Sandra‘s Closet

“Blue has no dimensions. It is beyond dimensions, whereas the other colours are not.” 
– Yves Klein

During the last days, I have been telling you all about the vibrant blue fashion trend. Here you see an art work that would match perfectly: Yves Klein’s Victoire de Samothrace by Lalique, 2011. The sulpture  is a limited edition of 83 crystal pieces, in tribute to the late artist Yves Klein who would have been 83 years old this year, combining two artistic approaches, the one of Lalique and the one of Klein.

Yves Klein (1928-1962), inventor of the IKB (International Klein Blue), a distinctive ultramarine blue, is considered to be one of the most important protagonists of the post-war artistic avantgarde.
René Lalique (1860-1945) was a major player of the Art Nouveau and subsequent Art Deco movement. His perfume bottles and glass designs transformed the female shape into a sensuous and mysterious body within the decorative home.

This weekend, I was invited to the private viewing at Galerie Gmurzynska. The sculpture is based on its namesake, an iconic work from Greek antiquity held in the Louvre, for which Klein obtained the moulds in 1962. Lalique have recreated Victoire de Samothrace with the lost wax technique, which René Lalique used for his original jewellery creations. The works are individually crafted and sculptured by the master glassmakers, making each crystal edition unique.

The new version, to be made by Lalique’s craftsmen, is priced at £75,000. Daniel Moquay, the president of the Yves Klein Foundation, who is married to Klein’s widow, told the British Telegraph that he has approved the enterprise and the price: “It is not a copy, it is a reinterpretation in the spirit of Yves Klein. But it won’t be included in the artist’s catalogue raisonné. It is 100 per cent Lalique.”

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

„Navy blue is the only color which can ever compete with black” – Christian Dior

Dior is celebrating shades of blue with its F/W 2011 makeup collection „Blue Tie“. The look works so well with the ongoing fashion trend of blue and black colours. The products are available now and definitely among my favourites.

Smoky eyes and nude lips can be achieved with the season’s star product: The palette which contains 4 shimmering and matte colours (to reflect the fabrics used for tuxedos), in shades of grey (Smoking White) or shades of blue (Smoking blue). Each contains a nude gloss, the best finishing touch for smoky eyes, CHF 110.

Dior also introduces a new range of eyeshadow trios for the perfect smoky eyes look. Each palette contains a base plus  a toning matte and iridescent shade.
The rich colour pigments stay on very well. 
Smoky Black, Smoky Blue, Smoky Nude, Smoky Pink, Smoky Brown, each CHF 68.

For all nail polish aficionados, Dior  has two limited edition shades in a deep blue (908 Tuxedo) and a more vibrant cobalt blue (607 Blue Denim), each CHF 37.

Left: 607 Blue Denim – Right: 908 Tuxedo

Dior has launched their new website. To have a look, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Christian Dior

Now that Fashion Week has closed its doors on Paris and we have seen the beauty of the upcoming S/S 2012 season, it is hard to believe that winter is here and it is time we get all dressed up for it!

One of my favourite colour combinations for F/W 2011 is blue & black, a low-contrast but high-impact combo. Navy blue works well, but honestly vibrant cobalt is the standout shade to pair with basic black for the perfect winter palette.

Blast away your winter blues with those beautiful shades! You can shop some of my favourite pieces below to keep your spirits up in the bitter cold. Enjoy!

Make a stunning appearance in this beautiful cobalt blue gown by Roksanda Ilincic or combine a black top with this stunning maxi length blue skirt by Raoul. To finish off your look, a clutch bag by Fendi and those eye-catching heels by Sergio Rossi would be the perfect choice.

Another way to work the trend is to focus on the accessories. You can wear a black outfit and add some blue shoes or a cobalt bag for an instant new season upgrade.
Here are my favourites:

1 Classic blue pumps by Christian Louboutin
2 Fur stole by Simonetta Ravizza
3 Bright blue suede boots by Sergio Rossi
4 Strappy python sandals (on sale!) by Alexandre Birman
5 Large hobo bag “Roady” by Yves Saint Laurent
6 Stunning vibrant cobalt suede pumps by Gianvito Rossi
7 A quilted bag by Marc Jacobs
8 A season’s must-have, the floppy hat by Borsalino

So if this winter somebody would ask you if you got the blues, you could proudly say yes!

LoL, Sandra

Just a quick post about the best red nail polish in a while. Chanel‘s summer launch 08 Pirate is the perfect shade and will be fortunately staying in the product range. As you know, I love Chanel nail polishes because of their texture and their brush.

For a different effect, I recommend Chanel’s limited edition mat top coat. The only bummer is that it doesn’t last long as using hand cream for example will slowly make it look shiny again.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For all ladies who love to shop: Zurich has a new G-spot,“the Grieder spot”, so-called G.point, an innovative store concept, full of young brands, such as Rebecca Minkoff, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Butler & Wilson and Sam Edelman. The idea behind it is to offer something between high end and high street to cater to the budget challenged and to appeal to a younger audience that might shop one day the parent house’s designer fashion.

If you look around, you might find some unusual items that the buyers discovered during their trips around the world. The store is located next to the Grieder department store (In Gassen 20, 8001 Zurich/Switzerland) with its own entrance but is also connected to the main house. Soon to be opened in Geneva, too.

LoL, Sandra

G.irl Recha with me last night at the opening party

My outfit: Denim dress by Louis Vuitton, animal print sandals by Miu Miu and watch by Roger Dubuis.

A fun give-away for the press: A designer doll! I took Karl home…

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Going to dinner at Le Caprice, I was wearing this outfit. Due to the ongoing star print trend, I reminded myself of the Viktor & Rolf dress in my closet. Like I always say, don’t throw out too much. There will always be a time again…

Dress by Viktor & Rolf, cropped leather jacket and appliquéd metallic leather clutch by Miu Miu, cage sandals by Alexander McQueen and ring by Roberto Cavalli. On my nails: Graphite by Chanel.

And as I love my job and my Mac very much, I would like to end with a quote of the late Steve Jobs, a true visionary and a creative genius:

‎”Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to…love what you do. – Your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life”.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Most of you know that I am a Louis Vuitton aficionado. Therefore I am always looking forward to the LV show that with its beautiful stunning decor surprises each season. Yesterday, it was a gigantic carrousel with models riding on it in pastel-coloured clothes, leaving quite another impression after Marc’s fetish-like creations for F/W 2011.

The S/S 2012 collection is sweet, full of rich details and materials, from matte crocodile jackets, coats and skirts to laser-cut tops and 3-D floral embellishments and plastic paillettes. I am completely taken by the tweed fabrics that are adorned with marabou feathers. The craftmanship that went into this collection is truly outstanding.

The last look was presented by Kate Moss, same as last season. But instead having her smoke on the runway in hot pants, she appeared in a light white floral dress like an innocent bride. I was wondering if she might be pregnant. Rumours are going around those days, same as the fashion crowd is wondering if Marc Jacobs will leave for Dior. The Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 collection looked like a slight approach. Let’s see in which direction fashion’s merry-go-round will be turning…

Below you can see some photos of the front row action!

LoL, Sandra

Caroline Sieber, Claire Courtin Clarins, Antoine Arnault, Virginie Courtin Clarins

Dasha Zhukova, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Carine Roitfeld, Marie-Amélie Sauvé, Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie, Joel Madden, Peter Marino

Natalia Vodianova, Uma Thurman

Best friends: Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss

Alexa Chung in a Louis Vuitton dress from the F/W 2011 collection.

Last Sunday, Albert Kriemler presented his Akris S/S 2012 runway show during Paris Fashion Week and surprised us with some amazing prints which have become his signature.
Ladies, start your engines!

Like Miuccia Prada, the designer got turned on by cars this season and seeked inspiration from John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film Grand Prix, set in Monaco.

One print is a shot of the Hotel de l’Hermitage at Monte Carlo on a racing day with people watching the event from the balcony:

This dress would be the perfect look for Princess Charlene next May at the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race, don’t you think? The princess, who has been seen many times in Akris, sat front row at the show and I am pretty sure that she was kind of Albert Kriemler’s muse for this collection.

Anna Wintour, Peter Kriemler and Princess Charlene front row at the Akris S/S 2012 show.

Haven’t seen Anna that happy in a long time…she must have really liked the collection.
Princess Charlene, Albert Kriemler and Anna Wintour.

Sport is an important trend for next summer and Akris offers some clean and crisp choices. But my favourite part of this collection is definitely the motor sports section!

Enjoy the looks! For my Zurich based readers, Gassmann carries a large selection of Akris.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Akris

Top off your fabulously chic signature look with Michael Kors fragrance for a chance to win a Michael Kors $1,000 gift card! Create luxurious, all-American sportswear looks for and combine them with his latest scent Gold!

Michael Kors will choose one grand prize winner himself to receive a $1000 Michael Kors gift card and a framed autographed copy of your winning set. In addition, one reader of Sandra’s Closet will receive a Michael Kors fragrance gift set. And remember all that glitters is not gold, so stay true…

How American style looks like in perfection showed Academy Award winning actress and director Angelina Jolie two days ago when she wore a white double face 3/4 sleeve v-neck sheath from the Michael Kors S/S 2011 collection while being honored for her outstanding humanitarian work by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Geneva.

Good luck! The contest runs from now until Oct. 7, 2011 at 11:59pm PST.

LoL, Sandra

Kate Winslet collaborates on a limited edition makeup collection with Lancôme to raise funds for her charity, The Golden Hat Foundation. The Golden Hat Foundation helps children with autism in a number of ways. Kate’s commitment started after the realisation of an Icelandic documentary in whichthe actress tells the tale of a child with autism: “A Mother Courage – Talking Back To Autism” (also as “The Sunshine Boy”).

So when Lancôme suggested collaborating on a fund-raising limited edition makeup line in partnership with her, promising to donate €150,000 from its sales profits to the Foundation, she jumped at the opportunity: “Lancôme’s instant offer of support was a huge display of confidence and generosity and I knew it would open many doors”, Kate said.

The Golden Hat Collection is a one-off line which comprises the basic beauty staples such as blush, lipstick and nail polish – each embossed with the Golden Hat symbol and Kate’s signature, available this month.

LoL, Sandra

L’ Absolu Rouge, N°132, N°340, N°341, N°343, each CHF 44, N°001 (La Base) CHF 35

Le Vernis, N°102, N°26, N°27, N°28, N°003, each CHF 25

Blush Golden Hat, CHF 65

Photos: Courtesy of Lancôme