Sandra‘s Closet

Welcome the newest addition to the Mulberry family! Already spotted on the likes of Lily Donaldson, Kate Bosworth and Kirsten Dunst, the new Carter is a bag that you can take from the city directly to the weekend in the countryside.

The range is offered in three different sizes: The two smaller versions which are based on vintage camera cases and the roomier, tote-like Double handle bag. Available now online at mulberry.com in a beautiful fall colour palette, there are three finishes to choose from: suede, croc or snake-embossed leather.

This understated new member of the Mulberry family  might become as cult as the Alexa has. I’m loving it already!

LoL, Sandra

Lily Donaldson with the Mini Carter in Fox Brown Suede, €810

Kate Bosworth with the Carter Double Handle Bag in Birds Nest Croc Nappa Leather, €1240

Kirsten Dunst with the Carter Double Handle Bag in Black Snake Embossed Leather, €1240

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The 29, St. Honoré collection, named for Lancôme’s Paris address is an homage for F/W 2011 by creator Aaron De Mey to the most sophisticated femininity and style – the Parisian woman. This seductive colour statement captures the glamour of the 1940s (complementing the ’40s runway trend) with luscious red lips, thick eyeliner and seductive smokey eyes.
Discover your inner femme fatale!

Maison Lancôme Blush – $48/CHF 65 – Limited Edition

Les Oeillades Eyeshadow and Brow Compact Quad – $54/CHF 75 – 02 Blondette Fatale – Limited Edition – with 4 subtle matte and iridescent shades to enhance eyes and define eyebrows and Ombre Absolue Palette – G10 Gris Fatale

Hypnôse Drama Mascara – $31/CHF 44 – 15 Gris Fatal – deep grey – Limited Edition

Le Crayon Khôl – $28/CHF 39 – 10 Black Gold or 11 Strass– a waterproof eye pencil with sparkles – Limited Edition

Le French Touch Absolu Lip Colour – $40/CHF 48 – Rouge Saint Honoré – highly pigmented red or – Rouge Faubourg – captivating carmine lipstick with red flecks of glitter – Limited Edition – Rouge 29 – a bluish red

Le Vernis Nail Polish – $16/CHF25 – 22 Rouge Saint Honoré or 23 Noir 29 – infused with mini multi-coloured flecks – Limited Edition. Use these hues individually or combine them for an ultra-sophisticated look.

Enjoy those behind-the-scenes photos below and get inspired for your F/W 2011 makeup look.
The collection will be available in Switzerland next month.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Barwerd Van Der Plas for Lancôme © 2011, Stills: Hondodigital for Lancôme © 2011

Fashion repeats itself and designers love to seek inspiration from previous decades. For F/W 2011, there were lots of 1940s-themed references. The best approach to reinvent this fashion era has been realized by Miu Miu, as well as by Gucci, Christian Dior, and Jonathan Saunders.

What do the `40s stand for in fashion? The world was at war which meant that resources were restricted everywhere. Fashion had to be more practical. Function was more important than form. Women’s skirts became much shorter and much simpler, but as seen today on the F/W 2011 runways, the basic A-line frame or slight flare of many of the skirts tends to flatter many figures. Floral prints seem to dominate the early 1940’s and have been lovely interpreted by Miuccia Prada for Miu Miu this season.

Women’s chunky heeled shoes were one of the marvels of 1940’s fashion along with stylish accessories such as gloves and feodora hats. Those must-haves for F/W 2011 are absolutely stylish and best of all, will make you instantly look mysterious like you are coming out of a spy movie.

LoL, Sandra

I have just heard the terrible news that Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in London this afternoon by emergency services. Her death is being treated as „unexplained“ by police but an overdose is considered the most likely cause, although a full autopsy will have to be performed. Winehouse has had a troubled life which has included various stints in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction.

We will miss her fantastic voice and her eclectic style of her golden days. Inspired by the chic of the `60s, Amy’s enormous beehive hairdo even inspired Karl Lagerfeld to send his models down the catwalk sporting the same hairstyle for his Chanel show three years ago.

