Sandra‘s Closet

In stores now are OPI‘s new six limited edition nail lacquers and a new shatter, inspired by Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man.
With an all-star cast including Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, this highly-anticipated series reboot opens in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The film villain’s reptilian look can be replicated with a high-fashion twist by using the new deep green shimmer Shatter coat.  Shatter the Scales is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter the Scales from matte to glossy in seconds.

Shatter the Scales

The line features six nail lacquers in addition to Shatter the Scales, ranging from white, coral and pink to mood-setting hues of blue, nickel and yellow-green:

From left to right:
Shatter the Scales
Green shatter top coat.

My Boyfriend Scales Walls
Climb new heights with this cityscape white.

Call Me Gwen-ever
Girlfriend, be sure to pick up when this urgent coral calls.

My Boyfriend Scales Walls
Climb new heights with this cityscape white.

Just Spotted the Lizard
Be seen in this reptilian yellow-green.

Number One Nemesis
Show your metal in this sparkling nickel.

Into the Night
This perfect midnight blue was made for prowling.

Just Spotted the Lizard on my nails

This limited edition promotion is available in Switzerland for CHF 23.90.
Have fun flying high with those new must-have shades and stay tuned for OPI’s newest collection coming up that is inspired by Germany, my home country with funny names for the shades such as “Don’t Pretzel My Buttons”, “Nein! Nein! Nein! OK fine!” and “Every Month is Oktoberfest”.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

Finally, Switzerland has a Mulberry store. Located in Zurich’s luxury shopping district, the new shop has a selling surface of 150 square meters on two floors, with a wonderful selection of accessories, shoes and womenswear from the English luxury brand.

Del Rey in Black Soft Spongy Leather –  990 EUR

Check out the newly launched Del Rey bag, inspired by American singer Lana Del Rey, one of fall’s must-have bags.

Mulberry, Storchengasse 4, CH-8001 Zurich

LoL, Sandra

Del Rey in Black Forest Soft Matte Leather – 990 EUR

Del Rey in Deer Brown Grainy Print Leather – 990 EUR

Del Rey in Petrol Veg Tanned Lambskin – 1120 EUR

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

Why wear just one or two colours when you can shove seven plus into one outfit?

My look: Rainbow cotton and silk-blend dress by Christopher Kane, paisley-print cotton-poplin jacket by Jil Sander, resin bead necklace by Marni, bag and shoes by Miu Miu, earrings by Bulgari.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dior introduces two new fragrance that belong to the house’s iconic Addict line of perfumes, dedicated to seduction, femininity and to style. “Having style, means having your own”, said Christian Dior.

Dior Addict is her perfume – her identity. She loves explosive colours – they represent her freedom. Oriental, fresh or floral, she has fun with all the Dior Addict fragrances.

The advertising campaign was shot by one of my favourite photographers, Tim Walker. The face is Daphne Groeneveld.

Dior Addict is a universe composed of three fragrances with contrasting scent compositions. Every shade of the palette asserts the audacious and complex personality of the Dior Addict woman. Which one are you? Or are you probably all three of them?

A SCENT WARDROBE

Dior Addict Eau Fraîche

Its scent signature? Bright and sharp, yet fresh and woody.
Its colour? A vivid, saturated, radiant pink for a sparkling cocktail.
Its flower? A radiant Freesia.
Its style? A swirling dress of transparent silk chiffon

Dior Addict Eau Sensuelle

Its scent signature? Floral and sensual, harmonious and luminous.
Its colour? A tender mauve.
Its flower? A velvety Rose.
Its style? An elegant, lilac coloured silky dress.

Dior Addict Eau de Parfum

Its scent signature? Oriental and modern, smooth and vibrant.
Its colour? The deep blue of a nocturne music score.
Its flower? The opulent Queen of the Night.
Its style? A low-cut black sheath dress in the finest organza.

In stores from today (All prices are only for information and suggested retail prices).

ADDICT EAU FRAICHE and EAU SENSUELLE Spray
20ml / CHF 66, 50ml / CHF 99, 100ml / CHF 140

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior

L’Oréal Paris has a very cool novelty, the Color Riche mini nail polish collection including 32 different shades. This is heaven for all nail polish aficionados.
For only CHF 9.90 per 5ml bottle, you can build up a wardrobe of nail colours to play around with. And the small size of the packaging makes it very convenient to travel with.

The brush of the nail polish is perfect, very easy to use because of its nail-like shape. It just takes the right amount of polish, and you can paint your nail with one stroke. The formula has a built-in topcoat, which means you can have gloss, shine and resistance in one step.
My favourite shades for summer: 408 Exquisite Scarlet (a flamboyant red), 610 Rebel Blue (a shimmering blue) and 201 Rose Paradis (a transparent pale rose).

An absolute insiders’ tip!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris and © Sandra Bauknecht

ROJA DOVE

The famous haute perfumer shares his tips for the best places to visit in Great Britain’s capital. He commutes between London and Brighton.

Your favourite city in the world: 
LONDON
There is no better place on earth.

Your favourite restaurant: 
THE WOLSELEY, 160 Piccadilly London, +44 20 7499 6996.

Your favourite hotel: 
CLARIDGE’S, 49 Brook Street, Mayfair, London,  +44 20 7629 8860.

Your favourite shop: HARRODS
Be sure to visit the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie on the fifth floor.

Your favourite bar or nightclub: 
THE COBURG BAR @ The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair Carlos Place, London, +44 20  74997070.
I am not so into nightclubs, because I love to be able to talk to my friends. A good drink at a bar is much better. A destination for genuine bar aficionados.

Your favourite sightseeing spot: THE RIVER RESTAURANT @ The Savoy Hotel Strand, London, +44 20 7836 4343
From there you have a fantastic view of the river themse, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament.

Your favourite park: ST. JAMES PARK

The scent of London: WOOD and LEATHER.
I actually did a scent once inspired by the city of London. It is a male city, not like Paris which is female. The gentlemen’s clubs rule the city. The architecture is clean and straight. So you see dark woods and lots of leather.

Thank you, Roja, for sharing your insider scoop on London with us!

LoL, Sandra

As promised, here is my paisley-print look, a wonderful trend for S/S 2012:

Paisley-print silk shirt, matching stretch-crepe shorts, both by Stella McCartney ,cameo and onion clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, small Marcie hobo bag in Skylight Blue by Chloé and handmade woven leather boots by Gucci.

Hope that you like it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

At the Formula One Grand Prix race on Sunday, May 27, Princess Charlene appeared in a Caraibe crêpe marocain Grand Prix dress by her all-time favourite Akris. The amazing print shows little race cars. Call this dressing for the occassion!

I have to admit that I am always proud when my fashion prediction comes true. Last October, I wrote that this would be the perfect dress for the princess to wear to this prestigious event.
(For the previous post, please click here.)

If you want to be on the fast lane fashionwise, shop the look here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Akris and Getty Images

During my stay at the fabulous Lausanne Palace & Spa, I was invited to an olfactory and flavorful feast for the senses at the famous Table d’Edgard, the Michelin-starred and the newly appointed 17/20 points Gaultmillau restaurant.

Two magicians: Chef Edgar Bovier and “Nose” Roja Dove

Famous perfumer Roja Dove and chef Edgar Bovier had created a dinner in which ingredients Roja uses in his perfumes were integrated in the different courses. As you smell and taste with the same primitive part of your brain, this experienece was outstanding, causing orgasmic explosions on your tongue. I was very lucky to sit next to Roja who explained me carefully which food I had to taste first while smelling the ingredient of the perfume.

Taste: Asparagus soup with light foam / Spices and pink pepper

Smell: VETIVER – Pink pepper
Season yourself with the scent of pepper! It is all about that spicy twist.

Taste: Shrimp on a bed of rosemary-confit citruses / Bergamot jelly 
Balsamic reduction / Roasted pistachio

Smell: SCANDAL pour HOMME – Bergamot
It takes 150.000 kg of the fruit to produce 1 kg oil. The best bergamot oil is one of the most luxurious products in the world.

Taste: Green pea-stuffed fresh morels / Orange jus

Smell: INNUENDO – Orris
You smell a paradox, the freshness on top and underneath the powdery. Orris is a term used for the roots Iris germanica, Iris florentina, and Iris pallida. It takes six years to make that material and it costs three times the amount of gold.

Taste: Spice-roasted sea bass / Light zucchini mash  
Saffron and basil shellfish jus

Smell: DIAGHILEV – Lemon, orange and saffron.
The spice just adds warmth.

Taste: Tonka bean and ivory chocolate mousse / Macaroon finger and Madagascar vanilla ice cream

Smell: DANGER – Tonka bean and vanilla
Oriental perfumes are about tease and promise.

I hope that you have enjoyed this tasteful post. It was one of the most outstanding gourmet menus I have ever tasted.
If you are interested in the perfumes, I kindly invite you to contact the Lausanne Palace Boutique via e-mail: laboutiquedupalace@lausanne-palace.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Roja Dove

Here are the photos from Burberry‘s F/W 2012 advertising campaign celebrating Britishness, London and the Burberry heritage of weather protection in the brand’s most cinematic shoot to date. The campaign was shot at night under the creative direction of Christopher Bailey by Mario Testino at the iconic Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.

The very British cast, actress Gabriella Wilde and musician Roo Panes star in their first advertising campaign.

“We wanted to play with everything that’s at the heart of the Burberry world – celebrating our brand and London through imagery, film, music, weather and our iconic outerwear, all in a very poetic and British way. 
Using London as the backdrop, we shot the series of cinematic, emotive black and white images and short films with the incredibly talented Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes, who effortlessly bring the campaign and our collections to life across all of our platforms.”

Christopher Bailey, Burberry Chief Creative Officer

I truly like the campaign and Burberry Prorsum’s F/W 2012 collection is absolutely divine. Same as in Versace’s F/W 2012 ad campaign, the mood is very dark for the next season.Very contrary to this colourful and vibrant summer.

Below you can enjoy some behind the scenes shots.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Copyright Burberry/Testino