The Queendom

Today, more than ever, the world needs the power of creative freedom. A force to open up new horizons, to move us forward. A force to share and be shared. A force as powerful as love. A force that brings Lady Gaga and Dom Pérignon together. Celebrating the Queendom, the collaboration is born from the collision of their two effervescent energies. A celebration of creativity, in the form of an artistic experiment, the release of rosé champagne and a limited edition sculpture design by Lady Gaga that will see the sale proceeds donated to the Born This Way Foundation.

Lady Gaga is a woman of the 21st century – boldly speaking her mind, and driving change through her art, her commitments, her actions. Through her Born This Way Foundation, she has been at the forefront of empowerment and well-being issues for 10 years. She has been a powerful voice for the LGBT+ community. Her One World concert initiative raised over 120 million dollars for the World Health Organization and the frontline healthcare fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. And this year, she was honoured for her art and activism by the Martin Luther King Center. When she reinvents herself again and again, she inspires the world to open up and grow.

Lady Gaga is a long-time aficionado of Dom Pérignon. This champagne has accompanied her throughout her life as an artist, as an activist, as a woman, to elevate moments of celebration shared with family, friends, Little Monsters (Lady Gaga’s fans) …

The intensity of the collaboration relies on the assembly of the elements that each creative personality brings. The visual experiment by Nick Knight, choreography by Richard Jackson, the costumes by Nicola Formichetti, the hairstyles by Frédéric Aspiras, Sarah Tanno’s make-up and Miho Okawara’s nails… All combine to create a vibrant take on the concept of the power of inspiration. To serve as the music for the film, Lady Gaga chose her song Free Woman, from her album Chromatica.

Nick Knight and Lady Gaga

Nick Knight is a visionary photographer and director. He has been a progressive image-maker for three decades, with era-defining campaigns. This collaboration brought him and Lady Gaga together again – a match for her boundless creative energy. His imagination orchestrated this new confluence, by delivering a shared vision through electrifying and shimmering visuals. «My desire was to create a burst of positive fantasy – a beautiful world that exists only in people’s imaginations. Fantasy is such an important part of our lives; it makes us dream and fuels our creativity. And right now, the world needs celebration. I wanted to create something which would touch people across many different cultures, for its joie de vivre, its energy, its rush of fantasy and celebratory visions.»

Nicola Formichetti

Nicola Formichetti is a cultural icon. Creative and fashion director and editor as well as creative consultant to Haus of Gaga, he’s been creating magic with Lady Gaga since 2009. He brought the characters of this campaign to life, through his avant-garde stylistic vision.

Richard «Richy» Richard needs no introduction. An acclaimed dancer, Lady Gaga appointed him in 2011 as her choreographer. His aim? To «change the game». For this collaboration, he sets Nick Knight’s film in motion through his ethereal choreography.

Sarah Tanno is Lady Gaga’s resident make-up artist and global artistry director for Haus Laboratories. She has worked with Lady Gaga for over ten years and always aims to «add to the moment» and enhance expressions and emotions.

Frédéric Aspiras is behind Lady Gaga’s spectacular, wondrous hair creations. In his words, everything he does with Lady Gaga is «a creative experiment». In this shared, exhilarating universe, he crafted Lady Gaga’s vibrant, timeless hairstyles – and a fantastic crown fit for a reigning Lady.

Miho Okwara is Lady Gaga’s nail artist who created her striking, talon-like nails for the shoot. Recreating the palette of Lady Gaga’s dress and accessories in chrome, she produced the «powerful; design that takes center stage in the campaign.

Designed by Lady Gaga for Dom Pérignon in collaboration with Nicola Formichetti, the enthralling
limited edition sculpture acts as a veil, enfolding a majestic jeroboam of Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2005Produced in 110 exclusive pieces, the limited edition sculpture will be sold in private sales, and showcased in flagship Dom Pérignon locations. All Dom Pérignon’s profits from the uberpiece’s sale will be given to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

The Born This Way Foundation, launched in 2011 by Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta, supports the well-being of people and works with them to create a kinder and braver world through campaigns and programs such as Channel Kindness or #BeKind21 Events.

