The new sexy look is sophisticated and ultra-feminine. Hints of lace, curve-hugging dresses and even cutouts define this season’s mature seductive mood – for the Femme Fatale in you.
My look: Caroline cutout lace dress by Stella McCartney, ‘Jane’ sandals by Saint Laurent, satin clutch and earrings, both by Prada, diamond ring and bracelet, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery, Limelight Gala watch by Piaget.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
For women who crave luxury and high fashion, I have great news. Five of my Swiss readers can win the new MERCEDES-BENZ L’EAU fragrance (60ml), a flanker to 2013’s Mercedes-Benz for Women. This light, sparkling and very feminine fragrance is delicately balanced and imaginatively romantic and I am sure that you will love it.
FLORAL FRUITY
Top notes: Black currant, peach and bergamot
Middle notes: Mimosa, rose, violet and lily-of-the-valley
Base notes: White musk, amber and cedar
The nose behind this fragrance is Michel Almairac.
To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Mercedes-Benz L’Eau” to . All entries must be received until October 2, 2014. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.
For those who won’t be the lucky winners, I recommend shopping this lovely scent online HERE AT HARRODS.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Mercedez-Benz
It is such a busy time of the year and I have so many things to show you. London Fashion Week was filled with amazing moments and outstanding experiences. My favorite show was definitely Burberry Prorsum. The S/S 2015 collection, named ‘The Birds and The Bees’, included bright book cover designs, oversize butterfly prints and hand-drawn honey bees, which were referenced on the hand-painted runway and illustrated on the transparent roof above the fashionable guests inside the custom-built venue in London’s Kensington Gardens.
British singer-songwriter and Burberry Acoustic musician James Bay performed the live soundtrack to the show.
I had the best seat front row. If you watch the livestream, you can see me at work taking all these pictures. Enjoy the show:
Our new must-haves will be the Burberry Bee Bag, the Burberry Mini Bee Bag, the Burberry Field Sandals and the Burberry Field Sneaker. There is no doubt, sneakers and Birkenstock-inspired flats will remain trend for S/S 2015.
I fell immediately in love with those cute book cover print pouches that were seen on the runway in versatile color combinations.
SHOP THE RUNWAY
Great news: The amazing outerwear and bags from the collection are now available to purchase and personalize exclusively on Burberry.com until Monday 29 September. Pieces from the runway will be made to order for delivery within nine weeks, allowing you to be the first to own pieces from the collection, months before it arrives in store. After placing your order, Customer Service will contact you to give you the possibility to personalize your item with a metal nameplate.
Of course, I couldn’t resist this wasp waist denim jacket with ostrich feathers. I mean how gorgeous is this piece?
How much class Christopher Bailey has, shows this e-mail I received right after the Burberry Prorsum S/S 2015 show. It made me as happy as he probably was after the finale of the presentation when he jumped on stage applauding to James Bay. Congrats, Christopher, I am your big fan!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
I truly had a sparkling good time with Piaget at the 27th Biennale des Antiquaires. To ‘counterbalance‘ all the sparkles of the amazing jewelry inside, I went for this whimsical and sci-fi-esque galaxy print. Isn’t it fun when fashion takes you to outer space?! I got quite often stopped to get my pictures taken…
My look: Galaxy-print silk-chiffon biker jacket and matching silk-satin and leather dress, both by Christopher Kane, Boy bag with chains by Chanel, sunglasses by Céline, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps by Saint Laurent, rose diamond ring, necklace and Limelight Gala watch, all by Piaget, emerald-cut diamond ring and diamond bracelet, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery, Pure Matt 100 denier tights by Falke.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
For Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, the CHANEL‘S DELIGHTS collection has been pre-launched. It draws inspiration from the F/W 2014 runway show, giving the focus to the eyes. Lines are precise, intense and full of colour.
At the heart of the collection, LE CRAYON YEUX is available in three intriguingly named shades: COCORANGE, SWEET STAR and BERRY LUCKY. A variation of three unique colours ranging from sparkling orange or electric turquoise to spellbinding garnet red to create a host of new looks.
Paired with these graphic eye makeup looks, LE VERNIS takes a daring, surprising turn with SWEET STAR, a metallic silver illuminated with multiple reflections.
