Sandra‘s Closet

Balenciaga presented his off-schedule Resort 2023 show on Sunday in the Big Apple. It took place at The New York Stock Exchange – a place the fashion crowd normally doesn’t have access to – and began with the ringing of the opening bell.

The French brand embarked on the unusual timing for a company first, under Demna’s direction, to hold a show in NYC. The invitation was a fat stack of fake 100s. And one thing is for sure, you need a good income to get those new pieces that will surely become a hit as Balenciaga revealed his collaboration with adidas in the last part off the show. Latex bodysuits fully covered models’ faces and send all focus on Balenci-adidas. Classic adidas pieces like Three Stripes tracksuits, hoodies, jerseys, and tees get the Balenciaga treatment, boasting updated oversized silhouettes.

The Balenciaga Triple S sneaker comes with the famous adidas stripes, either in white/black and blue/white colorways for CHF 975. However, for me the best pieces of the collection and something that will make its way into Sandra’s Closet.

The tight classic mini dress costs CHF 55 the adidas way (left) and CHF 1390 with the Balenciaga treatment (right). Sorry guys, but this is ridiculous. There I am out!

Balenciaga x adidas is now available only for one week until May 29 on Balenciaga’s webstore. So, act fast, but save some money as Gucci x adidas will officially drop in June. Gucci and Balenciaga both belong to Kering and they obviously like the German manufacturer of athletic shoes and apparel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Balenciaga
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Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Christopher John Rogers is one of fashion’s most exciting new names, and it’s easy to see why. Since launching his eponymous brand only a few seasons ago, the designer’s unabashed use of color has already earned him a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award and a legion of fans, including Zendaya, Tracee Ellis Ross and Michelle Obama. I wore his rainbow knit dress on a sunny day in New York and went for a walk through Central Park.

My look: Pleated striped ribbed wool maxi dress by Christopher John Rogers, lilac peak-lapels double-breasted blazer by Balmain, La Medusa leather plateau sandals, and small La Medusa top handle bag, both by Versace, square-frame glitter sunglasses by Gucci, and black monogram croc-embossed leather belt by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Lacuna Photography
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Color – eclectic – lilac – chartreuse – shocking pink – S/S 2022 is a hopeful collection to give you light in your life. Diane Kendal created the matching make-up look, a look you will surely adore. Wearable, sexy and so Tom Ford. She revealed that the show’s beauty inspiration was none other other than Tom Ford himself. Inspired by Tom Ford’s 1996 runway show, the stunning models donned sultry lids, sculpted cheeks, and of course, some sex appeal.

In a wonderful zoom call with Melissa Fernandes, Education Manager EMEAI Tom Ford Beauty, we explored the whole concept behind this beautiful look.It is all about working on your bone structure with the focus on your eyes for a bold dramatic look.

BROWS
Brows are sculpted with the eye brow pencil. Brush upwards with a flat hold. With a straight hold, make short flakes and fill in gentle your brows.
You can give it a nice lift by accentuating the high point. To summarize:
Flat – bold effect
Straight – hairy effect

Brow Perfecting Pencil – 02 Taupe

EYES
Use the pointy side of your applicator above the grease for the reddish tone, not directly in it. According to Melissa, this will make your eyes look much bigger. This is when your smokey eye effect starts. Under the eye, use half way the yellowish tone.

Then you will apply the brown tone on the eyelid. Very importantly, use the blending brush to blend well between the eyelids and the grease.

Whatever you do – ALWAYS us the blending brush with one or two swipes in between. This will make sure that no hard edges will be visible and that your result will look like from a make-up professional.

The third step for the eyes is to use the yellow tone under the eyebrow and to blend it nicely. Also use this yellow shade in your inner eye corner and for the first part of the lower eye. Then take the spikey edge and tap the sparkling color on top of these areas.

Eye Color Quad – 4 Eye Shadow Compact – Leopard Sun

Next comes the eyeliner but in a very modern way, no wing, only on the base to give definition. Don’t apply it in one stroke, use short movements for your eyeliner. It will give you a much more defined and natural look.

However, Melissa gave us a great tip for any eyeliner mistake. You can use your eyebrow brush to take it off immediately.

Eye Defining Pen – 01 Deeper

If you prefer a super definition, you can apply a kohl pencil on the water line.

Emotionproof Liner – 01 Dominateur

For the final step, use a lot of mascara to give you this sexy and seductive look.

Extreme Mascara – 01 Raven

BLUSH/CONTOURING
Enhance your bone structure. With the darker color, you can contour face perfectly. With the lighter shade, you can add light and highlight parts of your face. Tap on top of cheekbones and blend it in nicely.

The more color you add, the more intense the outcome will be. It is truly an amazing product. Once I tried it, I immediately have become addicted. It will make your skin look juicy and nourished while providing this contouring and highlighting effect we all love. It is so easy to use and I am absolutely convinced that you will love it too.

Shade & Illuminate – Intensity One (comes in different intensities)

LIPS

As the main focus of this make-up look is on the eyes, lips stay natural and muted.

Lip Color – Matte Equus 100

SCENT
«Some scents capture an aspect of my life», says Tom Ford.

This applies to OMBRE LEATHER, which is connected to Tom Ford’s childhood (you can read more about the background here). This Eau de Parfum explores ideas of touch and texture in a warm, enveloping aroma. The notes of Black Leather and spicy Patchouli are enlivened with bright Vetiver, Violet and Jasmine. It’s poured in a matte-black bottle with a faux leather plaque, so it’ll look great on your vanity.

Eau de Parfum – Ombré Leather

The collection is in stores now. You can also shop the products by clicking on the highlighted product description.
It is my favorite make-up look at the moment!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Tom Ford 
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Before heading to the Dua Lipa show in Zurich as guest of YSL Beauty, I was invited to an intimate cocktail reception by the French Maison on the rooftop of the Kameha Grand Hotel. The dress code said black and gold. Every corner of the terrace offered another fun experience, from photo booth to make-up application, from specially created drinks to a fun claw machine. DJ Rebekah Abdeen warmed up the crowd for the upcoming concert taking place at Hallenstadion.

There is no doubt that Dua Lipa has become a worldwide phenomenon with a million of fans and several collaborations. She is one of the most streamed and celebrated artists in recent memory. Free, powerful and elegant! Three words that suit the British artist well, who had been chosen by Yves Saint Laurent to be the face of the brand’s bestselling fragrance Libre. A scent that evolves around masculine lavender and the feminine sensual, burning notes of orange blossom. It also comes with a good dose of florals and musks.

The concert in Zurich marks a big milestone in Dua’s career as it was her 50th concert.

 Thank you YSL Beauty for having me! Enjoy all my impressions below…

LoL, Sandra

Thank you Dijana Vasiljevic from the L’Oréal Luxe team for the lovely invitation.

DJ Libre 🙂

My plus one was my friend Cat.

With lovely Erica Coimbra from the L’Oréal Luxe team.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht #IamLibre
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«I’m so thrilled to tour again and see my angels in person! How amazing that we all get to dance and celebrate together once again. When I was writing Future Nostalgia, I imagined the songs being played in clubs on nights out with your mates. I’m so excited that this fantasy is finally coming true. I can’t wait to experience these songs with you together live!» — Dua Lipa on her excitement for the tour.

Finally after having been postponed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, English singer Dua Lipa is touring around the world with her «Future Nostalgia» show. It began on February 9, 2022 in Miami and will conclude on November 16, 2022 of that year in Perth, with several shows throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania.

I loved Dua Lipa’s show in Zurich, especially because Dua Lipa’s «Future Nostalgia Tour» is filled with designer catsuits. You know how much I adore these kind of clothes. I showed up in one by Saint Laurent myself for the concert (outfit post coming up soon).

The mood masterminded by her stylist, Lorenzo Posocco, for the tour is definitely body-con. The singer first captivated fans in Zurich’s Hallenstadion in a daringbright custom neon pink Balenciaga catsuit, which featured a lingerie-inspired corseted bodice, built-in heels (part of the famous pantaleggings look), a textured floral pattern and matching opera gloves.

Of course, one catsuit is never enough, and for her another major look of the show, Dua Lipa and her stylist collaborated with Casey Cadwallader of Mugler on a couture paneled catsuit. The bodysuit features the sheer and opaque body-defining panels Cadwallader has become known for, though this time the entire piece was rhinestoned, meaning even those in the back of the stadium could see Lipa glisten.

Those were my two favorite looks of the show. If you would love to experience Dua Lipa on stage yourself, check out the remaining European tour dates.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and @dualipa
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I have been a huge fan of Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss since their launch in 2020 (for a previous postwith a make-up tutorial, click here please). A beauty lover’s favorite, this easy-glide, never-sticky formula is everything you love about the bestselling Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss, that is now finally available in universally flattering shimmer shades. I am so happy about that!

