Sandra‘s Closet

This week, I went to Geneva for the 23rd Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – SIHH 2013. Of course, my first stop had to be the IWC Schaffhausen booth that had been once more the most impressive one seen at the famous watch fair. Do you remember the amazing Italian ’50s/’60s theme for the Portofino watches in 2011 or the aircraft carrier for the Pilot watches in 2012?

Speaking of IWC Schaffhausen, you are talking superlatives which is entirely in keeping with the creative spirit that reigns at the Swiss watchmaking company. After the amazing launches and events of the last years, I had been pretty curious if this could be topped. And yes, they did it! As director Marc Forster said, “arriving at the IWC booth feels like arriving at a film set”. And this time, I arrived at a race track. The booth was filled not only with the most exquisite watches, but with the most stunning race cars you can imagine.

So ladies and gentlem, start your engines. In 2013, IWC Schaffhausen embarks on the Formula One season as the Official Engineering Partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team and relaunches the Ingenieur family that appears in a new, modern and very impressive light.

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, puts his finger on it when he says: “Three outstanding quality features set the new Ingenieur collection apart: top-quality IWC movements, sophisticated functions and innovative materials.”

The story of the Ingenieur is strongly connected to the rapid progress made during the 1950s when technological progress dramatically increased the presence of magnetic fields. The Ingenieur, a pure and simple man’s watch, became famous as the antimagnetic watch of that time. When in 1976, IWC Schaffhausen unveiled the “Ingenieur SL” designed by Gérald Genta (above on display at the booth), an icon was born.

In 2013, the Ingenieur has become the perfect watch for the racetrack as the set-up of a Formula One™ racing car and the assembly of a high-precision timepiece, both exemplify the art of engineering at the highest-possible level. Materials used in motorsport, such as carbon fibre, ceramics and titanium, are the hallmarks of the new design line.

My favourite model: The Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance (Ref. 3224) features a rubber strap with a textile inlay, which is stitched with signal-yellow or red thread.

Personally speaking, it’s one thing to look at those photos and read all about those new must-have timepieces, but it’s quite another to strap them on your wrist and examine them up close. The new Ingenieur watches will surely be a hit for IWC, so better race to the next IWC dealer and get your hands on them. The pole position will be all yours, at least style-wise.

What a beauty: The Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month (Ref. 3792) features a perpetual calendar together with a digital date display and leap year indicator.

Have fun exploring whom I spotted at the booth and stay tuned for more photos coming up, especially from the amazing IWC Race Night with top celebrities from all over the world.

LoL, Sandra

Michela Cerruti, daughter of Aldo Cerruti, an Italian racing driver that might be soon spotted driving the Formula One tracks.

German soccer goalkeeper Jens Lehmann

German actor Thomas Kretschmann

Former French soccer player Zinédine Zidane with me

Actor Ralf Moeller

From left to right: Zinédine Zidane, Ralf Moeller and Jean Reno

Boris Becker with me

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Photos of 2nd collage: Courtesy of IWC

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin has taken place this week and the new CLA has premiered. Fittingly, it also stars alongside top model Karlie Kloss in Ryan McGinley‘s fashion film under the creative direction of Jefferson Hack that you can now see in full length at the end of this post. A striking beauty stands alone, surrounded by an imposing landscape, dark clouds gathering ominously behind her; she has two expressive and powerful companions, “her angels”, – a white horse and the Concept Style Coupé.

Karlie Kloss, originally hailing from Chicago, Illinois, has been setting the fashion world alight since her discovery aged 13. Walking for everyone from Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs to Louis Vuitton, she recently renewed a two-year contract with Christian Dior. She looks stunning in the short movie, wearing her pretty Chloé outfit in all white next to a mysterious white horse.

Live from Berlin: The protagonists of the F/W 2013 fashion film, creative director Jefferson Hack, photographer Ryan McGinley, top model Karlie Kloss and Anders Sundt Jensen next to the new CLA that celebrated its world premiere at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.

I totally adore Karlie’s new hair style and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz and © Nass / Brauer Photos for Mercedes-Benz

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Fashion Designer, Leyla Piedayesh, famous for her knitwear designs, has teamed up with Cybex to create a limited edition Callisto 3-in-1 travel system. Piedayesh, also a mother, took up the challenge as she knows too well the importance of having a pram that is not only highly functional but also compliments your style.

Callisto Lala Berlin SRP £360

The Lala Berlin collection features skulls in a striking hand stitched design with a cute baby twist of bows, bow-ties, eye-patches, prams and dummies. The range includes the city pram, travel system and luxury buggy along with stylish tote bag and small footmuff. Additional accessories are also available. For more information, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Aton Lala Berlin SRP £160

Photos: Courtesy of Cybex and Lala Berlin

This Christmas, Cartier takes us on a Winter Tale. Two panther cubs play hide and seek in a snow-laden forest of fir trees. These mischievous cubs lead us on an enchanting adventure. Follow their journey (see video at the end of this post), filled with discoveries and precious gifts… wouldn’t it be lovely to have one of those beautiful jewelry pieces under the Christmas tree?!

Work on your seductive, feline side and nobody could reject your wish list… I mean, who on earth could resist those eyes?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier 2012

Let me introduce you to the world’s 1st hair and scalp super serum, inspired by 24 years of stem cell research, INITIALISTE by Kérastase. It helps you to reveal hair that feels thicker, looks shinier and is more resistant to breakage*.

Since a couple of weeks, I have been using it now and am completely convinced. My hair feels thicker and smoother. Moreover, through the application, I achieve more volume at the roots.

Benefits
With INITIALISTE, revealing a more beautiful hair fibre is now possible.

– HAIR FEELS THICKER
Hair thickness feels boosted and is lusciously soft

– HAIR LOOKS SHINIER
Hair has a lustrous-looking shine

– HAIR IS MORE RESISTANT
Hair is more resistant – up to 93% less breakage*
(*Breakage to brushing. Instrumental test: classic shampoo and Initialiste vs. classic shampoo alone).

Application
INITIALISTE can be applied directly to the scalp after washing and towel drying the hair. Leave-in treatment: 2 pipettes for fine hair and 4 for normal to thick hair. After applying, delicately massage the serum with the tips of your fingers to evenly distribute the serum over the whole scalp.

Technology
The unique knowledge of L’Oréal Advanced Research combined with the mastery of plant-based biotechnology has inspired Kerastase’s revolutionary formulation INITIALISTE, enriched with Vegetal Plant cells.

After a rigorous selection process that examined different kinds of plants, researchers focused their efforts on the native plant cells of the Malus Domestica, a variety of apple.; the extracts of which were infused in INITIALISTE’s Complexe Régénérateur®.

INITIALISTE is available for € 42.00 / CHF 56.00 (60ml). (In Switzerland in January 2013).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Kérastase

Do you still believe in Santa Claus? Well, you should…
This year, he does exist and his name is Jean Paul Gaultier. But this time, only “naughty children” will be rewarded.

Discover “The Naughty Christmas” on www.jeanpaulgaultier.com.

Each day, a gift can be won. You have the chance to open three doors, the rule is… There are no rules, open whichever day you want! This is Christmas for naughty children. Very cool!

LoL, Sandra

Fashion icon Daphne Guinness has now joined the exclusive circle of friends of Roger Dubuis. To mark this new collaboration, the internationally renowned photographer Nick Knight captured the Anglo-Irish aristocrat wearing the Velvet models that were launched this year at the SIHH 2012 in January.

In this exceptional photo shoot produced, the watches are highlighted perfectly on her wrist as she wears wonderful creations from her personal vintage wardrobe. I am really keen to give you an exclusive preview of Nick Knight’s series of pictures and the film presenting the making of the photo shooting made with Daphne Guinness.

Daphne Guinness is the friend and muse of the most famous photographers, designers and art directors. It is as if fate decreed that this muse with a creative temperament should meet Roger Dubuis and should personify the watchmaker’s feminine collections that exercise a fascinating and daring appeal… just like her.

“Daphne is a superbly mysterious woman – you can never unravel her secrets. She is an ideal photo subject and I love working with her”, Nick Knight said after the session. “Her amazing creative spirit is a real inspiration”.

Christian Louboutin with Daphne Guinness to the right and me to the left

I was pretty fascinated by her temperament, when I met her at a gala hosted by Roger Dubuis in Monte Carlo last fall. As you know, I am a big fan of Roger Dubuis and am wearing the Lady Excalibur watch with great pleasure.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roger Dubuis, © Nick Knight and © Sandra Bauknecht

“Water is life is love is life is water is life is love is life is water”
This lovely surprise was waiting for me on my doorstep…

Evian® Natural Mineral Water has teamed with American designer Diane von Furstenberg for the design of its 2013 limited-edition bottle, marking the first time the brand has linked with a female designer. The projects reflects a playful celebration of life and features a nod to the designer’s iconic mantras with, “Water is Life is Love is Life is Water is…,” gracing the bottle in her distinct handwriting and an ubiquitous heart DVF logo in a special hue of red.

Since 2008, evian® has collaborated with the world’s most acclaimed designers including Issey Miyake, Paul Smith, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix and Courrèges. To date, 10 million Limited Edition bottles have been sold and distributed to over 150 countries worldwide.

Just in time for the festive season, the limited edition bottle will be sold in Switzerland from November at the retailers Globus, Manor, among others for CHF 2.40.

“I am so excited about this collaboration because I have always loved evian® and I think drinking water is one of the most important things we can do to love ourselves and love is life! To me it is all about living life to the fullest and I am so proud to work with evian® to spread such an important message.“ said Diane von Furstenberg.

About Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg first entered the fashion world in 1972 with a suitcase full of jersey dresses. Two years later, she invented the wrap dress, which came to symbolize power and independence for an entire generation of women. After a brief hiatus, Diane reemerged on the New York fashion scene in 1997 and re-launched the iconic dress, reestablishing her company as a global luxury lifestyle brand. DVF is now sold in over 70 countries worldwide, and has 54 freestanding shops. In 2005, Diane received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and one year later was elected to her current position as its President. Diane’s commitment to empowering women is expressed through fashion, philanthropy and mentorship. She sits on the board of the non-profit Vital Voices, and in 2010 established The DVF Awards to support and honor exceptional women and organizations.

If you are interested to hear Diane von Furstenberg speak about this collaboration in her own words, I invite you to step in her office by watching this video:

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of evian®, Diane von Furstenberg and © Sandra Bauknecht

During the last months, we have been eagerly waiting to finally see the new campaign for CHANEL N°5 featuring Brad Pitt. This morning, the result was revealed. Joe Wright, the director of the new advertising campaign, shows Brad Pitt delivering a monologue directly into the camera. The actor’s voice comes across as both, captivating and passionate in the dramatic black and white film that you can enjoy below.

LoL, Sandra

Campaign photo and film: © Chanel

Chanel keeps us in suspense until the last minute. Fans of the brand are eager to see the final campaign photos featuring Brad Pitt as the first male model for the house’s iconic Chanel N°5 scent. For the first time, a man will give his view on the most feminine and legendary of fragrances. On October 15th, 2012 the secret will be finally lifted.

In the meantime enjoy those 7 seconds of mystery.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Chanel