How amazing is this all over beads sandal by Kanye West by Giuseppe Zanotti? The only downside is that it is a little overpriced. You would have to splurge $6000 on a pair of shoes!
The designer’s friends Kim Kardashian and Chanel Iman were already spotted rocking these pieces of art. In case you love to buy the shoes and rock the tribal trend, they are available at LuisaViaRoma.com.
LoL, Sandra
After over one week in bed sick, I have been ready for some vibrant colours to embrace spring.
I really like the colour combination of orange and turquoise blue.
My look: Wool jacket with lamé trim
and embellished wool-cashmere cardigan, both by Marc Jacobs, ballet flats by Dolce & Gabbana (similiar to the leather ballerina by Repetto), straight-leg pants
by Stella McCartney, orange-coloured Birkin bag by Hermès, earrings by Christian Dior and striped scarf by Louis Vuitton.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
If you have been to a MAC counter recently and seen all the makeup assistants looking like kitsch Stepford Wives on acid, do not wonder!
It’s part of their latest super-cute collection, Shop & Cook MAC which is in my opinion one of their best ones yet.
The message is clear! Shop ’til you drop with a tongue-in-cheek collection that elevates the everyday into the extraordinary. Try the delicious, delovely assortment of Eye Shadow x 4, mouthwateringly Kissable Lipcolour and Cremeblend Blush. Check it out! Gotta have it!
Gourmet glamour is here. Look delicious while you whip it up! MAC’s recipe for kitchen couture is here in savoury shades for eyes and lips. Dishy Nail Lacquers, too. Bon appétit!
Hurry, the collection will only be available until the end of April 2012.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and © Sandra Bauknecht
Introducing the London Blooms Collection: Iris & Lady Moore, White Lilac & Rhubarb and Peony & Moss.
A trio of limited edition Jo Malone™ scents filled in bottles adorned by breathtaking botanical drawings which are reflecting the spirit of modern British gardens.
Iris & Lady Moore
A mingling between spicy-fresh, common-or-garden geranium and noble iris, powdery and poised. Brought together on dry-grass base of vetiver.
Tip: Mist Orange Blossom over Iris & Lady Moore. Shimmering Clementine flower brightens the powdery poise of Iris & Lady Moore.
White Lilac & Rhubarb
A daring juxtaposition. Tart-vibrant rhubarb cuts through the soft lilac, rose and sun-loving heliotrope.
Tip: Pair White Lilac & Rhubarb with Pomegranate Noir. The ruby-ripe juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum, spiked with spicy woods, enrich the soft, fruity sweetness of White Lilac & Rhubarb.
Peony & Moss
Contrasting the dainty and the dirty. The gossamer lightness of delicate peonies grounded in earthy green.
Tip: Layer Peony & Moss with English Pear & Freesia. The juiciness of pear and the freshness of freesia amplify the soft florals and sweeten the velvet earthiness of Peony & Moss.
Those beautiful limited editions are in store now. In Switzerland available at Jelmoli, Zurich.
Each cologne (100ml) CHF 130.-.
I love all three and the bottles together create such a lovely ambiance in your bathroom.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone
When I stumbled across the new US April Vogue and this amazing editorial featuring Kate Moss showcasing the most beautiful of January’s couture collections at the hotel Ritz in Paris, before closing its doors for renovation, I had to share this with you.
Lensed by one of my favourite photographers Tim Walker and styled by Grace Coddington, this is a feast for your eyes! Enjoy!
My Bleu Heaven
A cornflower-blue dress by Sarah Burton, reminiscent of 1950s couture, plays on proportion and contrast: nipped-in waist and voluminous skirt; flat jacquard against exploding lace. Alexander McQueen lace bustier jacquard dress.
At First Blush
Moss, in the bathroom of the Coco Chanel Suite, wears a petal-like cocktail dress and cape, inspired by a 1960 design, from a pink-and-silver cloque lamé created by Cristóbal Balenciaga.
Life Imitates Art I
Like the neoclassical crimson satin sofa, a dramatic tiered evening dress (Dior’s finale look) adds a jolt of brilliant color to the hushed palette of an Imperial Suite salon. Dior Haute Couture silk dress.
Life Imitates Art II
Bellhop Nicolas Deschamps balances a Roger Vivier silk-and-feather pump on his cap.
Sleeping Beauty
For three decades, Coco Chanel called the hotel her home. Here, the bedroom of the suite named for her. Armani Privé sequined embroidered flared bustier dress.
Boxed Out
Karl Lagerfeld took over the first-floor-spanning Imperial Suite, seen here, for his 1996 couture collection. Chanel Haute Couture embroidered organza flower coat and pumps.
Cocktail Hour
“I drink the French 76: vodka, sugar, lemon juice topped up with champagne; it’s the best drink ever, but it only tastes like that in the Hemingway Bar,” says Moss, here in L’Espadon. “Colin [Field, Ritz Paris head bartender] made it for my wedding. It doesn’t taste at all strong—and then, whoa, whoops-a-daisy!” Alexis Mabille Haute Couture burnished lamé dress and hat.
Light Show
“When I was with Johnny Depp, he always stayed there. I had an apartment in Paris at the time, but he said, ‘No, we’re staying at the Ritz,’ so he came by and swept me up to the Ritz—he didn’t want to slum it in my apartment!” Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.
Room Service
“Gianni’s [Versace] shows were amazing—and sooo convenient. Walk downstairs, go to work: Love that!” says Moss, with housekeepers Khadidja Fakri and Lollie Bacete (standing). Dior Haute Couture embroidered silk dress. Headpiece created by Julien d’Ys.
View From the Top
Giambattista Valli sent out a cinched draped-shoulder goddess dress in “a color so deep, so intense, you can almost smell it—like bougainvillea on the Mediterranean coast.” Giambattista Valli Haute Couture silk dress and necklace.
Special Delivery
In the Flower Room, a team of five florists overseen by floral designer Djordje Varda is charged with, among other things, selecting and arranging 10,000 blooms for the hotel each week.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Vogue, Tim Walker
When my eyes spotted the net-trimmed ribbed knitted beanie designed by Stephen Jones on the Jil Sander S/S 2012 runway last fall, I was asking myself why had nobody before come up with the idea to combine a casual beanie with the glamourous feel of a veil. The outcome is so outstanding. Needless to say, this veiled hat has been on every fashion lover’s shopping list and it made its way into my closet, too. As the Jil Sander version (available in blue and white) is pretty expensive, you might want to try doing it yourself.
What do you need?
A sloughy knitted beanie, French veil netting (Available at fabric stores. To order, please click here), sewing thread of a similiar colour, a sewing needle and a pair of scissors.
How to do it?
This is pretty easy and doesn’t require advanced sewing skills. Just attach the French veil netting inside of the turn-up of the beanie. Turn the it over and sew the bottom edge of the netting to the beanie with a single stitch to the middle point.
I attached the photos of my beanie below for you to see it more in detail!
Have fun sewing!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Welcome to my new category “Travel Insider” – your best source for your favourite destinations and fancy escapes. Famous fashion insiders will provide you with the best spots and places-to-be.
The fashion designer shares her tips for the best summer reads and the ultimate fish in the port of Piraeus.
Your favourite city in the world:
ATHENS
That is home.
Your favourite restaurant:
JIMMY AND THE FISH, Koumoundourou Coast 46, 18543 Piraeus – Mikrolimano, Phone: +30 210 – 4124417
Try the mini fried shrimps.
Your favourite shop:
SOTRIS, 41 Voukourestiou Street & Tsakalof Street, Kolonaki Athens, Phone +30 210 – 361 0662
They were the first in Greece to by my clothes beginning from my very first season.
Your favourite island:
SPETSES
I got christened there and spent my last 28 summers on that beautiful island.
Your favourite summer read:
SANDRA’S CLOSET (Thank you, Mary!)
and the next book on my to-read-list is:
THE TIPPING POINT – How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
(The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.)
Three things you have to pack for Greece:
1. FLAT SHOES for the cobbled streets on the Greek islands.
2. SUN PROTECTION
3. A MARY KATRANTZOU SCARF for the windy nights.
Thank you, Mary, for sharing your insider scoop on Greece with us!
LoL, Sandra
Do you remember LUISAVIAROMA’s charity project “Pug Dogs for Happy Kids” that I presented to you last January? You can click here for the previous post.
Twenty one pug dogs were customized exclusively for LuisaViaRoma by a selection of the most prominent international luxury fashion designers and bloggers were asked to adopt one of those little soft toys.
As you know, I adopted the Emilio Pucci pug dog.
Finally the pug dogs are to be auctioned off starting March 19th for UNICEF in support of children in Bangladesh on eBay. For more information on how to bet, please click here.
Happy auctioning for a good cause and a big thank you!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
This year Escada celebrates 20 years of their iconic limited edition fragrances, and for this special occasion the company are relaunching three of the most popular: Sexy Graffiti (originally from 2002), Island Kiss (from 2004) and Rockin’ Rio (from 2005).
All three are fruity floral fragrances.
Available now
Eau de Toilette 30ml (CHF 64.-), 50ml (CHF 86.-), 100ml (CHF 114.-)
Body Lotion 150ml (CHF 38.-)
Below you can find more information on the cherry picked three favourite editions that evoke the ultimate exciting moments of summer and some inspirations for a new look:
SEXY GRAFFITI
Sexy Graffiti by Escada is inspired by that magical summer moment when the late New York afternoon sun gives way to a fun party atmosphere where cocktails flow, music plays and the beautiful people make their way to the club bar.
Top notes: Wild strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit and mint
Heart notes: Lily of the Valley, red peony and violets
Base notes: Vanilla and musk
Margot lantern-sleeve wool-crepe dress by Rosanda Illincic, Yolanda pink patent-leather pumps and Mini Loubi Lula satin frame clutch, both by Christian Louboutin and plexiglass and crystal cuff
by Emilio Pucci.
ISLAND KISS
Island Kiss by Escada is inspired by the heady days of beach lounging in the Caribbean sea – the water lapping the shore in subtle ripples and the bright sunshine forming dimples of light on the ocean.
Top notes: Tropical red fruit, orange, passion flower and mango
Heart notes: Magnolia and peach
Base notes: Red fruits, wood and musk
Joan blue silk crepe-de-chine and lace dress by Stella McCartney, Lulu triangle bikini
by Shimmi, Opyum suede pointed pumps
by Yves Saint Laurent, Intrecciato silk-moire knot clutch by Bottega Veneta and turquoise cube ring
by Kelly Wearstler.
ROCKIN’ RIO
Rock’in Rio by Escada is inspired by the ultimate holiday cocktail. Imagine the setting of a vibrant and glamorous bar along a Rio promenade – the beautiful and sun-kissed admire each other with their flowing hair and colourful flamboyancy.
Top notes: Coconut, pineapple, tangerine and papaya
Heart notes: Sugar Cane and peach
Base notes: Sandalwood and musk
Flame lemon-yellow stretch-crepe dress by Preen, canary Honolulu printed silk-chiffon scarf
by Swash, yellow patent-leather wedges
by Jimmy Choo, Single quilted leather shoulder bag
by Marc Jacobs, Katie enameled brass bracelet
and stud earrings, both by Marc by Marc Jacobs.
I am so in the mood for summer and you?
LoL, Sandra
Here is a little inspiration for a weekend read for my Swiss and German based readers:
The new SI Style is available featuring my monthly fashion column. In this issue, I am talking a little about the differences between bloggers and fashion journalists, give some travel tips and tell you more about the Polyvore Live fashion show and the Dior Addict Extrême event in Paris. I hope that you will like it.
LoL, Sandra
Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht