Sandra‘s Closet

Special gifts that celebrate that unique love between owner and cat might be a great idea for you or a fellow kitten lover. I love this uber-cute new season cat wool sweater by Issa, a stylish way of showing your love for these animals. 
Need a shopping basket sweetener? Here’s a Matches FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING code – simply enter FREE12 at checkout – valid till December 10, 2012 midnight GMT.

Or have you every thought of treating your feline friend this Christmas to an Advent calendar for cats from Harrods. Behind each window is a tasty treat that your cat will love and enjoy. Perfect for getting all the family involved in the festive season.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Matches and Harrods

YSL Holiday look 2012, “Northern Lights”, is probably of the most wanted Christmas makeup collections with its beautiful colour palette inspired by the northern lights.

Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Makeup Director of YSL Beauty, says about the collection: “During my childhood I was fascinated by the northern lights – also known as Aurora borealis – with its incredible vitality and color, which can never forget in life. They inspired me to this collection with exceptionally bright colours, laced with violet and midnight-blue hues and dotted with pearl highlights like a grand night sky! “

My favourite products are from left to right:
PURE CHROMATICS Collector’s Palette Arctic Night (Limited Edition) – CHF 79.00
(It comes with this super-cute sequined pochette.)
LA LACQUE COUTURE Top Coat N°33 Première Neige (Limited Edition) – CHF 38.00
(For an irresistible frosty finish on your nails, reminiscent of the moonshine.)
GOLDEN GLOSS N°55 Bleu Artique & N°56 Rose Polaire (Limited Edition) – CHF 46.00
(Two scintillating sheer lip glosses that can be worn on bare lips or over your favourite lipstick.)

I absolutely adore the combination of LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 18 Bleu Majorelle (from YSL’s summer look 2012) with the Limited Edition Top Coat N°33 Première Neige. Hope that you will like it, too. The collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today is the 2nd of December, time to open the second door of our Advent calendar and to reveal the secret why I went to Greece with Hermès. It is something for perfume aficionados and beauty lovers:

Jour d’Hermès, the French house’s new women’s fragrance, will hit the shelves on February 15, 2013. Great news is that it is available exclusively now in all Hermès boutiques. Such a fantastic, very selective gift for Christmas. The scent is like the dawn, luminous, sensual, floral and very feminine. In the beginning of next year, I will tell you all about the trip to Delphi and give some more information on the new scent.

LoL, Sandra

Still: Courtesy of Hermès

Agent Provocateur‘s F/W 2012 Soiree collection is glamorously gothic; each piece is rich in embellishment and adornment. Extravagant lace trims, heavy beading and intricate detailing are all abundant. I am sure that Santa Claus will be delighted to bring you those goodies…

CORDELIYAH KIMONO

Absolutely stunning are two lace sets, ‘Cordeliyah’ and ‘Damira’, that both include a full length gown with a Victorian flare. ‘Cordeliyah’ is made in elegant navy silk and navy French Leavers lace, while ‘Damira’ is created in sweeping weightless black silk chiffon.

DAMIRA GOWN

DANIKA PLAYSUIT & PASTIES

Who wouldn’t like to get tangled up in this mysteriously sexy Swarovski-encrusted playsuit ‘Danika’?! Delicate shimmering crystal chains romantically drape over your curves and the seductive stretch black taffeta straps give a sense of entrapment. Luxurious French cobweb lace detailing finish this decidedly dark look.

Discover the complete Soiree Premium collection now and receive free worldwide standard shipping until Dec. 4th by using the code ‘APGIFT’ at checkout.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Agent Provocateur

Great news for my Swiss readers: This upcoming Sunday, 2nd of December, from 12 -6 pm, you have the chance to meet and greet the jewelry designer GABRIELE FRANTZEN at GASSMANN in Zurich.

You have seen me many times wearing her amazing designs. Now, you will have the chance to explore her famous “Sense & Sensibilty” collection that is in the meantime available in 20 different shades with your own eyes or get your fingers on the new S/S 2013 “Zoo” designs.

For my foreign readers, you can shop Gabriele Frantzen’s designs online at LUISAVIAROMA.COM.

LoL, Sandra

SENSE & SENSIBILITY EMERALD

FLOWER CHOKER

KISSING PANTHERS

PEARL DRAKE

TIGER PENDANT

ZOO

Photos: Courtesy of Gabriele Frantzen, © Sandra Bauknecht

It is December 1st, are you getting antsy for Christmas? Like last year, I have created a little online Advent calendar to make the wait a bit easier. Every day I will surprise you with one or two deliciously fashionable must-haves, or an inspiration for a lovely gift, even for yourself.

Get caught up in some fabulous offerings and don’t forget to shop them fast. Some things will sell out so quickly that even Santa can’t bring them. Hello, wait list!

To celebrate the Advent season in style, Monnier Frères offers to Sandra’s Closet readers a special 10% discount from today until December 15, 2012. Enter promo code XMAS10SCL at checkout. Delivery before Christmas is guaranteed for any order placed before noon on the 20th of December, 2012.

I am not dreaming of a white Christmas but of a…
1 20 Year silk twill square by Christian Lacroix
2 Maraini Faith leather bag by Jil Sander
3 Red hat by Borsalino
4 Tuyet embroidered clutch by Balmain

Have fun shopping and enjoy your 10% discount!

LoL, Sandra

It is official, Alexander Wang is Balenciaga‘s new Creative Director and will replace Nicolas Ghesquière at the French fashion house, who officially leaves today, after 15 years at the helm.

Alexander Wang with me

Rumors had been out quite awhile that the American designer  would be the perfect choice for the PPR-owned fashion house Balenciaga, because Wang knows how to make edgy and groovy commercial. Congrats, Alexander, well-deserved! (If you are interested to read an interview, I did with Alexander Wang two years ago, please click here!)

Christopher Kane with me

Another one, editors were considering for the job, was Christopher Kane, who has just left his position at Versus to focus on his own line.

Gianni Versace Spa follows a new strategic repositioning of the Versus brand. Digital is the key word and under Donatella Versace’s creative leadership, there will be collaborations with young designers, stylists, and creatives from different walks of life, to develop capsule collections, co-branding projects, limited editions. Yesterday, the first designer to create a capsule collection for Versus has been announced: Jonathan Anderson, the designer behind the J.W. Anderson fashion label for men and women. The launch event is planned for March/April 2013 in New York.

Bruce Weber, 1996

For the capsule collection, Jonathan Anderson was particularly inspired by an image from a campaign shot by Bruce Weber with Donatella in 1996. “For me,” said Jonathan, “this iconic image says it all, that’s how I see Versus. It’s all about the relationship between a boy and a girl, a girl and a girl, a boy and a boy. Purity.”

The New York Times is reporting rumours that Nicolas Ghesquière‘s next move might be his own label at LVMH. It seems like this time , the designer carrousel is one where everyone turns out to be a winner.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versus, Style, J.W. Anderson, © Wenn, © Sandra Bauknecht

During the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2012, I went backstage several times. I love watching hair and make-up artists at work as you can always learn so much. Paul Mitchell and Marionnaud belonged to the main sponsors of the event. I spotted some great products that I am now completely addicted to and of course, I am sharing them with you.

Me having fun at work.

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer by Smashbox
Let me introduce you to the first primer dedicated to the delicate skin under the eyes! The brand’s signature silky primer texture keeps your concealer looking fresh and never cakey or settled into fine lines so that your eyes will always look well-rested. 
Available in Switzerland for CHF 33.- exclusively at Marionnaud.

Germany’s Next Topmodel 2012 winner Luisa Hartema‘s hairdo was done with products by Paul Mitchell. Scroll down to see what you will definitely need to get the perfect blow-dry.

Hydromist Blow-Out Spray™
High-performance volumizers prepare hair for a flawless blow-dry. The weightless formula boosts volume, hydrates dry strands and delivers a clean, long-lasting hold while protecting hair from damage.

Shine Spray™
This finishing spray with a light mist adds brilliance and luminous shine to any style while protecting your hair.

Styling Treatment Oil™
The idea of oiling up your hair might sound weird, but rubbing a little of this lightweight formula between your palms and then over strands before blow-drying or ironing adds a beautiful gloss and tames frizz.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last week almost 300 guests celebrated the opening of the Moncler store in Zurich. Located at the prestigious Storchengasse 8, the shop carries the house’s impeccably tailored alpine outerwear for men and women as well as the Moncler Grenoble line that takes its name from the French village where the brand originated, along with fabulous accessories from cool hats to fashionable fur boots.

My look at the opening party: White padded gilet by Moncler Grenoble (Thank you, Moncler!), Millie tweed and wool-crepe dress by Stella McCartney, Swarovski crystal necklace by Lanvin, bow-embellished suede and snake-effect leather ankle boots by Miu Miu, small Boston bag by Céline.

Enjoy the photos of the night and the shop!

LoL, Sandra

Laurence Antiglio (Vestibule), Annina Frey (also dressed in Moncler Grenoble), me and a friend.

The lovely Moncler team, who came from Italy for the opening party, with me.

Guests received this exclusive gift.

Photos: Courtesy of Moncler and © Sandra Bauknecht

For Christmas 2012, Guerlain launches a gorgeous little trio of options for La Petite Robe Noire, the brand’s freshly re-worked fragrance. Three alternative “little black dresses” are featured on limited-edition bottles, named Ma Petite Robe Noire.

Simply choose which of the three dresses matches your or your gift recipient’s taste and have the bottle calligraphed with your name, initials or a secret message. The perfect fusion for a perfume-loving fashionista!

The complementary calligraphy session will be available in Zurich at Jelmoli only on the following dates: Friday 30st of November and Saturday 1st of December, 2012.

If you like to read my review of Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire, please click here for my thoughts on this yummy fragrance and check out this post to get an idea how cute a personalized bottle can be.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain