Sandra‘s Closet

Yesterday morning, I left my hotel very early to go backstage before the Michael Kors S/S 2014 show and I was in the mood to show my love for NYC!

My look: Dirty ’50s stretch-denim jacket by Saint Laurent, I Heart Nueva York cotton-jersey tank, printed silk skirt with trompe d’oeil shirt sleeves tied around the waist, both by 3.1 Phillip Lim, Susanna studded leather ankle boots by Chloé, Bamboo leather shopper tote by Gucci, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring, both by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

“Spring 2014 combines East Coast prep with West Coast ease. It’s Melrose to Malibu. The West Coast represents a golden era of surf, sport, and optimism.” – Tommy Hilfiger

Vibrant, beautiful colours appeared on the Tommy Hilfiger S/S 2014 runway, that was created like a beach scenery with sand dunes, surfboards and lifeguard chairs. When the cheerful music started, the audience was moving on their seats to the beats of Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ song “Californication” and “California Girls” by the Beach Boys. The outfits were stunning, perfect for all surfer girls among you.

Personally speaking, the wetsuit was a great inspiration. Cool, modern, with a certain twist. As the American designer describes his collection: “I revisited iconic elements of California style – the polo, barracuda jacket, sports jersey, and bowling shirt – and reinvented them with the relaxed spirit of the West Coast in mind. From softly tailored denim and chambray to our signature Hawaiian prints to innovative neoprene-bonded leather, the season captures the ease and youthful attitude of Cali style.”

Having seen this amazing collection, I actually never want summer to end… It is surely going to be a huge hit among the cool kids!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today has been such a busy day and I have barely had time to blog. So, I thought to keep you posted, you might enjoy one of the outfits I wore today.

My look: Printed silk jumpsuit, matching satin sandals, transparent belt, all by Dolce & Gabbana, Bamboo shopper leather tote by Gucci, Limelight Gala watch, diamond rose necklace and ring, all by Piaget, Atlas sterling silver bangles by Tiffany & Co. and Hapi leather bracelet by Hermès.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Thank you, Emily of My Little Fashion Diary for taking them!

Sunday afternoon, Thakoon Panichgul showed his S/S 2014 collection, which was soft, delicate and very feminine. A lot of all in white looks, something that I have spotted quite often during the last days at New York Fashion Week.

I have especially adored the long pearl chains on Thakoon’s bags, created in collaboration with the Japanese jewelry company Tasaki, with whom Panichgul has a long-running partnership. Before the show started, I was able to explore the collection backstage. Funnily enough, I arrived with Anna Wintour at the same time.

It was great to see Thakoon again whom I had met for the first time in London at the Net-à-porter headquarters two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Lead Artist Diane Kendal for NARS Cosmetics created a look that was ”all about a beautiful fresh look for spring.” A little bit of spot concealing, she worked mainly with the new three matte multiples that will be newly launched for Spring 2014. So beauty addicts, it is time to get excited!

FACE: Sheer Glow Foundation
NEW Anguilla Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)
NEW Cappadoce Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

EYES: Larger Than Life® Lengthening Mascara

BROWS: Bali Eyeshadow

LIPS: NEW Laos Matte Multiple (Launching Spring 2014)

Stay tuned for more from New York Fashion Week coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Style.com

Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Co. all came to watch Opening Ceremony‘s runway debut that took place yesterday evening at Pier 57 in New York City. The runway felt like a scene of Fast & Furious when the audience spotted a row of very luxurious cars of which the models were exiting.

The collection was, of course, ultra-cool, coming from designer duo Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (who are also the masterminds behind Kenzo’s success) and inspired by street-racing with layers, buckles, visible zippers, and parachute-like shapes.

I had the honour to go backstage before the show and to meet Carol Lim in person.

Another amazing highlight was the interview with Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director for Estée Lauder, who was in charge for the runway show’s makeup look.

I love Tom, he is so sweet with his very charming French accent. It is always a pleasure talking to him and listening to his beauty secrets. I had interviewed him already two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Estée Lauder and Opening Ceremony have teamed up to dress Estée Lauder’s beauty advisors around the globe. Please tell me a little more about it.

It was a big challenge. You need to create clothes for different countries, different characters, bodies, you have to be able to wash and dry them easily, best without ironing, so you have to find the right material. Makeup should be like that, too.

What do you hope that stands out the next season?

Beauty and indivisuality. The makeup is not about looking good is about feeling good. My job is to bring a proposal, like every fashion brand does. Afterwards you will have to decide if you like to embrace it. I don’t like to dictate a rule.

Is there a special reason why you give a kind of massage to the models in the beginning?

The models are working very hard, much harder than we do. They need a little bit of love, it is a great way to connect, to relax. You do a better job if the person on the chair feels good. When you do a massage, you relax all the muscles, you activate the blood circulation. By performing the massage, in terms of skin quality, you get a much better result. The makeup stays longer, the complexion looks more radiant.

The cheeks for your look seem very contoured?

Yes, because the young girls with their baby cheeks love to have a little bit of contour.

Do you have a favourite product right now?

Every day is different, every model and skin texture is different. A good concealer, a nude lipstick, a white and black eye pencil are among my essentials.

Do you think the red lips will stand out the next season?

The red lips will always be in. Orange will go, red will stay. It is pure femininity.

Personally speaking, what are you doing to find always new inspirations?

I work with talented people. I have been working for three decades and I am terribly afraid to work by myself. I love to meet new people, like Humberto and Carol, Derek Lam, all such creative people. The sharing is the most important thing.

MAKEUP: Tom Pecheux for Estée Lauder

Eyes: Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint in Halo, Pink Zinc or Chained (Matched with Skintone)

Lips: NEW Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Insatiable Ivory – launching March 2014

Cheeks: Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer (Matched with Skintone)

Brows: NEW Double Wear Stay-in-Place Brow Lift Duo – launching January 2014

Face: Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup
Lucidity Translucent Loose Powder in Transparent
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Skin: NEW Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme – launching November 2013
Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Male

NAILS: Naomi Nails for Estée Lauder

Nails: Nail Lacquer in Blue Blood
Overlay design: White and light blue acrylic paint

The hair was kept in a low tousled ponytail for the show. I have just loved every single detail of this look and hope that you have enjoyed it, too.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Getty and Estée Lauder

Right after I had arrived in NYC on Saturday, I went to Pier 59 to go backstage before the Tibi S/S 2014 show and to interview Amy Smilovic. The charming designer has brought her label in a very short amount of time to success and told me a little about her inspiration and how she manages daily life as a working mum of two sons.

What was your inspiration for S/S 2014?

It is travel-inspired, from Asia to Arizona. It is really about the grit and the work that goes into getting there and the beauty once you arrive. That was grounding the collection for me because I love beautiful things but you need to be able to wear them in daily life on the street. It is important for me that the collection is cool and clean but still feminine.

After your amazing very successful last collection, do you feel pressure to reinvent and top yourself?

Always. It is a good challenge. I would rather feel the pressure to reinvent myself than staying the same.

How do you manage in daily life being a business woman and mother of two?

Just do it! My sons are were important to me. Being a mum keeps me balanced, I don’t freak out about tiny details. The kids help me keep perspective.

Your secret to success?

I surround myself with really good people.

Do you have an icon? Which women would you like to wear your designs?

No, I don’t have an icon. It is a mix of strong women, such as Charlotte Rampling, Patti Smith and Kate Bosworth. I want really confident woman to wear my clothes.

Speaking of which, as I am a huge fan of the brand, I was of course wearing a Tibi dress combined with my leather biker jacket, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps, both by Saint Laurent and the Bamboo shopper leather tote by Gucci.

I have truly loved the nail design created by Jin Soon Choi. Inspired by the collection’s travel theme, Jin came up with a manicure that expresses a virtual language developed by American travelers who lived a nomadic life in the 1920s.

These signs were used to help fellow travelers navigate; the vertical/ horizontal lines on the nails are an extraction  from the traveler symbol “all right”.

Jin Soon Choi with me backstage

Front row next to Stylebop Fashion Director Leila Yavari

What I have loved most about this beautiful collection were the details, like cutouts, unusual hemlines or fringes in the back. The jumpsuits, along with the palm print were amazing. My preferred look was the all orange combination pretty much at the end.

Enjoy all my favourites below and stay tuned for more!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I flew from Zurich to New York for Fashion Week. I had a very relaxing flight, worked a little and watched Hangover 3, but couldn’t really sleep. After I had arrived, I went straight to the Tibi S/S 2014 show location to go backstage before the event and to interview the wonderful Amy Smilovic. The collection is amazing and I cannot wait to show you everything. In the meantime, here is my comfy outfit I wore for the flight:

Leather biker jacket by Saint Laurent, cashmere leggings by Donna Karan, embellished striped top by Balmain, Susanna studded leather ankle boots by Chloé, Bamboo shopper leather tote by Gucci, Atlas sterling silver bangles by Tiffany & Co., Hapi leather bracelet by Hermès, Limelight Gala watch, diamond rose necklace and ring, all by Piaget.

Stay tuned for more to come from New York Fashion Week and don’t forget to follow me on instagram (@sandrascloset) for live updates.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

As promised, here is the detailed post about my outfit that I wore to the amazing event in Munich with Karl Lagerfeld this week. I got really spoilt. In my lovely room at the Louis Hotel, some gorgeous gifts waited for me and I am all excited to have a limited edition couture dress by Mr Lagerfeld in my closet now.

My look: Beaded organza dress by Karl Lagerfeld Couture, quilted leather bag (also available in black) by Karl Lagerfeld, coral shape heels by Chanel, earrings by Christian Dior, Limelight Gala watch and diamond rose ring, both by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This week, I was in my beloved Munich for some very special and extremely fun events. On Thursday evening, Karl Lagerfeld in person had flewn in to celebrate the preview of the documentation: “Karl Lagerfeld – Mode als Religion” which will air this Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 8.15pm at VOX. For this four-hour coverage, author Martina Neuen has accompanied the fashion pope for 18 months to give an exclusive insight into the world of the famous designer.

After the preview at Munich’s Gloria Palast, we took the shuttle service to attend the Karl Lagerfeld shop opening on Maffeistrasse where the designer’s new punk-inspired Dirndl collection has already been on display. Even German television personality Verona Pooth couldn’t resist this tartan and lace model and asked her husband to buy it for her…

As I had lived for eight years in the Bavarian city, I was so happy to see many familiar faces and truly had a blast. Here you see me with fashion designer and juror Guido Maria Kretschmer (1), photographer Goran Nitschke (2), CEO Stylebop Thorsten Eimuth (3) and Verona Pooth (4).

On the “black” carpet with my friend and jewelry designer Tatjana Hoffmann.

In the new Karl Lagerfeld store with DJ John Munich, son of singer Udo Jürgens.

A little nightcap at my favourite bar in Munich Schumann’s with jewelry designer Gabriele Frantzen and Hendrikje Kopp. By the way, Gabriele’s fur stole is not a fancy fashion accessory but an arm sling as she had broken her shoulder two days ago. What a cool idea!
Stay tuned for my outfit post coming up tomorrow…

TO SHOP KARL LAGERFELD ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Get ready to add more jewelry pieces to your Tiffany & Co. wish list. Trendsetter and fashionista Olivia Palermo couldn’t resist the little turquoise box neither and sports the new Atlas collection already on her wrist.

The new line offers all the power and magnetism that made this celebrated design a fashion icon. Introduced in 1995, the collection is named for the mythic Greek god who holds aloft an enormous globe – an apt symbol for a collection that makes an impact around the world. The Atlas collection explores the raised Roman numerals of its archetype, the Atlas watch that was launched in 1983 and that was granted a rare U.S. patent for its originality.

The latest options continue the evolution of Atlas, with its classical Roman numerals styled in jewelry that is eternally modern, chic and sophisticated.

The clean-cut numerals assert their timeless beauty in the prime asset to own now: an Atlas bangle of spirited versatility. Tiffany circles the numbers in cutouts of 18 karat yellow, pink or white gold, defining style in lean, confident strides. Bordered with sparkling diamonds, this major design statement makes for bold band rings, as well, circled with diamonds or shaped in smooth, polished metal.

Other options that figure prominently include narrow bracelets with fine chains that drape the wrist and a great open medallion in gleaming sterling silver. Altogether the jewelry generates a sensuous play of light that casts a luster over dressing day and night.

Every variation on the theme shines with a chic sophistication that is the essence of Tiffany. Definitively American in its bold simplicity, Atlas embodies the strength of the brand, and of the stylish women who wear it all over the world. A true fashion statement of its own…

The Tiffany Atlas jewelry collection is available now at Tiffany & Co. locations worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.