If the beauty addict in you is eager to get your hands on the brand’s newest collection, you better hurry. In Switzerland, it is on sale from September 24, 2014 at Jelmoli.
LoL, Sandra
Stills: © Chanel
Every second year, the Biennale des Antiquaires takes place in Paris in the gorgeous halls of the Grand Palais. Whenever I look at its sinuous, cast-iron Art Nouveau balconies and curlicue stairways, I feel like being in another century. Personally speaking, it is one of the most fascinating places in the French capital and I couldn’t imagine a better backdrop for the most important event in the jewelry calendar. I was invited by Piaget as in 2012 (for the previous post, please click here) and was able to discover the house’s amazingly beautiful EXTREMELY PIAGET collection firsthand.
For the 27th edition of the Biennale des Antiquaires, interior designer Jacques Grange paid homage to Versailles and its French gardens with flowerbeds and foliage. The most stunning part was the scented indoor fountain in the center under the gigantic glass dome that master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian had transformed into an olfactory experience.
At the Piaget booth, I indulged in the most stunning High Jewellery pieces you can imagine. This year, Piaget is celebrating its 140th anniversary and to celebrate this occasion, the company seeked inspiration for its EXTREMELY PIAGET collection from its stellar period in its creative history from the 1960s and 70s. The pieces are enhanced by the most precious materials: diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, hard stones and gold.
The collection is also characterized by great freedom of movement and multiple ways of beings worn. Personally speaking, it was the youngest and most modern collection at the Biennale des Antiquaires this year. You could easily imagine to wear it to a black tie gala or with jeans and a white tee like for example this beautiful bracelet with turquoises from Arizona above.
Let me show you my favorite pieces of the 125 that were presented:
Necklace in 18k white gold set with 46 turquoise beads (approx. 301cts), 48 chrysoprase beads (approx. 42cts), 1 emerald-cut cabochon (approx. 23.14cts), per-shaped chrysoprases, pear-shaped turquoises and brilliant-cut diamonds.
Sautoir exceptional High Jewellery watch in platinum set with 195 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 66.20 cts), 282 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 33.20 cts), 35 cushion-cut diamonds (approx. 16.30 cts) and 16 pear-cut diamonds (approx. 7.60 cts). Piaget 56P quartz movement.
Necklace in 18K white gold set with 84 blue sapphire beads from Sri Lanka(approx. 127.40 cts), 490 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 41.69 cts) and 1 cushion-cut emerald from Columbia(approx. 19.39 cts).
Sautoir watch fishnet mesh in 18K white gold set with 404 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 31.30 cts). Piaget 56P quartz movement.
Bracelet in 18K pink gold set with 8 pink opal plates (approx. 23.25 cts), 18 turquoise beads (approx. 5.31 cts) and 220 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 1.81 cts).
Cuff watch in 18K white gold set with 1’699 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 20.50 cts) (snow-setting). Natural opal dial. Piaget 56P quartz movement.
Ear cuffs in 18K white gold set with 28 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 11.59 cts) and 20 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 4.48 cts).
Ring with a sapphire (approx. 7 cts) and 10 diamonds in pear cut and 2 marquise diamonds (approx. 7.5 cts together).
I fell not only in love with this piece… The EXTREMELY PIAGET collection marks the continuity of the brand’s presence in the world of High Jewellery. The 1960s and 70s were some of their most innovative years – and the same is true of 2014. Congratulations, Piaget, for this amazing collection!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Joy is a state of mind, where everything seems possible and nothing is too daunting. When I met Miranda Kerr in Zurich to interview her at the Dolder Grand hotel for the September issue of L’Officiel Switzerland, I was immediately taken by her effusive positivity and joie de vivre. She was in the Swiss city as the face for ESCADA‘s newest scent Joyful.
Smile at the world, and the world smiles back. Miranda’s outlook on life and blend of natural sophistication, confidence and spontaneity make her the perfect ambassador for the fragrance. She approaches life with positivity, spontaneity and confidence.
Born and raised in Australia (click here for her travel insider about her home country), Miranda studied nutrition and health psychology after her high school graduation. Before her fourteenth birthday, she entered a magazine contest and began modeling for various clothing brands, runways, and print advertisements. The Victoria Secret model who’s famous for her feline eyes and cute dimples relocated to New York City in 2004. She was married to actor Orlando Bloom from 2010- 2013, the father of her three-year-old son Flynn.
I met her in the evening after a long day of shooting on the lake of Zurich. She was still full of energy and answered my questions always with a smile.
Many successful and extremely beautiful women come from Australia. Tell us a little how it was to grow up there?
I had an incredible experience growing up on my grandparent’s farm where I raced motorbikes and rode horses. My grandmother had a very big wippping willow tree, in which we were playing flying fox and constructing houses. My grandpa used to collect gemstones and he placed them around the bottom of this tree. Still today, I have this admiration for cut amethysts and raw stones.
Do you go back often?
Yes, I go back a lot, the next time in three weeks.
You are an inspiring woman, a mother, a business woman and a famous model. How do you manage both parts of your life successfully? What is your secret to success?
I am prioritizing my time and I am having a good team around me which is very important as you would know with your job as well. You need to be surrounded by people who support your ideas and help you along the way, who know for what you stand for, who know your values, and who know if they have to bring something to the table to you or not. But of course you have to have the final sign off.
Regarding my son, it is hard. I make sure that for instance that when I come back home after crazy travels times, I book myself out so that I have five days of ‘one on one’ with him, that I am able to dedicate my time completely to him. During this quality time, I turn off the phone, we have playdates, we paint, we draw, we go to the park or play in the garden in the back of my home.
How would a perfect day for you look like? What would you do?
I would be at the beach with my son, swimming in the ocean, building a sand castle with him and laughing. I love to take my shoes off and enjoy nature and my kid.
You have your own organic skin care line KORA. What is your philosophy behind?
I have been looking for a certified organic skin care line. I have been in the industry for such a long time and I wasn’t able to find one that I liked that would deliver the desired results. So I spoke to a chemist and said this is what I would like to achieve. Can you help me with this? She has a really great lab in Australia. So she started sending me samples. The key ingredients I insisted on including were my favourites. First of all noni, which has over 170 vitamins and minerals. I used to drink it every day so why not putting it in my skin care line. The others ones are green tea extract and rose hip oil.
What are your bestselling products?
Our bestselling products are the Luxurious Rosehip Oil and the Enriched Body Lotion. We have products for different skin types, for example a three-step process for acne, dermatitis or dry skin. We keep it very simple. It is very important to cleanse, tone and moisturize morning and night. And then if people can afford it, there are other products you can add on, like the exfoliator two, three times a week, the eye gel cream which is very soothing as well as the lip balm.
(TO SHOP KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr, PLEASE CLICK HERE.)
What is your secret for your great skin?
Yes, I have a daily beauty routine (cleanse, tone, moisturize) that I always follow, no matter how tired I am. Consistency is the key when it comes to your skin.
How did you get your amazing body back after your pregnancy?
Find what exercise it is you really enjoy doing. For me, it is yoga, pilates, resistance training, things, that I can do easily at home while my son is right there with me. Even a little trampoline rebounder is a great way to get your lymphatic system going. Sometimes I just put the music on and dance around the house. Or I even do plank position and stay for the duration of one song. There are so many great exercises that you can do at home or while travelling. Go for a walk, a stroll through the park.
I don’t go to a studio, but sometimes I have a personal trainer come or watch a DVD. It is good to mix it up. But most of the time, I am exercising by myself.
What do you eat in general? Do you follow a special diet?
I studied nutrition in New York. I am a certified health coach. So learning that knowledge is something that helps me in daily life. I know what to eat to function at your best. I can make healthy choices but I also believe in the fact that it is important not to deprive yourself. So if you have appetite for something, have it. Otherwise it is human nature to end up craving for it. Just have a little bit of it. I believe in 80% healthy and 20% indulgable.
Do you have a favourite dish?
It despends on the day. I love food and to cook. I love to eat yummy delicious organic food but I cannot always. It is difficult when I am travelling. So I try to make the healthiest choices possible but I am not always too hard on me, especially when I having a full work schedule.
Do you remember the first time you connected with a fragrance? Is there a smell that reminds you of your childhood?
My mum had a collection of fragances. She didn’t wear just one. I remember that one of her favourite things to do was putting fragrance on. She taught me to spray her clothes. That way when you walk through the room, it will be like your natural scent. You make it your scent.
You are now the face of the new Escada scent Joyful? Why did you choose to front this fragrance?
Escada approached me and told me that they were coming out with a fragrance called Joyful. They said that the key ingredients were peony, magnolia and sandalwood and I thought that this was crazy because peonies are my favorite flowers. They are so delicate, so beautiful, feminine, they seem so pure. I love sandalwood so I thought it was a great alignement, a great fit. When I smelled it, I felt, it was right.
What does being joyful means to you? When is Miranda joyful?
I like to think that my heart is naturally very joyful and being with my son brings it out more than anything else that I have ever experienced. The simple things like enjoying the sunset, enjoying nature, taking my shoes off and putting my feet in the grass, having a fresh cut bouquet of flowers, lighting a candle and having a bath, having a laugh with friends, those things make me very happy.
On what occasion would you wear Escada Joyful?
It is a very lightweight, happy fragrance, not overpowering, like a fresh bouquet of flowers, very feminine, something that every girl wants. It works for all occasions.
New York and Australia, how do they smell like for you?
Growing up in Australia, I think of the smell of fresh rain, the smell of Christmas, because we have those Christmas beetles and they were really strong in the countryside where I grew up. Christmas was always so special. We went to my grandparents house, had a barbecue with all the family being together and then we went to my uncle’s house to swim in his big pool.
NYC has so many different smells, depending on where you are in the city. I love the smell of Central Park. There is so much energy in NY. It has ist own heartbeat that you even smell, a mixture of so many scents.
But the air here in zurich is unbeatable.
Miranda Kerr in three words.
Fun, content and joyful.
Thank you, Miranda, for this lovely interview!
Inspired by the moment of joy one feels when receiving a beautiful bouquet of fresh-cut flowers, ESCADA JOYFUL reveals a beautiful, fresh pink peony, surrounded by dewy white florals, awakening an inner feminine happiness and is available as Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 79.00), 50ml (CHF 112.00) and 75ml (CHF 147.00), Body Lotion 150ml (CHF 50.00) and Shower Gel 150ml (CHF 45.00).
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Escada, Miranda Kerr and © Sandra Bauknecht
For a true fashion lover, Azzedine Alaïa is a must in a closet. An Alaïa dress is a seasonless wardrobe wonder piece that never lets you down. I bought my first item by the Tunisian-born designer probably 20 years ago and it still looks up to date. His designs play with discreet luxury, they are comfortable and ultra feminine. For the Bally x L’Officiel event I wore this look and played with the color combination of dark blue and black which I adore, it is so chic.
My look: Blue heart motif stretch-knit dress, black cropped fine-knit cardigan and corset belt, all by Azzedine Alaïa, Dirty ’50s stretch-denim jacket by Saint Laurent, dark blue suede strappy sandals by Miu Miu, Kelly So Black bag by Hermès, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond necklace by Piaget, diamond ring and bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery.
Monsieur Alaïa, you have my whole heart…
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Last night, BALLY celebrated their new F/W 2014 collection in collaboration with L’OFFICIEL SWITZERLAND at the Zurich store on Bahnhofstrasse.
Exclusively for BALLY, I chose as editor-in-chief my must-haves for the next season that were highlighted in the store with cute little tags. Moreover guests were entertained by a specially curated trunk show during the event. Enjoy some impressions below and stay tuned for my outfit post coming up soon.
To shop the chic F/W 2014 collection online, click here please.
LoL, Sandra
My favorite BALLY heels: the BESNA PUMPS
My favorite BALLY bag: the SOMMET TOTE
Last night with Erhard Schwendimann, BALLY’s Managing Director Retail
Photos: © David Biedert Photography
Sometimes it just needs one statement piece to draw all the attention to your outfit. But wait, a statement piece….? What is the statement? Here, it is the sequined Playboy bunny on the back of the hoodie that I wore last weekend on my flight to London for Fashion Week. Looking all innocent and casual at first sight, it unveils this fun message when you turn around. The only question left is what is the statement that the wearer is trying to make…? This you have to figure out yourself… mine will stay a statement secret.
My look: Cropped hoodie with zipper and sequined Playboy bunny by Marc Jacobs, snake-print cotton tank
by Stella McCartney, skinny mid-rise distressed jeans by Dolce & Gabbana, Bamboo leather tote
by Gucci, white and black leopard calf hair bootie by Rodarte, diamond ring and bracelet, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht