Sandra‘s Closet

Combining leather craft and watchmaking skills, HERMÈS has recently launched ARCEAU Cavales and SLIM D’HERMÈS «Les Zèbres de Tanzanie» wristwatches that are so beautiful I have to share them with you!

For these new must-haves, the animal motifs much beloved by the French Maison are expressed in colourful artisanal style through leather marquetry. An equestrian profile and zebra stripes form vivid leather patchwork patterns, meticulously assembled on the dial of the two models. Within the confines of this incredibly small space, the refined composition of tiny calfskin tesserae is a true work of miniaturisation. Hermès Red, Malta Blue or Graphite: the chromatic signatures of the Maison suffuse this combination of leather craft and watchmaking skills. These inherently rare white gold models are issued in limited series.

On an inch-perfect dial, the Hermès leather artisans compose a variegated work depicting a horse or zebra. Reduced to the format of a round case, these creations flaunt the radiant colours of slim leather fragments carefully selected, cut out and juxtaposed with all the skill and expertise of saddle-making and leather craftsmanship.

The leather marquetry technique calls for a meticulous approach extremely similar to that of assembling a watch movement. Made from full grain calfskin, the leather pieces are split to a thickness of around 0.5 mm, before each element composing the motif is accurate cut to its appointed size and shape. One by one, the artisan picks up these fragments and fits them on the dial to form the design. The ARCEAU Cavales and SLIM D’HERMÈS watches set the stage for the art of leather miniature work.

ARCEAU Cavales

«Hermès Red» and «Indigo Blue» are two iconic colours of the Maison interpreted through subtly varied leathers lit up by Capucine or Agate Red touches. After six hours of patient assembly by the artisan, the many-hued pieces form a patchwork reminiscent of slim poppy petals for one model, and a stylised camouflage pattern for the other.

A closer look shows the «Cavales» motif symmetrically revealed in the dial centre. Swept over by slender leaf-type hands, this micro-leatherwork creation forming the watch face is framed by a 41 mm-diameter white gold ARCEAU case. Its asymmetrical stirrup-shaped lugs secure a smooth calfskin strap matching the dial colour. These two six-piece limited series are powered by a mechanical self-winding Manufacture Hermès movement driving hours and minutes hands.

SLIM D’HERMÈS
Les Zèbres de Tanzanie

The aura of refined understatement that is the Slim d’Hermès signature magnifies the striped coat of the zebra, in a creation adorned with leather marquetry as well as champlevé and miniature enamelling techniques. Framed by the ultra-thin case with its right-angled lugs and beautifully open dial, «Les Zèbres de Tanzanie» motif designed by animal artist Yves-Marie de Malleray in 2010 takes on a whole new dimension. Colourful stripes, composed of hand-fitted leather inlays, enhance the profile of the miniature-painted creature. The previously hollowed dial is filled with several layers of white enamel, interspersed with drying periods and firings in the oven. It is then hand-polished before the stripes are applied using an extremely fine brush and enamel powders mixed with natural essences. After 26 hours of enamelling and leather marquetry, the motif with its «Étoupe» and «Graphite» tones takes shape in contrasting matt and shiny surfaces. Slender baton-type hands sweep across this work of art, in step with the cadence set by the Manufacture Hermès H1950 ultra-thin movement with its micro-rotor. A matt alligator leather strap matches each of these three white gold variations, issued in 12-piece limited series.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès / David Marchon

Scarf addicts silk it out loud. Keep the carrhythm…
HERMÈS takes its theme of the year «Let’s Play» literally and invites you to play your favorite song and enjoy carréoké-ing in an Hermès F/W 2018 silk scarf (don’t miss the video at the end of this post…).

Scarf dressing has been spotted in all ways on the F/W 2018 runways…

With scarf dressing and revival of the ’80s being major fashion trends, it is absolutely worth checking out the French Maison’s new collection of must-have silk accessories that you can tie as you like for example as bag straps; purse accessories; nontraditional ankle straps or just wrapped around the head.. the creativity is all yours.

And moreover who does silk scarves better then HERMÈS –  the honest answer? Nobody!

Great news is that after Madrid, Rome, New York City, Brussel and Munich, on October 26, 2018, HERMÈS will open the SILK MIX pop-up store in Zurich, which will be inspired by the look of a record store to house the Maison’s men’s silk, presenting a great variety of shawls, scarves and ties along with the power of color that Hermès is so famous for. Carré motifs decorate album covers, tie designs dress cassettes. It is an invitation to let the beats and melodies drive you. Each disc – or cloth – is associated with a part from the soundtrack of the Prêt-à-Porter men’s runway shows of the past eight years.

Silk Mix Pop-Up-Store
October 26 until November 3, 2018
Galerie Nadja Brykina, Sihlstrasse 91, 8001 Zurich / Switzerland

Music is everywhere. For exploring, dancing and singing along.

