Sandra‘s Closet

Radiant Orchid, the color of 2014, couldn’t have been a better source of inspiration for Tom Ford‘s newest scent VELVET ORCHID which comes in the iconic bottle in purple. The new feminine perfume creation could definitely be associated with the brand’s most popular vamp fragrance Black Orchid that was launched in 2006. The new version definitely carries on the legacy of a seductive and warm floral signature that promises a lot of attention.

ORIENTAL FLORAL

Top notes: Honey, rum, mandarin orange and bergamot
Middle notes: Orange blossom, rose, orchid, black orchid, jasmine, heliotrope, narcissus, hyacinth and magnolia
Base notes: Suede, myrrh, sandalswood, labdanum, Peru balsam and vanilla

Velvet Orchid is available as Eau de Parfum in Switzerland starting April 7, 2014 for CHF 132.00 (50ml) and CHF 200.00 (100ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford Beauty

Are you wondering why I named this post Million Dollar Baby? Have a look at my neck… this amazing white gold and diamond choker necklace “EIFFEL MIDNIGHT” is worth CHF 1’190’000 and I had the great honour to wear it recently to a very exclusive event “La Soirée de la Couture Précieuse” hosted by Piaget and my humble self at their store in Zurich on Bahnhofstrasse (photos coming up soon). Believe me, it was hard to take it off…

My look: Houndstooth pencil dress by Alexander McQueen, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps and Sac du Jour leather tote in emerald green, both by Saint Laurent, Limelight Gala watch, necklace and rose diamond ring, all by Piaget and Twenties stay-up by Wolford.
On my nails: Toasted Sugar by Tom Ford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Pascal Pazanda and © Sandra Bauknecht

Something for my Swiss and German based readers: 
The December issue of SI Style magazine featuring my monthly column is available now. This time, I am telling you some anecdotes meeting different celebrities. Below you can see some of favorites.
If you like my outfit, have a look at this previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Being a huge fan of Tom Ford‘s Jasmin Rouge scent, I couldn’t have been more excited about the new matching color collection. There almost nothing as sexy as red lips and nails. Cherry or crimson, mix and match, the latest launch for the season is a fun one with names such as Rouge Fatale and Vampire Kiss for your lips while you can paint nails in Trophy Wife (my favorite as seen on my nails below, the perfect red with a hint of pink shimmer) and Shameless. Love it.

Prices are CHF 62.00 for the lipstick and CHF 42.00 for the nail polish.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford and @ Sandra Bauknecht

Between my recent trips to China and Iceland, I flew for one day to Berlin to shoot MCM‘ s amazing new collaboration with Craig & Karl: EYES ON THE HORIZON. I love the German capital (and that is not only because I was born in this country), it’s one of the most vibrant, energetic cities in Europe. It’s the combination of two facts that can be felt everywhere: its present anything-goes-and-anything’s-possible vibe and its somber past.

Let me take you on a tour around Berlin. I had so much fun with my very talented photographer Christoph Schemel. See for yourselves:

First stop: THE KURFÜRSTENDAMM
Known locally as the Ku’damm, one of the most famous avenues in the city is home to many shops, such as the MCM boutique, hotels and restaurants. It’s often considered the Champs-Élysées of Berlin.

Second stop: DAS STUE
Located right next to the Tiergarten (central park of Berlin), the stylish design hotel Das Stue offers all the comforts of a quiet urban refuge within the heart of Berlin.

Third stop: CAFE AM NEUEN SEE
Christoph and I had a fabulous lunch at this fun place outside in the garden area with waiter service (there is also a self-service beer garden part directly by the lake) and planned the rest of our shoot. I had a piece of very yummy cheesecake (German cheesecake is the best) that went so fast I forgot to take a picture.

Fourth stop: SIEGESSÄULE
Berlin’s “Victory Column” is a famous monument and probably one of the best known symbols of the city. The “Golden Lizzie,” as it is known in local slang, was originally built around 1864 to celebrate Prussia’s victory in the German-Danish war.

Fifth stop: BRANDENBURGER TOR
Located at the heart of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate is standing at the western end of the avenue Unter den Linden. It has been a symbol for both, the divided Cold War city and the country’s reunification. Today, it is one of the metropole’s most-visited landmarks.

Last stop: GRILL ROYAL
Before I flew back to Zurich, we went to Grill Royal for drinks. This see-and-be-seen restaurant is still, after opening a couple of years ago, the place-to-dine and very popular with the celebrity crowd. Below you see me before the entrance on Friedrichstrasse.

I hope that you have enjoyed my day in Berlin! Cannot wait to be back soon…

My look: Ivory blazer, cropped metallic leather motocross pants, both by Balmain, black top by Tom Ford, Audrey wayfarer sunglasses by Céline, shoes by Gucci, key ring, clutch and backpack, all from the MCM x Craig & Karl Eyes on the Horizon collection. Rose necklace and ring, both by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos by Christoph Schemel

Introducing TOM FORD’s latest fragrance innovation, the PRIVATE BLEND ATELIER D’ORIENT fragrance collection. Inspired by the sublime beauty, enigmatic sensuality and exquisite luxury of Asia, I would like to invite you to discover those four new must-haves for all fragrance junkies among you:

SHANGHAI LILY – Opulent. Tantalizing. Elegant.
Shanghai Lily is an exotic floral scent that transports the senses into a world of rare and opulent ingredients from the historic silk road. Warm spices, elegant florals, and addictive notes of vanilla and frankincense create hazy reverie of glamour and temptation.

RIVE D’AMBRE – Ornate. Compelling. Warm.
Tom Ford’s newest take on the classic eau de cologne, Rive d’Ambre seduces with precious citrus fruits, that are regarded as a talisman of good fortune in Asia, illuminated by a warm and seductive, amber background.

FLEUR DE CHINE – Dramatic. Smoldering. Seductive.
Fleur de Chine is an unequivocally romantic and haunting floral fragrance touched with a reverence for the great scents of the past. Precious Asian flowers, including Hualan flower and star magnolia, are arranged in a bouquet of rare beauty.

PLUM JAPONAIS – Delectable. Luscious. Sensual.
Plum Japonais reveals the extraordinary beauty of the Ume plum by juxtaposing it with a lush and unconventional mélange of exotic Asian ingredients. Rich and luxurious, it is a fragrance with irresistible complexity.

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford

One evening in Cannes, I was invited by Chopard to the “Somebody to love” party at Canal+. Mark Ronson, face of Fan di Fendi pour Homme, whom I had met in 2011 at the Versace for H&M Launch Party in NYC, was the DJ for the night. I have to admit that I had far too much fun so unfortunately I didn’t take too many photos…

My look: Pink marabou jacket by Emilio Pucci, ruched taffeta and lace dress by Nina Ricci, gold python pumps by Tom Ford, earrings by Chanel, crocodile clutch by Nancy Gonzalez and Silver Glam stay-ups by Wolford.

LoL, Sandra

The Silver Glam stay-ups by Wolford are just perfect for adding that special something to your outfit, incorporating the pattern du jour: dots.

Looking gorgeous: Mark Ronson in Givenchy Homme

Spotted that night: Belgian martial artist and actor Jean-Claude van Damme

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

If you think that the emerald makeup trend is too vibrant for you, you will love today’s post featuring the most alluring nude and bronze products for this summer.

Above you can see my personal must-haves that are all part of the new collections hitting the stores now.

1 CLARINS Shimmer Body Oil – CHF 49.00
2 CLARINS Summer Bronzing Compact – CHF 49.00
3 CLARINS Colour Quartet & Liner Eye Palette – CHF 62.00
4 ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquer So Vain – CHF 34.00
5 ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquer Diabolique – CHF 34.00
6 ESTEE LAUDER Dual Ended Liquid Liner Black Sands – CHF 40.00
7 YVES SAINT LAURENT La Laque Couture N°37 Taupe Maresque – CHF 38.00
8 TOM FORD Bronzing Powder Gold Dust – CHF 82.00

CLARINS Splendours Summer Makeup Collection

Amazing, that was the first word that literally came into my head when I unpacked the stunning summer makeup collection from Clarins. Splendours is themed around a harmony of glistening gold shades for the perfect warm natural summer glow. Available now.

ESTEE LAUDER Pure Color Nail Lacquers French Nudes

Suiting every women’s skin tone, Makeup Director Tom Pecheux created these muted nudes that look elegant and sophisticated. In stores now.
From left to right: Diabolique, Nudité, Bittersweet, So Vain and Ballerina Pink.

YVES SAINT LAURENT Saharienne Heat

Lindsey Wixson, the face of the ad campaign, shows how gorgeous the variety of colours in this collection look: bronze and nude combined with shades of purple and emerald.
The perfect alternative for those who would like to add a splash of colour to their natural look. And with the golden Moroccan arabesque designs on top of the compacts, it is a pleasure to open them every day. In stores now.

TOM FORD Beauty Summer 2013 Color Collection

Tom Ford’s summer 2013 makeup collection brings some interesting essentials to the table. Beautiful nudes and bronze shades that will give you that natural-looking glow we all want to achieve during the warm weather months, for a skin that is bathed in sunset light.
In Switzerland available Mid May 2013 exclusively at Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

Lavish the lips in exotic ingredients with Tom Ford‘s new lipstick, LIP COLOR SHINE. Made with Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil; the ultra-creamy texture delivers a decadent and luminous veil of semi-transparent colour while tasting deliciously. Available in 10 great shades, these lightweight, wearable, semi-transparent beauty musts hydrate lips that may have suffered the effects of the recent cold weather.

”Lips are a woman’s most alluring and sensual feature. Luminous, semi-transparent lip colour is seductive in a very kissable way”, says Tom Ford.

My favourite shades: Frolic, Insidious, Quiver and Willful.
In Switzerland exclusively available at Jelmoli in Zurich for CHF 62.00 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford and © Sandra Bauknecht

Tom Ford presents his new fragrance inspired by the mystery and luxury of the Middle East. Evoking the untamed beauty of the Arabian Peninsula, SAHARA NOIR is an ode to the enchanting power of one of that land’s most treasured ingredients: frankincense. The composition is built around this precious desert resin, which can be found at all three main stages of the development of the fragrance. Exclusively available in the Middle East.

ORIENTAL FLORAL
Top notes: Bitter orange, frankincense, calamus, cistus and cypress.
Middle notes: Beeswax, jasmine, papyrus, rose, frankincense and cinnamon.
Base notes: Ambreinol, balsam, benzoin, labdanum, oud, vanilla, frankincense resin, cedar and agarwood.

Good news is that Sahara Noir is said to launch in Europe this May.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford