Sandra‘s Closet

“Bal Vénitien” ring

Dior has launched a new High Jewelry collection “Le Bal des Roses”.

Reminiscent of the Parisian fashion house’s Haute Couture, the stunning creations pay tribute to Monsieur Dior’s favourite flower, the rose. The collection brings together 12 unique pieces that evoke the image of blossoming women attending a ball in their most beautiful gowns. Sumptuous pieces of jewelry with hidden details and stones set within stones evoking luxurious emboidered fabrics. As you know, I am a huge fan of the Dior’s High Jewelry designer Victoire de Castellane. With those designs, she has outdone herself once more.
Wow!

Enjoy the video at the end of this post for a closer look at those eyecatchers.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

Yesterday, I was invited to explore the upcoming Thomas Sabo F/W 2011 collection. The presentation was held at the Asian restaurant Tao’s in Zurich and the location couldn’t have been better for the so-called „Exotic Issue – Pop goes Asia“ that draws inspiration from the electrifying nightlife of an Asian megacity, merging the power pop era of the ’80s with the coquettish charm of a ’30s Shanghai.

The new Thomas Sabo collection is dazzling and original, for both women and men. It brings up a kind of holiday feeling, the same you experience entering a foreign and magic world.

LB34 Leather Dragon bracelet with onyx, 925 Sterling silver

Enjoy the positive karma of the Buddhist Great Blessing symbols – which promise joy, health, peace and long life, among other things. What a lovely gift to surprise a beloved one!

Left: T0292 Panda pendant with white syn. zirconia and black enamel, T 0300 Fan pendant with black syn. zirconia and red enamel, 925 Sterling silver
Right: T0294 Panda pendant with white syn. zirconia, black enamel and a hand-crafted, white imitation pearl, 925 Sterling silver

Left: PE421 Lantern pendant with black syn. zirconia and red enamel, 925 Sterling silver
Right: H1755 Earrings with black syn. zirconia, 925 Sterling Silver

And not only for modern Geishas and Kung Fu fighters…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Thomas Sabo and © Debora Zeyrek for Tilllate

Bex Manners with me

Yesterday, I was so happy to meet Bex Manners, the designer behind BEX ROX, the It-jewelry brand from London. She came to launch her beautiful collection with Lovers Lane who will exclusively carry the little treasures in Zurich.

If you are looking for a killer statement necklace, for deco inspired jewelry or for animal shaped rings, you will instantly fall in love with her creations. The entire range is bold and very unique, combining chain mail techniques with ancient Chinese knotting.

Since the launch of BEX ROX in 2006, the rise has been unbelievable. BEX ROX has not only done acclaimed collaborations with MADE Africa, and with Browns Focus, it has also been celebrated with the Coutts New Jewellers award 2009.

Please enjoy my interview with Bex Manners below. All the photos I took show the pieces that are available now at Lovers Lane.

Donkey Ring

You were raised in Menorca. What is your nationality? Your cultural background?

I am English but born and raised in Menorca- my mother is Austrian and my father is British but my soul is definitely Spanish!

How much has the lifestyle of the Balearic Island inspired your work?

I would say a great deal.  My collections are about a feeling, being a free spirit, youthful and colourful with a sexy undertone which for me sums up the Balearics…

Since when do you live in London? How do you like the city?

I’ve been living in London since 2007 –  I love it – it’s edgy, diverse and full of constant inspiration – people aren’t afraid to show off their style.

What is your favourite place on earth?

Right now my bed!!

Elephant Collar

How did you come with the idea of creating jewelry? What did you do before?

I was fashion stylist in NYC  and used to constantly make pieces for photo shoots and then would wear them afterwards- people in the streets kept stopping me to ask me where I’d got “that necklace” or “that bracelet” and I would literally sell them off my neck- et voila I started BEX ROX.

What is your most iconic piece? Your signature?

