Sandra‘s Closet

This morning, H&M has announced a special collaboration with fashion icon and legendary Fashion Director Anna Dello Russo. An idol of the blogosphere whose flamboyant outfits are endlessly documented by style photographers and broadcasted globally through the web, Anna Dello Russo proved her unique sense of style creating a special collection of accessories for H&M. Available from October 4, 2012, at the peak of the global fashion weeks tour, in around 140 stores worldwide and online. The collection features jewelry, sunglasses, shoes, bags and a trolley allowing H&M customers uniqueness at an affordable price.

“I am excited by this collaboration: this is the first time H&M involves a Fashion Director in a special project. This is the sign of an important evolution in fashion, and I am both thrilled and humbled to be the one chosen to lead it. I wanted to create precious accessories that are impossible to find.  As a stylist I know accessorization is essential: it is the personal touch to any outfit. With these pieces everybody can have fun, turning an ordinary day into a fantastic fashion day”, says Anna Dello Russo.

Famously described by photographer Helmut Newton as a “fashion maniac” and currently holding the role of Fashion Director at Large and creative consultant at Vogue Japan, Dello Russo is a darling of the fashion bloggers, whom she likes to please with extravagant get-ups, and countless changes of outfits, during the world’s fashion weeks.

The sneak preview looks very promising, cannot wait!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of H&M

Last Thursday was a busy night of event hopping. I went to the launch of Arquiste in Zurich, after that to the Cartier cocktail to celebrate the new “Juste Un Clou” collection and later to the opening party of the Christian Louboutin store that was co-hosted by SI Style magazine.

I wore one of my favourite looks for summer:
Printed top and leather skirt from the Prada S/S 2012 runway combined with my orange Birkin bag by Hermès and my beloved Palais  python pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Actress Amanda Seyfried was spotted recently on the red carpet in this gorgeous blue tuxedo jacket and matching shorts from H&M’s Exclusive Conscious collection. She combined the look with a leather-trimmed wool top by Rag & Bone and black pumps by Gucci.

To celebrate the rise of glamour, H&M has created the Exclusive Conscious collection of greener and eco-friendlier red-carpet looks that have all been made from more sustainable materials like organic cotton and hemp, and recycled polyester, as part of H&M’s Conscious initiative. In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

TUXEDO JACKET – EUR 59,95
H&M Exclusive Conscious collection. Blue organic cotton mix tuxedo shorts suit.

TUXEDO SHORTS – EUR 24,95
H&M Exclusive Conscious collection. Blue organic cotton mix tuxedo shorts suit.

Photos: Courtesy of H&M, Getty Images

“A beautiful scent is like a beautiful memory, it transports us to another place in time.”

– Carlos Huber

A scent is a time capsule. It can invoke our most intimate memories and dreams, and open doors to distant worlds. Curated by Carlos Huber, an architect specializing in Historic Preservation, Arquiste is a fragrance collection that transports the wearer to evocative moments in history. Last week, I had the honour to meet the very handsome and charming Carlos himself.

Carlos Huber with me

Mexican-born Carlos Huber (his last name derives from his Swiss-German ancestors) looks like a model from a Ralph Lauren advertising campaign. But instead of modeling, Huber was involved in the preservation of Ralph Lauren stores that held historical significance such as their famous flagship on Madison Avenue where Carlos, an architect by trade, was in charge for the high jewelry room along and for the accessories department. He is so passionate about history and told me that he loves to indulge in old books describing himself as a “nerd”. I like this new species of well-dressed, good-looking nerds!

As fate willed, he started to pursue his longtime love of fragrance by taking special classes about the art of perfumery with two top Givaudan perfumers, Rodrigo Flores Roux and Yann Vasnier, who  happened to be Huber’s friends. With their help, he created a range of six perfumes and launched Arquiste Parfumeur last year. With an immaculate attention to detail, each of his complex scents aims to evoke the olfactive notes of a specific moment in history.

Have you ever wondered how the most fragrant festival in the Aztec calendar in 1400 smelled like? What about the moment when Louis XIV saw his future wife Maria Teresa, the Infanta of Spain, for the first time? Thanks to Arquiste, you can time-travel with each spritz. Read all those little stories. Your fantasy will take you on a beautiful olfactive journey.

FLOR Y CANTO

Notes include: Mexican Tuberose, Magnolia, Plumeria and Marigold
Developed with Rodrigo Flores Roux

L’ETROG

Notes include: Calabrese Cedrat, Myrtle, Date Fruit and Vetivert
Developed with Rodrigo Flores Roux & Yann Vasnier

FLEUR DE LOUIS

Notes include: Orange Blossom, Florentine Orris, Jasmine and White Cedar Wood
Developed with Rodrigo Flores Roux

INFANTA EN FLOR

Notes include: Orange Flower Water, Spanish Leather, Citrus Resin and Immortelle
Developed with Yann Vasnier

ANIMA DULCIS

Notes include: Cocoa Absolute, Mexican Vanille, Cinnamon and Chili Infusion
Developed with Rodrigo Flores Roux & Yann Vasnier

ALEKSANDR

Notes include: Neroli, Violet Leaf, Fir Balsam and Russian Leather
Developed with Yann Vasnier

The success of Arquiste is incredible. In only six months, those extraordinary fragrances have found many fans around the globe. Arquiste – Fragrances that transport you to another place in time, for men and women. My favourite is the opulent floral scent “flor y canto”.

In Switzerland available at Osswald. For other stores worldwide, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Arquiste and © Sandra Bauknecht

Estée Lauder‘s summer looks have been on my shopping list since many years and fans of the brand know, the house’s iconic summer fragrance, re-launched every year, sells out in days.

Have fun exploring my must-haves from
Estée Lauder’s BRONZE GODDESS CAPRI Summer 2012 look:

1. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée makes you looked as sun-kissed as possible. This limited edition is an exquisite, and lust-worthy bronzing highlighter that comes with a new formula of liquid, powder, and gel to give you a sexy, sophisticated glow. Use it as an all-over soft sheen or layer it for some luminous pearly highlighting.
Suggested retail price: CHF 58.-

2. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molton Lava for sexy eyes in seconds.
Suggested retail price: CHF 32.-

3. The Bronze Goddess Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Sands. With its new innovative prisma shine technology, you can create a gorgeous subtle day time look or really vamp it up for night time glamour. Same as the Bronze Goddess Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée, it comes with a tri-brid of a liquid, powder and gel all in one, to give the softest, most blendable shades that can be used wet or dry.
Suggested retail price: CHF 72.-

4. Bronze Goddess Capri is a summer limited edition fragrance, a “solar Oriental fragrance inspired by the seductive Isle of Capri.” It includes notes of blackcurrant, mandarin, lemon leaves, jasmine sambac, lily of the valley, peony, vanilla, amberwood, patchouli, and musk.
Suggested retail price: CHF 78.- (100ml)

Ladies, it is time to head to the nearest Estée Lauder counter!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Estée Lauder and © Sandra Bauknecht

British luxury automaker Aston Martin has debuted the Dragon 88 range of automobiles (DBS Volante, Virage Coupe and V8 Vantage S) at the Beijing Motor Show.

My favourite is the DBS Volante special edition “Year of the Dragon” that features bespoke details that pay tribute to the dragon, a creature that represents power and fortune in Chinese folklore. They take the form of 24-carat gold wing badges, embroidered headrests and commemorative sill plates. Just 88 examples were produced for each model and will only be available in China.

One of the exclusive colour options selected “to chime with traditional Chinese art and imagery” is burgundy in combination with bright red which I absolutely adore. And below you can see that this colour combo would look also stunning on you, ladies!

Burgundy collarless blouse by Miu Miu, red stretch pencil skirt by Diane von Furstenberg, red Tribtoo suede pumps by Yves Saint Laurent and small flap bag by Chanel (Vintage).

LoL Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Aston Martin

Embrace the warm season with Jo Malone‘ s gorgeous new limited edition fragrance:
Plum Blossom.

Bursting with optimism, the Plum Blossom scent is an uplifting addition to the Jo Malone collection, perfect both on its own or layered preferably with Nectarine Blossom & Honey.

Opening with the fruitful freshness of yellow plum, its floral heart blooms on a background of creamy sandalwood and white musk.

Available online and in boutiques from May 2012.
Plum Blossom Cologne, CHF 130 (100ml) and CHF 68 (30ml).
In Switzerland at Jelmoli Zurich and Globus Geneva.

