

Top notes: Litchi and rose
Heart notes: Tuberose
Base notes: Pink pepper, benzoin, amber and musk

THIERRY MUGLER – ALIEN AQUA CHIC
Eau de Toilette Légère, CHF 74.- (60ml)

Oriental Floral
For all women who love transparent, aquatic fragrances.

Top notes: Lemon verbena and ginger
Heart notes: Freesia
Base notes: Amber and woodsy notes

BULGARI – MON JASMIN NOIR L’EAU EXQUISE
Eau  de Toilette, CHF 99.- (50ml) and CHF 116.- (75ml)

Floral
Fresh, airy and ultrafeminine – reminiscent of a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Top notes: Pomelo, almond and grapefruit
Heart notes: White tea and jasmine
Base notes: Musk and cedar

YVES SAINT LAURENT  – PARISIENNE L’EAU
Eau de Toilette CHF 111.- (50ml) and CHF 143.- (90ml)

Floral Fruity
A juicy, floral fruity summer version of the original scent that was launched in 2009.

Top notes: Vinyl accord, green notes, violet leaf and rose
Heart notes: Cranberries, red fruit and black currant
Base notes: Patchouli, cedar and white musk

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht and Stills: Courtesy of the brands

While being in Milan, I went to a press event hosted by Bulgari in their newly re-opened boutique in Via Montenapoleone for the launch of the Monete S/S 2012 collection.

Given Bulgari’s ancient Greek origins and Roman influence, ancient coins are seen as a magnificent way to link the past and the present. Therefore the Italian house has relaunched its historic Monete collection from the `60s with a beautiful new design featuring goddess-adorned coins and chunky gold chains remininscent of Ancient Rome. The Monete theme runs though a line of leather handbags and jewlery pieces.

In the evening, the gardens of the Bulgari hotel were the perfect location to celebrate the launch of the new collection. Milan became Ancient Rome and all eyes were on the limber acrobats from Cirque du Soleil.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This fall, Bulgari will bring back its historic snakehead motif on eight classic, must-have pieces. The green jade Serpenti bag in karung skin was already spotted by Tommy Ton on Giovanna Battaglia during the Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris in July (see above).

Serpenti bag in green jade karung skin, CHF 2270 (small size), CHF 2490 (medium size)

The Mediterranean Eden collection is a series of handbags, clutches, and wallets that incorporates a distinctive clasp in the form of a snake’s head with malachite eyes.

Here are my other favourites from Bulgari’s F/W 2011 accessories collection. I especially adore the clutches.

Leoni handbag in metallic blue topaz wrinkled lamb leather with dueling lion heads at the clasp, CHF 2270

Serpenti Minaudière with light gold and black enamel décor, CHF 4830

Evening pochette in stone grey satin embroidered, CHF 7200

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari

Matthew Williamson has designed an amazing capsule handbag collection for Bulgari that is available in stores now. The S/S 2011 accessories collection celebrates Mediterranean allure blending design and innovation.

Bold colours and strong patterns, this is what Matthew Williamson stands for. Check out the beautiful pieces by clicking here.

LoL, Sandra

It is August and the majority of fall campaigns can be seen now in the new fashion magazines, ads just keep coming out of the woodwork and so I wanted to give you a brief summary of the most important ones and by whom they were shot.
It is funny to see that this world in particular is pretty small and some photographers are ahead of the game.

My personal favourite is Bottega Veneta`s strong expressive F/W 2010 campaign. Shot by the godfather of energetic graphic photography himself: Robert Longo. The artist has became famous in the late 1970s and early 1980s with his series „Men in the Cities“ that depicts men and women in business attire contorted in extreme positions.

The winner this season seems to be renowned Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. The dream team that has defined the look of the past decade, shot the most campaigns. Enjoy my preview:

The American photographer and long-time protégé of both Franca Sozzani and Anna Wintour, editors-in-chief of Italian and American Vogue is also a big shot in the world of fashion photography. No wonder, Steven Meisel shot all those gorgeous campaigns.

Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinood Matadin, a fashion photographer duo that is well known for their independent art work. Most of their photographs are both critical and slightly disturbing as you can see in the campaigns they shot for F/W 2010.

Italian-born Mario Sorrenti is a photographer and director best known for his spreads of nude models in the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino has shot many fashion stories and celebrities. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums.

Hermès has come up with another really beautiful advertising campaign shot by Paolo Roversi. I love his romantic, vintage looking photos that always seem to tell a story. To me, a perfect choice for the French house!

Bruce Weber is a well-known face in the world of advertising photography. His career really took of in the late 1980s and early 1990s with his famous advertising images for Calvin Klein.

Juergen Teller‘s work is extraordinary and with a distinctive design. His raw style makes him one of the most influential fashion photographers working today.

Multi-talent Karl Lagerfeld likes to keep everything in his own hands. So no wonder that he shoots the advertising campaigns for his own collections for Chanel and Fendi.

Steven Klein is an American photographer that shot many high-profile advertising campaigns for various clients. This season he was hired by Dolce & Gabbana to capture a close knit Italian family with Madonna as the matriarchal figure through his lens.
Great job!

LoL, Sandra

Isabella Rossellini`s love for Bulgari started as a child during the glamorous golden years of 1960s Rome when she accompagnied her famous mother, Ingrid Bergman, to the Italian jeweler in Via Condotti in Rome. The daughter of two legends became her own style icon and has been wearing Bulgari jewels to exclusive occasions many times.  Today, this long and felicitous relationship has generated an exclusive leather creation that was unveiled yesterday for the haute couture shows in Paris: The “Isabella Rossillini” bag by Bulgari.

It reinterprets the elegant style of the former golden screen divas in a modern key and comes in four colours and materials to reflect Isabella`s personality.

I love the handmade enameled claps embellished with semiprecious stones.

 

 

Find out which one suits you best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lining is finely printed with a single, eccentric motif: playful snails inspired by Isabella`s recent efforts to support the ecological cause by making short educational films about the reproductive habits of the animal world. I truly invite you to see those short movies (by Jody Shapiro).

Applauded at the Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, they combine comedy and curiosity and have since been made into a book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the season`s retro glance focused a lot on the `50s and `60s, the new Isabella Rossellini bag is a stylish accessory to carry around this fall. Available from this month in all Bulgari stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra