Sandra‘s Closet

Miu Miu‘s new ‘Rasoir Sunglasses’ will surely become the new season’s must-haves. What a sophisticated vision of femininity!

Characterised by a sharp cut on the lower part of the glasses’ front and defined by bold thickness and large arms, this capsule eyewear collection comprises four models: one style of prescription glasses, presented at the S/S 2013 runway show (see photo below), two sunglasses in acetate and one style of sunglasses in metal.

Available starting in May 2013 for €220.00 in Miu Miu stores and at select opticians.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

Today is a traditional Spring holiday in the city of Zurich, which is called “Sechseläuten” (In Swiss German: Sächsilüüte). Since the early 20th century, it is celebrated on the 3rd Monday of April of every year. Following the parade of the “Zünfte” (guilds), the culmination of this popular tradition is the burning of winter in effigy, in the form of the “Böögg” (cognate to bogey), a figure of a snowman prepared with explosives.

It is said that the time between the lighting of the pyre and the explosion of the Böögg’s head is indicative of the coming summer: a quick explosion promises a warm, sunny one, a drawn-out burning a cold and rainy one. So let’s keep our fingers crossed that this head will be falling off fast today!

As the roots of the festival go back to medieval times, I was inspired to this look: Printed silk-organza midi dress by Dolce & Gabbana, Skull studded leather box clutch by Alexander McQueen, Noeud 120 bow-embellished leather peep-toes by Christian Louboutin and Leonard 2 round-frame acetate sunglasses by Illesteva.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via NZZ and © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

In celebration of their tenth anniversary, Italian fashion brand Forte_Forte presented their luxurious highly limited edition capsule collection “10” at Vestibule in Zurich last week.

Forte_Forte  is designed by Paolo and his sister Giada Forte, who is the soul of the label and had come all the way from Italy for this special event (see photo above with me). It was a true pleasure to meet the lovely designer who is expecting her first child in July.

Giada, who studied knitwear design, is in charge of the creative part and her brother Paolo, who worked in the family knitwear company before, looks after the financial aspects.

Forte_Forte offers delicate, feminine pieces that are rich in special finishings and impress with lovely hand-made details, such as precious embroidered labels and small beautiful perfumed bags in which they are sold.

A very special and beautiful collection!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Forte_Forte, Vestibule and © Sandra Bauknecht

RENE ZIBOLD

The PR and Communication Manager for H&M Switzerland has great style and many loyal followers on instagram (@monsieurené) who enjoy his daily fashion updates. Being fluent in four languages, he loves to travel. Other places inspire him, with the City of Light leading the way.

Your favourite city? La merveilleuse ville lumière: PARIS!
It’s the most beautiful city in the world, where I can find everything I really love!

Your favourite hotel? HOTEL ATHÉNÉE, a small, romantic and very elegant boutique hotel in the center of Paris. If you love Jacques Garcia’s interiors, you’ll adore it!

Your favourite restaurant? The CAFÉ RUC, in the beautiful neighborhood of Saint Honoré. The interior is also made by Jacques Garcia. The Suprême de volaille “minute” with “purée maison” is a must have! Dessert? Of course the Gâteau au chocolat!

Your favourite bar or nightclub? The GEORGES at the Centre Pompidou, also excellent for dinner. The view over Paris by night is breathtaking!

Your favourite sightseeing spot? The LOUVRE. I can spend hours in front of each masterpiece of Eugène Delacroix!

Your favourite park? The JARDIN DES TUILERIES next to the Louvre and after a walk I always enjoy a coffee and the delicious “tarte fine aux pommes“ at CAFE MARLY.

Your favourite shop? The DRIES VAN NOTEN men’s store at the Quai Malaquais. I just love the interior of the store and of course Van Noten’s beautiful men’s collections. Can’t wait to buy there the Fall 2013 collection!!!

Your must-have accessory? No matter if it’s summer or winter and where I am… I usually wear ETRO SCARVES. They really are my must-have accessory!

The best soundtrack for this destination? Jean-Claude Pascal: PARIS AU MOIS DE SEPTEMBRE. I’m in love with this song!

The best book to read while being on vacation there? I always buy ART or FASHION BOOKS in Paris. The BOOKSHOP at the PALAIS DE TOKYO has a fantastic selection.

Thank you, René, for sharing your insider scoop on Paris with us!

LoL, Sandra

Acque Nobili – A new collection of fragrances from the house of Acqua di Parma, mirroring the pureness of water. Elegant, aristocratic femininity stems from the precious notes of three noble flowers, all absolutely lovely for the summer season: Iris, Magnolia and Gelsomino.

Discover more:

ACQUA NOBILE GELSOMINO
Green Floral

This bright uplifting fragrance is reminiscent of a bouquet of jasmin flowers sprinkled in a veil of fresh morning dew.

Top notes: Bergamot, mandarin, lemon and pink pepper
Middle notes: Neroli oil, petit grain, jasmine extract from Calabria and green floral tones
Base notes: Musk

ACQUA NOBILE IRIS
Floral

As the sun beams down on the noble Italian gardens, a graceful dance promptly begins to celebrate this unique moment. A clear and elegant fragrance, developed from the rare iris pallida flower.

Top notes: Mandarin, cedar, grapefruit, neroli oil and violet
Middle notes: Iris pallida and orange blossom
Base notes: Musk and vanilla

ACQUA NOBILE MAGNOLIA
Fresh Floral

The gracious and joyful charm of the beautiful magnolia flower is unlocked at day break when the first light of day falls upon the ivory petals of this majestic flower.

Top notes: Bergamot, mandarin, cedar, lemon and neroli oil
Middle notes: Freesia, lily of the valley, orange blossom, sambac jasmine and magnolia
Base notes: Musk, patchouli and vanilla

In stores now. In Zurich exclusively available at Jelmoli.

LoL, Sandra

Campaign photos: Giovanni Castel for Acqua di Parma, Stills: Courtesy of Acqua di Parma

During Paris Fashion Week, I went to some amazing events that I would like to share with you. Let’s get started with one that was truly outstanding, something that you don’t see every day.

I was invited to the elegant salons of the association France Ameriques in avenue Franklin Roosvelt, where a very special collaboration, PRINCESS GRACE, MORE THAN AN IMAGE, between Pringle of Scotland and Central Saint Martins was presented.

The collection designed by young talents of the renowned college of arts and design in London features pieces in the finest 100% made in Scotland knitwear, inspired by the wardrobe of H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco, who had loved the historical British brand very much and had been frequently seen in it.

H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover had come all the way from Monaco to attend this intimate event in honour of her late mother. She had also supported the students and had given them access to the palace archives.

In April 2012, the findings were revealed in an exhibition hosted by the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco featuring never before seen material, showcasing Princess Grace’s daily wardrobe in the most relaxed and familial situations, particularly knitwear and Pringle of Scotland archive styles.

The students took those aesthetic elements and translated them into this beautiful capsule collection…

… under the creative supervision of the famous Professor Louise Wilson O.B.E. (see photo below to the right). Being among the world’s most influential fashion educators, her former students include Christopher Kane, Marios Schwab, Mary Katrantzou, Roksanda Ilincic among many others.

Personally speaking, I found one aspect very moving when H.R.H. Carolina of Monaco Princess of Hanover explained that this project has meant a lot to her: “There have been many exhibitions on my mum, but this is special, when she wore knitwear, it meant we were more informal, it meant happy times.“

And as Marie Claude Beaud, Director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, put it “Grace Kelly has been a princess, an actress…but above all a woman, a mother”.

With this in mind, the collection truly manages to highlight the most personal, discreet and daily aspects of the Princess without loosing its historical heritage, it looks modern and desirable.

Pringle of Scotland’s ambassadress Tilda Swinton was leading the conversation.

Interesting to know is that the title PRINCESS GRACE: MORE THAN AN IMAGE derives from a quote that the Princess gave to Time Magazine in 1955, whilst still the film actress Grace Kelly, “I don’t want to dress up a picture with just my face”. This sense of exploring the person behind the image is evident throughout the project. She will stay in everyone’s imagination forever.

And this fall, it is official, we will not only dream of an Hermès Kelly bag.Pringle of Scotland’s Kelly sweater will be on everyone’s shopping list and it will be definitely more accessible. The capsule collection will hit the shelves in Switzerland in September at Jelmoli.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on the movie “Grace” that will hit the cinemas in the end of the year and enjoy some more impressions of this beautiful event in Paris below.

