Sandra‘s Closet

Finally my kind of cryptocurrency I love and trust! On April Fool’s Day, Tiffany & Co. announced it is venturing into the world of cryptocurrency. Now, the joke is up and while cryptocurrency may not be in the cards, the House revealed that it will sell a limited series of 499 18k yellow gold coins— TiffCoin—that celebrate the jeweler’s heritage and nod to the future of Tiffany & Co.

From 1973 until 2007, Tiffany & Co. offered Tiffany Money — actual silver and gold coins that could be exchanged for Tiffany & Co. jewelry. While the tradition is no more, the release of TiffCoin is an homage to this legacy. Each TiffCoin is individually engraved and numbered, featuring a T insignia with currency-inspired graphics. The exclusive 18k gold coin is 34.8 mm in diameter, 2.8 mm thick and comes in an exclusive TiffCoin case within the iconic Tiffany Blue Box® and retails for $9,999.99 USD.

Originally announced as a drop available for only 24 hours, there are still some available for good customers. By buying the TiffCoin, you will also get access to special events in the future.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tiffany & Co. @ tiffanyandco
Tiffany, T&CO., Tiffany & Co., The color and word mark Tiffany Blue, and the design and word mark Tiffany Blue Box are trademarks of Tiffany and Company and its affiliates. © 2022 Tiffany and Company. All rights reserved.

Ten years after its global collaboration, Louis Vuitton launches chapter two of its partnership with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, hitting stores worldwide in January 2023.

Since the creation of Louis Vuitton in 1854, the Maison has nurtured strong ties with the art world, collaborating with a series of artists who have brought their unique vision to Louis Vuitton. These close relationships have produced often radical reworkings of the Maison’s most iconic creations, in the process rewriting the rules of creative collaborations between luxury brands and artists. Yayoi Kusama’s collaboration in 2012 (Part one in July 2012 –  Part two in October 2012) flourished through various universes of the Maison, from exhibitions, products and a series of unique window installations, which included a startingly life-like mannequin modelled after the artist herself.

Finale at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2023 show in San Diego and some detail shots:

Yayoi Kusama, born in March 1929, is an avant-garde artist whose perspective is expressed through myriad techniques from sculpture, painting, installation, filmmaking, photography, and happening, to writing in a variety of styles. She is regarded as a precursor to Pop and Minimal art, yet her diverse art practices resist any singular classification. Yayoi Kusama’s artworks originated from hallucinations such as where the red flower patterns on a dining table’s tablecloth started to spread across the walls, floor, and even across herself…She has been battling her inner fears and obsessions and pursuing the mysteries of life by depicting the hallucinations she has experienced since her childhood. Please click here for a post about her retrospective in Berlin last year.

Look 51 Louis Vuitton Cruise 2023

As a celebration of the Maison’s relationship with the artist and to mark the 10-year anniversary of the first collaboration, a handful of leather goods were premiered during Artistic Director of Women’s Collections Nicolas Ghesquière’s Cruise 2023 fashion show at the Salk Institute in San Diego. These exclusive bags feature a reinterpretation of the artist’s obsessive dots across Louis Vuitton signature shapes as well as on new models. A true first taste of a transversal collaboration that, come January 2023, will radiate through all Maison categories.

More information will be disclosed at a later date.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

A fresh talent reflecting new horizons and showcasing different perspectives. Prada collaborates with the artist Cassius Hirst – known as Cass – to imagine the Prada America’s Cup sneaker anew, through a customised capsule collection of four styles, in 22 variables.

«I was painting shoes, taking photos, and turning those photos into complex vinyl stencils that became abstract designs. I would mask off part of the body of the shoe, and then wrap the whole shoe in the stencil. It looked crazy. I sent a photo to my dad [Damien Hirst], and then he sent a photo of that to Miuccia [Prada]. And she said, «This looks amazing, let’s do something» The best part about this project – this collaboration – was how willing Prada are to invest their time, to be open to ideas, to challenges. And to really commit to something new.» said Cassius Hirst.

Cassius Hirst painted his first pair of sneakers when he was 14 – a gift for his father, the artist Damien Hirst. Growing up in a household where exposure to art was inevitable, sneakers became his canvas: sculptural objects whose topographies were reworked through hand spray-painting, no two pairs exactly alike. His work has garnered a cult following, purchased by the likes of A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Offset, Rihanna, AJ Tracey and the late Virgil Abloh.

