Sandra‘s Closet

Chanel is expanding their iconic J12 lineage with their first diving watch: The new J12 Marine. It will be available in two different sizes (42mm and 38mm) and three colours (blue, black and white). All versions have ceramic, unidirectional rotating bezels, come with a rubber strap, are waterproof to 300m and possess all attributes for going deep into the sea. Inspired by the force of the oceans and maritime symbols, the choice of surf legend Laird Hamilton as ambassador for Chanel`s J12 Marine watch could not have been any better.

Rachel Bilson and Kristen Bell at the party.

On Sunday, a fashionable crowd along with many celebrities like Rachel Bilson, Kristen Bell, Cindy Crawford and Robert Downey, Jr. just to name a few could see the perfect match for themselves at Chanel`s launch party held at Ron Meyer`s stunning Malibu home. The French house celebrated their new J12 watch with an outdoor screening of the documentary “Hollywood Don`t Surf” by Greg MacGillivray – a cinematic retrospective of fifty years of Hollwood surfing movies that had premiered at 2010 Cannes Film Festival before.

As it can get really chilly at the Pacific coast in the evening, Chanel made sure that the guests are covered in style with to-die-for branded towels, pillows and black pashminas. The decoration was right down to the last detail, even the beach ball in the seaside pool carried the Chanel emblem.

I have always been a big fan of the J12 collection. Now, you can see my object of desire to the right: the Chanel  J12 Marine 42mm in blue, Ref. H2559. The prices of the new models are approximately between $4700.- and $4900.-.

LoL, Sandra

Since almost 2 years now, I have been in two minds about how colouring my hair. I used to be a blonde before letting it grow out. But I realised my undecisiveness bestowed a gift upon me. My hair is having the new must-have It-colour: Bronde!

Photo: Marie-Luise Kammerer

I know it is another new term but I am loving it. It is a little brunette and a little blond– a combination that almost suits everyone instantly bringing out a warm glow in the face. Forerunners of those honey, caramel, buttersotch  and cognac-coloured highlights or let`s better say lowlights are Gisèle Bündchen and Jennifer Lopez among many others.

Sarah Jessica Parker paraded the very natural, sun-kissed look wonderfully in Sex and the City 2 with just a little lighter colour framing her face.

The much-coveted hue has two other advantages: it is budget- and texture-friendly. I still love silky, shiny and healthy-looking blonde hair but the time of too-much broken platinum “blonderexia” is definitely over.

I am enjoying my low maintenance version of blonde and my upgrade for brunette.

LoL, Sandra

Me in the Haight area wearing black leggings by BLUMARINE, military shirt by BALMAIN, top and pink-khaki scarf by LOUIS VUITTON and suede clogs by MIU MIU

Last week, I spent a few days in San Francisco. Haight Ashbury is the famous intersection in the area that gets its notoriety from the “psychedelic” culture and the 1968 “Summer of Love”. Today, you can still feel the hippie vibe with its fragments of flower-power.

When I was walking around the district, I got so inspired by the gorgeous bright coloured houses, so-called Painted Ladies. The term refers to Victorian and Edwardian buildings painted in three or more colours that embellish their architectural features.

Adopting that idea and transferring it to fashion, I styled some beautiful outfits in different colour combinations. You will see how stunning some shades can look together. Most people tend to wear a more neutral palette along with black. There is nothing against this. But today, I want to challenge you a bit and demonstrate how wonderful a little mix with some bolder tones can appear without looking like a clown.

It is again all about that special twist. Carrie in Sex and the City might be the perfect example: Patricia Field, the show`s stylist, opts very often for something that looks kind of strange in the beginning, but then so surprising and interesting that you cannot take your eyes of it.

Experiment with your own style! That is the thing that is so hard to copy and will earn you lots of admiring glances.

Spare for a little hug?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Remember your first sets of day-of-the week undies when you were a little child? I still have strong memories of being excited to pick out the correct one each morning. I am sure that many of you had the same experience. To relive your girlhood delight, Stella McCartney has these sassy knickers of the week for us adults. Every day is well taken care of with the seven silk-blend briefs with multicoloured floral embroidery that come in a stylish dressing-drawer style box. The set will look adorable in your bedroom boudoir or make a fabulous gift for a fellow fashionista. Available in black,white and light pink.

Get yourself organized! These knickers are a natural winner!