This scent will surely lift your mood whatever the weather.
And as it is limited, you better buy ahead!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

Yesterday’s post about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee inspired me to take out my “Union Jack” bags. The use of the Union Jack in fashion is obviously nothing new and I have always been a huge fan of the British flag. As for me, it has already become a fashion classic.

My Union Jack classics from left to right: Bag by Chanel and clutch by Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen is probably one of the main perpetrators of this trend. The brand’s veritable explosion of Union Jack patterns on clothes and accessories make fashionistas drool with desire. Seriously, it’s like the flag just takes every outfit to a complete new level of style.

To shop those fashion classics, click on the highlighted text.

LoL, Sandra

Red, blue and white crystal box clutch “Union Jack” by Alexander McQueen

Beige crystal box clutch “Union Jack” by Alexander McQueen

God Save McQueen printed modal-blend scarf by Alexander McQueen

Distressed Union Jack wool and silk-blend scarf by Vivienne Westwood

Vintage Union Jack-print Wellington boots by Hunter

Photos: Vogue Italia and © Sandra Bauknecht

2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II. The celebration of her Diamond Jubilee will be going on throughout the year.
Interesting to know is that Queen Victoria in 1897 was the only other monarch in the histories of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and a few other Commonealth realms to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee.

Explore some of the cool limited editions to be launched for that special occassion:

In honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Harrods has created together with the famous perfume house Bond N°9 a limited edition fragrance, called Harrods Jubilee . The scent consists of amber, musk and sandalwood along with Lantana leave, dry leave and mace. It is available now from the store’s Perfumery Hall and retails at £290 for a 100ml bottle.

In April 1926, Floris had released a pretty floral scent called Royal Arms to celebrate the birth of Princess Elizabeth earlier that month. It had notes of rose, violet and ylang ylang.

To commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Floris, the only perfumer to hold a Royal Warrant from the Queen, slightly changed the original recipe but keeping the original floral character formed by essence of rose, the queen of flowers.

Royal Arms Diamond Edition EdP is on sale at John Lewis at £99 for a 100ml bottle (and at florislondon.com). There is also a limited amount of Royal Arms Diamond Edition in perfume strength which will be decanted into only six antique crystal dressing-table bottles of which one will surely be given to Her Majesty.

The most eccentric British fashion designers of all, Vivienne Westwood, pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee with an honorary collection featuring ready-to-wear and fashion jewelry that will be available in May in all Vivienne Westwood stores.

The Red Carpet Capsule Collection stays true to the opulent Westwood archive and was inspired by outfits that the Queen has actually worn. The patriotic designer’s logo is a royal ORB with a cross on top, bejewelled and impressive as befits the Queen of British fashion. Westwood became Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List “for services to fashion”.

For this royal occasion, the “Kaiser” Karl Lagerfeld, himself will be offering live commentary of the official event on French television channel France 2 on June 3. He will surely enjoy his latest assignment as fashion commentator as he already did last year, when the Chanel helmet participated in a French live broadcast about the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attracting five million viewers.

And there’s no doubt the Queenie is one seriously stylish muse. After 60 years on the throne the queen’s outfits on her thousands of visits and tours have proved she is a bastion of good taste and style. She loves tone on tone looks with blue being her favourite colour choice. I mean there has to be a reason that blue is called royal. I know this fact thanks to a recent report featured in Vogue magazine for which editors have studied every outfit Her Majesty has worn in the last 12 months.

A year ago, all eyes were on the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Congrats to the couple on their first wedding anniversary today!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Vivienne Westwood, Harrods, Floris, Getty Images and Vogue

Louis Vuitton is revealing a new interpretation of its famous Monogram flowers. Each motif has its own corresponding colour of gold —rose, yellow or white, brought to life with the sparkle of a diamond. A precious matrix and a fundamental equation at the heart of a jewel, to be worn in infinite ways.

Monogram Idylle offers an invitation to play with bracelets and necklaces to be linked together, stacked up, mixed up or changed around. Individual earrings for a deliberately mismatched look and a triple ring for a collection of contrasts, the lightweight design and purity of the gold combine to give a fun, ultra-feminine collection of talisman jewellery.

I absolutely adore the idea of mixing and matching those beautiful jewelry pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton