Sandra‘s Closet

Serpenti is one of the Bvlgari’s most famous icons. The figure of the reptile, a symbol of eternally youth and immortality in the mythological bestiary, is an integral and long-established part of the aesthetic universe of the Italian jeweler, and consistently appears in the most striking Bulgari creations. In religion, mythology, and literature, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. An object of desire for women all around the world since its first introduction.

The initial three coil gold snake wristwatch and bracelet, such as the ones in the collage above, were extremely successful in the 1950s and 1960s. Bulgari has expanded upon the theme by introducing other versions until today.

Recently, I was lucky to see this Bulgari museum piece from around 1965 which is not for sale:

Snake bracelet in gold and polychrome enamel (B616). The flexible bracelet designed as a coiled snake, the scales decorated with white and black enamel, the head with pear-shaped diamonds eyes.

It has already adorned the wrists of many celebrities, as you can see below:

Probably you can imagine how honoured I felt to wear this piece of contemporary history.

Eve was the first woman tempted by a serpent in paradise… and thanks to Bulgari many women have followed. In case you are ready to be tempted by the newest Serpenti 2012 collection, I invite you to click here for a previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari, © Getty Images, © Guindani, © Irving Penn for Vogue and © Sandra Bauknecht

The largest folks festival in the world, the annual legendary Oktoberfest will opened its doors again in September. In order to look absolutely stylish, Jimmy Choo with his exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail has designed a unique shoe as a tribute to the Bavarian state capital along with a matching clutch bag. Both pieces come in black patent leather with ribbons in 5 different colours to choose from.

The limited “Wiesn Edition” will be available exclusively in Jimmy Choo’s flagship store in Munich, Germany at Maximilianstr. 16 from August 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo

Here is my look for the Art Basel party with Montblanc:

Floral-lace coat, printed cotton A-line skirt, leather peep toe boots, all by Miu Miu, black top by Ralph Lauren Black Label, cadillac clutch bag by Prada, cherry earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, Diorette ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

Hope that you like it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

It is  Art Basel and it has been a very busy week for me. Called the “Olympics of the art world” by The Daily Telegraph, Art Basel is considered the world’s leading contemporary art fair. Each year, nearly 300 international galleries come to the Switzerland to showcase over 2,500 works. Open until Sunday, June 17th, 2012.

Last Tuesday, MONTBLANC, the German manufacturer of writing instruments, watches and accessories, often identified by their “White Star” logo, celebrated together with Parisian art gallery Perrotin the start of Art Basel and the 10th anniversary of their CUTTING EDGE ART COLLECTION. The private dinner party was held on a boat called Das Schiff – Restaurant Treibgut in Basel with a live performance of the band WhoMadeWho.

The engagement with the arts and artists has been embedded in Montblanc’s corporate philosophy for a long time. In regard to this, Montblanc began to build a contemporary art collection ten years ago. The works from the collection are displayed in the entire cooperation’s facilities at the headquarters in Hamburg.

Above you can see Ingrid Roosen-Trinks, Director at the Montblanc Cultural Foundation with me, who has built up Montblanc’s art projects from the very first beginning. (She wore the gorgeous cadillac leather skirt and matching heels from Prada‘s S/S 2012 collection. Funnily enough, Miuccia Prada’s designs are very coveted among art lovers.)

MONTBLANC CUTTING EDGE ART COLLECTION, Foyer at the Montblanc Headquarter, Hamburg

In 1998, Ingrid Roosen-Trinks started negotiations with artists and galleries and in 2002 Montblanc presented the first work by US artist Tom Sachs. Sachs considered it as a challenge to interpret the Montblac star, the emblem of the long-established company, and created the first commissioned work.

Tom Sachs, USA, Big Lunar Module 2002, 178 cm x 178 cm x 233 cm  
PVC, foam core, thermal adhesive

Since then, the collection expanded to 160 unique artworks including works by Thomas Demand, Liam Gillick, Jonathan Meese, Sylvie Fleury, Jorge Pardo, Ugo Rondinone, Michel Majerus, Lijun Fang.

Jonathan Meese, Germany, DIE 2 (SUSSIS) im milchfrischen Scarlettierbabyland de lovely PIE, 2008, 210 cm x 140 cm  
Oil and mixed media on canvas

Many of the artists were considered as Cutting Edge at the time they were commissioned – in other words, just at the edge of becoming well known. Today, they claim international recognition and continue a close relationship with the company. To view the brand through the eyes of internationally renowned artists and with that also perceive it undergo a contemporary interpretation is a privilege Montblanc is enjoying to get new impulses for their own work. The collection is also accessible to the public with guided tours.

Daniel Pflumm, Switzerland, Untiteled 2002 – 120x16cm
Light instalation

The MONTBLANC CUTTING EDGE ART COLLECTION is growing constantly. The MONTBLANC YOUNG ARTIST WORLD PATRONAGE project is an addition since 2005 to the collection. Young artist who are standing at the beginning of their careers are being chosen and offered to interpret the Montblanc logo. Reproductions of the works are then being displayed in all 410 Montblanc Boutiques around the world. This guarantees the young artists a unique attention and visibility.

Montblanc Art Bags, Headquarter Hamburg

During the growth of the collection, six unique objects were created in 2002: on the occasion of the opening of the Montblanc Flagship Boutique on the Champs Elysées in Paris, Jean-Marc Bustamante, Sylvie Fleury, Gary Hume, David LaChapelle, Sam Taylor-Wood and Anne et Patrick Poirier each created a three meter high shopping bag sculpture made of aluminum and each imprinted with a design created by the artists. These MONTBLANC ART BAGS travel around the world and have already been presented at art events, and in front of Montblanc flagship stores. The project was continued with a seventh sculpture by Marcel van Eeden in 2011. On time for the tenth anniversary of the CUTTING EDGE ART COLLECTION, Montblanc is presenting three new MONTBLANC ART BAGS, created by the internationally renowned Chinese artists Zou Cao, Ma Jun and Huang Min.

A familiar face at the party: Finnish artist Jani Leinonen with me.

Montblanc’s dedication to promoting worldwide creative talent and young artists is truly commendable. Stay tuned for a detailed post on my outfit!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Montblanc, © Helge Mundt and © Sandra Bauknecht

Personally speaking, the season’s best florals are from Céline‘s Cruise 2012 collection. I am completely in love with them. For a previous post with another print on leather, click here.

My look: Floral jacket and matching bustier top by Céline, long sleeve T-shirt by Splendid, pretty cropped low-rise skinny jeans by Dolce & Gabbana, Tribute chain-detailed suede sandals by Yves Saint Laurent and Birkin bag by Hermès.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last Monday in New York’s Marble Cemetry, Stella McCartney presented her Cruise 2013 collection in a very fun way with all the pleasures of a fair. Anne Hathaway with a fresh pixie crop and Jim Carrey were among the guests who could see the stunning new pieces first. Leopard print, lace and fresh florals in beautiful spring colours dominated Stella’s iconic cuts. What a beautiful collection!

On the menu for the stylish crowd were ice-cream sandwiches, mini tacos and old-school sodas.
I am in love with every single detail!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Stella McCartney

I thought that you might like Bally’s F/W 2012 campaign that transports us to a winter wonderland of effortless luxury, set against the breathtaking alpine background that surrounds the chic Swiss ski resort of Verbier. As I am living in Switzerland, this scenery is part of my daily life and I always feel like being on vacation here in Zurich.

Shot by New York-based photographer Norman Jean Roy at Verbier’s prestigious Chalet d’Adrien, Bally chose the iconic mountain resort town in Switzerland’s Valais to directly reflect the Swiss brand’s own heritage. The campaign features Caroline Trentini, Hilary Rhoda, Andrew Cooper and Robert Konjic.

Below are some of the behind the scenes shots that I truly liked.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bally

Swarovski pursues its story and opens a chapter on the theme of love: Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage. Boasting an olfactory composition inspired by moments of happiness in a marriage, it brings women good fortune and bliss.

The fragrance is composed of 3 main notes:

Sparkling and fruity, lychee blends perfectly with tea leaves to symbolise the seal of emotional commitment.
A delicate blend of peony and lotus evokes happiness, serenity and the promise of an eternal alliance.
In moments of intense love, white musk wraps women in a luminous and glittering aura.

This limited edition collection is available now.

Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage EdT Légère CHF 73.- (50ml)
Prestige Edition EdT Légère CHF 121.- (50ml)
Makeup Jewel Crystal Gloss, Rose Scintillant CHF 73.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski Parfums

Exciting news: Maison Martin Margiela is the next fashion house to collaborate with H&M.
The collection for both, men and women, will be available on November 15th, 2012 in 230 H&M shops worldwide as well as online.

“MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA is one of the most important and influential fashion houses of the past three decades. I am so excited by this collaboration which will give fashion lovers around the world the chance to wear special pieces by MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA. This collaboration will be a great and memorable fashion moment“, says Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

“We are very happy to present MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA pieces with H&M, offering a new interpretation of our vision. The democracy of our fashion has always been at the centre of our creativity, and the collaboration with H&M allows us to push this instinct further. We will bring together the contrasting universes of the two houses in ways that will surprise all.” MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

ABOUT MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA is a French fashion house which has always followed its own path, often outside the conventional fashion framework. The Maison believes in the absolute importance of the collaborative nature of its team rather than the individual, where its ideals are founded in the desire for concept and creativity. Constantly questioning the norms of fashion and presenting its pieces through the technique of deconstruction and transformation, the collections reinvent volumes, modify shapes, change the original use and movement of garments and derail classic notions of fashion.

The Paris-based label, whose elusive Belgian founder left the company in 2009, is loved by fashion insiders around the world for its avant-garde aesthetics. It might not reach the same level of anticipation as the collaboration with Versace did, but it will definitely be a successful and different combination!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of H&M

For his S/S 2012 fashion show, Giorgio Armani, the king of nonchalant elegance, borrows the luminous magic of Southern Italian summer nights, “when the last rays of the sun shine a myriad of new shades upon the water, when the blue sky turns to night tinged with green, petrol blue and bluish gray hues flushed with violet, when darkness sweeps over the scenery metallic glints silver tones, pale gold and pink copper tints sparkle and when stars seem to float upon the water.”

Mother-of-pearl (NACRE) gives its name and forms the central theme. With his new Haute Couture Fragrance NACRE, Giorgio Armani accompanies his prêt-à-porter collection with a rare, highly limited and very luxurious fragrance.

It is an ode to mother-of-pearl which signs each of the 1000 numbered bottles in this edition with a plate bearing its name. No two plates are the same: each is unique, in tribute to the living character of a material born from the depth of the sea. The bottle itself is a piece of art.

The fragrance was developed by perfumer Marie Salamagne, at Firmenich. It has a really spicy woody smell to it, with a strong amount of iris. It’s unisex and definitely something everyone could wear! The iris chosen for Nacre has a very rare quality, combining the rich, creamy facet of iris, with a powdery, almost talc-like note.

Top notes: Bergamot, pink pepper and saffron
Middle notes: Iris absolute and musk
Base notes: Patchouli, vetiver woods and tonka bean

130 bottles of the 1000 limited editions are available in Switzerland now for CHF 690.- (100ml). In Zurich at Jelmoli. Definitely a collector’s piece.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani, © Sandra Bauknecht