Over the next two years, Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga will announce further exciting outcomes of their collaboration. In the fall, Dom Pérignon will release a Limited Edition of Vintage 2010 and Rosé 2006 in exclusive and creative cases.
As their journey together continues, we can’t wait to see what other exciting expressions this radical collaboration will produce. This is how the story unfolds. But it is far from over.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dom Pérignon / Nick Knight
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Plenty of Sparkle

Swarovski_2013_Campaign_Nick_Knight“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” could be easily changed to “Swarovskis are a girl’s best friend”. Those crystals sparkle, glitter and reflect the light just beautifully. This can be seen in perfection in the Austrian house’s new advertising campaign, created by Ronnie Cooke Newhouse, and photographed by award-winning British photographer Nick Knight.

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It features Supermodel Candice Swanepoel in a variety of poses as an action woman – sleek, confident and accessorized with dazzling sporting gear made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS including a motorcycle helmet, dumb bells and skiing goggles. The radiance of Swanepoel’s beauty and her exquisitely crafted fantasy props is juxtaposed with Knight‘s stunning still lifes of lush freshly-cut garden roses, sprinkled with dewdrops of crystal stones.

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Check out these cut behind the scenes shots of Swarovski’s global media campaign, that can be seen exclusively here on Sandra’s Closet. I am dying for this helmet.

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If you want to get your hands on some Swarovski sparkle, check out the newest summer collection TROPICAL PARADISE that will take you on an exotic journey.
Destination? Latin America!

Tropical_Paradise-Swarovski_Summer2013Creative Director Nathalie Colin explained, “I was strongly influenced by my travels in Brazil and Mexico, where I discovered intense creative energy and joie de vivre.” Signature Swarovski techniques such as Pointiage®, faceting, and the pavé setting, are evident throughout the collection along with an array of vibrant colors that conveys the festive spirit of Tropical Paradise. Turquoise tones symbolize the clear waters of the seas of Acapulco, beetles appear beside dragonflies and pink flamingos, all inspired by the diversity and exuberance of South America.

Texture_Big_Shape_NecklaceMy favourite piece: Texture Big Shape Necklace
Wouldn’t that be just the perfect statement necklace? It could be worn in a casual way over a grey sweatshirt or would be complementing an evening gown perfectly.

Swarovski_ShowroomDuring Paris Fashion week, I was able to browse through this beautiful collection at the stunning showroom, located at an inner courtyard on the famous Rue Sant Honoré. Enjoy those extraordinary pieces!

LoL, Sandra

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Swarovski_Tropical_Paradise-1Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski and © Sandra Bauknecht
Campaign Photos: Swarovski 2013 Ad Campaign ©Nick Knight

Daphne Guinness for Roger Dubuis

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Fashion icon Daphne Guinness has now joined the exclusive circle of friends of Roger Dubuis. To mark this new collaboration, the internationally renowned photographer Nick Knight captured the Anglo-Irish aristocrat wearing the Velvet models that were launched this year at the SIHH 2012 in January.

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In this exceptional photo shoot produced, the watches are highlighted perfectly on her wrist as she wears wonderful creations from her personal vintage wardrobe. I am really keen to give you an exclusive preview of Nick Knight’s series of pictures and the film presenting the making of the photo shooting made with Daphne Guinness.

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Daphne Guinness is the friend and muse of the most famous photographers, designers and art directors. It is as if fate decreed that this muse with a creative temperament should meet Roger Dubuis and should personify the watchmaker’s feminine collections that exercise a fascinating and daring appeal… just like her.

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“Daphne is a superbly mysterious woman – you can never unravel her secrets. She is an ideal photo subject and I love working with her”, Nick Knight said after the session. “Her amazing creative spirit is a real inspiration”.

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Christian, Daphne and meChristian Louboutin with Daphne Guinness to the right and me to the left

I was pretty fascinated by her temperament, when I met her at a gala hosted by Roger Dubuis in Monte Carlo last fall. As you know, I am a big fan of Roger Dubuis and am wearing the Lady Excalibur watch with great pleasure.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roger Dubuis, © Nick Knight and © Sandra Bauknecht