LoL, Sandra

Photos and Video: © Hermès

Did you know that exposure to blue light at night can disrupt your natural rhythm of sleep and skin repair? ESTÉE LAUDER talked with a thousand women in the U.S. to learn about their skin concerns, and here’s what they said (based on a survey of 1,003 women).
– 94% of women in the U.S. believe lack of sleep negatively impacts the look of their skin.
– 92% believe exposure to environmental assaults negatively impacts the look of their skin.
However, there is a new cause of skin aging that women don’t know nearly as much about. It’s called Blue Light Pollution.

While women don’t know as much about blue light pollution or its impact on skin, they should. They may be exposed to blue light pollution at night, which can impact the look of skin.
– Over 3/4 of women in the U.S. sleep with a device within reach. 
– Over 2/3 say that looking at their device is the last thing they do before going to sleep.

What is blue light?
Blue light is the highest energy wavelength of visible light, from 380-500nm on the spectrum. Blue light waves actually penetrate skin more deeply than UVA or UVB rays.

Where does blue light come from?
In today’s modern world, blue light is all around us. It comes from natural sunlight, but also from devices like computers, televisions, tablets and cell phones, streetlights and the energy-efficient lights in your home.

How does blue light affect us?
Exposure to blue light in the morning is vital to «wake us up.» It helps boost alertness, memory, cognitive function and mood.
At night, it’s a different story. Exposure to blue light in the evening can trick your body into thinking it is still daytime—disrupting your circadian rhythm, impacting natural melatonin production and affecting sleep.

ESTÉE LAUDER
Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex Synchronized Recovery

In a major breakthrough, Estée Lauder Research has proven that blue light can negatively impact skin’s natural repair processes.

The American beauty brand’s testing showed for the first time that even just 30 minutes of nighttime blue light exposure can have a dramatic impact on skin’s natural circadian rhythm. This leads to a weakening of skin’s natural nighttime repair—and multiple negative effects for skin. Therefore the iconic Advanced Night Repair Eye, that belongs to my daily beauty musts as my first step in my eye routine, becomes a supercharged treatment – now with 10X Concentrated Repair Technology – that helps repair the visible impact of lack of sleep, UV, pollution, even blue light. It’s proven to reveal a bright, hydrated, visibly revived look with comprehensive benefits for the eye area:

• REPAIRS Dramatically reduces the look of every key sign of eye aging, including puffiness, lines and dryness.
• BRIGHTENS DARK CIRCLES in just 3 weeks.
•  HYDRATES for 24 hours thanks to a potent hydration booster, including Hyaluronic Acid.
• PREVENTS free radical damage with 8-hour anti-oxidant power—part of our multi-action anti-pollution defense technology.
• Includes the brand’s exclusive ChronoluxCB™ to help promote skin’s natural repair process, which is vital for eyes that look younger, renewed and recharged. The lightweight gel cream texture absorbs quickly, leaves skin feeling soft and silky.

Apply AM and PM to clean skin around eye area as your first step.
In Switzerland available for CHF 86.00 (15ml).
TO SHOP ESTÉE LAUDER ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Don’t forget – the sparkle of youth is in your eyes.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder

Call me a fashion victim but I really do like my BALENCIAGA TRIPLE S SNEAKERS. They have grown on me. The chunky dad sneaker trend has been all the rave and it didn’t take long until it went to high fashion. Balenciaga was fast and responded to this craze by releasing the chunkiest and most dad-like sneaker ever. It is comfortable, has been copied and runs out as quickly as it gets restocked… TO SHOP A LARGE VARIETY OF THE TRIPLE S SNEAKER, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

My look: No Smoking print T-shirt by Saint Laurent, printed low-rise skinny jeans by Givenchy, quilted leather crossbody bag and Triple S sneakers, both by Balenciaga, and Audrey wayfarer sunglasses by Céline.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In general, I know that summer is over when the first holiday press releases arrive at my doorstep. One that immediately has caught my eye was CLARINS Shimmer & Shine make-up look for Christmas 2018. All of a sudden I have started looking forward to the winter season. Here are those three beautiful products that will hit the shelves in Switzerland on October 8, 2018.
All are limited editions.

ILLUMINATING SCULPTING POWDER FACE AND DECOLLETE
CHF 46.00
Sculpt and highlight the complexion & décolleté with sheer, subtle gold shimmer. This silky smooth formula can easily be applied using your fingers on cheekbones, under the eyebrows, temples and décolleté.

INSTANT LIGHT LIP COMFORT OIL
CHF 30.50
This lip oil combines all the high shine benefits of a gloss with the soothing comfort of an oil. Its highly sensorial and lightweight texture never feels sticky.

GOLD MASCARA TOP COAT
CHF 35.00
Worn on its own or as a top coat, this mascara dresses your lashes in fine, golden sparkle. The double brush separates and defines each and every lash, even on the shortest ones.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clarins

Unless you have been living in a pineapple under the sea, you will have noticed that during the past seasons fruits in all sorts have become the newest fashion darlings. Now, it is up to you to choose which Vitamin C infusion you are gonna go for…

My look: Pineapple-print ruffled cotton-poplin dress, printed textured-leather shoulder bag, knotted printed crepe platform sandals, cat eye pineapple sunglasses, floral cuff and matching earrings, all by Dolce & Gabbana. Cocktail ring by Etro.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

PRADA opens new spaces in the via della Spiga boutique in Milan, which have been expanded and feature the rolling out of a fresh image, with a new layout and interior architecture. The boutique is entirely dedicated to the women’s collections.

On the corner between Via Sant’Andrea and Via della Spiga, the façade is characterised by entrances on both streets and large windows, inserted in the stone frame of the building. Inside, the new layout of the spaces is on two levels for a total area of 400 square metres.

The space on the ground floor – dedicated to leather goods, accessories and footwear collections – is an original and sophisticated interpretation of the historic Prada display niche. New and elegant design elements stand out, among which the green marble tables sketched by the Milanese design firm BBPR and exclusively reproduced for Prada in a limited series.

The upper floor – reached by a marble staircase – houses the clothing collections and is characterised by the modern design of the ceiling beams and the pearl-grey carpeted floor, combined with the wooden details of the large windows and 1950s furnishings. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs in shades of pastel green, inspired by the iconic prints of the brand.

On both levels, the display elements – made with details of polished wood – are flanked by furniture designed by Osvaldo Borsani and Giò Ponti, made exclusively for Prada and some special design pieces that pay homage to the masters of Milanese design of the 1950s.

From 10 September 2018, the Prada Sidonie bag, protagonist of the Prada Resort 2019 collection, will be available solely at the Via della Spiga store in two styles made of city calf leather in a different range of colors. The precious skin versions  – crocodile and ostrich – will be available in pre-order only.

Ladies, be prepared, the small shoulder bags are back!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada

«It started with our love for animals, it’s where Nicolas and I really connect beyond fashion.» – Grace Coddington

At LOUIS VUITTON’s Cruise 2019 catwalk show amidst the Mirós and Giacomettis of Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s Fondation Maeght, Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of women’s collections, presented a too-die-for collaboration with Vogue contributing editor Grace Coddington.

Nicolas Ghesquière and Grace Coddington in a silk pyjama set from the collaboration at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2019 show last May. 

The line sees the famous redhead putting her spin on the brand’s iconic monogram pattern, embellishing it with illustrations of her two cats, Pumpkin and Blanket. Moreover her designer friend’s dog Léon finishes off the animalistic collection that also includes patent leather bags in the cartoony shapes. I love every single piece!

The full range of items, including handbags, leather goods, and ready-to-wear, will arrive in Louis Vuitton stores in October.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, via Martien Mulder for WSJ. Magazine

Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that I only wash my hair once a week. If you are having a long mane like me, washing the hair less often will help preserve the natural oils in the scalp and keep your strands well moisturized. Moreover, I have curly hair and I am just too lazy to blow dry it too often. Don’t be scared, try to switch to an every-other-day or every-third day shampoo routine. It might feel hard in the beginning but you can train your hair, believe me.

For in-between touch-ups and fresh smell, I recommend those amazing scented dry shampoos by Björn Axén, Sweden’s strongest hair care brand founded by the eponymous hair dresser in 1963, who even worked for the Swedish queen. Those scented dry shampoos come in three different scents reminiscent of spring, Green Apple, Sweet Blossom and Sunny Grapefruit, and effectively freshen up the hair without leaving a rough feeling. They all give light volume and are recommended for all hair types.

Application: Shake the bottle. Part your hair and spray towards the scalp from 15 cm; allow to work 1 min. If necessary, spray the area around your face. Massage into the scalp with your fingers and shake off any white residue.

Björn Axén Dry Shampoo in Green Apple, Sweet Blossom and Sunny Grapefruit
CHF 17.90 (150ml) – in Switzerland available at Jelmoli among others.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Björn Axén

This was my outfit that I wore to the BREITLING store opening last week. Definitely not for the faint-hearted that suffer from arachnophobia as this mint-green cotton shirtdress from the Prada S/S 2018 runway is decorated with an eye-catching cartoon of six black, yellow and pink tarantulas above a swishy leopard-print skirt.

My look: Multi-print shirt dress, frame comic-print leather bag, comic print choker with spider charm and cadillac sunglasses, all by Prada, Adriana leopard-print calf hair and snake-effect leather platform sandals, all by Marc Jacobs.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht