Sandra‘s Closet

A few weeks ago, I introduced the new YSL Holiday 2011 makeup look to you. Yesterday, I finally found the time to test the nail polish duo “N°6 Duo Terriblement Noir”. I am so happy with the result and hope that you will like it, too.

The two blacks, one matte and one glossy, have a wonderful texture and look great worn alone. But I couldn’t resist reproducing the French manicure look from YSL’s ad campaign using the matte polish as the base and the glossy one for the tips. The only bummer is that you have to be really careful when using hand cream or cuticle oil as this will damage the matte effect easily.

LoL, Sandra

Manucure Couture n°6  – CHF 49,00

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I just spent 48 hours in London that were filled with many interesting events, parties and meetings. Let me get started with the launch party for the ‘Cabinet de Curiosites de Thomas Erber’ 2011.

After his successful collaboration with Parisian concept store Colette in 2010, fashion consultant and former journalist Thomas Erber has brought his cabinet to Browns in London. Showcasing a very interesting selection of pieces including everything from fashion and furniture design, to travel packages, art and photography, Erber has gathered many internationally renowned artists and designers to fill his cabinet with their most unique creations.

My key to “Le Cabinet de Curiosités de Thomas Erber”

Thomas Erber with me

„My quest, has always been to push the limits of creativity, to me it is the only thing that feeds the dream living in each of us. Browns, since the beginning, has been the coolest place in the city to me, it has always defended elegance and most importantly independent designers more than anything or anyone else in London.“

– Thomas Erber

Designer Christopher Kane with me (Love his designs! Click here for a previous post)

Here are my favourite curiosities:

FASHION

Rodarte – The Piece

In 2011, the Rodarte sisters, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, joined with two of the world’s most highly acclaimed photographers, Catherine Opie and Alec Soth, to create the first publication to explore and examine the world of Rodarte.

For Thomas Erber’s cabinet at Browns, Rodarte have collaborated with artist Rebekah Miles on a one of a kind book cover, hand painted with an image from the book.

£ 250

Lulu Guinness – The Piece

Designed to befit the expression, “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”, this bespoke bag is characteristic of Lulu’s wit and charm. The cubic evening bag is covered in black satin with a wrist strap and is presented in another larger cube which is hand-embroidered with the designer’s iconic handwriting.

£ 1995

 

Manolo Blahnik – The Piece

“Albero” – an exquisitely delicate shoe. Crafted in crocodile, silk satin leaves encase the ankle, while the foot rests on orange satin lining.

£ 3850 (size 37)

 

Melinda Gloss – The Piece

Melinda Gloss is the in 2006 established label by childhood friends Rémi de Laquintane and Mathieu de Ménonville.

High quality meets high fashion, as a traditional tweed overcoat is given a modern dressing-down by a hooded inner-layer. Raw edging gives the reassuringly weighty material a sense of lightness without compromising its warmth.

The three coats are available in size 50 for £ 1750 each.

CURIOSITIES & ART

I-Woodesign

A unique jewelry box and watch box in Tamo Ash, one of the rarest and most reasured woods in the world. Sleek and sophisticated by design, the rich finish of the wood results in a piece which is strikingly superior in every sense.

Jewelry Box £ 7200, Watch Box £ 6300

Hungarian-born artist Kata Legrady is a very interesting woman to talk to. She has attracted international fame for her iconic series “Guns & Candies”. A former child soldier, she draws inspiration from her childhood memories.

While we were talking, this bag by Christian Louboutin caught her eyes. It reminded her of a bomb, funny enough!

Kata Legrady – The Piece

‘A 47 Kalashnikov, multicolour original gun with applicated “Smarties” covered with Plexiglass’

The internationally celebrated series, “Guns and Candies” was started in 2008, and is a set of colourful and oversized pieces exploring Legrady’s double fascination with war arms and candies. The Smarties are simultaneously enigmatic, alluring and scary, and appear to leave a residual trace on the retina, like a persisitent dream or a meditative vision. Truly popular art in the very Warholian meaning of the word, these images and artifacts are universally accessible and immediately identifiable. They demand only a little empathy from the viewer’s part, therefore investing each beholder with a power to reveal both their symbolic and artistic qualities.

£ 25000

London based designer Paul Kelley

Paul Kelley – The Piece

A stainless steel polished desk/dressing table with a mirror and a blue acrylic lined interior. The handsome yet elegant work boasts solid brass-plated drawers and solid teak interiors.

£ 54000
All photos above: © Sandra Bauknecht

 

TRAVEL

“Riders”, 40 x 60 cm, Silver gelatine print, fiber paper, B & W, argentic print, single copy. Especially made for the Cabinet Of Curiosities of Thomas Erber, 2011 edition at Browns by Elina Kechicheva, £ 1840.

LES VOYAGES DE THOMAS BY KUONI

The Road Trip

A mesmerizing and romantic road trip leads to Uruguay, to the edge of the end of the world, just between the “elder brothers” of Brazil and Argentina, and along the Uruguayan coast – which will slowly unveil its mysteries and wonders in a land that is yet to be fully discovered.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £2150 per person (without flights).

Photographs by Elina Kechicheva also available, £ 1840

The Family Safari

A magical, adventurous family trip to the heart of rugged but soulful Namibia, the “king country”, a jewel located on the west coast of southern Africa. Travelers will venture away from the famous Skeleton Coast to the untouched Namib Desert, where safaris are still real and wild – and will be accompanied by dedicated and knowledgeable local people who will help them to experience the real Namibia.

A ten day trip will start approximately at £ 4285 per person (without flights).

 

The after party took place in London’s newly opened up hot spot: Le Baron.
Here are some photos of the night:

Mark van Huisseling with me

Christian Louboutin and Henry Holland

Mickey got all excited seeing…

…a half naked beauty. 
Photos: © Jean Picou

A real cabinet of curiosties!

LoL, Sandra

As you already know, I am a huge fan of Matthew Williamson. So of course, I paid a visit to his NYC store in the Meatpacking District on 14th street during my last visit.

The shop’s bridal section is just so wonderful. If I weren’t married already, it would be my absolute dream to wed in one of those gowns. If you are based in Europe, I recommend a visit to the London store.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Just around the corner of the Dream Downtown hotel in the trendy Meatpacking District is the beautiful Bond N. 9 store on Washington Street. In case that you are not familiar with the brand, Bond N. 9 is a major, full-blown fragrance collection that was launched as an homage to New York City. The name is also the address of its headquarters boutique at 9 Bond Street in NoHo.

The Bond No. 9 collection of women’s, men’s, and unisex eaux de parfum has a dual mission: To restore artistry to perfumery, and to mark every New York neighborhood with a scent of its own. Each fragrance represents a specific downtown, midtown, or uptown locale or a city-wide sensibility. With new introductions in the coming seasons, Bond N. 9 infuses the island of Manhattan with scents.

Also available are scented body creams and candles.

One of my favourite Bond N.9 fragrances is Chinatown with notes of peach blossoms, gardenia, tuberose, patchouli, and cardamom.

A new addition to the Bond N°9 New York Midtown family is New York Amber with notes of bergamot, saffron, nutmeg, white peppercorn, magestic rose, jasmine, osmanthus, oud, amber, sandalwood, musk, myrrh and benzoin tears. 
This eau de parfum has a different, interesting twist to the classic note of amber. I absolutely love it. To be launched in Switzerland this December.

Another new eau de parfum is I LOVE NEW YORK which exists for her, for him and in an unisex version. I LOVE NEW YORK for Her is an easy-to-wear; easy to love pastry gourmand fragrance with notes of mandarin zest, spicy nutmeg, blueberry accord, roses, pink peonies, patchouli, musk, vanilla, sandalwood and leather accord. So yummy!

Outside of the store, you can see the I LOVE NEW YORK car! Pretty cool, isn’t it?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today Sandra’s Closet celebrates its 2nd birthday! The last two years were filled with fashionable adventures and exciting moments. I truly enjoyed every single day! Thank you to all of you who are reading Sandra’s Closet on a daily basis. It means so much to me. Without you, my dear subscribers and avid readers in over 140 countries, the success wouldn’t have been possible.

This is my 775th post! And many more to come… stay tuned for some more giveaways to be posted soon!

Greetings from London!

LoL, Sandra

My look for the SBNB dinner last Thursday: Ruffled dress with zipper by Givenchy and stretch-jersey thigh boots with hoop detail by Givenchy, watch by Roger Dubuis and gold cuff by Stella McCartney.

If you like it, you can start shopping by clicking on the highlighted designer name.
Have a lovely week!

LoL, Sandra

Luisa Via Roma is running an exciting competition: This is your chance to WIN A 30K SHOPPING SPREE! To take part in this contest, simply click on the highlighted text or the ad below and create a total look using items from the website.

Publish your creation with a short description to explain the idea behind the look. The author of the look that receives the most votes from the public and the jury, will win a 30,000 Euro shopping spree with the exclusive opportunity to come to the latest edition of FIRENZE4EVER in January. This is a unique experience where the winner will take part in a “shop till you drop” session in Luisa Via Roma’s flagship store in the heart of Florence with one of the top fashion bloggers who will act as a personal shopper.

All entries must be received by the 7th of December (for further contest rules, please visit the Luisa Via Roma website). The winner will be announced in December. Firenze4Ever is to take place between the 5th and 8th January 2012. I will be there and would love to meet one of my readers! Good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Today, net-à-porter has released a gown almost identical to Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress that she wore to her sister Kate’s royal wedding to Prince William on April 29 this year.

The cowl-neck dream designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is not exactly the same and comes with minor differences to the original gown. It has for example a covered zip at the back instead of fabric buttons and the sleeves and neck seams have been alternated. Pippa’s version was made of heavy ivory silk and a customized order.

In the mood for pulling a Pippa? I just couldn’t resist…

LoL, Sandra

Tata, we have a lucky winner for the amazing one-of-a-kind purple dress by Versace for H&M. As I told you there are only two in the world.

I wore mine to the Versace for H&M pre-sale last Wednesday with a black blazer by Stella McCartney, “Opaque” tights by Fogal, suede pumps by Yves Saint Laurent, “Nightingale” bag with panther print by Givenchy and my beloved “Diorette” ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie.

And the winner is… Courtney from Ancaster, Canada who will rock that dress with golden high heels and accessories to a holiday cocktail party. She will hopefully send me some pics along to feature her look here.

Thank you to my dear subscribers from everywhere in the world for participating! The winner of this prize draw was chosen at random. Stay tuned as there will be another exciting competition coming soon on Sandra’s Closet.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Streetstrut

For all beauty junkies among you, check out the fabulous Christmas sets by Origins. Those kits packed with their bestselling products mean huge savings while being the perfect gifts for your loved ones or of course for yourself!

Don’t waste your time with gift wrap this season. Instead opt for one of these ready-made luxury box sets. Here are some of my favourites:

GO GINGER

I am especially in love with the idea of gingering myself this winter! The GO GINGER gift box comes beautifully packaged, with a travel-size Ginger Souffle™ whipped body cream, an Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub that I am addicted to, and a Ginger Bust™ savory body wash. CHF 32.00

FAMOUS FAVOURITES

Give it all with this tremendous collection of Origins favourites! This set includes: Plantscription™ anti-aging serum, Starting Over™ age-erasing moisturizer with mimosa, Starting Over™ age-erasing eye cream with mimosa, Modern Friction™ nature’s gentle dermabrasion, Ginger Souffle™ Whipped body cream and Incredible Spreadable™ ginger body scrub, CHF 129.00.

PERFECTLY PROTECTED

Sneak nature’s age-fighters under their tree. This value set includes: full-size A Perfect World™ white tea skin guardian, A Perfect World™ SPF 25 age-defense moisturizer with white tea, A Perfect World™ antioxidant cleanser with white tea. CHF 84.00

MASK DUO

Purifies and hydrates – oh, what fun! The Origins Mask Duo set includes Clear Improvement® active charcoal mask to clear pores and Drink Up™ intensive overnight mask to quench skin’s thirst. CHF 46.00

As you know, I am a huge fan of Origins products and not only because of the amazing quality but due to its packaging. If you travel a lot like I do, you will appreciate less packaging. Many high-end creams come in gigantic pots to appear even more luxurious and of course bigger. Origins can do without that! Thumbs up for this ecofriendliness!

If you are at the Origins counter, have a look at another new product, so-called Super Spot Remover™ blemish treatment gel that has advanced blemish-fighting super powers. (It is true! I am completely sold on this product.)

Designed to treat and manage breakouts, it is formulated with powerful naturally-derived ingredients that penetrate pores to eliminate stubborn, embarrassing blemishes. Skin is allowed to heal while existing scarring is visibly reduced and the development of new blemishes is prevented. Skin emerges spotless. 10ml – CHF 24.00

No more pimples, praise the Lord!

LoL, Sandra