Sandra‘s Closet

Christian Louboutin, the king of shoes and the creator of the iconic glossy red soles, has launched a special collection celebrating his brand’s 20th anniversary. Below you can enjoy and shop the amazing designs that will add instant glamour to your wardrobe. I love the fringed and the python boots (see last two photos below)!

If you would like to get to know Mr. Louboutin a little better, click here for a previous post.

LoL, Sandra

20th Anniversary Rose Du Desert leather knee sandals by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Neuron 120 suede cage sandals by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Unzip 100 suede sandals by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Isolde 160 patent-leather sandals by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Armadillo Bride 120 leather pumps by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Pigalove patent-leather ballet flats by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Highness Tina 160 fringed suede boots by Christian Louboutin

20th Anniversary Daf 160 python boots by Christian Louboutin

Something for my Swiss and German based readers:
The new SI Style is available featuring my monthly fashion column. In this issue, I am giving my readers some “fashionable” details of my pregnancy and how it can be sometimes quite challenging to be a working mum. In case that you have ever wondered who is taking the photos of my outfits, it is my daughter. And I am very proud of her!
For further details regarding the gown that I am wearing in the photo, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

“Island of the Gods and Demons”, “land of 10,000 temples” – these are just two of the many names for Bali, the Indonesian island located in the Indian Ocean between Java and Lombok. I love the friendliness of the Balinese people and the beauty of the island and not only because I spent my honeymoon at the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan. The same resort and villa that Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber celebrated their honeymoon. The island has an aura that is quite overwhelming.

Bali Balance is a label launched in 2011 with offices in Indonesia and Switzerland that brings the magic of this wonderful island to your home.
High quality hair and body spa products made with organic essential oils that are produced biologically in Bali and that have an intense revitalizing effect. 
Indulge yourself and wake up your senses with magical scents that will accompany you throughout the day.

The product range includes shampoos (CHF26.-/250ml), conditioners (CHF29.-/250ml), body wash (CHF24.-/250ml) and body lotion (CHF 29.-/250ml), oils (CHF32.-/250ml) and candles which are all available in two scents: Morning Mantra (lemongrass, clove, lavender, peppermint, cajeput, ginger) and Bali Passion (vanilla, ylang ylang, ginger and sandelwood).
For further enquiries, please contact: .
In Switzerland, Bali Balance products are exclusively available at Cachet.

Famous places such as the The Istana are using the Bali Balance products.
A feast for the senses!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bali Balance

Yesterday, I had a pretty busy day with different events and the opening exhibition of the Gunter Sachs Collection at Sotheby’s in the evening. After many days of bad weather, the sun was shining for a change. So I chose this look that worked day to night perfectly:

Python-print silk dress by Chloé, double-breasted blazer by Balmain (a similar great piece is this military coat by Balmain which is available now), tri-colour Trapeze bag by Céline, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis, belt and boots by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last night, I went to the exhibition opening of the Gunter Sachs Collection at Sotheby’s.

The art collection of famous German multimillionaire Gunter Sachs, who committed suicide at his chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, at the age of 78, last year and who was once married to style icon Brigitte Bardot, will be sold at a Sotheby’s auction in London on May 22 & 23, 2012.

The 300 items are ranging from Pop Art works to Art Deco furniture, including paintings by Andy Warhol, Yves Klein and Mel Ramos, to name a few.

Sachs, one of the last great “playboys” and famed for his jet-set lifestyle, was friends with many famous artists.

Andy Warhol – Brigitte Bardot
Acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 120 by 120cm
Executed in 1974
Estimate £ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000

I love this Bardot painting!

Visit sotheby’s.com/sachs for further information, highlights and videos. For enquiries regarding the London auction, please call + 44 (0) 20 7293 5390.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: AFP, Getty Images, Reuters

Welcome to Pet Kingdom at Harrods – the world’s premier shopping destination for canine chic and feline trends.

11,000 square feet of emporium dedicated to your furry, feathered and fishy friends. There is a large section with designer dog clothes and accessories to pamper your puppy prince or princess. Moreover you can shop for dog apparel, collars, toys, beds, Halloween costumes, trendy cushions for cats and much more. See for yourself:

If your four legged friend is as fashionable as you, you might want to dress him in the newest Mulberry for Dogs collection!

For a seriously pampered pet, book them an appointment at the Pet Spa which promises a whole menu of animal friendly services including behavioural counselling, full body massages and animal reiki as well as nutritional advice, personal training sessions and grooming. Owners can also choose from signature treatments including thalassotherapy mud baths, blueberry and vanilla facials, deluxe pedicures and even book their pets onto a full Spa Day Experience.

The Pet Spa is located on Harrods Fourth Floor. Treatments start from £59.95. To book please email or call 020 3036 6222.

Isn’t that hilarious?!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

SMASHBOX – Created. Tested. Photographed at Smashbox Studios LA.

Smashbox Cosmetics is an American makeup brand, founded by Dean and Davis Factor in 1996, with the focus on meeting the needs of “a high definition world”, the needs of a photo shoot brought to daily life.

Their goal has always been to demystify makeup and to help every woman to be her own makeup artist.

From finding quick beauty fixes to easy makeup application, Smashbox offers innovative products for everyone, everywhere. I recommend to visit their homepage for awesome makeup tutorials and more by clicking here.

Smashbox’s most important products are the legendary PRIMERS, with 23% of the company’s overall business.
11 different primers are offered to choose from. To find out which one works for you, try the primer finder or visit the nearest Smashbox counter for a personalized shopping experience.

My personal favourite is the new oil-free Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer (blue, second to the left) that delivers immediate hydration to the skin and seals it in for hours while smoothing fine lines and pores, CHF 44.-.

Smashbox products are exclusively available in Switzerland at selected Marionnaud stores.

Click, you’re it! It is your flawless-looking skin…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Smashbox and © Sandra Bauknecht

Here is your preview of the beautiful Chanel Summer 2012 Makeup Collection:
SUMMERTIME DE CHANEL.

Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, replicates the natural glow of sunbathed skin with luminous bronze, gold and copper tones. Playing up a radiant complexion: Chanel embraces the season with perfect lips and nail shades, from fresh neutral shades to bright coral hues. I am pretty sure that the nail polishes will become a hit worldwide again.

COMPLEXION

Soleil Tan de CHANEL Harmonie Poudre de Soleil – Luminous Bronzing Powder
Bottom: 907 Sable Beige (Golden Beige), Top: 917 Sable Rose (Golden Pink)
CHF 80.- each

The new bronzers, each comprised of five unique shades lend subtle hints of warmth and shimmer to every complexion.
Blended altogether, the shades create a seamless bronzing effect; used on their own, the gold powders illuminate the complexion, while the darker shades sculpt the face when gently swept along its natural contours.

EYES

Ombres Contraste Duo – Eyeshadow Duo
37 Sable – Emouvant (Beige and Brown)
CHF 60.-

Le Crayon Yeux – Precision Eye Definer
47 Brun Intense (Deep Brown)
CHF 33.-

Le Crayon Khôl – Intense Eye Pencil
75 Pêche Cuivré (Coppery Peach)
CHF 32.-

LIPS

Rouge Coco Shine – Hydrating Sheer Lipshine
437 Empreinte (Soft Beige) and 447 En Vogue (Bright Coral)
CHF 46.-

Lèvres Scintillantes – Glossimer
327 Sirocco (Beige) and 337 Calypso (Coral)
CHF 41.-

NAILS

Le Vernis – Nail Colour
597 Island (Golden Beige), 607 Delight (Bronze) and 617 Holiday (Bright Coral), see photo of my nails below
CHF 35.-

Here my favourites of the SUMMERTIME DE CHANEL collection:

Soleil Tan de Chanel in 907 Sable Beige, Rouge Coco Shine in 437 Empreinte and 447 En Vogue, Lèvres Scintillantes in 337 Calypso, Le Vernis in 617 Holiday and Le Crayon Khôl in 75 Pêche Cuivrée

Available in Switzerland end of May 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel and © Sandra Bauknecht

Welcome to the Coachella Festival, the annual music and arts festival in the California Desert, during which Mulberry hosted two events in Palm Springs this weekend:

The Firepit Party on Friday 13th April and the following day on Saturday 14th a BBQ Pool Party, both at the Parker Hotel.

The guests included Emma Hill, Kate Bosworth, Emma Watson and Lily Collins to name a few. Needless to say, the ladies were all dressed up very fashionably, mostly in Mulberry. The festival dress code: short denim pants, little tank tops and floral dresses.
Some of them wore already the newest pieces for the upcoming F/W 2012 season. Pretty challenging as the Coachella Music Festival has a desert setting, with daytime temperatures frequently rising to over 110 °F (43 °C). And believe me, I have been there, it is HOT!

Enjoy all the photos below. You can shop already some of the looks by clicking on the highlighted text. I felt the sunshine just looking at those beautiful pictures…

LoL, Sandra

Two Emmas: Actress Emma Watson and Emma Hill, Mulberry’s Creative Director

Emma Watson‘s day look: Fuzzy tiger playsuit from F/W 2012 Main and carrying the Mini Lily with tassels in oak from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Emma Hill‘s day look: Lace raglan dress in multicolour plastic animals from S/S 2012 catwalk and carrying the Lily with chain handle in ink blue sparkle croc print from F/W 2012 catwalk, all by Mulberry

Actress Kate Bosworth

Kate Bosworth‘s day look: Fuzzy tiger scoop neck tee in acorn from F/W 2012 Catwalk, the black studded sneakers in black from F/W 2012 Main and carrying the Mini Lily with tassels in ink blue from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Atlanta de Cadenet

Atlanta de Cadenet‘s day look: Full sleeve dress in multicolour mini zig zag from F/W 2012 Catwalk and carrying the Bryn in flame from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Actress Lily Collins

Lily Collins‘s day look: Stripy straws Neely dress in pale blue from S/S 2012 Main, the stitched bow ballerinas from S/S 2012 Main and carrying the Lily with tassels in ink blue from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Dree Hemingway

Drew Hemingways‘s day look: Chili pepper-print cotton bustier, matching cotton-poplin skirt and belt, all from Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2012 Catwalk
(This look has found its way already in my closet, stay tuned for the photos to be posted soon.)

Harley Viera-Newton

Harley Viera-Newton‘s day look: Cherry-printed swimsuit by Juicy Couture, low-rise stretch-denim shorts by 7 for all mankind and Lily bag with tassels in oak from F/W 2012 Main

Mulberry’s Creative Director Emma Hill

Emma Hill‘s evening look: Shorts in navy cotton drill from S/S 2012 Catwalk, sequin blouse in navy from F/W 2011 Catwalk and Lily bag with tassles in ink blue heavy suede from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Actress Kate Bosworth

Kate Bosworth‘ s evening look: Panel dress in multicolour Ditzy Daisy crushed cotton from F/W 2012 Main, sneaker in black studded leather from F/W 2012 Main and Mini Lily with tassles in ink blue heavy suede from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Actress Lily Collins

Lily Collins‘s evening look: Windbreaker in pebbled beige summer boucle from S/S 2012 Catwalk, square printed scarf in multi-coloured Bonkers Beach print from S/S 2012 Main and Lily with tassles in ink blue heavy suede from F/W 2012 Main, all by Mulberry

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry, © WireImage

The Berkeley London designer afternoon tea, Prêt-à-Portea, is inspired by the themes and colours of the fashion world. The menu is transformed every six months to follow the changing seasons in fashion. All served on fine-bone china by Paul Smith for Thomas Goode.

The new S/S 2012 collection sees designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Jason Wu and Valentino grace the Berkeley’s tea stand as Prêt-à-Portea adds a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries resembling the latest catwalk designs for the style conscious.

Prêt-à-Portea is served in the Caramel Room daily from 1pm to 6pm.

Christian Louboutin must have neon yellow high heeled chocolate biscuit with signature red sole
Jason Wu romantic cherry bavarois and coconut cream topped with playful pink skirt and biscuit heel
Mulberry white chocolate crème de menthe and raspberry mousse topped with a lemon meringue
Miu Miu 1950’s inspired vanilla bikini biscuit with red hot icing and playful white bow

Valentino romantic peach cake dress with light pink champagne jelly and edible flower
Fendi nautical red and white striped vanilla cake filled with fraise des bois cremeux accessorized with oversized yellow button
Michael Kors safari opera cake with dark chocolate and mocha filling topped with signature leopard print
Dolce & Gabbana light blue Sicilian blueberry sponge cake wicker basket wrapped in chocolate
Gucci art deco Grand Marnier and dark Valrhona chocolate mousse embellished with golden beads

And for those who are still hungry, a mouth-watering selection of miniature savoury skewers, taster spoons, elegant canapés and tea sandwiches is served.

I truly enjoyed this fashionable tea time. 
For Prêt-à-Portea reservations, please call +44 (0)20 7107 8866.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Berkeley Hotel and © Sandra Bauknecht