Sandra‘s Closet

I love violet nail polishes but finding the right hue can be pretty tricky. Christian Dior defined purple as a demanding and sophisticated shade, calling it the veritable “Queen of colours”. As for me, Tom Ford offers the two perfect shades for nails.

“African Violet” is a very bright hue that immediatly helps to make your skin tone looks more radiant. It is part of Tom Ford’s standard palette.

“Dominatrix” is a limited edition nail polish for F/W 2012. It has a hint of silver shimmer that gives it a very interesting metallic shine.

Available in Switzerland at Jelmoli for CHF 44.- each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The second half of the Louis Vuitton – Yayoi Kusama collaboration (Please click here for the photos of the first arrival in July) will hit the shelves tomorrow, September 8, 2012 – much earlier than expected. Here is your sneak preview of the upcoming pumpkin-inspired products.
Aren’t they just polka-dot enthusiastic fantastic?!

LoL, Sandra

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots white

Neverfull MM Monogram Waves red

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town blue

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town red

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots green
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The hype started two years ago, when Valentino designers, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, presented their first Rockstud heels. For the designer duo, contrast is the essence of contemporary life. Their stylistic approach, however, aims at blending antithetical elements – for example, Valentino’s proverbial grace and bold metal studs – in a distinct, timeless image. This season, the fashion house celebrates the new classic with the Noir capsule collection of Rockstud shoes, bags and accessories in edgy black with ruthenium studs. Rock on with this clean yet strongly evocative design.

I am convinced that the streets during Fashion Week will be filled with those new icons. Fashionistas everywhere, better start hoarding these limited edition pieces and see the dark side of the stud!

To shop, click on the highlighted product descriptions below.

LoL, Sandra

Rockstud leather tote

So Noir studded leather tote

65mm Rockstud patent So Noir pumps

Studded cuff

Studded So Noir ballet flats

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino

Great news! Lanvin is collaborating with Ladureé and Alber Elbaz has art directed a special bubble gum-flavoured macaroon set. The designer stirs our imagination, arouses our fantasies and now, plays to our weakness for sweets.

It is this whimsical spirit that inspired the lovely faces of playful women on Ladurée boxes containing eight pink bubble gum-flavoured macaroons.
The delicacies will go on sale on Sept. 25 in France, in time for Paris Fashion Week’s. The U.K., U.S. and Japan will follow on Sept. 28.

Lanvin are not the first fashion house to team up with the famous French salon de thé – other designers to have collaborated include Matthew Williamson, Christian Louboutin, Sonia Rykiel and many others.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lanvin

Charlie Le Mindu, Lady Gaga’s eccentric hairstylist, has redesigned L’Oréal Professionnel’s Infinium hairspray. “Fashion hairstyling is very demanding, and styling products should give the best result possible in record time,” he explained. “This is why a majority of hairstylists use L’Oréal Professionnel’s products. They know the exact result of each formula, so if, for example, they want a really strong hold hairspray which also gives the hair a beautiful shine, Infinium is ideal and very easy to use.”

This new design comes with a silhouette of one of Charlie’s designs lined in midnight blue on a pearl white background.

On his website he says: “The inspiration behing this drawing was a model I loved on one of my catwalks but it is also a drawing of a hat that Lady Gaga was wearing few month ago. I m really exited to see this spray backstage and in every bathroom.”

If you like strong hold hairspray, you will love this limited edition Mademoiselle Infinium,
available in two versions, Strong (2) and Strong (3), both for CHF 18.- (300ml) in L’Oréal Professionnel salons.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Oréal Professionnel, © Zak Hussein/PA Wire

This September, the wait will be finally over: Chanel OMBRE CONTRASTE NOTORIOUS will hit the shelves. I have whetted your appetite for this amazing product already in March after the Chanel F/W 2012 show (for the previous post please click here).

This hybrid powder was used by Peter Philips for all the sculpting and shading of the face like an “eye shadow meets blusher.” Nestled in the iconic JOUES CONTRASTE case, OMBRE CONTRASTE NOTORIOUS, the Exclusive Creation of the Collection, sweeps over eyelids and cheeks in a single stroke. The grey taupe shade, tinged with lavender, is almost imperceptible at first but becomes more intense with each application. Applied as blush and eyeshadow, it acts like a sculpting halo and makes it possible to build a singular, intriguing shadow effect.

Available at Chanel boutiques and at selected retailers such as Jelmoli in Zurich.
Ombre Contraste Notorious CHF 60.-

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Chanel

Leave it to Chanel to make a fashionista’s heart leap with joy. For this year’s Fashion’s Night Out, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Makeup, has created three gorgeous matte lipsticks with matching nail polishes in chic, sophisticated tones of plum, pink and beige. The so-called collector-worthy “Les Twin-Sets” collection will arrive in Chanel boutiques September 6!

Rouge Allure Velvet for € 30.50 each

Le Vernis for € 25 each

“Infidèle” is a saturated rose pink. A great colour that suits most skin tones.

