Sandra‘s Closet

Remember last year’s hype about Chanel’s three limited edition nail polishes Les Khaki de Chanel that the French house released for Fashion’s Night Out.

This year for FNO 2011, it is going to be Les Jeans de Chanel, a collection of three über-cool blue shades: Blue Rebel, Coco Blue and Blue Boy.

NY’s Fashion’s Night Out is September 8th and luckily it looks like I will be there. If you are not around, check out if retailers in your city or country are participating here, and look up the list of online retailers here.

LoL, Sandra

Being the last fragrant masterpiece from Gabrielle Chanel herself, Chanel N°19 entered the world of perfumery in 1970, created by Henry Roberts. The number 19 stands for the birthday of Gabrielle Chanel: August 19th. The year of its launch, she turned 87 and died only a few months later. The green fragrant trail with distinctive hints of iris has remained a bestseller among women all around the world.

A LITTLE ANECDOTE

One day, having ordered labels with the name “Coco” on them, she realized that it didn’t work for that fragrance. And so she called it “N°19”. Why N°19? Not long before her death, Coco explained why to her friend and confidante, Carmen Tessier.

“It is the day of my birthday, August 19. I was born under the sign of Leo – the lion. And I am just like the lion: I will bring out my claws to protect myself against being hurt. But believe me, it is har­der for me to lash out at someone than to have someone lash out at me.”

“So what do you think of this fragrance?” she asked, while spraying us with more. “Believe it or not but a man once stopped me in the street because of it. As I was leaving the Ritz, I felt someone touch my shoulder.

I turned around and saw a stranger. Before I could sharply brush off this intruder, he said, with an American accent: ‘Excuse me, I’m with two ladies who would like to know what perfume you are wearing.’

“I told him: ‘Why don’t you all follow me.’ And I took them to the CHANEL boutique, where – once we arrived – they realised who I was (…).”

MADEMOISELLE CHANEL SPEAKING WITH CARMEN TESSIER ABOUT N°19, “LES ANNÉES CHANEL” BY PIERRE GALANTE, 1972, P. 321-322

This summer, a new chapter created by Jacques Pole, begins: Chanel N°19 presents itself as delicate as a cloud of powder combining iris with musky notes to give a surprising fresh aroma:
CHANEL N°19 POUDRÉ

“I wanted to underline the importance of iris at CHANEL, while giving a new facet to N°19,” revealed Jacques Polge. “The desire to rework the original accord with other, more contemporary, powdery notes, came naturally to me.”

And so it is that the latest generation of the most sophisticated, beautifully soft and light musks has joined the world of N°19. Although clearly less green, N°19 POUDRÉ diffuses an incisive freshness on first contact with a zesty sensation of Grasse neroli and mandarin. Then Iris pallida appears, clinging to the dry swirls of Haitian vetiver root, bringing hints of powder cases and lipstick wax, archetypes of noble femininity. Iris fully expresses itself, enveloped in comforting and vel­vety white musk. A light almond impression from tonka bean gives the musk an even cosier feel. And then there’s that irresistible sensation of a cloud of scent on the skin…

TOP NOTES
Grasse Neroli
Mandarin Orange

MIDDLE NOTES
Jasmine Absolute
Iris Pallida

BASE NOTES
White Musk Notes
Haitian Vetiver
Tonka Bean

Available in Switzerland starting August 19th, 2011.
EAU DE PARFUM Vaporisateur 50ml, CHF 127
EAU DE PARFUM, Vaporisateur 100ml, CHF 183

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel

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

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

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.

The enchanted world of precious materials is brought to life at your finger tips. The caress of a feather, the texture of shagreen and the sparkling facets of cut stone inspire the imagination. Each creation and each jewellery set bears a hint of illusion and sensation that emerges from the shadows into the light. Inspired by the heritage and savoir faire of the artisanal craftsmanship of the House of Chanel, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, introduces new textures and makeup effects for F/W 2011. Shimmery and seducing, with a smoky twist in tune with the upcoming season’s colour trends! Explore the magic world of “Illusion d’Ombres”!  Available now in the US, in Switzerland in the beginning of August 2011.

CHEEKS

JOUES CONTRASTE, CHF 60
Against a pure, translucent complexion, ROSE ÉCRIN spruces up cheekbones with a breeze of freshness and a tender healthy glow effect.

LIPS

ROUGE COCO, CHF 46
Two new colours of the iconic lipstick are introduced for fall.
PLUMETIS: an innocent peach tone, ÉTOLE: luminous copper y rosewood that matches the lip pencil.

LÈVRES SCINTILLANTES/ GLOSSIMERS, CHF 41
Used on its own or layered over ROUGE COCO lipstick to harmonise, the sparkling CHANEL gloss pairs its extreme shine with the shimmering glimmers on nails and eyelids.
PAMPILLE: a peach with silver reflections, BRAISE: a pink bronze.

LE CRAYON LEVRES, CHF 34
A precise line emphasises the lip contour f or a perfectly traced smile. The two shades play with the elegance of orange tones in a fresh spirit with CORALLINE or an opulent style with ROSE CUIVRE.

EYES

ILLUSION D’OMBRE, CHF 47
For F/W 2011, the eyes play the starring role. At the heart of the “Illusion d’Ombres” collection, a new CHANEL eyeshadow interprets the richness of this world of precious materials and intangible colours. Its long-lasting, ultra-light and silky cream texture with a powdery appearance becomes one with the skin. Thanks to its translucent silicone-based formula, Illusion d’Ombre brings out the authenticity of pure pigments and thereby accentuates the intensity of colours and their iridescent reflections.

“Illusion d’Ombre is a new and exciting product, that’s easy to apply. I would suggest finger application. The texture is unique and has a very pleasant touch.” – Peter Philips

The eyeshadows come in six shades:
FANTASME: an iridescent white, MIRIFIQUE: every nuance of black, ÉMERVEILLÉ: a tender peach, ÉBLOUI: a brown smouldering with red, ILLUSOIRE: a grey-tinged taupe, ÉPATANT: a grey-shadowed khaki.

LES 4 OMBRES DE CHANEL, CHF 77
PRÉLUDE offers a base of essential, chic and classic tones. The four understated shadows in timeless colours – grey brown, grey beige, luminous beige and deep taupe brown, provide a matte or satiny makeup result.

LE CRAYON YEUX, CHF 33
A stroke of KHAKI PLATINE eye pencil with metallic glimmers captures the light for an eye-opening effect. Like a magical line on the inner eyelid rim or along the lash, it heightens intensity and increases the sense of mystery.

NAILS

LE VERNIS, CHF 35
Like the eyeshadows, LE VERNIS is inspired by effects of materials to adorn nails in shades with metallic and shimmering reflections. It wouldn’t be Chanel, if they didn’t come up with another It-colour for the nails. For F/W 2011, it will be limited edition Péridot that will be gettting all the buzz.

PÉRIDOT: gold and green intertwine and immerse themselves in the glow of a moiré effect, GRAPHITE: silver, gold and platinum, fuse in an unprecedented effect, QUARTZ: bronze becomes smitten with pink for a sophisticated result.

Photos: © Chanel

Here comes the new super mascara by Lancôme: Hypnôse Doll Eyes.
The latest version of the iconic Hypnose mascara gives you long and voluminous doll eyelashes, a little like a ’60s Twiggy. It is the first mascara that is scented with a very feminine floral and hypoallergenic perfume which makes it a true pleasure applying it. The brush ensures perfect separation of all lashes, even the shorter ones, while adding length and volume. I am using the mascara at the moment and I am completely convinced of its quality.

Mascara Doll Eyes CHF 44

The new mascara is accompanied by four pastel coloured eyeshadow palettes, called Baby Glam, Baby Nu, Baby Romance and Baby Pop to finish off your ­’60s look to perfection.

Palettes CHF 75 each

The campaign that was shot by Mario Testino stars famous supermodels Daria Werbowy, Arlenis Sosa and Elettra Wiedemann.