“She is a beautiful, gifted artist. And I very much like her hairdo. I took it as an inspiration. Because, in fact, it was also Brigitte Bardot’s hairdo in the late Fifties and Sixties. And now Amy has made it her own style. So, when I saw her, I knew it was the right moment. Amy… she is the new Brigitte.”

– Karl Lagerfeld

Amy’s heavy black eyeliner was her signature and she loved `60s-era Capri pants with short-sleeved fitted shirts and little puffball skirted mini dresses.

She was 27. Coincidentally, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix were all also 27 when they died. It is so sad to see such a talented person throwing all her gifts away.
The devil in Miss Winehouse has won. R.I.P!

LoL, Sandra

This fall, you might hear ladies screaming with delight: „Oh, it’s a boy!“
But they won’t mean their babies, they will admire the season’s It-bag: The Boy Chanel.

Embodying the androgynous charm Coco Chanel was known for, the design is inspired by a hunting cartridge style that was originally carried by the famous lady herself.

“Chanel used men’s underwear to make dresses; she had this boyish attitude, in fact it is the very spirit of Chanel. She got it from Boy Capel, the great love of her life, which, incidentally, explains why the new bag is called the Boy Chanel.”

-Karl Lagerfeld

Available in a palette of red, lead green, grey, black and ivory, these calfskin clutches, purses and totes come in five different styles. The hardware has a unique look in distressed silver or bronze. They range from $2500 to $4300 and hit Chanel stores in September. Get yourselves on the waiting lists for this ground-breaking Chanel collection now!

Is androgyny the new femininity?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

Here is an eye candy for all fans of Hello Kitty and Swarovski crystals among you:
First introduced in 1974, Hello Kitty has been winning over the hearts of the young – and young at heart – ever since. Being an icon of the pop culture, the oh-so-adorable little cat upgrades its look in a sparkling collaboration between the Japanese company Sanrio and Swarovski through jewelry pieces, charms, accessories and figurines. You might have to be a truly dedicated fan to be willing to spend such amounts of money on those playful sparkling pieces. But if you are, I am convinced that you will love those girly treasures.

Clutch, CHF 820

Ring Set, CHF 130

Charm Sitting, CHF 95

Necklace, CHF 330

Earrings, CHF 120

Helly Kitty fans might ask themselves: “What’s better than a Hello Kitty doll?”
Here is the answer: “A Hello Kitty doll covered in Swarovski crystals of course!”

Limited Edition 2011, CHF 10.000

With almost 20.000 crystals embedded into its surface by hand, this iteration of the the world’s cutest kitty is pretty glittery. And also rare – only 88 of them will be made.

The collection will be available starting in August in the 1900 Swarovski stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Swarovski 2011

Matthew Williamson has announced his collaboration with Ladurée Paris on a limited edition macarons box. The British designer has transformed the traditional Ladurée box using an iconic Matthew Williamson butterfly wing print repeated in kaleidoscopic layers. These ornate boxes of macarons will be exclusively available at London Ladurée retailers first from the start of London Fashion Week: 16th September and then available worldwide from the start of Paris Fashion Week: 26th September for a limited period only.

I love both Matthew Williamson and Ladurée, this is one of those rare fashion-meets-food moments. I might just have to go one size up after all those yummy macarons…

LoL, Sandra

Bold glasses are as much a fashion staple as they are a personal statement. Now revered as a stylish accessory, a great pair of frames is a must have (and a great go-to on bad beauty days). Bobbi chooses between her iconic black frames and a pair of tortoise shell frames – ones which served as the inspiration behind her new Tortoise Shell Collection for fall. The Tortoise Shell Collection is Bobbi’s modern take on a classic look.

Stunning shadows in shades ranging from bronze to gold to espresso are housed in gorgeous tortoise shell compacts with gold detailing; one is for lighter skin and the other for darker complexions. To balance the warmer tones on the eyes, cheeks and lips are dressed up in soft nudes. And the good news is that if you do wear glasses, Bobbi designed the collection to complement—rather than compete with—your frames.