«The Cass x Prada collection finds parallels between the bold work of this fresh talent and the heritage of Prada – the sense of the hand, an excellence in manufacture, a constant search for innovation, a restless urge to re-examine and reinvent our history. Here, the iconic silhouette of the Prada America’s Cup sneaker becomes a canvas for creation, offered in a special capsule. Something unique, something new.» said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Marketing Director and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility.

In a unique project with Prada Linea Rossa, Cassius collaborates to reinvent the America’s Cup sneaker across a full range of special pieces, reconfiguring its distinct surfaces to rework a 20th century design classic for a 21st century generation. The capsule is showcased in a still and motion- image campaign by Axel Morin – a surreal performance invading a pristine space, showcasing the Cass x Prada sneaker styles and custom-made, one-of-a-kind masks – each character simultaneously anonymous, yet unique. The soundtrack to the campaign film features music specially created by Cass.

The four Cass x Prada sneaker styles draw their names from the world of music, reflective of the interests of Cassius and the passions of his fans. ATT4CK, D3CAY, SUST4IN, REL3ASE are all named after the ‘envelope‘ or life of a sound, the stages of its evolution, reflecting this new evolution of the America’s Cup sneaker. The title of each style suggests their look and feel: the hard-edged, molded spikes of ATT4CK, sprayed with neon; the distressed leather of D3CAY, stripped and intentionally faded; the solid brights of SUST4IN, with overpainted white relief details; and the neon- spray finish of REL3ASE.

All styles are hand-worked in Italy by Prada in a meshing of traditional craft and cutting-edge imagination – wholly unique, no two pairs exactly alike, with signature labels each with a distinct CASS signature. Each pair is sold in a co-branded Prada box, featuring the logo of Cassius Hirst – a scan of his brain.

«The brain scan represents hope and knowledge in a world of shadows and uncertainty. The brain is where the thoughts happen – for me it all became about creativity and the creative process. I’ve learned that sometimes we have to look inside ourselves to see what’s really going on. We shouldn’t be afraid of that.» declared Cassius Hirst.

At the core of each of the Cass x Prada styles is the iconic America’s Cup sneaker: invented in the late ’90s for the sailing crew of the Luna Rossa, in all-leather, or leather with distinctive cross-hatched breathable bike fabric inserts. Ergonomic, technically innovative, the silhouette is immediately recognizable – the perfect canvas for seemingly endless reinvention.

The Cass x Prada collection is an edition limited to 3,000 pairs globally, sold through a selection of Prada boutiques and via prada.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

What happened when Donatella Versace and Kim Jones switched roles?
Versace by Fendi and Fendi by Versace, two iconic collections that celebrate their friendship and the cultural impact of Versace and Fendi. For Pre-fall 2022, the two houses joined forces and created FENDACE, for women and men.

The show took place in the courtyard of the Versace family palazzo on Via Gesu in September last year. What went down is that Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi of Fendi (first part of the show) and Donatella Versace of Versace (second part of the show) swapped houses  for one night only to design 25 looks for their erstwhile rivals. Relive the surprise unveiling from Milan and shop the designs from May 12, 2022.

Fendi by Versace on the Versace website and Versace by Fendi on the Fendi website.

Below you can explore my favorite looks. I personally find Donatella’s take stronger than the one by Kim and Silvia.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Versace / Fendi
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Joyfully embrace vibrant color with OPI’s Power of Hue Collection for Summer 2022! Featuring 12 limited edition shimmer shades in three different formulas, Power of Hue includes a palette of mood boosting, warm colors to activate and energize the mind and body, balanced by cooler, more therapeutic soothing hues.

Bold, bright pops of fuchsia, electric turquoise, and violet uplift spirits while candy-colored pink, lilac, and sky blue evoke euphoric feelings akin to a sugar rush. Versatile, adaptable rich rose and neutral shimmering hues balance feel-good shades of citrusy orange, vivid yellow, lime green, and hot pink that will animate any look.

«The global crisis that has overwhelmed our lives for the past two years gives way to a color direction that’s alive with energy,» remarks OPI Co-Founder and Brand Ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. «Invigorating aesthetics, therapeutic textures, and vibrating color combinations are at the heart of Summer 2022’s color story. This collection’s hyper-colored shades bring a sense of euphoria and escapism with mood-boosting effects.»

Sun-rise Up
Lead the way in this shimmery coral pink.
Sugar Crush It
Make cotton candy waves in this soft pink shimmer.
Exercise Your Brights
An electric hot pink that will crank up your volume.
Pink Big
Do BIG things in this shimmery fuschia.
Go to Grape Lengths
A daring shimmery purple that stops at nothing.
Don’t Wait. Create.
Make things happen in this bright shimmery lilac.
Sky True to Yourself
Beam your true colors in this shimmery sky blue.
Feel Bluetiful
An electric sparkly blue that will put you on cloud fine.
Make Rainbows
An iridescent lime green that spreads major joy.
Bee Unapologetic
Dare to be different in this vivid shimmery yellow.
Mango for It
A zesty orange shimmer that doesn’t hold back.
The Future is You
Take on the world in this shimmery golden tan.

Infinite Shine (CHF 24.90) offers a high-shine finish and traditional lacquer application, Nail Lacquer (CHF 19.90) features a highly-pigmented, rich formula for even application without streaking, while applications with GelColor, available at OPI professional service partners, provide a salon-perfect finish with up to three-week wear.

In addition to this vibrant collection, OPI is partnering with and donating $25k to the Trevor Project whose mission is to provide LGBTQ youth with free, 24/7 crisis counseling. Together, the goal is to support and amplify the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community and help build a more colorful future.

The launch date in Switzerland will be the 16th of May.
Be Bold. Be Colorful. Be Hue.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © OPI #OPIPowerOfHue
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

A Sardinian summer
Time slows on sunbathed shores. Waves wash over golden sands. As lazy days drift into breezy evenings, a Sardinian love story blossoms. Discover the new JO MALONE LONDON Blossoms collection with two limited edition scents encapsulating an Italian summer.

Inspired by a chance discovery along the coast, Sea Daffodil is a solar floral fragrance, radiant with ylang ylang and rooted in warm vanilla entwined with creamy sandalwood.

Bitter Mandarin captures the spirit of a Mediterranean summer evening: a carefree buzz in the air. Citrus trees line Italian streets and ice-filled glasses clink with a bitter citrus spritz. Vibrant mandarin is deepened with a warm amber note and a pinch of precious orris for an addictive zesty allure.

These scents are joined by Silk Blossom, returning in a cologne and diffuser to tempt the senses.

Completing the line-up is an Orange Blossom Hair Mist and a Nectarine Blossom & Honey Diffuser. The lightweight hair mist is formulated with natural argan oil and pro vitamin B5 to help give hair a healthy shine while the diffuser can be used to energise the air with a playful, fruity fragrance.

The collection includes
Sea Daffodil Cologne
Bitter Mandarin Cologne
Silk Blossom Cologne
Orange Blossom Hair Mist
Silk Blossom Diffuser
Nectarine Blossom & Honey Diffuser

Available online at jomalone.com and in Jo Malone London stores from March 2022.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jo Malone London 
@JoMaloneLondon #JoMaloneLondon #BrilliantBlossoms
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

After two chapters of The North Face x Gucci (Chapter One – Chapter Two), the collaboration expands to Vault, Gucci’s experimental online space envisioned by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. With both brands embodying the spirit of exploration, The North Face x Vault collaboration presents a limited run of just 150 brightly colored Base Camp Duffels available exclusively on Vault’s website.

Launched in 2021, Vault continuously ventures into uncharted territories in luxury through unexpected collaborations with brands that speak to its forward-thinking ethos. From the moment its first store opened in San Francisco in 1966, The North Face has united travelers and adventurers across the globe. Known for its durable, ergonomic and high-performance designs, its apparel and equipment have become the choice of athletes and explorers from the metropolis to the mountaintop. Today, by merging their creative codes, The North Face and Vault propose a piece for those pursuing unique finds.

Legendary for its rugged construction, The North Face’s Base Camp Duffel is reimagined with a playful pattern inspired by Vault for the collaboration. Made from sustainable weather-resistant material, the bag features adjustable shoulder straps and padded side handles that can be carried or worn as a backpack.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Jo Malone London celebrates the rose by introducing a collection of scents, from light and fresh to deep and voluptuous, honouring this iconic fragrance note.
Four distinctive scents offer a different interpretation of the queen of the flower beds, decorated in special-edition glass designs with tonal details. The collection includes colognes and home scents, allowing customers to enjoy the scent of freshly cut flowers as part of their everyday or in their home.

Each one makes a thoughtful gift for fans of floral fragrances, with no need for a vase and water.
«Over the years, we’ve created many different rose fragrances for many different collections. Almost unconsciously, we keep coming back to the rose, so it just felt natural that we should celebrate this timeless flower with a collection of its own.» – Global Head of Fragrance, Céline Roux

THE SCENTS:

RED ROSES
A romantic rose scent. Inspired by a blend of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses. With crushed violet leaves and a hint of lemon, it unfolds like a bouquet
of freshly cut flowers.
Top: Lemon
Heart: Red Roses Accord
Base: Honeycomb
Available in a decorated 30ml and 100ml Cologne, Home Candle and Diffuser.

VELVET ROSE & OUD
A decadent rose scent. Darkest Damask rose. Rich and textural, wrapped with smoky oud wood. Spiked with clove, decadent with praline.
Top: Clove
Heart: Damask Rose
Base: Oud
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne Intense and Home Candle.

ROSE & MAGNOLIA
An enchanting rose scent. A sensual floral with a mysterious character.
Luminous magnolia and a duet of roses. A decadent heart of sweet and petaly
Rose de Mai, warmed by the spicy opulence of Rose Damascena, draped in sensuous patchouli and warm amber.
Top: Magnolia
Heart: Rose
Base: Patchouli
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne.

ROSE BLUSH
A petal-fresh rose scent. The charm of blushing pink rose petals. Vibrant basil
and a juicy note of lychee add a modern twist to this pretty floral scent,
cocooned in the comforting embrace of white musk.
Top: Basil Grand Vert
Heart: Rose
Base: White Musk
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne.

THE FULL LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTION
Red Roses Cologne 30ml RRP £55 / €61 / CHF 76
Red Roses Cologne 100ml RRP £107 / €124 / CHF 142
Red Roses Home Candle RRP £52 / €59 / CHF 86
Red Roses Diffuser RRP £68 / €82 / CHF 96
Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne Intense 50ml RRP £90 / €103 / CHF 120
Velvet Rose & Oud Home Candle RRP £52 / €59 / CHF 104
Rose & Magnolia Cologne 50ml RRP £76 / €88 / CHF 94
Rose Blush Cologne 50ml RRP £76 / €88 / CHF 94
Available online and Jo Malone stores and counters from now.

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? I am with Velvet Rose & Oud! It is such a warm, seductive and captivating scent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jo Malone and © Sandra Bauknecht
@JoMaloneLondon #JoMaloneLondonRoses
DISCLOSURE: I received some of the products to test them.

With the Lunar New Year falling on February 1, the year of the tiger has officially arrived. Tigers symbolize strength, power and fearlessness so as we reach the Lunar New Year, I am channeling all of the tiger energy I can get (not so hard… haha, I was born in the Year of the Tiger).

As China is still a huge market in the fashion industry, many luxury brands have hopped on the train to release their festive capsules inspired by the Year of the Tiger and to promote the holiday on their global social channels, among them blockbuster brands such as Gucci, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Below you can find the best capsules collections of 2022:

The symbol of strength and bravery takes center stage in the new BALENCIAGA Year of the Tiger series, which largely consists of pre-existing seasonal lines updated with a new tiger motif.

BOTTEGA VENETA is going big for this Chinese Lunar New Year. The house has taken over a piece of the Great Wall of China in its latest large-scale activation celebrating the annual holiday. Bottega’s signature green shade mixed with a vibrant tangerine color (a symbol of luck in Mandarin) is digitally displayed across a massive chunk of one of the seven Wonders of the World.

BURBERRY evokes the power and strength of the tiger zodiac sign in this limited-edition collection dedicated to the Lunar New Year.

This year, the DIOR tiger will bring you strength and luck as he roams around the blooming garden, illuminated by glowing lanterns. For men, Dior Men’s Artistic director Kim Jones has teamed up with American artist Kenny Scharf to celebrate the New Year of the Water Tiger.

DOLCE & GABBANA pays homage  to the Year of the Tiger with a unique collection: the iconic print  is intertwined with the tiger pattern,  revived in different colors.

ETRO launches a capsule collection starring the strong and courageous Tigress, a character from the animated cartoon film Kung Fu Panda by DreamWorks Animation. Created in collaboration with Universal Brand Development and DreamWorks Animation, the unisex fashion and accessories collection reinterprets the symbolism of the tiger in a funny and unexpected way, portraying the heroic kung fu moves of the characters Ping Xiao Po, Tigress, Shifu, Mantis, Crane and Monkey on T-shirts, sweatshirts, shirts, scarves and a selection of bags, accessories and small leather goods made with the iconic Paisley print.

FENDI celebrates the Spring Festival and the Year of the Tiger with an exclusive capsule collection that updates the brand’s signature style codes with intense colours and a daring animal print.

In celebration of the holiday, different versions of the animal define a curated selection of ready-to-wear and accessories—highlighting the multifaceted nature of the GUCCI universe. Rich with significance for the House, the animal expresses the Creative Director’s fascination with the beauty of nature. For a detailed post, click here please.

For Chinese New Year 2022, LANVIN ‘s sculptural cat designed by Armand Albert Rateau that embellishes the Pencil Cat bag disguises itself as a tiger.

LOUIS VUITTON mounts a tiger tail at the new flagship store in Chengdu. The shop features original artworks and furniture crafted by Chinese artists and designers to showcase the house’s commitment to local art and culture. Meanwhile, to celebrate the Year of the Tiger, the house presented a special art installation that features a giant, textured tiger tail at the storefront, as well as a capsule collection.

In occasion of Chinese New Year, MARNI celebrates the Year of the Tiger through a capsule collection in collaboration with Venezuelan artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess, a long-time friend of Marni. A limited series of accessories and ready-to-wear designs, across both female and male collections, turn Suarez’s distinctive illustrations into prints, embroideries and jacquards, bringing the artist’s imaginative work into the free-spirited world of Marni.

To celebrate the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, MIU MIU presents a collection of T-shirts printed with big cats in animation. They range in spirit from bouncy and cute to heroic, and from ubiquitous to unexpected.

Celebrating the Year of the Tiger, MOSCHINO‘s creative director Jeremy Scott has put together a special capsule collection featuring the icon of all frosted cereal flakes, Tony the Tiger. From ready-to-wear pieces such as oversized tees, hoodies and sweatshirts to bold accessories like the cereal box clutch, you’ll be the sharpest-looking tiger this CNY.

PRADA is celebrating the Lunar New Year with «Action in the Year of the Tiger», a combined campaign and project dedicated to safeguarding this legendary animal.
The Prada Group is also contributing to the conservation of endangered Amur tiger by making a donation to «Walking with Tiger and Leopard» Programme of China Green Foundation.

Tiger in Wonderland – to celebrate the Lunar New Year, FERRAGAMO has invited Chinese artists Sun Yuan and Peng Yu to create a unique print inspired by the 2022 Zodiac Tiger. I am obsessed with the bag.

In celebration of the Year of the Tiger, discover this exclusive capsule by STELLA MCCARTNEY honoring the occasion and the zodiac animal – with organic cotton pieces and cruelty-free accessories featuring prints by airbrush artist Albert Seleznyov, raising awareness for the conservation of these sacred creatures.

VALENTINO‘s first acquaintance with the tiger dates back to its Haute Couture F/W 1967 collection. In celebration of the Lunar New Year, the Italian Maison brings back the Valentino Tiger 1967 collection as a tribute to the Chinese heritage and a nod to its friendship with the country.

VERSACE beckons the Year of the Tiger with a classy capsule collection of new interpretation of the favourites of the Italian brand. A print showcasing the magnificent tiger resting within golden Baroque flourishes is introduced for the capsule, as well as a vibrant new year red colour that runs through it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Celebrate the arrival of the Spring Festival with this new MAC collection of Lunar New Year beauty must-haves, there’s something to suit everyone. Whether you are looking to treat someone special or simply spoil yourself, these Chinese New Year gifts will truly get you in the mood to celebrate.

The limited edition makeup brings together all the favourite products but with an added touch of sparkle. Available from now for a limited time only on maccosmetics.ch.

POWDER KISS LIPSTICK / LUNAR LUCK
Enveloped In Luck Neutral pink
Push Your Luck Neutral orange
If Wishes Were Roses Vibrant pinky red
Pure Luck Dirty red
CHF 30

POWDER KISS LIQUID LIPCOLOUR / LUNAR LUCK
Fortune Tell Me Light pink-neutral
Peachy Party Pumpkin
Token Of Affection Red
Luck Be A Lotus Dark rose
CHF 34

EXTRA DIMENSION SKINFINISH / LUNAR LUCK
Lunar Lights Beigey gold
CHF 42

EYESHADOW PALETTE X 9: MADE MY FORTUNE
Shell We Celebrate? Warm neutral (Powder Kiss)
Sunkissed Orange Camel (Powder Kiss)
Born To Rule Warm bronze (Dazzleshadow Extreme)
15 Minutes Of Flame Deep orange (Powder Kiss)
Made My Fortune True gold (Dazzleshadow Extreme)
Propitious Poppy Red (Powder Kiss)
Plum What May Plum (Powder Kiss)
Supreme Harmony Pinky lilac (Dazzleshadow Extreme)
Wish Me Luck! Medium deep brown (Dazzleshadow Extreme)
CHF 60

BRUSHES
217S Blending Eye Brush / Lunar Luck
CHF 34
159S Duo Fibre Blush Brush / Lunar Luck
CHF 54

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © MAC Cosmetics