“Provocation” is a rich deep plum that will work perfectly with the season’s dark luxe trend.

“Délicatesse” is a muted beige, ultra-sophisticated and elegant.

Another gorgeous limited edition from Chanel for the 4th edition of Fashion’s Night Out, just like “Les Jeans de Chanel” (2011), “Les Khakis de Chanel” (2010) and “Jade” (2009), the stunning mint green nail polish that has started the nail polish hype of the last years.
And no end in sight! Stay tuned for more.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel

For fall 2012, Mr. Tom Ford brings some fun makeup colours into our lives. The genius has always focused on the essence of femininity and this limited edition collection includes the probably most stunning autumnal pigments for the season.

All beauty enthusiasts, check out the best items here:

EYE COLOR QUAD in Enchanted
CHF 90.-

EYE DEFINING PENCIL in Exotic Teal
CHF 42.-

EYE COLOR QUAD in Emerald Lust
CHF 90.-

CHEEK COLOR in Narcissist
CHF 76.-

LIP COLOR in Aphrodisiac
CHF 62.-

ULTRA SHINE LIP GLOSS in Naiveté
CHF 55.-

NAIL LACQUER in Minx
CHF 42.-

Available in Switzerland from September 2012. If you cannot wait, click HERE to shop this amazing collection now. I want it all!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford

For F/W 2012, Giorgio Armani draws a “no complex” style, for confident women who play with men dress codes humorously. His couture collection shows contrasts with these eccentric but still classic women suits, mixing bright, vibrant colours.

In opposition to these silhouettes, Linda Cantello, International Makeup Artist, came up with a pale matte skin, subtly rock and glamorous. “Clothes were very colorful so we imagined with Mr Armani a monochrome face, with no blush or contour.”
Inspired by the ’80s, the makeup is matte black and white. A new conception of the smokey eye, with a matte black “neo classic” look.

First, Luminessence, the new brightening and anti-dark spots skincare range, is applied to regenerate skin’s light and obtain a default less matte result. Maestro concealer is smoothed on under the eyes and gives the last touch to unified skin.

The “smokey eye” is reinvented with a black shadow swept around the eye in a “teardrop” shape, stretched to the inside of the eyelid and under the eye.

The colour is defined and softened with a white liner applied on top of the upper eyelid emphasizing the C-shape. The anthracite grey pencil #4 is faded with a brush on the arch of the eyebrow, the latter being emphasized with a black pencil.

To contrast and soften the look, a matte soft dusty rose, Rouge d’Armani #526, is applied on the lips with the fingertips.

Your shopping list:

On the skin: Essence in lotion Luminessence bright primer, bright regenerator concentrate, BB cream bright revelator universal greige.

Skin tone: Maestro Concealer dark circles eraser AMAZING!
(Available in Switzerland in September 2012 for CHF 53.-)

On the eyelids: Neo classic look through the colours, the textures and the shapes, with the Fall 2012 “Easy Chic” palette #1 Neo Black – Harmonie noire
(One Shot – Available in Switzerland  this month for CHF 89.-)

and the NEW Armani Eyes To Kill Quad palette #1 Maestro – Harmonie blanche
(Available in Switzerland in November 2012 for CHF 81.-) and the “Smooth Silk” black pencil #4

Lips are matte soft, enhanced with Rouge d’Armani #526 Plum from the Fall 2012 “Easy Chic” collection. (One Shot – Available in Switzerland this month for CHF 54.-)

I just would like to have everything and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani

Dior‘s fall 2012 makeup collection GOLDEN JUNGLE could not be more perfect. A mix of gold, khaki, and light earth tones – beautifully combined – comes with some amazing surprises. Have a look below and explore the gorgeous crocodile leather effect on the nails along with the fierce animal pattern on the star product. For the feline goddess in you!

STAR PRODUCT (One shot)
Golden Jungle Palette Fall Look 2012 – CHF 110.-
Available in Golden Khakis and Golden Browns

5 Couleurs Eyes in Khaki Design – CHF 90.-

Perfect for fall: Glowing skin is combined with a light shimmer right up to the brow-bone, punctuated with a bold, thickly drawn cat’s eye and finished off with lots of mascara.

3 Couleurs Eyes – CHF 68.-
Available in Ivory Glow and Nude Glow

Dior Blush – CHF 69.-
Available in Sugar & Spice and Sunkissed Cinnamon

Dior Addict Lipstick (One Shots) – CHF 46.- each
Available in Wild, Instinct, Fatale and Daring

Dangerous right down to your nails, the must-have nail polish is the new Duo Vernis, combining a gold base with a matte olive topcoat. The crackled effect is stunningly reptilian, like the scales of a crocodile.

Dior Golden Jungle Nail Art Duo (One Shot) – CHF 54.-
Dior Vernis (One Shot) – CHF 37.- each in Amazonia and Bengale

This gorgeous collection will be available in Switzerland from August 15, 2012. I think with your summer tan, these shades will look absolutely divine.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior and © Sandra Bauknecht