My Eivissa Cuff and the Natalie Ring are my most iconic pieces but then again I believe in my identity and make sure that every season screams BEX ROX.

Eivissa Cuff

Natalie Ring

Gold Tribe Pendant

I like your idea of a necklace that you can take apart with your magnetic clasp to get a bracelet and to be able to mix and match with other pieces so that the customer himself can become creative. Will this always be part of the collection?

Always.

What is your style advice? How would your perfect outfit with Bex Rox jewelry look like?

Walk out the door feeling all woman and believe in yourself, this way you’ll make anything work.

Do you only wear your own jewelry? If not, what else do you wear?

I also wear lots of vintage jewellery and pieces from other designers that are friends of mine.

Do you have a muse? Or an icon?

Most of my best friends are my muses!

Bex Manners in 3 words.

Individual, freckly and pretty temperamental ( but I suppose that comes with being a redhead! )

Where do you see yourself in the future? Will we see more BEX ROX, probably handbags or even clothes?

I have already started collaborating and creating but for now that would be telling.

Thank you, Bex!

And now ladies, run to Lovers Lane and get your Rox on!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Besides their iconic little turquoise blue boxes, Tiffany & Co. have given us another reason to love them with the launch of a new microsite and mobile app called “What Makes Love True“, a triumphant social media splash!

It’s all about love and it plays to the hopeless romantic in all of us. This is one site you’ll want to book in a lot of time for browsing. There are heartwarming stories of true love from real-life couples, tales of happy-ever-after engagements, tips on maintaining a healthy but thrilling relationship, playlists for romantic moments and Tiffany’s most exotic picks for special locations in NYC (MET Roof Garden is a must). And if you aren’t already totally loved up with the site after all those features there’s also a a short film by Edward Burns all about love and couples in New York.

As for me, Tiffany’s site about love is love at first site!

LoL, Sandra

Here is a new contest that I don’t want you to miss! As the Golden Globe Awards took place this week, I would like you to create a red carpet style for your favourite nominee below and you could win a TACORI 18k925 piece from your set.

Contest ends January 20, 2011 at 11.59PST, so hurry. This is your chance to own a fabulous piece of jewelry.

LoL, Sandra

THE CONTEST HAS ENDED!

„Who said that real jewels have to be boring?“
Victoire de Castellane

Barbara Hutton wearing the 55-carat Pasha diamond and the Vladimir emeralds

When it comes to fine jewelry, Dior’s Victoire de Castellane is the designer that I truly admire for her amazing creations that are for me the most beautiful and outstanding pieces in the world. Often imitated but never equalled, Victoire is the lady of the rings.

Bold, chunky and huge are her designs that appear more like pieces of art than jewelry.

Born into an aristocratic Parisian family, her first experience with making jewelry happened when she dismantled her grandmother’s (Sylvia Hennessy from the cognac family) charm bracelet and transformed it into a pair of earrings, much to her mother’s dislike. As a young girl, her grandma and her best friend heiress Barbara Hutton involved the little girl in their love for enormous gems. A passion was born.

Victoire de Castellane started her career at Chanel working alongside Karl Lagerfeld as costume jewelry designer for fourteen years. In 1999, she was appointed by Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, as designer of the first ever collection of Fine Jewelry for the house Dior that allowed her to create her own daring and dramatic style that shook up the staid Place Vendôme from the very first beginning.

Each collection tells a story or evokes a place. The French aristocrat is inspired by the exuberance of technicolour, bright and fluorescent. Her designs are known for the best quality enamel with gems and semi precious stones.
“I prefer huge coloured stones instead of diamonds. And I like to wear and design things that look fake; like costume jewelry, but real” , says Victoire.
The collection Milly Carnivora, includes pieces that can open up to show the amazing inside creation. Love those surprises!

The Coffret de Victoire collection for Dior has some of the most unusual and original rings crafted from the finest gems, golds and materials. It includes creations with skulls, cameos and sealife inspirations – a reflection of world travels and exotic adventures with flavours from the ocean and the orient.

This year, the rose flower, which played a big role in the life of Christian Dior, has inspired Victoire de Castellane to create a new jewelry collection for Dior, so-called „Bois de Rose“.

This month, I was lucky to enjoy a presentation of how the rings are crafted at the Dior boutique in Zurich. After having seen the craftmanship and having talked to the goldsmiths who came from Paris for the event, I value Victoire’s designs even more.

Those fanciful wonders sometimes take months to be finished depending on the design. Every little detail is made by hand. I am truly fond of the jewelry’s bold presence.

If you are interested, please visit the Dior homepage for further information and store locations.

So lovely Ladies, think big and enjoy the little forest on your finger…

LoL, Sandra

One of my favourites: Bague Diorette

Bague Cercle, € 1295

Today, I would like to introduce you to a beautiful French jewelry brand, called Djula. It was in the heart of Paris, in Saint-Germain des Près, in 1995, that Alexandre Corrot started to create the elegant and very feminine pieces.
Having always been fascinated by twenties jewelry, he drew inspiration from it for his own designs, adding a touch of modernity to them. An admirer of the delicacy and precision of the craft work of the time, he delighted trendy Parisians with his fine, elegant, simply different and above all affordable jewelry.

Ring Double Butterflies, € 1495

For the complete collection, please visit the website by clicking here.
If you are interested, you are very welcome to contact Chloé Sebban, +41 79 872 35 75, .

Djula in three words: Parisian, dainty and gorgeous!

LoL, Sandra

Chance Bracelet, € 1795

Bague Or, each € 995

Bague Escargot, € 5995

Collier Chance, € 1895

Next year in spring or summer 2011, 30 years after the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, their son will finally tie the knot.

William proposed to Kate on a safari last month, but today the newly-engaged couple, both 28 years old,  faced the cameras for the first official engagement photo. Prince William honoured his late mother by giving his fiancée Kate Middleton the engagement ring which was Princess Diana’s from Prince Charles! The ring is an oval 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

Kate, a classic beauty wore a bright blue wrap dress by Issa London. The fashion label founded by Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel is known to be one of Kate’s favourites. Rumours are out that she might do the wedding gown as well.

The royal colour matched her massive ring and the dark blue suede pumps finished off her look perfectly. Two decades ago, Princess Diana wore the same shade as well for her engagement.
Kate and William looked so in love today that I am sure all of these similarities are meant to be and a good omen.

To a fashionable happy royal wedding!

LoL, Sandra

Yesterday I was supposed to be in London for the launch of Stella McCartney Kids collection and to preview the two new lines High Jewellery sets by Boucheron and Private Wardrobe by Stella McCartney which is a new service for VIP- customers to receive private appointments, personal styling, exclusive events, bespoke tailoring, previews and more.
I am so happy for my card, it is like the centurion for fashionistas.

Unfortunately, I had to cancel last minute as a very excited interview came up in Zurich. You will soon know to whom I was able to talk to.

Nevertheless, I still have all the photos for you. Stella’s kids collection includes basic comfortable pieces as well as shrunken versions of the mainline.

Her fun, modern fashion for boys and girls, aged newborn to 12 years, is now available in stores and online at StellaMcCartneyKids.com with shipping in over 200 countries. It is truly worth having a look at the website. There will interactive functions for both parents and kids, such as the “playground“.

To coincidence the launch, an iPhone app can be downloaded at iTunes with special features like a mechanical drawing game and the ability to shop.

The London store has also built a very special interactive corner for kids of all ages making shopping a real fun adventure.

Her new fine jewellery line is inspired by „romance, intimacy and secrets“.
The capsule collection includes five dainty pieces in timeless yellow gold (see photos below) that compliment every outfit perfectly. Prices range from £645.-.

I love the kissing pendant… Santa, do you hear me?

LoL, Sandra