Sandra‘s Closet

Metallics have stayed being a huge trend this season. Gold in particular is everywhere and adorns especially handbags and shoes. Here are my two favourites for this summer. As sale has started almost everywhere, keep an eye on those two investment pieces.

Crafted with a sculptural peaked wedge heel, Yves Saint Laurent’s “Venice” gold leather sandals are sure to top every fashionista’s wish list. Complement the luxe hue with rich jewel tones and a statement ring to complete a glamorous evening look.

Add high-shine polish to your cocktail wardrobe with Gucci’s shimmering “Malika” metallic python leather clutch bag. Carry this trophy piece after dark to create this exciting new-season style. You might need nothing else…

LoL, Sandra

While being at the Baume et Mercier global press launch in the Hamptons, I met Jodi Belden who is the Associate Accessories Editor for Elle US. One thing is for sure, sophistication is in her DNA. Working for an American fashion magazine, it is no wonder that the beautiful blonde has created her own authentic, alluring personal style. She loves mostly pencil skirts and classy looks.

One evening, we went on a cruise together and Jodi mixed perfectly High Street fashion (lace dress by Topshop) with designer pieces (shoes by Prada and „Ipanema“ straw clutch by Anya Hindmarch), all from previous seasons. She especially paid attention to her accessories, kept her make-up simple and wore her hair in an effortless bun. I re-styled the look for you to shop. Just click on the little pictures.

Haven’t you always dreamt of looking like an editor? Here is your chance…

LoL, Sandra

Paige Reddinger (Forbes Life) and Jodi Belden (Elle US) with me in the middle.
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For my Swiss and German based readers: The third 2011 Weltwoche Style Edition is available now featuring my vacation must-haves with travel and some very special hotel tips.
Get your issue now.

LoL, Sandra

Yesterday, during another Baume et Mercier workshop at the Montauk lighthouse, I met Kelly Killoren Bensimon, the ex-wife of French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon. The beautiful brunette is a multitalent: A mother of two, an author, jewelry designer, former model, and former editor of Elle Accessories. She currently appears on Bravo The Real Housewives of New York City and is the editor at large for Hamptons Magazine, a free weekly with circulation of 40,000 to 50,000.

Kelly, who now resides in New York City and East Hampton, published the book „In the Spirit if The Hamptons“. As a connoisseur of Long Island’s East End, she gave us a wonderful insight of the lifestyle.

„The Hamptons are understated, a nice spoil to New York. Nouveau Riche is here definitely the wrong word. It is more of a relaxed and easy going beach community. It is a no hair and no make-up mentality. You can see many celebrities enjoying themselves, like Paul McCartney going sailing or Stella McCartney on the bike. Ralph Lauren drives his extensive vintage car collection around the area while Donna Karan raised her family here and brought a shop and a restaurant to Sag Harbour.

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller even spent their honeymoon in the Hamptons. When it comes to partying, Puff Daddy’s legendary White Party is a must. A little revolution as Americans are not supposed to wear white before Memorial Day. The Hamptons are a magical place all through the year. In the winter months it is beautiful to bundle up and walk your dog on the beach. You can go horseback riding, enjoy indoor tennis and many more activities.

By the way, we call the Hamptons the Beach!“

– Kelly Killoren Bensimon

Kelly looked so pretty and sported the relaxed and casual Hampton style perfectly with her white cropped pants, the little tunic, the ballet flats and her beautiful new Baume et Mercier watch.
Like always, if you like the look, you can start shopping below.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The reason why I am in the Hamptons is the global press launch of Baume et Mercier’s newest addition to their watch family: The Hampton. Sandra’s Closet is one of the first ones to unveil this beautiful new creation.

Let me take you on a little trip to make you understand more about the idea behind the collection.

Baume et Mercier took inspiration from the Golden Twenties. It was the era of jazz, the emancipation of women like Marlene Dietrich and Louis Brooks and the spirit of the Great Gatsby. Most importantly, it was the beginning of leisure time. Recharging your batteries and the relaxed style of the Hamptons has transformed into a watch.

Alexandre Peraldi, Baume et Mercier’s Creative Director, had a myriad of models from the `20s, `30s and `40s to get inspired from.  The first Hampton collection had been launched in 1994 and today, it is celebrating its rebirth.