Available in three shimmering shades enhance all skin tones.

Bare Sparkle (pearlescent champagne with pops of gold and copper pearl)
Bellini (pearlescent neutral pink with gold and subtle red pearl)
Kir Sugar (pearlescent burgundy with pops of gold, bronze, and silver pearl)

Swipe on lips and go – or layer over lipstick for a multidimensional look. This blend of nutrient-rich botanical oils offers a cushiony, comfortable feel and never disappoints.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Bobbi Brown
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AVEDA, the high-performance hair care brand with a mission to care for the world, is reintroducing a new and advanced Smooth InfusionTM collection, created to provide protection against frizz and humidity for a smooth, sleek finish that lasts. Even the most frizz-prone hair is instantly transformed with an advanced plant-powered technology that protects all hair types and textures from frizz for up to 72 hours with the collection’s multi-benefit stylers. I absolutely LOVE this collection. It helps me to achieve exactly this sleek look I love.

Tapping into the principles of Green Chemistry, the botanical technology in Aveda’s 95% naturally derived1 Smooth InfusionTM collection includes a Plant Polymer Shield and Botanical Smoothing Oil Blend, giving hair instantly smooth, sleek results in just one use. This dual-action technology protects from humidity without silicones.

How it works: First, a botanical complex created from castor bean plant extract instantly cloaks hair strands and repels water, giving silicone-free protection. Next, a smoothing botanical oil blend formulated with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil and Tamanu Oil smoothes and conditions cuticles for softness and shine.

«Leveraging our expertise in high-performance, naturally-derived materials, we were able to identify the Plant Polymer Shield in the Smooth InfusionTM collection used to block humidity and give frizz protection,» said Camille Sasik, Ph.D., Aveda’s Director of Hair Care Research and Development. «This is an exciting technological improvement that replaces silicones with plant-derived alternatives, without sacrificing performance — actually, it gives better, longer-lasting results than our prior silicone-based formula. That’s the power of Green Chemistry!»

SMOOTH INFUSION™ COLLECTION

● ANTI-FRIZZ SHAMPOO: Silicone-free smoothing shampoo gently cleanses, moisturizes and enhances shine while fighting frizz. 200ml; CHF 34.-

● ANTI-FRIZZ CONDITIONER: Silicone-free smoothing conditioner moisturizes, detangles, and softens hair, improving manageability and preventing flyaways. 200ml; CHF 39.-

● PERFECT BLOW DRY™: Advanced heat activated treatment makes frizz prone hair 5X smoother instantly. It wraps each strand in an invisible shield that provides 72-hour anti-frizz protection, even in extreme humidity. Best for those with straight, wavy, and curly hair textures (1A-3C) of all hair types. 200ml; CHF 44.-

● STYLE-PREP SMOOTHER: Lightweight leave-in treatment serum primer preps hair with pre-style protection for 72-hour frizz defense while providing protection from heat styling and the drying effects of the sun. Best for those with straight, wavy, and curly hair textures (1A-3C) of all hair types. 100ml; CHF 39.-

● PERFECTLY SLEEK HEAT STYLING CREAM: The rich, conditioning butter creme deeply nourishes and protects naturally curly or coily hair textures during heat styling. Best for those with curly and coily hair textures (3A-4C) of all hair types. 150ml; CHF 43.-

The Smooth Infusion™ collection features an aroma with rose, Australian sandalwood, certified organic palmarosa, certified organic bergamot, and other pure flower and plant essences.

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
The Smooth Infusion™ collection is 95% naturally derived1, silicone-free and sulfate cleanser free, and like all Aveda products, is vegan and cruelty free. The packaging contains minimum 59% post-consumer recycled plastic; and the formulas are manufactured using 100% renewable energy through solar and wind power at AVEDA’s primary facility.

The Smooth Infusion™ collection is now available  in Aveda salons, spas, stores and online at aveda.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Aveda
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What would you wear for a tropical date? I went for this beautiful high-low dress. It is a form of asymmetrical dress, typically longer at the back, and shorter at the front. The ruffles add to the tropical vibe. The photos were taken in Puerto Rico at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a resort I can only recommend and that I will show you more about very soon.

My look: Off-the-shoulder ruffled printed metallic fil coupé silk-blend georgette dress by Dundas, Angel leather platform sandals by Gucci, small La Medusa top handle bag by Versace, python leather buckle belt by Saint Laurent, and dark blue clip-on stone drop earrings by Oscar de la Renta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 
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Miuccia Prada has collaborated with award-winning, visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin to create several looks for the main characters in their highly anticipated film, Elvis, designing custom outfits and revisiting garments from the archives of Prada and Miu Miu. This collaboration renews the long-standing relationship between Miuccia Prada, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, which had already resulted in the creation of exclusive items for The Great Gatsby in 2013, and even earlier in Leonardo DiCaprio’s clothing in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet – an artistic exchange that perfectly reflects Prada’s multidisciplinary attitude through a creativity that is nourished by a constant dialogue with the universes of art, cinema, and architecture. Elvis will première at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 24th and will be screened in cinemas around the world starting 22nd June and in North America on June 24th.

The film stars Austin Butler as Elvis, Oscar winner Tom Hanks as his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla, and retraces the life and music of Elvis Presley, celebrating his iconic style as well as that of an entire era. The film delves into the complex dynamic between Elvis and his manager over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley.

«Central to the Elvis narrative is Elvis and Priscilla’s legendary love story. Priscilla Presley’s beauty and iconic style has indelibly marked contemporary culture. Accordingly, it was important for Baz and I that we remain true to this legacy by not merely imitating Ms. Presley’s actual clothes, but that we find a modern way of connecting audiences to her distinctive, history-making style. It was wonderful for both Baz and I to collaborate creatively with Miuccia once again. Immersing ourselves in the Prada and Miu Miu archives with superlatively skilled ateliers, we made the journey to translate the Presleys’ historical clothes into the costumes that would be in the film,» said Catherine Martin.

Starting from the study of Elvis’s and Priscilla’s clothes sources, Prada and Miu Miu found affinities and similarities in their immense archives, giving shape to new creations. The result strongly recalls the years represented in the film, but it is also an expression of the DNAs of the two brands and their histories.

Miu Miu has frequently explored and reinterpreted the Zeitgeist of several decades of the 20th century, according to its own codes. This is the reason why several of its most famous collections easily inspire an evocative endeavor around the style of Priscilla Presley, which was also the result of a personal approach to the fashion of her time. The garments were created from such inspiring pieces as the brocade pantsuit embellished with beads and fringes worn by Priscilla at the opening concert of the evening in Las Vegas.

Prada has also often turned to those years and that cultural landscape – animated by a revolutionary spirit and by a desire for freedom – to offer an original aesthetic interpretation. Through that same notion, several of Priscilla’s authentic outfits were reinvented for the film, such as the tweed dress worn over a mohair sweater with a brown suede jacket worn to the NBC Elvis special.

Along with Elvis’s custom look by Prada – a distinctive plum wine kid mohair suit –, these costumes distill the essence of the characters in the film, silhouettes and recognizable forms that are at once instantly reminiscent of the past while appearing contemporary, underlining their eternal timelessness.

I am really excited to see this movie!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada / Warner Bros.
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Finally my kind of cryptocurrency I love and trust! On April Fool’s Day, Tiffany & Co. announced it is venturing into the world of cryptocurrency. Now, the joke is up and while cryptocurrency may not be in the cards, the House revealed that it will sell a limited series of 499 18k yellow gold coins— TiffCoin—that celebrate the jeweler’s heritage and nod to the future of Tiffany & Co.

From 1973 until 2007, Tiffany & Co. offered Tiffany Money — actual silver and gold coins that could be exchanged for Tiffany & Co. jewelry. While the tradition is no more, the release of TiffCoin is an homage to this legacy. Each TiffCoin is individually engraved and numbered, featuring a T insignia with currency-inspired graphics. The exclusive 18k gold coin is 34.8 mm in diameter, 2.8 mm thick and comes in an exclusive TiffCoin case within the iconic Tiffany Blue Box® and retails for $9,999.99 USD.

Originally announced as a drop available for only 24 hours, there are still some available for good customers. By buying the TiffCoin, you will also get access to special events in the future.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tiffany & Co. @ tiffanyandco
Tiffany, T&CO., Tiffany & Co., The color and word mark Tiffany Blue, and the design and word mark Tiffany Blue Box are trademarks of Tiffany and Company and its affiliates. © 2022 Tiffany and Company. All rights reserved.