My personal favourites: Hypnôse Doll Eyes, Palettes Baby Pop and Baby Nu

And that it is definitely worth investing in a beautiful look tells us this quote of the world’s most famous doe-eyed icon:
“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

– Audrey Hepburn

To be launched in Switzerland in July, in other countries already available since a few days.

Enjoy your weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Naturally, the right skin protection is indispensable when the sun is shining like the last days. At the moment, my favourites are Lancôme’s new Génifique Sôleil releases. I have to admit that I hate applying suncreams but those sprays are easy and fast to use.

FACE
The lightweight melting and water-resistant formula for the face delivers optimal UVA-UVB protection. It works for all skin types, even sensitive.
The skin is ideally tanned and its youthful appearance is visibly protected.
Génifique Sôleil Visage SPF 15, 50ml, CHF 49.-

BODY
Lancôme has made a major scientific discovery: UV rays affect gene expression and reduce the synthesis of certain youth proteins. Therefore the French brand invented its first skin youth protein UV protector oil with a pleasant texture combining a broad UVA-UVB filter system and antioxidant complex Applied immediately before sun exposure, the skin is irresistibly sparkling and has a velvety soft touch feel.
Génifique Sôleil Huile Corps SPF 10, Spray, 200ml, CHF 51.-

AFTER SUN
The last step is the after sun care that moisturizes the skin perfectly while leaving it lovely scented. The tan is magnificently radiant and even, as if lit from within.
Génifique Après-Soleil, Crème Corps, Spray, 200ml, CHF 53.-

Depending on your own skin type, you might consider taking a higher UV protection.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last December, I told you already about the beautiful Chanel Paris-Byzance Pre-Fall 2011 Collection and the gorgeous limited-edition byzantine shaded make-up that comes with it. Now it is available in the Chanel stores around the globe.

Inspired by the mosaic of Empress Theodora, Chanel Global Creative Director of Make-up Peter Philips created a beautiful, graphic look. Like the famous portrait, a red line crosses the eyelid, following the brow line. Parallel to this, a stroke of deep black eyeliner accentuates a graphic effect, which frames the eye as if setting a precious stone, redefining its proportions.

Inspired by Byzantine treasures, red, black, gold and bronze-tinged shades offer a classic base that can be adopted as desired in sumptuous or simply day-to-day makeup.

Rouge Allure Rouge Byzantin CHF 48.- / Joues Contraste Or and Rouge, each CHF 60.-

The Regard Signé de Chanel palette takes center stage: mirroring the Chanel suit button, each shadow is dressed in a quilted effect and stamped with the double C. The texture can be used in two ways, powdery and creamy.

Regard Signé de Chanel Topkapi CHF 77.-

Hurry, those items will sell out fast!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel

Origins was kind enough to let me try out some of their amazing products. I’ve been a fan of all-natural skin care brand for quite a while and was eager to test their newest addition PlantscriptionTM . I wanted to use it for a couple weeks before I shared my thoughts with you.

Plantscription™ Anti-aging serum with Anogeissus.

Although it’s not a prescription, in just 4 weeks nature’s next generation power plant has noticeably reduced wrinkle length and depth without the irritation.

It has visibly helped repair the vertical fret lines between the eyes, the stubborn  furrows across the forehead and the deepening frownies that frame the mouth.

The skin is firmer, smoother and more lifted-looking. With continued use, the results have improved. And for CHF 95.-, satisfaction is guaranteed (or your wrinkles back).

Drink Up Intense Overnight Mask

This is my favourite Origins product. I am having very dry skin so this works its magic for me. Instantly, the skin feels replenished, smoothed and soothed.

Use it twice a week or as desired, gently massage onto the clean skin at bedtime and tissue off excess. It smells so good that it is a true pleasure going to sleep with it.

Skin depends on water for its youthful functioning. But all day long, skin loses vital moisture. And the busier you are, the more it loses. This intense moisture replacement mask with Avocado and Apricot Kernel Oil deeply and instantly quenches compromised moisture reserves and builds a reservoir for tomorrow.  Japanese Seaweed repairs skin’s barrier to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. It truly works. CHF 35.-.

LoL, Sandra