My Look: High Strung

While you are reading this, I am on my way to the Cannes Film Festival. I always have a great time there and have so many wonderful memories such as the dinner I attended with the lovely film crew of «High Strung» and Swarovski. As I am a ballerina myself, I absolutely adore this movie.

Dancing with the main actors: Jane Seymour, Nicholas Galitzine and Keenan Kampa.

The plot is about a hip hop violinist is busking in the New York subway. When he encounters a classical dancer on scholarship at the Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts, sparks fly. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives forever.

My look that night: Black embellished cocktail dress andiconicon cutout leather platform pumps, both by Saint Laurent, embellished clutch by Balmain, Limelight Gala watch
icon by Piaget, leather bracelet by Hermèsdiamond ring and bracelet, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

At the Montblanc Pre-Oscar Charity Brunch

Montblanc_Pre_oscar_Charity_brunch_LA

As promised, here are some impressions of the Montblanc ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 charity brunch at the iconic Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles that was truly outstanding. Each year Montblanc presents on the day before the Oscars their charity initiative of the year and this time the German house supports UNICEF educational projects, which benefit children around the globe giving them access to education and aims to raise at least $1.5 million dollars.

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_Bauknecht_outside-2

Here you see me arriving at the Hotel Bel-Air which is nestled in an exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by stunning homes and mansions.

Montblanc_Sandra_Bauknecht_Red_carpet

Me on the red carpet (I could totally get used to that feeling.)

162456774BG00419_Montblanc_

Two of the official photos (© Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc)

162456774BG00418_Montblanc_

Montblanc_Signature-for-Good_Celbrities

Guests from the world of entertainment, young Hollywood and the worldʼs best producers including Hilary Swank (Actress), Rosario Dawson (Actress), Christopher Lambert (Actor), Patricia Arquette (Actress), Peter Fonda (Actor), Joel Madden (Singer – UNICEF Ambassador), Alyssa Milano (Actress – UNICEF Ambassador), Michael York (Actor), Olga Kurylenko (Actress), Martin Landau (Actor), Petra Nemcova (Model), Jesse Metcalfe (Actor), Billy Zane (Actor), Mimi Rogers (Actress), Emmy Rossum (Actress), Jane Seymour (Actress), Clemens Schick (Actor), Alexander Ludwig (Actor), Tom Hooper (Director), Natasha Henstridge (Actress), Lydia Hearst (Socialite) and Tippi Hedren (Actress) joined Lutz Bethge (CEO Montblanc International) and Caryl M. Stern (CEO and President U.S. Fund for UNICEF) to support a very special cause.

Hilary_Swank-Sandra_Bauknecht_Montblanc_brunch

Academy Award winner Hilary Swank

Montblanc_Sandra_Bauknecht_Emily_rossum

Emily Rossum

Montblanc_Brunch_Bel_Air_Sandra_Bauknecht

Cas Anvar who plays Dodi Al-Fayed in the new Diana movie with Naomi Watts.

Alexander_Ludwig_Montblanc_Brunch

Alexander Ludwig (Hunger Games)

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_Bauknecht_Natasha_Hendridge

Natasha Henstridge

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_Bauknecht_Christopher_Lambert

Christopher Lambert

Rosaria_Dawson_Sandra_Bauknecht

Rosario Dawson

Martin_Landau_Sandra_Bauknecht_Montblanc_brunch

Martin Landau

Jane_Seymour_Sandra_Bauknecht_Montblanc_brunch

Jane Seymour

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_Bauknecht_3

Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

Montblanc_brunch_bob_Sinclair

DJ Bob Sinclair

Montblanc_Brunch_Wayne_Carpendale

German actor Wayne Carpendale

SANDRA_BAUKNECHT_WOLFGANG_PUCK

Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (Spago)

Montblanc_Brunch_Los_Angeles_Sandra_Bauknecht_Clemens_Schick

German actor Clemens Schick

Montblanc_Brunch_Lutz_bethge_Sandra_Bauknecht

Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc, and Ingrid Roosen-Trinks, Director of Montblanc Cultural Foundation

Lutz_Bethge_Montblanc_Hilary_Swank

During the brunch, Lutz Bethge gave a very emotional introductory speech regarding Montblanc’s new charity initiative, Signature for Good, and his field trip with actress Hilary Swank to Ethiopia last October, where he was able to witness the incredible work of UNICEF. “I will never forget the pride in the eyes of those children to go to school. Something that I haven’t seen in my own children.” He was very impressed by the so-called “gender clubs” where the children have a chance to talk about issues such as domestic abuse or child labour, “because school helps them make a change.”. Since 2004, Montblanc has raised over $5 million dollars.

Montblanc_Brunch_Carol_Stern

Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, brought tears to the eyes of the audience. “You are not only helping children to learn and to write, you give them a brighter future, you unlock doors that would have been shut. We do whatever it takes to save a child all over the world.” It gave me shivers when she stated that 19.000 kids will die today and the same amount tomorrow and so on of causes we could already save.” UNICEF lowered that number by 40%. Caryl M.Stern went on: “No matter where we go, we all want the same for our children, we want them to be safe, healthy, educated, to survive and to fulfill their dreams. Our own children get a great seat at the table, but there are some who don’t get a seat at all. An investment in our children is the most important investment we can make.”

Hilary_Swank_Montblanc_Signature_for_good

The very moving moment culminated when Hilary Swank went on stage to share her personal experience from her field visit to Ethiopia with Montblanc and UNICEF. The actress had tears in her eyes when she gushed about “the smile on the children’s faces when they go to school and their determination to learn.”

Montblanc_Signature_For_good_Stern_Swank_Bethge

Montblanc_Brunch_Hilary_Swank_1

Montblanc_Brunch_Signature for Good_Perfomance

As a performing surprise, young opera star and Montblanc brand ambassador Shenyang delighted guests with a dazzling performance of two songs.

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_Bauknecht_2

Montblanc_Signature_for_good

Symbolic of Montblancʼs commitment to giving children access to better education, guests were invited to pledge their support for the Signature For Good 2013 initiative by signing bricks of a school specially recreated inside the Hotel Bel-Air.

Montblanc_Brunch_Signature_for_good_Notes

Montblanc_Brunch_Sandra_bauknecht_Outside

I have been deeply impressed by UNICEFʼs life-changing work in Africa and the impact of Montblanc’s contribution over the recent years in funding education programs. If you like to support the good cause, have a look at the new ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 collection which is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

All Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Photos (Red Carpet):  © Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc