Sandra‘s Closet

LUNA ROSSA, Prada’s newest men’s fragrance, seeks inspiration from the Italian house’s sailboat of the eponymous name which regularly participates in the prestigious America’s Cup (For more information on the famous competition, scroll to the end of this post please).

The scent and ingredients blended by Daniela Andrier, Prada Luna Rossa is a masculine fragrance without compromise that reinterprets traditional ingredients with agility.

A wave of aromatic freshness crashes through the scent conveying strength and dynamic energy, while its signature is noble and sensual.The backbone of the fragrance is lavender – an unmistakable natural ingredient in perfumery – but here pushed to the edge in a unique modern interpretation. Even the Prada Luna Rossa fragrance bottle is inspired by the technological excellence and sleek, dynamic beauty of extreme sailing boats. The power of the elements is reflected in the materials and design, which project both strength and sophistication.

Top Notes: Lavender Absolute and Bitter Orange
Middle Notes: Clary Sage and Spearmint Nanah
Base Notes: Ambroxan and Ambrette Absolute

Prada Luna Rossa for Men EdT 50ml (CHF 87.-) / EdT 100ml (CHF 117.-)
Aftershave Lotion 125ml (CHF 85.-)
Shower Gel 200ml CHF 50.-)
Deodorant 150ml (CHF 45.-)

Available September 2012.

The Luna Rossa Story

The America’s Cup is the most coveted and elusive prize in sport and the apex of the sailing world. It is an intense competition propelled by an almost mythological history, the obsession and dedication of its participants and thrilling advances in design and engineering. It is a race fought along lines of technology and athleticism, but fundamentally bound by the forces of nature; enjoyed the world over both for the visceral excitement of the competition and the grace of the boats as they cut through the waves.

The Luna Rossa sailing team emerged from the shared determination and grand ambition of two men. Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada and German Frers, one of the world’s foremost yacht designers, met in 1997 to discuss a cruising boat and the designer made a provocative jibe – “why not the America’s Cup?”. There was no turning back. In order to meet strict entry deadlines Bertelli organized a crew from scratch in a record time of just two weeks – a process usually taking many months. Since then, the Luna Rossa team is one of the most renowned and beloved competitors of the America’s Cup – the oldest and most prestigious trophy in sport.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada, © Carlo Borlenghi

Fan di Fendi pour Homme is the first ever Fendi men’s fragrance. And great news is that the famous English DJ, musician and music producer Mark Ronson is the face of the ad campaign.

This masculine scent aims at mysterious, sophisticated and urban men who radiate charisma and modern elegance. Therefore, the composition tends to be both fresh and modern, as well as classic and refined. Created by perfumers François Demachy, in collaboration with Delphine Lebeau and Benoist Lapouza, its character is fresh woody-aromatic.

Top notes: Sicilian mandarin, bergamot and basil
Middle notes: Pink pepper, cardomom, gardenia and Texan cedarwood
Base notes: Leather accord, tonca bean and patchouli

In the ad campaign, Anja Rubik and Mark Ronson are actually snuggling up in the back of a car. Probably you should be asking yourself if buying this scent for your better half might be dangerous because an array of women will be all over him…

CHF 83.70 (50ml) and CHF 116.10 (100ml)
Available in Switzerland from September 14, 2012 exclusively at Marionnaud.

LoL, Sandra

Mark Ronson with me at the Versace for H&M launch party in NYC
Photos: Courtesy of Fendi and © Sandra Bauknecht

“After creating Flowerbomb, we felt a twinge of jealousy: why aren’t we allowed our own bomb?” – Viktor & Rolf

In 2005, Viktor & Rolf launched its first bomb: a profusion of flowers in an excessively sensual fragrance for women… Created by famous perfumer Olivier Polge, the Flowerbomb legend was born. This September, men will have their turn.

Spicebomb, an explosion of the senses

Instant olfactory detonation. Viktor & Rolf is once again overturning convention with the help of Olivier Polge and revealing a fragrance that makes no concessions. An explosive concentrate of masculine sensuality. Surprising at first breath, its spices addictive from the very next second…

Top Notes: Chili, saffron, leather, tobacco and vetiver
Middle Notes: Bergamot and grapefruit
Base Notes: Elemi and pink pepper

Long-standing collaborators of Viktor & Rolf, the photographers Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin created a visual campaign for Spicebomb that makes an instant impression.

The American model Sean O’Pry is in the line of sight: a mysterious, almost iconic beauty. Classic, but sexy. Virile, but sensual. What a feast for the eyes, ladies!

Just looking at the bottle you know that something is about to… go boom!

A tailor-made grenade revisited for a fragrance with an explosive scent. A chic and sophisticated weapon, given a twist with the arty touch that characterizes Viktor & Rolf. The ultimate detail: the fragrance is released by priming the pin.

Available end of September 2012.
EdT  50ml (CHF 89.-) and 90ml (CHF 119.-)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf

Today is the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, United Kingdom, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad. So time to show your Olympic spirit.

Bally’s men’s West H. sneaker collection makes it easy to show your national pride. Fly the flag for your own nation.

Twelve casual leather sneakers pay homage to twelve different countries. Each West H. sneaker features a national flag screen printed with a cool vintage effect that includes Great Britain, Switzerland, the USA, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and more.

And Bally’s charming Bally-rina is back, this time to captivate us with her sporty London 2012 Olympic spirit in a specially designed women’s sneaker and tote.

The red stitched Athena high-top sneaker features a back zip which cutely reveals the very sweet Bally-rina whimsically waving a gymnastics ribbon in blue, red, green and yellow colours. The same motif can be found on the Hanoe fabric tote.

Both, Bally’s West H. sneaker collection and the Bally-rina collection are available in store and online. Bally offers free shipping at the moment for the sportive collection. Just enter promo code SPORTBALLY at checkout.

For collectors and most loyal fans of the Olympic Games, the Coca-Cola collector’s box Special Olympics five glasses grouping is available exclusively at Colette now. The 5 glasses come with a collector bottle and a tote bag.

Celebrate the 2012 London Olympics with the commemorative Butter London‘s Olympic Heavy Medal Collection. The set includes three beautiful, metallic nail lacquers worthy of standing upon the winners’ podium, all limited editions. 
Colours: The Full Monty, Diamond Geezer and The Old Bill.

Solange Azagury-Partridge has designed the Britannia Hotlips ring to celebrate the games. The renowned iconic Hotlips design featuring the British flag is a fun and original lucky charm- one last good luck kiss for the athletes!

For all winners among you, take sartorial gold in Markus Lupfer‘s playful sequin medal-embellished merino wool sweater. Decorated with signature charm and wit, this piece is sure to turn heads.

Take a playful approach to the sporting season with these ‘2012 Olympics’-inspired briefs by Team Great Britain’s Creative Director Stella McCartney. Cut from a blend of white cotton and silk, this colorfully embroidered pair will make a whimsical addition to your lingerie drawer.

Just click on the highlighted text to shop those must-have pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bally, Colette, Net-à-porter, Solange Azagury-Partridge and via Telegraph

Gentlemen, here is a great product from Kiehl’s for you: FACIAL FUEL No-Shine Hydrator.
Dive into deep shine-free hydration with this instantly refreshing, lightweight oil-free 24-hour moisture gel formulated to effectively mattify the skin’s surface.

Powered by a blend of zinc, sodium, and magnesium, the formula helps reduce the appearance of facial oils while also boosting skin’s ability to maintain optimal hydration. An ideal moisturizing solution for men’s oily skin, this super-absorbent formula uses a unique technology to control shine, leaving skin clean and healthy-looking.

Available from September 2012 for CHF 75.- (30ml).

LoL, Sandra

Ladies, store your ballet flats! If you haven’t focused on the day-slipper trend, you really should embrace it. They are on the shopping list of every fashionista and a hot fixture on the fall high street. I went for leopard print slippers by Louis Vuitton in blue (for the previous post, please click here) – Poppy Delevigny has the same ones in red. 
For fall, Miu Miu‘s velvet embroidered slippers are my season’s favourites, so chic!

By the way, gentlemen, you are in the game as well. You can find the most extraordinary models for the fashion-forward of you at the end of this post.

Get involved now and shop those must-have footwear below!

LoL, Sandra

Shop the best slippers for WOMEN:

Embroidered velvet-covered leather slippers by Miu Miu

Embroidered satin-covered leather slippers by Miu Miu

Sequined leather slippers by Marc by Marc Jacobs

Intern tartan canvas and patent-leather slippers by Christian Louboutin

Sequin skull-embellished suede slippers by Alexander McQueen

Embroidered velvet slippers by Alexander McQueen

Swarovski crystal-embellished suede slippers by Giuseppe Zanotti

Wheel studded leather slippers by Jimmy Choo

Shop the best slippers for MEN:

Victory nude nubuck leather slippers by Kardinale

Leopard print suede slippers by Jimmy Choo Men

Sloane zebra print ponyskin slippers by Jimmy Choo Men

Coarse glitter slippers by Jimmy Choo Men

Purple velvet slippers by Del Toro

Velvet slippers with crystal tassel by Giuseppe Zanotti Men

Suede and Swarovski embellished slippers by Giuseppe Zanotti Men

Embroidered velvet slippers by Stubbs & Wooton
(Stubbs & Wooton is a Florida-based label, founded in Palm Beach in 1993, that specialises in luxurious slippers).

« The strength of the sea and the brightness of the sky are the elements that I am drawn towards the most when in Pantelleria and that inspired me Acqua di Gio. For Acqua di Giò Essenza, I wanted to create a concentrate of power and sensuality. »

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani has always loved the Mediterranean, and drew his inspiration from the rock-strewn landscape of Pantelleria to create Acqua di Giò in 1996. A fresh, sensual blend that has become a classic men’s fragrance. An irresistible combination of sea’ salty accents, sparkling citrusy notes, musk and woody cedar, this exceptional scent embodies masculinity in harmony with nature, a fragrance of escape and sensuality.

Today Acqua di Giò Essenza opens a new chapter with an Eau de Parfum, a new interpretation of Acqua di Giò, more intense, composed by Alberto Morillas.

Top notes: Cascalone, Sicilian bergamot essence and grapefruit zest.
Heart notes: Paradisone, jasmine absolute from Grasse, basil and sage.
Base notes: Patchouli,  Atlas cedar, vetiver from Haiti, ambrox, animalic ambergris and clary sage.

The result is an incomparable sensuality, the tantalizing lure of the skin.

The bottle shares the same architectural lines as the Acqua di Giò bottle, with the addition of light and technology. An engraved silver-plated plaque embraces the base of the glass like a mirror, to give the fragrance an even greater dazzle. In a click, the new magnetic cap bearing the Armani logo, opens and closes the bottle with a simple, sensual gesture.

The campaign was shot by Bruce Weber starring Simon Nessman.

LoL, Sandra

Earlier you’ve seen the new H&M Fall 2012 women’s collection, now here’s a look at the men’s lookbook!

Andreas Löwenstam, H&M’s Head Menswear Designer sums it up, “The suit is the most important garment for men at H&M this fall, and it’s amazing to see how it can be worn in so many modern ways. Traditions mix with new ideas to build a new wardrobe that’s all about personal style.”

I love the suit look layered with a hoody, this adds just the right amount of coolness to the classy look! The mix of texture and colour is nicely contrasted with burgundy and bottle green, THE colours for F/W 2012. The silhouette is very ’60s. Which one is your favourite?

Key garments: The suit, turtleneck sweaters, tailored pants, chinos, cords, mid-thigh coats, the cardigan and blazers.

Key accessories: Leather brogues, leather gloves, leather weekend bags, tweed ties and bow ties, suspenders, coloured socks, 60′s glasses frames and gentlemen’s umbrella.

LoL, Sandra

Photos Lookbook: Courtesy of H&M – © Kacper Kasprzyk
Photos Showroom: © Sandra Bauknecht

Men, don’t be afraid of hair loss anymore. Kérastase has heard your cries for help against premature balding. Their solution? The Kérastase Homme Capital Force — the first hair care range for men designed to protect against hair loss and thinning areas.

Kérastase’s 1st double-action roller ROLL-ON ANTI-CHUTE with Système Taurine and a massaging ball helps maintain the density of thinning hair. Apply the product every day for one minute on the receding hair lines and enjoy the cooling effect of this easy-to-use roll-on.

Available at select Kérastase salons for CHF 41.- along with the complete product range, including the new Kérastase Homme Capital Force Bain Vita-Energetique, a shampoo for daily use formulated specifically for normal hair types. Its superior three-tiered nourishing, stimulating and cooling action helps to achieve a healthy scalp and to strengthen the hair fibre, CHF 26.-.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kérastase

Checkmate! For the gentleman who has everything, Hermès has created a luxurious chess set as part of their S/S 2012 collection. For the ultimate board game experience, buy this leather chess board featuring competing armies in rosewood and mahogany for CHF 19850.-.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Hermès