LoL, Sandra

Gorgeous Tilda Swinton with me

Photos: Courtesy of Pringle of Scotland, © Sandra Bauknecht;
Photos of Princess Grace: © Jae Lee, © Alice Bastion

The best eye concealer ever! Personally speaking, the house of Sisley has surprised me lately with every single new launch. Having invested a lot in their research program, they have come up with some amazing new products. Do you remember the BOTANICAL D-TOX for the face or the new SO INTENSE mascara?

PHYTO CERNES ECLAT has hit the shelves this spring. This concealer is the first one that truly works its magic, by covering every sign of fatigue without looking too caked on. In the contrary, it is smoothing out fine lines, giving the whole area under the eye a boost, making it look radiant and fresh by instantly masking dark circles. My eye contour area feels moisturized upon application. What a treat!

Available for CHF 91.00 (15ml) in three different shades.
TO SHOP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Sisley

Designed in New York. Made in Italy. Worn with affection.

Shoes transport you: From the cobblestoned streets of SoHo to the cafes and canals of Venice, comfortable, chic, shoes allow us to explore fashion and culture. With this in mind, J.Crew’s new Italian shoe collection has the style of New York and the craftsmanship of Italy. To check out which ones are your favorites, click here please.

Personally speaking, I love the Janey patent flats in lime green and the Etta pink leopard sequins pumps (see above).

Great news for you, my dear readers! Here is your chance to receive a trip for two to NYC, a tour of the Vogue offices, a $1,000 J.Crew shopping spree with a Very Personal Stylist, and dinner for two at a NYC Italian hot spot. All you have to do is to share your interpretation of how your world reflects the mix-and-match fashions of NYC and the cultural community of Italy.

HOW TO ENTER

– Subscribe/log-in to Pinterest and follow J.Crew on Pinterest.
– Create a board entitled “My Shoe Story”.
– Pin 5 shoe or product images from jcrew.com or J.Crew Pinterest together with images of the places that inspire you.
– Use the hashtags #jcrew and #myshoestory in the pin descriptions.
– Click here to enter.
– The contest ends on April 29, 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of J.Crew

At the moment I am obsessed with braids and biker jackets. The two of them in combination add just the right amount of sweetness and rock allure to every outfit.

Today’s look: Black leather biker jacket (also available in red) and suede ankle boots, both by Saint Laurent, flared barnacle-intarsia dress by Alexander McQueen, cashmere and silk-blend cardigan by Miu Miu, earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, ring by Etro, Birkin bag by Hermès and black velvet deluxe tights by Wolford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Bourjois is celebrating its 150th anniversary and I received a package filled with some amazing products that made my heart leap for joy. My favourite: “My lips fashion book” with the wonderful ROUGE EDITION collection of 18 lip shades direct from the runway. Of course all those hues are pretty tempting, but FUCHSIA is the must-have lip colour of the season!

Here is my list of the best fuchsia hues available at the moment.

ROUGE EDITION by Bourjois in 07 Fuchsia Graffiti
Calling all fashionista’s out there… this new lipstick is for you!  The perfect shade for your new season outfit! Available now for CHF 18.90

ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE by Yves Saint Laurent in 06 Pink in Devotion
An innovative and comforting lipstick enhanced with fruit extracts rich in vitamins and antioxidants that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration.
Available now for CHF 50.00

SUPER STAY 14 HR LIPSTICK by Maybelline in 160 Infinitely Fuchsia
This lipstick won’t weigh you down. Super rich colour with super staying power. No dragging. No drying. No letdowns at all. Available now for CHF 16.90

GLOSS D’ENFER by Guerlain in 471 Prune Zip
Intense colour and shine for a bare lips sensation in fuchsia.
Available in Switzerland from May 2, 2013 for CHF 43.00.

SATIN LIP PENCIL by Nars in Yu
A modern, long-wearing, vitamin-enriched formula in a jumbo pencil format to provide great wear and intense color with a satin finish. Use for lining, all-over shading, or pairing with another lip product. This hue is inspired by the romantic garden in Shanghai’s old town.
Available now for CHF 45.00
(This is the shade I am wearing on my lips on the photo in the first collage).

HEAT WAVE SUMMER 2013 by Smashbox in Fuchsia Flash
Make your pout shout with this mega-juicy gloss that is part of a collection of 4 vibrant shades.
Available now for CHF 40.00 the complete set exclusively at Marionnaud.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands and © Sandra Bauknecht