Highlight of the collection is the amazing limited-edition Tortoise Shell Eye Palette, available in two different versions, each including 8 eyeshadow shades, CHF 90.

My personal favourites are Bobbi’s new High Shimmer Lip Glosses that have a new formula and a new size (they are longer than they used to be). They deliver the ultimate in shimmer, shine and color. Their formula glides on smoothly and provides medium to full coverage, CHF 33.

The limited-edition Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set is great for travelling. It includes four brushes: Mini Angle Eye Shadow, Mini Eye Sweep, Mini Blush and Mini Ultra Fine Eye Liner, all tucked into a chic tortoise shell case. In your evening purse, gym bag or carry-on, this brush set always fits, CHF 95.

If you like the model’s look, you will find the list above to make it yours. Happy Colouring! The collection is available worldwide now.

LoL, Sandra

A multisensorial event hosted in Shanghai at the iconic Park Hyatt depicts the Miu Miu world in a glitzy experience, with performances and a fashion show taking guests through a 1940s-flavored glamour bash.

For the occasion, one of the world’s highest hotels, possibly one of the Chinese’s megalopolis most memorable spots, has been completely restyled by renowned Hollywood set designer Carl Sprague.

Giving life to a cinematic fantasy of glamorous abandon, Sprague has created a sensational set for a party held up high in the sky setting the stage for glamorous stars to banter, dine, sing and dance the night away.

Cecilia Cheung

Zhou Dong

The event occupied five of the Hyatt’s fourteen floors. Throughout the evening a dinner, a fashion show and a series of performances and acts brought the Miu Miu world to life throughout the luxurious venue. The Supper Club style dinner, featuring the Miu Miu Fall Winter 2011/12 fashion show (see photo above), took place with models meandering through the tables. Three other floors were turned into the party venue.

Singer Florrie

Performances included London band Florrie in concert and Variety International in a unique 1940s-themed edition of their world-renowned variety show: a jazz club, an illusionist act, cabaret and much more, in a spectacular mingling of song, dance, circus and vaudeville.

Variety International

DJ sessions by Misty Rabbit and Dan Lywood animated the party until late.

The unforgettable experience transported more than 800 guests, for one night, into a parallel dimension of glamorous emotion: a depiction of the Miu Miu world in its lively complexity.

And guess why such an event took place in Shanghai?! I would say because the Chinese are the customers of the future, if not already of today…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

Can you imagine how I was dancing with joy when I received that beautiful red box with the twelve new shades for OPI’s F/W 2011 collection, so-called “Touring America”…

OPI hits the road with those coast to coast classics. Inspired by Americana and cities with rich cultural heritage like Philadelphia or Memphis, the hues go from cool heather to chic khaki, from warm chocolate to bright peach.

Let me take you on the ultimate tour across the USA and enjoy this rich palette of colours complementing perfectly the trends from the F/W 2011 runways.

Available around the world starting August 3, 2011.
To find a shop in Switzerland, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

From left to right:

A-taupe the Space Needle
You’ll climb to new heights with this creamy-rich taupe.

Suzi Takes the Wheel
Buckle up—she’s not stopping until she gets to gray!

Get in the Expresso Lane
An amped-up dark brown that’ll never letcha down!

French Quarter for Your Thoughts
Want beads? Then show us your sexy gray nails!

From left to right:

My Address is “Hollywood”
We put this pretty rose-pink on the map.

Color to Diner For
I’ll take the rosy-red with a side of “awesome.”

Are We There Yet?
Don’t make me reach back there and take that perfect melon shade!

I Eat Mainely Lobster
We “clawed” through crowds to catch this coral for you.

From left to right:

Road House Blues
In this case…R&B stands for “Really Blue.”

I Brake for Manicures
This gorgeous eggplant-plum has our full attention.

Uh-oh Roll Down the Window
You’re gonna wanna pull over for this “unexpected” olive green.

Honk if You Love OPI
Don’t let this gorgeous dark grape pass you by.