Sandra‘s Closet

Charlene Wittstock, the future bride of Prince Albert, is known for her simple and classy elegance. The tall blonde has actually been a huge fan of Giorgio Armani’s work and she is said to tie the knot this July in a gown by Armani Privé.

Albert Kriemler, © Keystone

But recently she has been seen more and more in Albert Kriemler’s designs for Akris that she even wore for her engagement (see photo above) and during the festivities for the British Royal wedding. As for me, the Swiss brand seems to be the perfect match for the future princess.

Charlene once said that she likes Akris so much because of its modern approach to fashion. I would sign that sentence. Albert Kriemler has a huge talent to dress women very classy witout ever looking old or too conservative.

I am truly wondering who will be designing Charlene’s bridal dress and I am actually pretty convinced that Albert Kriemler has settled the race. After having further enquiried, the house of Akris gave me the following statement: „The good relations between Charlene Wittstock and us have further strengthened.“ That sounds pretty promising, doesn’t it?

Please enjoy the photos of Charlene wearing Akris below:

Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert de Monaco  during their Ireland visit – © Wire Images

Charlene during the day in a casual elegant outfit © Abaca Press

Charlene  & Prince Albert de Monaco during their Ireland visit – © Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock in a double-faced coat and dress by Akris, also in grey, and carrying the house’s Allegra ostrich clutch, British Royal Wedding April 29 2011

Charlene Wittstock in a dove-gray Akris dress in silk dupioni, British Royal Wedding Pre- Dinner April 28 2011
This gives me pretty much of an idea how she would look like in an Akris bridal gown, just amazing!

LoL, Sandra

Engagement Photo: © Amadeo Turello – Courtesy of Akris

Last week, I was invited by Louis Vuitton to explore their F/W 2011 collection very closely. The event took place in Milan and because of  the beautiful sunshine the day started already wonderfully with a pittoresque flight over the Alps.

With his F/W 2011 collection for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs explored the mysterious allure of fashion and fetish. „Fetish,“ said the designer, „has a positive side. It’s an inexplicable sort of concentration on or obsessing with something. I think that also means commitment and discipline.“

The result was a powerful collection that walked the fine line between modesty and provocation, reason and irrationality – an ambiguity evidenced by the juxtaposition of tightness of focus with richness of detail. For my show report, please click here.

First some looks from the runway. Strict silhouettes suggestive of corsets, mannish, military-style jackets and coats softened by ample drop shoulders and the main focus on tthe waist, reminiscent of Belle de Jour. Marc Jacobs toyed with the idea of French maids and their bourgeois mistresses.

Very importantly, the detail – evidence of an artisanal devotion to craft which, in the words of the show notes, is „the apotheosis of fetish“.

Those mask, shoe and glove motifs, for instance, were not printed, but painstakingly sewn in intricately cut sequins.

The collection’s ultimate and not-so-obscure object of desire was the iconic Lockit bag, created in 1958 and reinterpreted in a myriad guises: in shiny Monogram canvas or total-look shearling, in rubberized leather accented with glossy tape, in jewel shades of patent Monogram bouclette, and in nylon with resin handels.

The Lockit clutch comes with a handcuff which can make it literally inseparable from its weare and symbolizes a women’s attachment to her bag. Might be a good idea to secure your object of desire….

The show’s accessories had fun with the fetish theme. Standouts included officer’s caps in fluffy shearling and masks worn in the hair as neo-tiaras.

Shoes played with the girly charm of round-toe pumps accentuated by delicate bow straps and the fetish appeal of daring bondage straps on the collection’s leg-hugging boots. The shiny rubber boots will definitely be among my must-haves.

Louis Vuitton’s fashion jewelry offers beautiful pieces to finish off your winter looks perfectly. I am in love with the stingray embellished earrings.

Personalised items are bestsellers for Louis Vuitton so that it seems all natural to expand the possibilties.

For Louis Vuitton’s F/W 2011 men’s collection, the studio director Paul Helbers, under the artistic direction of Marc Jacobs, has explored the ultra simplified elegance of Amish style and instilled it with a hint of strangeness, inspired by David Lynch.

The predominantly black tone of this collection is lit with flashes of Motel red. The Amish mix and match tradition shows in details like detachable vests or jackets patched in stripes.

In case that you are wondering what to do with your older Louis Vuitton bags, why not put them together as an art and craft. The artist Billie Achilleos came up with some pretty amazing ideas.

If I have whetted your appetite, please take a look at those beautiful pieces that belong to the Pre-fall 2011 collection and will be in stores starting next month.
The new colours for the leo scarfs are so beautiful and those biker boots are my must-haves.

What an amazing collection, W.O.W.!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The Dalai Lama once said that the most generous act there is, compassion, is actually a selfish act: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Helping others in need is a small act of kindness and generosity. 50% up to 100% of all proceeds from the sale of these T-shirts will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross earthquake appeal.
 Show your support in style and make a charitable fashion statement.

My favourite is the one in the middle by  SIMEON FARRAR FOR JAPAN Kate Mouse cotton T-shirt, available at net-à-porter.com from today.

LoL, Sandra

KUNSTHALLE ZÜRICH IM MUSEUM BÄRENGASSE
BRUCE CONNER
2. APRIL – 29. MAI 2011

Bruce Conner (1933 – 2008) was an American artist renowned for his work in assemblage, film, drawing, sculpture, painting, collage, and photography, among other disciplines.

Conner first attracted widespread attention with his moody, nylon-shrouded assemblages, complex amalgams of found objects such as women’s stockings, bicycle wheels, broken dolls, fur, fringe, costume jewelry, and candles, often combined with collaged or painted surfaces.

Bruce Conner and Dennis Hopper at the exhibition “The Dennis Hopper one man Show”

James Willis Gallery, San Francisco, 1973
© The Conner Family Trust, San Francisco, VBK, Wien, 2010

He also began making short movies in the late 1950s. Conner’s first and possibly most famous film was entitled A MOVIE (1958). He is said to be the pioneer for today’s MTV’s music clips.

Museum Bärengasse, Bärengasse 20-22,
 CH 8001 Zürich

Bruce Conner for Supervisior campaign poster, 1967. © The Conner Family Trust, San Francisco

One lady blended in perfectly.
I’ m wondering if Dolce & Gabbana seeked inspiration from Conner’s works Untitled (1976) and Untitled (1973) for their leo cardigan…

Two chameleons: Dorothea Mühlemann with me in front of an oeuvre by Bruce Conner.

Yesterday, I went to a ladies art luncheon to the the exhibition above. It was truly remarkable to see all those beautiful handbags the guests were carrying. You might have figured this out already, but I am a handbag addict and obviously I am not alone.

Hermès and Chanel models were spotted most, followed by Fendi’s Peekaboos. Enjoy the photos I took and stay tuned for tomorrow’s post that has a lot do with a woman’s obsession for handbags.

LoL, Sandra

Hermès

Hermès

Hermès

Chanel

Chanel

Chanel

Chanel

Fendi

Gucci

Chloé

Balenciaga

Miu Miu

Louis Vuitton

A sparkling gift from a good friend…

…and a vibrant catch from St. Tropez.
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today a friend of mine asked me for advice how to get rid of her pigmentation disturbances without her budget going overboard. Many women suffer from endocrine disorders when they get older. The skin produces too much melanin in certain areas of the face.

Here is the solution: SBT Cell Culture Pigmentation Solution, a lightening cream for hyper pigmentation or pigmentation disturbances, 30 ml (CHF 100) which 
diminishes the production of melanin caused by exposure to sun and helps to lighten existing pigmentation. A UVB filter protects the skin from the rays that are primarily responsible for pigmentation spots. By supporting skin regeneration, a more uniform skin tone is targeted.
For at least 30 days, apply mornings and evenings after cleansing to affected areas. During this time, avoid direct sunlight! The effect is strengthened after three months of application.

Some more useful tips are:

– Use it before exposure to sun in order to reduce or minimize the pigmentation that usually takes place.

– Always use the product as a preventive measure in summer under sun protection; always use a high sun protection factor.

– Whenever you spend time in the sun, renounce to eating certain fruits and vegetables, such as Saint John’s Wort, citrus fruit, artichokes or celery.

– As a basic principle, do not wear perfume or perfumed care products if you plan to stay in the sun for extended periods of time.

Some interesting facts about SBT and the person behind:

Day after day, dermatologist and founder of the Dermatologikum Hamburg, Professor Dr. Volker Steinkraus, is confronted with a variety of questions about beautiful skin. 

His many years of intensive research work with skin cells led him to a spark of inspiration:
If you put isolated cells in pure water, they die. If you put them in a cell nutrient fluid similar to that found in the skin, they survive. Why, then, shouldn’t this vitally important cell nutrient fluid also be used in cosmetics? After all, it is the natural environment – the elixir of life – for cells and provides them with important nutrients around the clock.
SBT Skin Biology Therapy is the result of this logical consideration: the first care that is not based on water, but on a cell nutrient fluid very similar to the skin’s: the Cell Culture Phase.

For store locations, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Today, I would like to give you an exclusive view behind the scenes at the Closed F/W 2011 campaign shoot. It was a truly amazing experience and I am still overwhelmed by the fact that I will be one of their advertising faces for the winter season that will be launched worldwide in publications like French Vogue, Love Magazine among others and will be hanging in every Closed store around the globe. How cool is that?!

My “colleagues” for the camapign were all so lovely, interesting people with interesting jobs and it was a pleasure to meet them all.

Lina Scheynius, who shoot the campaign all film and with old cameras, is one of the most requested photographers in the fashion industry. She was born in Sweden and is based in London now. If you are interested, check out her homepage by clicking here.

Make-up was done by Berlin based Anna Neugebauer and hair by the famous Tomohiro Obashi who lives in Paris and did for example the gorgeous Louis Vuitton Cruise 2011 campaign. The stylist was sweet Emilie Johansson from Copenhagen.

So please enjoy my backstage report and all the fab Closed clothes that will be in stores this fall.

LoL, Sandra

Beauty team: Anna Neugebauer and Tomohiro Obashi

Best head massage ever!

Stylist Emilie Johansson and photographer Lina Scheynius.

Analog photography: good old cameras, all film and polaroids.

Bettina Krieg, Maya Villiger and me.

Eileen Peters, Claude Serieux, Mark Wiesmayr and me.

Maren and Christian were filming me outside and made me dance for the backstage video.

Being interviewed.

Art directors: Nina Zywietz and Jesse Becker.

Sweet Isabelle Brenning took the photos of me for this post.

Gentlemen power: Marcus Ross (London), Claude Serieux (Paris) and Michele Venitucci (Rome).

Mark Wiesmayr from Los Angeles.

Spanish artist Carla Fuentes Fuertes with her boyfriend Guillaume.

Maya Villiger from New York.

Me with Italian actor Michele Venitucci
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Summer is right in front of us and it is time to think about your beach apparel. Sand, sun and salty water are not bikini’s best friends. Therefore I am not so keen on spending too much on something that won’t last long.

H&M is always the best solution and for S/S 2011 their beachwear collection is truly divine. There are lots of different styles and colours to choose from with matching pareos, kaftans, tunics and bags available. You better go shopping now as those pieces will sell out fast.

I tried my new tiger print bikini this weekend with the see-through jumpsuit and lots of H&M jewelry (looks cool and you don’t need to worry about it!). The straw hat is from the little shop at Club 55 in St.Tropez. Unfortunately, I am still very pale especially compared to H&M’s campaign models but hope that this will change soon…

Jumpsuit CHF 29.90, Bikini top CHF 19.90, Bikini briefs CHF 14.90
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The recent H&M swimwear advertisements starring Edita Vilkeviciute, Frida Gustavsson and Filippa Hamilton were shot by Patrick Demarchelier and capture the colourful bikinis on those gorgeous bodies perfectly. Ready for a sun-drenched summer?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Courtesy of H&M

While I think that mothers should be celebrated every day, it’s nice to have a day to be showered with love, affection and presents.

To all the fabulous fashionable moms around the globe, Happy Mother’s Day!

Outfit: Floral gown by Ralph Lauren Collection, embellished pumps by Valentino and embossed leather handbag by Chloé.

LoL, Sandra

The colour blocking trend for S/S 2011 is a fun way to wear vibrant hues. Today I am combining two strong and vibrant shades, turquoise and orange. One thing is for sure, we can carry this trend up through F/W 2011.

My look: Blazer, silk blouse, belt, bag and shoes, all by Gucci, leggings by Blumarine.

Orange and turquoise. It’s vibrant and energetic and one of the most exciting colour combinations this fashion season.

The new makeup trends usually suit the fashion trends of the moment so the look obtained can be complete. One of the hottest eye makeup trends for the S/S 2011 season are vibrant colours. If you go for it, keep the rest more simple and just add a touch of peach blush and gloss.

Bright, warm hues help create an adorable look which can be adapted to the occasion style as well as age.

Add a little pop of color on the fingertips! Bright nail polish is an easy way to get trendy, and a perfect addition to your spring break beauty routine. YSL’s Utopian Turquoise 137 gets me excited for the warm weather and you?

LoL, Sandra

Mother’s Day is right in front of us and probably you are still looking for a little surprise accompanying your hand-written poem. Why not getting her one of those new summer fragrances? I am sure that your mom would love it.
Odoriferous ideas destined to make her day.

LoL, Sandra

The Lady

Life Threads Ruby Sheer by La Prairie is an Oriental Floral fragrance for women. And a lighter variation of the original fragrance.

Top notes: Orange flower, bergamot and lily-of-the-valley
Middle notes: Jasmine, ylang-ylang, saffron and rose
Base notes: Vetiver, musk, sandalwood and vanille.