The new Hampton watch has a satine domed volume at 12 and 6 o`clock, an enhanced curve sapphire crystal and a curve case side at 3 and 9 o’ clock.

In different workshops, we learnt more about the design process which was very interesting. Below you can see some wax templates and first sketches.

Alexandre Peraldi got inspired by the Art Déco architecture that is emblematic for this period along with the amazing art community in the Hamptons. Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock were all part of this movement.
Below you can see the studio of the Pollock-Krasner house where one of the workshops took place.

Today, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the brand’s ambassador, Stella McCartney, Cindy Sherman enjoy their vacation homes in Long Island’s happening East End.

For the straps, Baume et Mercier invented a new technology to achieve different levels of softness. The alligator cannot grow too big in order to have the perfect size of the skin’s pattern. The animals mostly come from Louisana and Florida.

The production of the sapphire glass takes 10-25 minutes per step.

The Hampton’s range for women comes with a quartz movement, the gentlemen’s watches with a mechanical one.

The prices are affordable, a key aspect for Baume et Mercier. The core collection for men for example is around CHF 3000, the emblematic pieces retail between CHF 7700 -13000.

For lunch we experienced a truly beautiful scenery. We went to the Kennedy house located directly at the beach where the advertising campaign was shot.

Even our pictures were taken and transformed into little pieces of art.

Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini to the left with the beautiful Baldwin family that modeled for the campaign.

What a lovely day! Stay tuned for more to come and to see the final result of the new Hampton watch by Baume et Mercier.

LoL, Sandra

Greetings from the Hamptons! I arrived here yesterday after a very pleasant but long journey. Baume et Mercier, the well-known Swiss watchmaking company, invited me to experience and enjoy the seaside living in the Hamptons. During those three days, the new interpretation of the house’s famous Hamptons Collection will also be unveiled.

The claim is: Life is about moments. I am pretty sure that I will be able to share many of those with you in the next days. So please stay tuned for more to come.

Baume et Mercier sent me a booklet before the trip with all information needed that included also a very detailed list “What to bring” which I truly liked.

Last night, we started the experience with a lovely dinner at the Surfside Lodge in Montauk, NY. It is a place for surfers to hang out and is full of beautiful little details.

Here you can see me with my interpretation of the Hamptons style. I chose the maritime colour combination: White-blue-red and added some nautical stripes.

Blouse – Prada, Dress, Jacket and Shoes – Gucci, Bag, Earrings and Bracelet – Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

While Dior still hasn’t officially announced Galliano’s successor (and they won’t probably until September), the suspicion hardens that Ricardo Tisci, Givenchy’s Creative Director, will be the one. Since John Galliano’s unpleasant exit, Dior’s dresses have been stigmatised on the red carpet. In return, we have been spotting much more Givenchy lately. Might be a sign…

Liv Tyler, Mary-Kate Olsen and Alicia Keys wore Givenchy Haute Couture to the Met Gala in New York this month.

Naomi Campbell was a fringed beauty in an embroidered evening gown at the amfAR 2011 Fight Against Aids party in Cannes last Thursday. Photo: © PacificCoastNews

For the same gala, Courtney Love chose an absolutely spectacular Givenchy Couture gown with a plunging neckline and a sheer tulle-and-feather skirt.
Photo: © Francois Durand/Getty Images Europe

Beyoncé wore Givenchy for her video for her single Run The World (Girls)

As for me, Ricardo Tisci would be a great choice. I have been a big fan of his creations for a long time. He will surely infuse more gothic appeal to Dior but that doesn’t need to be bad, doesn’t it? And when Tisci leaves Givenchy, Haider Ackermann could succeed. I think I like that idea very much!

LoL, Sandra

Recently, I was invited by Audemars Piguet to explore their beautiful novelties 2011 during an outstanding dinner at Schloss Schauenstein, spoilt by chef Andreas Caminada.The creative, often surprising and always satisfying cuisine of the charming young Swiss has won him 3 Michelin stars and 19 GaultMillau points. Believe me, it was a feast for the eyes, in both ways.

