Sandra‘s Closet

The windows of the Louis Vuitton store on New Bond Street in London looked so beautiful this week that I had to photograph them for you. Filled with the most beautiful objects of desire for the summer season, it was a true pleasure looking at them. I am in love with pastels and the feminine eyelet lace.

My absolute must-have is the tiara that will be in stores this month…

… along with the bi-colour pointed-toe mules (see photos below).

Happy window shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

When I came across those photos of Blake Lively last week on the set of Gossip Girl, I fell immediately in love with the colour combination of her aqua blue clutch by Emily Cho, the yellow of her bi-colour trenchoat by Reed Krakoff (S/S 2012 collection) and the pale pink of her pumps by Rupert Sanderson.

What do you think? Isn’t the Emily Cho clutch a little too similiar to the iconic folded-over style of the one made by Alexander McQueen?! And the prices are pretty much the same.
Which one would you buy? I would definitely go for De Manta clutch by McQueen…

LoL, Sandra

Photos of Blake Lively via Zimbio

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is no April fool! It’s not often that a beauty product leaves me lost for words but this one truly did.

Cult beauty brand Aesop and French trend store A.P.C. have teamed up for their second collaboration following their Fine Fabric Care detergent. Introducing  their… no joke… Post-Poo Drops, a bathroom “deodoriser best suited for use by those who eat, drink and digest daily.” The drops will be available in store from April 1 for CHF 37.- (100ml).

“In instances where vigorous activity has occurred in the bathroom, dispense several drops of this carefully crafted Aesop product into the toilet bowl after flushing.”

Hilarious! Wouldn’t that be a thoughtful hostess gift idea for your next spicy dinner invitation?!

LoL, Sandra

Are you dreaming of the perfect even skin tone? Switch to spot-less clarity with Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution. With the help of the active ingredients Activated C, White Birch and Peony, it visibly diminishes the number and intensity of dark spots and discoloration caused by age, UV exposure or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and helps to deter the formation of spots on skin’s surface.

With daily, continuous use, skin is visibly brighter, more even and radiant with a great improvement in clarity. The results are pretty impressive (see chart below).

It may be used as a spot treatment or over entire face as well as on hands, neck and chest.

Available in Switzerland from April 2, 2012 for CHF 68.- (30ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kiehl’s

My new shoe obsession: The confident colourblock OBSESSION pumps from the inimitable house of Yves Saint Laurent. I am head over heels for those leg-lengthening mega-platforms with removable triple ankle-wrap straps to convert into a sling-back, new in this week.

I couldn’t resist and got them in the all-suede version in brass, teal, light grey, black cherry and purple. Available at ysl.com.

And what do you think of this amazing colour combination below?

Obsession satin and suede pumps with gold-tone metal cap by Yves Saint Laurent
Team these sorbet-hued beauties with bare legs and fresh pastel-coloured separates for the most fabulous way to step into the new season.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I have shown you already the upcoming limited edition Guerlain Terra Azzura by Emilio Pucci make-up collection. Here you can see those beautiful sunny shades on me that are complementing one my favourite Emilio Pucci looks for this summer perfectly:

Printed silk-charmeuse handkerchief top, printed silk-charmeuse maxi skirt and printed scarf belt, all from Emilio Pucci’s S/S 2012 collection, platform sandals by Yves Saint Laurent, bangles by Sal Y Limon, earrings and ring by H&M.

Hope that you like it as much as I do! To shop the look, just click on the highlighted text.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

As you already know, I am a huge Emilio Pucci fan. So you might imagine my excitement when I heard about the Italian house’s collaboration with Guerlain. The limited edition make-up collection which is called TERRA AZZURA BY EMILIO PUCCI for GUERLAIN draws inspiration from Italy in summertime and offers everything you need for the perfect summer glow.

The collection consists of eleven products with accents of the Italian Riviera, created by Olivier Echaudemaison, Guerlain Creative Director, and Laudomia Pucci, Pucci Image Director.

For a previous interview that I did with the wonderful Laudomia Pucci, please click here.

Those two products above are my collection’s favourites:
The Terra Azzura powder is very versatile to use. For a natural effect, you apply just the bronzing shade all over the face. For a bronzed complexion, you blend the three blusher shades and sweep them along the top of the cheekbones to sculpt the face. 
The Khôl Kajal is another easy-to-use product. Applied solely along the inside of the lower eyelid, it underlines and enhances the eyes with a provocative depth. Worked in a thick line along the upper lashes, it adds modern sophistication and widens the eyes.

Below you can explore the delightfully sunny shades:

STAR PRODUCT
Terra Azzura
Bronzing Powder & Blush, CHF 103.-

FACE PRODUCT
Météorites Perles d’Azur
Illuminating Powder – Pure Radiance, CHF 76.-

EYES PRODUCTS
Ecrin 4 Couleurs
Long-Lasting Eyeshadows, Captivating Colours, N°13 Capri, CHF 80.-

Terracotta Khôl Kajal
N°02 Blu Acqua, CHF 48.50

Mascara Le 2 De Guerlain
Two Brush Mascara for 360° Lashes, N°14 Blu 2 Pucci, CHF 53.50

LIPS PRODUCTS
Terracotta Gloss
Moisturising Gloss – Sheer & Shine Finish,
N°10 Porto Fino, N°11 Porto Ercole and N°12 Porto Azzuro, CHF 44.- each

NAILS PRODUCTS
Terracotta Vernis
Nail Polish, N°02 Riviera and N°01 Paradisio, CHF 35.- each

The products will be available in a limited edition starting the 4th of May, 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain/Emilio Pucci and © Sandra Bauknecht

While being in London at net-à-porter, I had also the chance to meet the lovely London-based jewelry designer Diane Kordas who says: “I believe a piece of jewelry should be both casual and classic – but above all, timeless”.

Her eponymous creations are an elegant hybrid of simple design and intricate artistry, elevated with a glamorous dusting of diamonds. Each piece is unique, and fans include everyone from Madonna to the Rolling Stones. I adore her filigree designs, too.

Upgrade your style with her arabesque rings, diamond stud earrings and skull rose gold bangles.

Please click here to shop a large selection of Diane Kordas jewelry.

LoL, Sandra

Diane Kordas with me

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For spring 2012, Bvlgari introduces a new, lively, cheerful fragrance inspired by by a piece of coral jewelry from the luxury house, the red gold of the Mediterranean Sea: OMNIA CORAL.

With notes of goji berries, sparkling citrus, hibiscus flower and pomegranate, Omnia Coral is a true gem of the ocean. Experience the newest addition to the Bvlgari fragrance world.

Model Carola Remer is the face of the fragrance. The advertising campaign was shot by photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Omnia Coral will be available in characteristic Omnia flacon, as 25, 40 and 65 ml EDT accompanied with perfumed body care products, including a scintillating body lotion 100 ml and a gentle body peeling 100 ml.

“This is the first time that Bvlgari has created a fruity note, but fruity in a very Bvlgari way”, says Alberto Morillas, the fragrance creator. “I was inspired by the noble and rare red coral gemstone, I imagined a voluptuous, natural scent created around the hibiscus flower and the overflowing sensation of  juicy fruits”.

How keen is your sense of smell? Join in Bvlgari’s upcoming virtual event now with different bloggers from all over the world including me and prepare to meet  Alberto Morillas himself today on March, the 29th. And the next step?
Follow me on twitter @sandrascloset for more updates and go to Bvlgari’s facebook page where the Omnia Coral event will be live-streamed today at 3pm Milan time.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari and © Sandra Bauknecht

At the moment I am in London where I met the lovely dynamic designer duo Kaufmanfranco at the net-à-porter offices yesterday. The New York label’s signature is dazzling evening wear that’s delicately embellished, plus modern day wear with an urban twist.

Isaac Franco to the left and Ken Kaufman to the right with me

Their sleek American style have landed them a stockpile of fans in every age group, spanning Taylor Swift to Jennifer Aniston. Calling themselves “the New Sensualists”, their designs are pure sophistication.

Taylor Swift and Jennifer Aniston in Kaufmanfranco (Photos: Getty Images)

It was lovely talking to the charismatic designer duo who answered openly my questions.

Ken Kaufman and Isaac Franco met over 25 years ago. FIT-alumni Ken offered Isaac his first job who at that time had just finished his studies at Parsons School of Design. Since then, the two have been working constantly together for the likes of Valentino or Emanuel Ungaro, just to name a few. In 2004, they decided to launch their own label.

You two seem like yin and yang, same vision, different approach but complementing each other perfectly. Who designs which part of the collection?

Me, Isaac, I take care in general of the day wear styles and Ken is more into eveningwear.

How can I imagine your creative process?

Each of us designs and does sketches that we present each other. We then sometimes change what the other came up with which makes our designs better and special.

Whom would you like to dress? This could be also a person in history.

I think Madonna. But I have recently been asked whom I would like to invite for dinner and I thought Moses and Madonna would make a great combination at the dinner table.

Why don’t you do a runway show?

We are still a small label and prefer putting all the money into the clothes.

Last night, I got a wonderful preview of the Kaufmanfranco F/W 2012 collection that is full of sophisticated cocktail looks and all the fall coats and dresses you need. The colours are dark, from black to silver and rust. The materials are luxurious with lots of embellished pieces, Kaufmanfranco’s signature style. Enjoy the photos that I took for you:

If I have whetted your appetite for some Kaufmanfranco shopping, I would like to invite you to explore their S/S 2012 collection which is in stores now by clicking here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kaufmanfranco and © Sandra Bauknecht