LoL, Sandra

Visionaire, the art and fashion bible, has designed a gorgeous limited edition book in honour of the late Alexander McQueen with the contribution of some famous names like Nick Knight, Lady Gaga, Stephen Klein und Mario Testino. Only 1.500 numbered copies of the boxed set Visionaire58 Spirit, A Tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen will be available at Alexander McQueen boutiques and Colette for €1500.-. The reason why this is so pricey might be on one side the wrapping in a metalized brocade from the S/S 2010 show and on the other the paper quality. The pages are embedded with seeds that, if planted and watered, will bloom real flowers. How cool is that?

If this is still not convincing, why not getting a great piece from the last collection that McQueen was working on before he comitted suicide last February. His beautiful fall pieces have already started to arrive in stores. So keep your eyes open. I am completely in love with the chevron-tweed jacket. It has a shredded silk trim which gives its classic cut a fierce twist. Combine it with motorcross leather pants plus a cool tank and upgrade the look with some drama by adding gorgeous heels and a studded clutch. If something is not available anymore, I recommend contacting McQueen directly or visit the online shop.

Have fun shopping and paying your own tribute!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Alexander McQueen

What a divine liaison: the “Collection Créateur” – an collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and La Perla.

Madonna 1990 in Gaultier

I could not think of a better designer to join forces with the Italian house. Gaultier has lingerie in his blood being the godfather of the very pointed conical bra cups that became famous due to his creations for Madonna`s 1990 Blond Ambition Tour. He loves to use underwear as outerwear.

During the ongoing haute couture shows in Paris yesterday, two special limited edition garments were already presented at Gaultier`s show: a backstitch satin bra with a shoulder-strap motif and glove-holding strings plus a suspender belt, demonstrating the stylish union between haute couture and lingerie. Dita van Teese walked down the aisle as the finale, what a match!

The 27 creations of the capsule collection will go on sale in November 2010 at La Perla and Gaultier boutiques worldwide, and select department stores.
So pretty and soooo hot!

LoL, Sandra

Isabella Rossellini`s love for Bulgari started as a child during the glamorous golden years of 1960s Rome when she accompagnied her famous mother, Ingrid Bergman, to the Italian jeweler in Via Condotti in Rome. The daughter of two legends became her own style icon and has been wearing Bulgari jewels to exclusive occasions many times.  Today, this long and felicitous relationship has generated an exclusive leather creation that was unveiled yesterday for the haute couture shows in Paris: The “Isabella Rossillini” bag by Bulgari.

It reinterprets the elegant style of the former golden screen divas in a modern key and comes in four colours and materials to reflect Isabella`s personality.

I love the handmade enameled claps embellished with semiprecious stones.

Find out which one suits you best!

Black patent leather with plain flaps treated with a pearl effect symbolizes optimism.

The version in walnut pony calf leather with flaps in chocolate leater and an amethyst lock reflects elegance and bold temperament.

Brown mud chevron canvas and chocolate leather show nonchalance and simplicity, the closure of gray enamel and tiger`s eye harmony.

The black and white graphic animal effect stands for Isabella`s modern cosmopolitan spirit. (Photo: Fabrizio Ferri)

The lining is finely printed with a single, eccentric motif: playful snails inspired by Isabella`s recent efforts to support the ecological cause by making short educational films about the reproductive habits of the animal world. I truly invite you to see those short movies (by Jody Shapiro).

Applauded at the Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, they combine comedy and curiosity and have since been made into a book.

As the season`s retro glance focused a lot on the `50s and `60s, the new Isabella Rossellini bag is a stylish accessory to carry around this fall. Available from this month in all Bulgari stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Not only celebrity children are dressed in designer clothes, the lust for expensive “mini-me“ outfits is definitely boosting the economy. It might be called the “Suri Cruise effect”. So not surprisingly, after Gucci, there is going to be Fendi for kids!

Silvia Venturini Fendi unveiled her first complete collection created for children from 0-12 years in partnership with Italian manufacturer Simonetta. The colour palette was mostly soft with bolder accents and the prints featured flowers and small checks. To all fashionista mums: If your little ones drool, they should drool on something designer… so a Fendi bib would be appropriate.

The Joneses are gone, better “keep it up with the Cruises”!

LoL, Sandra

Chanel is not only creating one It-nail polish after the other, the French house is also inspiring the fashion world to invent new names for colours.

In the beginning of the year, there was Particulière 505 that led to “greige”, gray + beige, and for this fall it is going to be Paradoxal 509, a mixture between gray + violet, so-called “griolet”.

The shade is absolutely amazing and works with everything, a perfect companion for fall. It looks so much more purplish in the bottle than it appears on the nails. Pray for the grace of the beauty gods to get one!

LoL, Sandra