In 2011, Audemars Piguet has entirely reviewed the fundamentals of the Jules Audemars collection, its moon-phase calendar and dual timezone models, as well as its simple selfwinding watches including those with a date display.

The Jules Audemars extra-thin watch houses one of the world’s thinnest selfwinding movements measuring just 2.45 mm thick. Its slender case, streamlined bezel and pure dial generate genuine emotion of the kind surrounding objects that are built to last, because this timepiece is endowed with that special something that is in fact the natural elegance of authentic classics.

JULES AUDEMARS EXTRA-THIN

Reference • 15180BC.OO.A002CR.01, CHF 23.600.-

Movement • Proprietary ultra-thin, selfwinding Calibre 2120
• Total diameter: 28,40 mm (12 ¾ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 28 mm
• Thickness: 2.45 mm
• 37 jewels
• 214 parts
• Power reserve: up to 40 hours
• Cadence of the balance: 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz)
• Finishing: all parts finished by hand; mainplate rhodium-plated, bevelled and circular-grained; bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève.

Case • 18-carat white gold
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 6.7 m
• Water resistance: 20 m
• Sapphire crystal

Dial • Silvered with applied pink gold hour-markers
• Pink gold hour and minute hands

Strap • Hand-sewn black crocodile leather with large square scales, secured by an 18-carat white gold pin buckle

Functions • Hours and minutes

The Jules Audemars selfwinding watch comes in three different interpretations: pink gold with silver-toned or black dial, and white gold with a silver-toned dial. Each may be adorned with a diamond-set bezel to create three additional versions. All feature a round case, a streamlined bezel and an understated dial. All display a discreetly self-effacing air that serves to highlight their sleek, slender lines.

My personal favourite is the one with the pink gold case and the black dial, preferably with a diamond-set bezel, a true authentic classy and elegant watch.

JULES AUDEMARS SELFWINDING

References
• 15170OR.OO.A002CR.01, CHF 18.600, 
18-carat pink gold case, black dial

• 15171OR.ZZ.A002CR.01, CHF 21.900 , 18-carat pink gold case, black dial, diamonds

Movement • Proprietary selfwinding Calibre 3120
• Total diameter: 26.60 mm (11¾ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 26 mm
• Thickness: 4.26 mm
• 40 jewels
• 278 parts
• 22-carat gold oscillating weight
• Up to 60-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour
• Variable-inertia balance with eight inertia-blocks and flat balance-spring
• Geneva-type mobile balance-spring stud-holder
• Three-position winding crown
• Finishing: all parts decorated; mainplate circular-grained; bridges rhodium-plated, bevelled, snailed and adorned with a Côtes de Genève. Diamond-polished jewel sinks; diamond-polished sinks and bevelled spokes on the wheels; bevelled screw rim and slot
• AP monogram and Audemars and Piguet family crests engraved on the oscillating weight

Cases • 18-carat pink gold, also available with a bezel set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.60 carats) or
• 18-carat white gold, also available with a bezel set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.60 carats)
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: 9 mm
• Water resistance: 20 m
• Sapphire crystal case-back

Dials
• Silver-toned or black with applied pink gold hour-markers
• Pink gold hour and minutes hands
Bracelets
• Hand-sewn brown or black crocodile leather with large square scales, secured by a pin buckle in 18-carat pink or white gold

Functions
• Hours and minutes
• Date

In order to grasp the essence of the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph, you need to pick up the watch with your eyes closed and only open them after turning it over. Housed within a case that strongly hints at its innate sturdiness, protected by a sapphire crystal and a solid back secured by eight polished steel screws, a true masterpiece is revealed: the new selfwinding Calibre 2897, equipped with a tourbillon and a chronograph. A set of 335 parts on which the manually adjusted, corrected, bevelled and decorated surfaces create a shimmering play on light and shade. The automatic winding is ensured by a peripheral oscillating weight, while its chronograph is equipped with a column wheel and its tourbillon optimises its rating precision.
Its design is sophisticated and powerful, supported by a combination of iconic black-coloured materials: forged carbon for the case middle, ceramic for the bezel and rubber for the strap. A watch with two faces, the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph is an amazing blend of two worlds.

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELFWINDING TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH

Reference • 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01, CHF 262.500
Forged carbon case; bezel, crown and pushpieces in black ceramics; pushpiece-guards and fastening studs in titanium

Movement • Selfwinding Calibre 2897 with tourbillon and column-wheel chronograph
• Total diameter: (15½ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 31.40 mm
• Thickness: 7.75 mm
• 34 jewels
• 335 parts
• 65-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
• Variable-inertia balance with screws and balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
• Finishing: all parts finely hand decorated; bridges and mainplate rhodiumed, circular-grained, beadblasted and hand-drawn with file strokes; polished angles, bevelled screw rims and slots
• Peripheral oscillating weight in circular satin-brushed 950 platinum

Case • Diameter : 44 mm
• Thickness : 14 mm
• Sapphire crystal caseback with Royal Oak Offshore engraving

Dial • Black with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif, silver-toned counters. Applied and facetted white gold hour-markers with luminescent coating. Black flange. White gold facetted hour and minute hands with luminescent coating.

Strap • Black rubber, adorned with two grooves. Titanium pin buckle.

Functions • Hours and minutes
• Small seconds at 9 o’clock
• Chronograph with central sweep-seconds hand, 30-minute counter (at 3 o’clock)
• Tachometric scale on the flange

2011 marks a new milestone in the historic partnership between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet, one of the most unique relationships in the watch industry. These two legends have collaborated to create the ultimate collector timepiece, The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph, a perfect blend of strength and control. This is anticipated to be the last watch in the series created by Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet. I am pretty sure of that!

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER THE LEGACY CHRONOGRAPH

Reference • 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01
, CHF 44.500, 1500-piece limited edition

Movement • Selfwinding Calibre 2326/2840
• Total diameter: 29.92 mm (13 ¼ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 26 mm
• Thickness: 6.2 mm
• 50 jewels
• 370 parts
• 38-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
• Variable-inertia balance with inertia-blocks and flat balance-spring
• Three-position winding crown
• Finishing: all parts finely decorated; mainplate rhodium-plated, bevelled and circular-grained; bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève

Case • Black ceramic case, bezel; beadblasted titanium screws, beadblasted titanium elements on the left
• side of the case
• Pushpiece-guards in rubber and beadblasted titanium
• 18-carat pink gold pushpieces, contact surface adorned with gridwork pattern
• Black ceramic crown adorned with a pink gold disc
• Diameter: 48 mm
• Thickness: 14.1 mm
vBeadblasted titanium caseback engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy, steel screws
• Water resistance: 100 metres

Dial • Black with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif
• Numerals and hour-markers in diamond-polished pink gold
• Facetted hour and minute hands with luminescent coating

Strap • Anthracite aramid fibres, secured by beadblasted titanium pin buckle. Additional strap in hand sewn black crocodile leather with large square scales

Functions • Hours and minutes
• Small seconds
• Chronograph with centre sweep-seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters at 9 and 6 o’clock respectively
• Tachometric scale
• Date

Famous chef Andreas Caminada and Audemars Piguet CEO Phillippe Merck with me in the middle.

A very big thank you to Audemars Piguet and Andreas Caminada for such a lovely and yummy presentation! An evening of two superlatives…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

After yesterday’s post, I have some very good news for the business women among you! For F/W 2011, it is all about work, the suit your fashion must-have. The designers were keeping an eye on the functionality while not neglecting the style. Many of them continued to pay homage to the `70s. There are many different looks to choose from, so it is your season for heavy shopping!

The cropped pants emerged on the runways as a welcome alternative to skirts. An easy-going and much more comfortable (especially when sitting down) look for the office which will surely find many fans.

Cocoon shapes, oversized shoulders, the volumes are changing for F/W 2011. The trendsetters among us will sport this trend immediately.
The designers explored new shapes and came up with the dropped shoulders. No worries, the runway looks are still more exaggerated. Once the jackets hit the shelves, they won’t be as oversized as seen at Stella McCartney for example.

Slowly the Pre-fall 2011 collections are popping in, so if you don’t want to wait too long, start your shopping trip. June might be the best month to look. It is always such a wonderful feeling, when the new season starts. This time, there are many great outfts that will work for the office as well for the cocktail hour after.

So suit youself!

LoL, Sandra