Sandra‘s Closet

Long expected! This fall, MIU MIU begins the sales of their first perfume Miu Miu. Miuccia Prada is a master of the counterintuitive, she mixes the common and the ultra-refined to create something surprising and knowing yet never contrived. Drawing on Prada’s inspiration, perfumer Daniela Andrier creates a study in contrasts. The focus is on lily of the valley flowers supported with floral notes of jasmine, rose absolute and synthetic green notes, as well as a special ingredient created by Givaudan, akigalawood, which develops the scent of patchouli, notes of pepper and woody aromas of oud. Unique, youthful and sophisticated, the new scent will surely be a bestseller.

Trapeze mini matelassé leather shoulder bag by Miu Miu

The flacon of the first Miu Miu fragrance is inspired by the special material characteristic of the brand’s iconic matelassé leather bags.

The face of the advertising campaign, shot by Steven Meisel, is actress Stacy Martin.

Miu Miu Fragrance Collection
Eau de Parfum 30 ml CHF 84,00
Eau de Parfum 50 ml CHF 110,00
Eau de Parfum 100 ml CHF 150,00
Available in Switzerland at Marionnaud from September 14, 2015.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

No single food can supply all nutrients in the amounts you need. Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well. The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look. Supplements are a great way to deliver the right health and beauty benefits. FOUNTAIN creates water-soluble formulas that rather than being applied topically to the skin, include key ingredients – including hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and youth-boosting Resveratrol – that are bio-available and therefore easier for the body to absorb. Suitable for both men and women. My three favorites are the following:

The Energy Molecule, 240ml by FOUNTAIN
If your daily schedule is running you ragged, this super supplement will offer the energy boost you need. It’s a potent blend of Creatine – an organic acid that delivers fuel to your cells – and invigorating Vitamin B12. Mix two teaspoons into your favorite pick-me-up when you need it most.

The Glow Molecule, 240ml by FOUNTAIN
Boost your skin’s natural radiance with this supplement. A concentrated form of reactive Glutathione, this acai-flavored liquid works to counteract aging cellular oxidization caused by harmful free radicals and peroxides. Two teaspoons a day will bring out a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion within just a week.

The Hyaluronic Molecule, 240ml by FOUNTAIN
Help your skin stay soft, supple and smooth with this supplement. This unisex formula is packed with Hyaluronic Acid that holds 1000 times its weight in water to plump your complexion and keep eyes and joints lubricated. The body’s natural reserve of the molecule decreases with age, but this liquid Ginger supplement will be easily absorbed within the body when taken daily.

YOU CAN SHOP THE COMPLETE FOUNTAIN RANGE ONLINE HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of Fountain

Last Friday, I went to the Rive Gauche Summer Party at the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich. The iconic event celebrated its 10th anniversary. With great friends and lots of champagne, it is always fun as the first social event after the summer break when everybody in the city enjoys the “to see and to be seen” part a lot – a great night in full swing!

My look: Asymmetric cherry print dress, python leather buckle belt, silver-tone arm cuff, candy crystal-embellished leather platform sandals and Cassandre small suede shoulder bag, all by Saint Laurent, rose diamond ring by Piaget and earrings by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Baur au Lac, © David Biedert and © Sandra Bauknecht

There’s something really beautiful about a powerful lip color. This season, it is time to wear a statement lip shade. A new product that has caught my attention immediately is the new Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer. Its formula is moisturizing and hydrating like a lip balm while delivering an intense color and a shiny finish, available in two different versions (metallic and varnish). Promising to last over 8 hours, its non-sticky formula is surely hard to resist to. I love the dark reds and purples so my wishlist is getting bigger and bigger…

200 Night Berry (metallic effect)
201 Leather (varnish effect)
300 Tangerine (varnish effect)
302 Amber (metallic effect)
400 Four Hundred (varnish effect)
401 Red Chrome (varnish effect)
402 Red-To-Go (lacquer effect)
500 Vintage (metallic effect)
501 Uptown (varnish effect)
502 Boudoir (metallic effect)
503 Fatale (metallic effect)
504 Pink-Out (metallic effect)
505 Crescendo (varnish effect)
506 Maharajah (metallic effect)
600 Adrénaline (metallic effect)
601 Plum Vinyl (varnish effect)
602 Vertigo (varnish effect)
603 Night Viper (varnish effect)

In stores now. Available for CHF 48.00 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Thank you so much for your positive feedback about yesterday’s post talking about the perfect dinner. As I said, the way the table is set contributes to the ambiance of a meal as much as the food and wine. To take your invite to the next level, you can also match your outfit to the party’s theme.

My look: Kite Runner dress by Mary Katrantzou, Tribute Two textured-leather pumps
by Saint Laurent, cuff by Stella McCartney, Diorette ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

Don’t forget, you eat with your eyes first!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Agi Simoes for SI Style Magazine

With the fall season right around the corner, it is the perfect time of the year for entertaining. I love throwing a theme soiree in an intimate gathering. I am not the most dedicated chef, but I absolutely adore table settings and decorations. For this photo shoot (for SI Style Magazine), I went for an Asian inspired theme (most pieces available at Jelmoli).

How to get started? First, of course, with your invites. Having an accurate guest count is essential for a dinner party, especially if you are planning on having some special surprises like personalized napkins for your friends to take home (available for order at Kids and the City). I like to tie ribbons around them to match the color theme of the night.

Personally speaking, a beautiful table setting is like the canvas for a perfect meal. On the morning before the event, I love going to the flower market and getting fresh blooms. I usually place them in the center as well as in small pots and vases everywhere in the room. My rule is to keep all flowers and candle low enough that guests can have great conversations over them. Very important is that you stay with non-scented candles since you don’t want to interfere with the tastes and smells of your food.

Once your guests have arrived, relax and enjoy the good company, delightful ambiance, and delicious food you put so much work into. It’s time for the hostess to enjoy, too!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Agi Simoes for SI Style Magazine

I love dogs but a make-up line inspired by our furry friends? Impossible? No, not for MAC Cosmetics! (Wo)man’s best friend is barking up the right tree in a well-groomed collection of new canine-inspired hues from MAC that are sure to enhance your pedigree, featuring luscious, buttery fur tones for eyes and regal berries for lips. Flaunt your natural beauty through the power of subtle sculpting.

Here is the complete range:

MAC Haute Dogs Mineralize Rich Lipstick CHF 36.00

Fashion Pack pale pink-nude
Rare Breed mid-tone pinky nude
Barking Gorgeous light peach
Nose for Style deep claret red
Labradorable deep wine

MAC Haute Dogs Mineralize Glass CHF 32.00

Lap Dog pale light pink-nude
Sheer Coincidence mid-tone rosy nude
Modest soft beige with light frost
Dressed to the K9s deep burgundy-plum

MAC Haute Dogs Lip Pencil $16.50

Currant intense reddish purple
Naked Liner light neutral

MAC Haute Dogs Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4 CHF 66.00

Pure Bred plum, silver cream, tan-gold, deep brown
A Glimmer of Gold four coordinated colours from soft gold to copper bronze
Posh Pedigree deep olive green, white lemon, dirty grey, charcoal greenish grey

MAC Haute Dogs Fluidline CHF 26.00

Blacktrack solid flat black
Rich Ground reddened cocoa with frost
Dark Diversion blackened plum
Catch My Eye cool taupe-grey with dazzle pearl

MAC Haute Dogs Veluxe Brow Liner CHF 28.00

Strawberry Blonde soft muted beige-taupe
Deep Brunette muted blackish brown

MAC Haute Dogs Mineralize Skinfinish CHF 41.00

Soft & Gentle gilded peach-bronze
Cheeky Bronze soft coral with golden shimmer

MAC Haute Dogs Sculpting Powder/Shaping Powder CHF 33.00

Lightsweep warm beige with fine pearl
Warm Light clean peach
Shadester mid-tone leathery brown
Soft Focus plantain yellow-gold

MAC Haute Dogs Studio Nail Lacquer CHF 18.00

Vintage Vamp burgundy red
Snazzy Hound mid-tone grey
Very Important Poodle warm mid-tone nude

MAC Haute Dogs Makeup Brush Selection

288SE Duo Fibre Eye Shader Brush CHF 54.00
209 Eye Liner Brush CHF 32.00
139SE Duo Fibre Tapered Face Brush CHF 67.00
161SE Duo Fibre Face Glider Brush CHF 67.00

MAC Haute Dogs for Fall 2015 launches in Switzerland in September 2015  at all MAC locations and at www.maccosmetics.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Amsterdam has so much more to offer than its famous Red Light District. With over one million residents, it’s the largest city in the Netherlands and a creative, cultural hub. The Stedelijk Museum for example is absolutely worth a visit with its great exhibition of modern and contemporary art as well as design from the early 20th century up to the 21st century. It features artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Karel Appel, Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Marlene Dumas, Lucio Fontana, and Gilbert & George.

Me in front of the Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk is located at the Museum Square in the borough Amsterdam South, where it is close to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Royal Concertgebouw, that are all must-sees when being in the Dutch metropole.

My look: Floral print long cardigan and matching floral print T-shirt, both by Givenchy, Le Skinny De Jeanne mid-rise jeans by Frame Denim, biker boots by Miu Miu, Boy bag with chains by Chanel, diamond bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery, hoop earrings by Dior, rose diamond ring and Limelight Gala watch, both by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

One of the best ways to have some fun in Amsterdam is to get on a bike or vespa as I did and see the city on a set of wheels. I had heard about the city’s famous Red Light District well before my trip. In Amsterdam, both marihuana and prostitution are legal. Leaving nothing to the imagination, some stereotypes about this area are true, there are plenty of sex shops, peep shows, brothels and prostitutes in red-lit windows. The area is bustling with visitors and groups of tourists.

My look to explore the town: Black cotton parka by Balmain, dress with leather and lace appliqué by Saint Laurent, biker boots by Miu Miu, Boy bag with chains by Chanel, diamond bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery, rose diamond ring and Limelight Gala watch, both by Piaget and sunglasses by Marni.

Tulips are also an integral part of the Dutch city’s life and you see them everywhere.
Stay tuned as I will show you more from Amsterdam soon…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

MOURJJAN is a fashion label launched in 2014 by Michael Muntinga and Roland Rahal. Based in Klosters in the Swiss Alps, they turn their joint passion for nature and fashion into striking luxurious silk pieces that evoke the secret gifts of the wilderness. Both seek inspiration from the mysteries of the Orient and love to travel to Roland’s birthplace, LEBANON, where East meets West.

Enjoy their guide for this fascinating country and its capital BEIRUT, dubbed the “Paris of the Middle East“.

Your favourite city?
BEIRUT because it is a city that never sleeps, a city of contrasts, thousands years of history, yet it is very avant-garde and contemporary.

Your favourite hotel?
LE GRAY in Beirut , beautifully centered in the Middle of Beirut, tastefully decorated with rooms that make you feel home away from home.
Martyrs’ Square, Beirut Central District, Lebanon, Phone: +961 1 971 111

Your favourite restaurant?
MAYRIG in Beirut. Delicious vibrant Armenian dishes that adapt the popular classics of Armenian cuisine, while generously borrowing from Lebanese and other Mediterranean influences, in order to feast guests on a dazzling array of flavors.
Pasteur Street, Beirut, Lebanon, Phone: +961 1 572 121

Your favourite bar or nightclub?
HAMRA STREET in Beirut is full of funky bars like WALKMAN. But nothing beats MUSIC HALL – a nightclub with a lovely combination of Lebanese and Western music and shows. The place to go for locals and tourists.
Walkman – The Alleyway, Street 78, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon, Phone: +961 76 885 887
Music Hall – Omar Daouk, Lebanon, Phone:+961 1 361 236

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
BYBLOS or (JBEIL in Lebanese). A Historical Phoenician city with a beautiful old harbour. It used to be the St-Tropez of the Middle East in the ’60s/’70s. It has kept its charm throughout the years.

Your favourite park?
CEDARS PARK in the north of Lebanon. A place of silence, relaxation. It is also called the «Forest of the Cedars of God» and was added in 1998 to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Lebanon is known for its iconic cedar trees, as they are the emblem of the country and the symbol of the Lebanese flag.
Qadisha Valley, Becharre District, Governorate of North Lebanon

Your favourite beach?
EDDE SANDS. A beautiful sandy beach at the Mediterranean Sea with daily beach parties – so much fun.
Jbeil, Libanon

Your favourite shop?
BEIRUT SOUKS are full of the latest designer collections and unique boutiques with upcoming Lebanese designers. With over 200 shops and a department store, it is one of Beirut’s largest shopping areas and the most dense.
Majidiye, Beirut, Lebanon, Phone :+961 1 980 650

Capricorn scarf by Mourjjan

Your must-have accessory?
Your latest DESIGNERS’ ACCESSORIES (sunglasses, bags, shoes). Don’t be afraid to stand out – Lebanese people will love you for that!

The best soundtrack for this destination?
THE CHEHADE BROTHERS. Best music to hear while being in Beirut. Keeping clearly their Middle Eastern roots with the help of Arabic musical instruments, their music has lots of ethnic influences.

The best book to read while being on vacation there?
«THE PROPHET» – A book of 26 prose poetry essays written by the Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer Kahlil Gibran. It is a masterpiece on life and beyond.

Thank you, Michael and Roland, for sharing your insider scoop on Lebanon with us.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mourjjan