Sandra‘s Closet

Hell, yes! Diesel ignites yet another firestorm by appointing Nicola Formichetti, (Do you remember his first Mugler collection for F/W 2011 where Lady Gaga appeared on the runway?), to be the commander-in-chief of the brave army that will spread Diesel’s marching orders far and wide. Starting with F/W 2013, the multifaceted, volatile, OTT stylist, designer and social media star will become the new artistic director of the lifestyle brand.

“I finally met somebody as crazy as I am,” said Renzo Rosso, founder of Diesel. “Nicola shares my vision and I find it incredibly inspiring to work with him: two creative planets are colliding to generate fresh, mad, insane ideas. With his help, I want to break more rules and bring the real Diesel to a new generation.”

Nicola Formichetti will start his new role with the DIESELREBOOT project now. He plans to mobilize an emerging global creative community to collaborate with him. Check out www.dieselreboot.tumblr.com.

Nicola will also oversee all creative activities of the main line, including the areas of product, communications and interior design. He will bring his own interpretation to the brand’s way of living – unpredictable, original, fun – coordinating the existing Diesel Creative Team and his new fresh recruits from different fields.

Sounds pretty promising to me…

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Diesel

Sometimes you have to be lucky… and in this case it was me. Coming pack from Los Angeles to repack for Paris Fashion Week, I had the chance to attend the opening party of the new Diesel Black Gold shop-in-shop at Jelmoli which is the biggest one in Europe. Especially for the night, Andreas Melbostad, Creative Director Womenswear, had flown in from New York. I was very honoured to be among the guests invited to an intimate dinner at Clouds afterwards where I got the chance to talk to the designer of Norwegian origin who had worked for the likes of Calvin Klein, Nina Ricci and Yves Saint Laurent before.

Andreas Melbostad with me

The new shop-in shop at Jelmoli

Dinner at Clouds

One day after I got back from Paris Fashion Week, just one week after the amazing dinner party, Diesel celebrated its recently opened shop on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse.
And some famous guests came …

Two great parties in one week! Thank you, Diesel!

LoL, Sandra

For the outfit post, please click here.

Actor Adrien Brody with me

Joseph Fiennes, framed by his wife Maria Dolores Diéguez to the left and me to the right

Photos: © David Biedert, © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Diesel

Continuing the theme of ‘portraits for successful living’, Diesel’s Screen Test F/W 2012 ad campaign puts fashion and strong personalities together to create a set of highly stylised performances to camera.

Iconic fashion photographer Steven Meisel creates the series of modern Screen Tests, featuring some of the most exciting contemporary models – Karen Elson, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Jamie Bochart, Fei Fei Sun, Coco Rocha, Mirte Maas, Sid Ellisdon, Ethan James, Yuri Pleskun, Sallieu Jalloh and Dae Na – inviting each character to enter his frame and role-play to the camera.

Each subject is engaged in a creative, playful act, expressing their individuality with confidence and attitude; props swiped from a dressing up box provide the riff for each invented persona. On digital screens the incorporation of animated cinemagraphs allows each image to come alive with the slightest movement.

In an irreverent grid layout, the characters become inadvertently connected and we see an accidental social network develop. A mix of styles and identities play against each other to create a singular, defiant, ‘Diesel attitude’.

In a global age of instant communication, Diesel presents a campaign beyond genre conventions. Taking cues from sophisticated high fashion as well as street style, the campaign mixes codes and references without fear or rules.

It is this ‘anything goes’ attitude to fashion that underpins this provocative and playful campaign, which will come to life in F/W 2012 with a 360° media approach, which will include print and online implementations, and a strong approach on social networks.

I like and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Diesel

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I would like to show you the best new scents for men. Don’t undervalue the way you smell! Gentlemen, whether you are on a date, a business meeting, a party or just doing your daily chores, the first impression is the most important. The best men deserve the best men’s fragrance. Here we go! The new spring scents are vibrant, energetic and mostly fresh.

LoL, Sandra

CAROLINA HERRERA 212 GLAM MEN

Inspired by NYC, the city that never sleeps.
212 Glam Men is a limited edition summer fragrance that is vibrant and energetic.

Top notes: Chocolate and cocoa beans
Middle notes: Tobacco leaves and tonka beans 
Base notes: Musk and woods

Limited edition 212 MEN GLAM Eau de Toilette is available for CHF 102.00 (100ml),
in Switzerland exclusively at Import Parfumerie.

DOLCE & GABBANA – THE ONE SPORT

An homage to sports
After the original The One for Men from 2008 and The One Gentlemen from 2010, Dolce Gabbana launches the third fragrance from The One masculine line, lighter and fresher The One Sport. As it should, the campaign is represented by a man symbol, Adam Senn who is showing off his worked-out body.

Top notes: Aquatic notes and rosemary
Heart notes: Cardamom and sequoia
Base notes: Patchouli and musk

The One Sport EdT is available now for CHF 76,00 (30ml), CHF 98,00 (50ml) and CHF 135,00 (100ml). After Shave Lotion CHF 97,00 (100ml), After Shave Balm CHF 71,00 (75ml), Shower Gel CHF 45,00 (200ml), Deodorant Spray CHF 45,00 (150ml) and Deodorant Stick CHF 45,00 (75gr).

DIESEL – ONLY THE BRAVE TATTOO

I like the idea of “signing“ one’s body … - Renzo Rosso
The designer had his motto, “Only The Brave”, tattooed just above his ankle. The phrase is synonymous with success and, above all, evokes the boundless conviction of a fulfilled, self-made man. “The phrase is part of me. It stands for what I am and have always wanted to be.” Fragrance and tattoo are both “a trace” left on the skin… This is a new, fresh, mysterious sensuality around a water-pipe tobacco accord.

Top notes: Granny Smith Apple
Middle notes: Sage and Bourbon pepper
Base notes: Amber wood, benzoin, tobacco and patchouli

Diesel Only The Brave Tattoo EdT is available now for CHF 79.90 (50ml).

CHRISTIAN DIOR – EAU SAUVAGE PARFUM (my favourite)

Variations of a legend
Christian Dior’s Eau Sauvage, introduced in 1966, revolutionized men’s perfumes of that era. In May 2012, Dior will relaunch its famous scent, which was created by Edmond Roudnitska.

Top notes: Bergamot
Middle notes: Vetiver 
Base notes: Myrrh

Eau Sauvage Parfum EdP will be available from May 16, 2012 for CHF 98.50 (50ml) and CHF 134.50 (100 ml).

GANT

Water and sky have a fragrance.
Throughout the years, the New England coast has been a constant source of inspiration for GANT. The new scent captures the very essence of the relaxed lifestyle lived on and around the water in this area.

Top notes: Calabria lemon, coriander, Madagascan cinnamon bark
Middle notes: Provence lavender, White Virginian cedar, marine accord
Base notes: Suede accord, Australian sandalwood, North African cypress, black amber

Sold exclusively at GANT stores worldwide for CHF 59.50 (50ml) and CHF 89.50 (100 ml).

A*MEN PURE SHOT

Pure Shot – a fresh, aromatic, spicy, woody scent.
In time for the Olympics later this year, Thierry Mugler is launching a new limited edition flanker scent to its A*Men men’s fragrance, called A*Men Pure Shot. It’s is inspired by Oscar Pistorius, the 25-year-old South African 400-metre runner who has been called “the fastest man on no legs.“ Pistorius was born without a fibula in either leg; his lower legs were amputated when he was 11 months old and he’s been using prostheses since his childhood. Pistorius’ carbon-fiber prostheses look very futuristic, and they play a big part in the A*Men advertising campaign.

Top notes: Icy mint and juniper berries
Heart notes: Cardamom and white pepper
Base notes: Sequoia and patchouli.

Limited edition, available end of March 2012, Eau de Toilette CHF 87.- (100ml).

Diesel has unleashed a possible new trend with the launch of “Jogg-jeans”. This new killer product is a mutant of denim and sweatpants, allowing you to sport your jogger bottoms out to do your groceries without looking like a slob.

The woven and knitted fabric has the look of a jersey weaving, giving the garment 360° elasticity, and is dyed in indigo and laundered to create a beautifully realistic denim pant effect. Jogg-jeans are available in three styles for women and in four styles, including one jacket, for the male collection.

I was able to explore Diesel’s latest innovations in the showroom. The fabric is really soft to touch, not as soft as typical sweatpants but much softer than jeans. I know that I will definitely get a pair of them. As for me, they are the best travel companions, perfect on an airplane.

Already available at Selfridges, in Switzerland starting from August 1, 2011 in all Diesel stores.

LoL, Sandra

Below (first 4 photos): Tintsie for Women

Above: Krooley for Men

Photos: © Diesel

For F/W 2011 Diesel is introducing its most iconic bag: the Divina bag. Available in three variations, the premium denim bags are manufactured in the same manner as the denim lines, going through the same washing process as 5 pockets do.
The result: shaded color effects and a worn naturally used look. Personalized with the Diesel flag and enriched with black leather handles and trims, the Divina expresses Diesel’s DNA in every aspect.

The dirty sand treated denim and leather Divina, aka the supreme bag, is defined by treatments that create uneven and unique products, making each bag is different from one another. The dirty wash process gives the bag its ‘rusted’-like color. The handmade application of resin on some parts of denim result in a contrasting shaded color effect, while the shade treatment enhances the shaded color effect and gives it a peculiar dirty sand nuance. CHF 449.-

The grey embossed denim and leather garment washed Divina has a particular treatment. A silicone pattern that is placed under the denim gives the material its decorative element: fake croco. The pumice stone wash creates a natural vintage effect. CHF 529.-

The blue denim and leather garment washed Divina with rivets and embroidery is handscratched and manually treated with sand paper, while the golden spray treatment oxidizes and bleaches the denim, giving the bag its Diesel character. CHF 449.-

To come to a conclusion: It is big and very versatile. An oversized bag that is adaptable to all day long situations, whether you go to work, on a shopping spree or off to a weekend trip.

And here come the good news: The bags are available in the Diesel stores in Geneva and Zurich from now on, whereas all other countries will have to wait until September 2011. But nothing like a thrill of anticipation!

LoL, Sandra

One day to go, royal bride to be, Kate Middleton, shows how a modern princess looks like with no tiara required. Royally adorable, she was seen out and about London wearing a pair of Diesel Ronhoir 88OZ and 08W7 jeans. Both times, she tucked in a blouse and finished off her look with sandals.
Kate is definitely not a fashion addict; she is a classy woman that found her style with confidence. Simple, never showy or exaggerated, what else could the Buckingham Palace wish for?!

LoL, Sandra