Sandra‘s Closet

According to the New York Times today, it is confirmed that Raf Simons, 44, will take over immediately as artistic director at Christian Dior. Supposedly, the Paris fashion house will announce the news on Wednesday officially. Simons will be replacing John Galliano, who was fired from Dior last year after he made anti-Semitic remarks.

His first collection is planned for July at the fall haute couture shows. The Belgian designer, who worked for the house of Jil Sander before, will be in charge of haute couture, women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, while keeping his eponymous men’s line.

“I feel fantastic,” Mr. Simons said by telephone from his studio in Antwerp to Suzy Menkes. “It is one of the ultimate challenges, and a dream to go to a place like Dior, which stands for absolute elegance, incredible femininity and utter luxury.”

So my guess in February was right… click here for the previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Dior’s Summer 2012 makeup collection is all about an escapade on the Croisette… a glamorous couture trip. The French Riviera has always been a great source of inspiration for Christian Dior. From Dior’s first swimsuit collections and seaside fashion designs in the Fifties to the current Resort 2012 collection as shown above.

The new summer make-up look revives this fascination for the Croisette with colours inspired by the sun and turquoise waters, created by Tyen.
Please enjoy my collection favourites below:

COMPLEXION
Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder
A natural, Sunset orange-pink. luminous tan.

With the aim of a natural and radiant tan, Dior creates a new healthy glow makeup product with a bare skin effect for all skin tones, all year long. To achieve the illusion of a complexion glowing with vitality, the Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder offers a range of original shades.

Rosy harmonies add a touch of freshness and an anti-dulling effect, while apricot harmonies ensure a healthy glow, infused with sensuality.

This is powder is available in four harmonies, two for summer and two for winter, to enhance skin all year long.

For summer : 002 Sunlight and 004 Sunset.
For all year : 001 Aurora and 003 Zenith.
CHF 79.50 each

EYES

5 Couleurs – Croisette Edition
Eyes set on the croisette

Just for summer, the 5 Couleurs palette is embellished with a sunray pleat relief, a couture reference to the Dior dresses whose finish exemplifies the know-how of the House. The palette comes in two colour interpretations of the French Riviera:

224 Swimming Pool (photo above) and 654 Aurora (top photo)
One-shot, CHF 92.- each

1 Couleur – Eye Gloss

Introducing the first eye gloss by Dior in four sparkling shades. This gel eyeshadow formula glides on effortlessly for a long-lasting, hydrated look, and a fresh, cooling sensation on the lids.

Shades: 020 Seashell, 560 Tan, 240 Azur and 750 Sunset
One-shot, CHF 40.- each

LIPS
Dior Addict Lip Balm

Inspired by the Backstage Dior technique where every makeup application begins with a nourishing and perfecting lipcare ritual, Dior creates Dior Addict Lip Balm, featuring a nourishing skincare complex filled with moisturizing oils enriched with hyaluronic acid spheres, in:

Shades: 001 Crystal, 002 Crystal Pink and 003 Crystal Coral
CHF 46.- each

NAILS
Dior Vernis

The Croisette spirit down to the fingertips. Two shades to wear at the poolside.

Shades: 401 Saint-Tropez (turquoise, on my nails below, which is pretty similar to Chanel’s 2010 Nouvelle Vague) and 231 Bikini (coral)
CHF 37.- each

Show off your French Croisette style!
This beautiful collection is available in Switzerland starting April 18, 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior and © Sandra Bauknecht

Swarovski once again adds sparkle to the big screen! Julia Roberts stars as the queen in Mirror Mirror, a fresh and funny retelling of the Snow White legend, wearing spectacular handmade costumes adorned with over 100,000 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

Oscar®-winning costume designer Eiko Ishioka (Immortals) put her imagination to the test. “The Swarovski crystals were used in Eiko’s designs in creating three spectacular handmade costumes for the Queen, adorned with over 100,000 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS in nearly twenty colours, including the outrageous golden costume ball and blood-red party dress, as well as the elaborate wedding gown,” said assistant costume designer, Martine Gagnon.

In theatres now, Mirror Mirror features breakout star Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, a princess in exile, and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince (Armie Hammer) in this magical adventure comedy, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell).

A visually stunning movie for the whole family!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Jan Thijs. Copyright 2012 Relativity Media. All rights reserved.

Mary Katrantzou has designed a Teflon Easter Egg for the Fabergé Easter Egg Hunt in London. The giant floral-embellished egg, which is on display at the fashionable May Fair Hotel for 40 days and 40 nights, went for £12.000.- in the charity auction.

The egg features several “metal flowers, Swarovski crystals, bells and whistles, the May Fair’s vibrant three-colour tiered Egg is described as ‘Man Meets Machine Meets Mother Earth'”. Reminiscent of Mary Katrantzou‘s beautiful S/S 2012 collection.

Happy Easter!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mary Katrantzou

It was an Underwater World at many of the S/S 2012 shows. Many of the designers took inspiration from the deep blue and created one of the most important fashion trends for the summer season.

I have outlined the most anticipated collections and pieces for you below, enjoy!

Karl Lagerfeld took the underwater trend to a complete new level with his S/S 2012 collection for Chanel. The scenery of his runway show looked like a stage setting for Ariel’s World. Some of the fabrics shimmered like fish scales.

As usual at Chanel, the accessories played a big role, such as beautiful shell clutches (unfortunately extremely expensive) and wonderfully designed coral-shape heels plus sea world inspired fashion jewlery.

Mary Katrantzou showcased a stellar take on the trend from under the sea with her scene-stealing prints, as seen on the Fishtank dress. Swarming with tropical fish and colorful coral reefs, this punchy piece is a fabulous way to play out your fashion fantasies.

The Versace S/S 2012 collection was all about starfish and seashell embellishments and studded seahorse shapes. The look was a mixture of sweet pastels, ladylike elegance  and studded biker pieces. Those glittering sea goddess gowns will surely be seen on the red carpet.

A great low-budget way to get started on the look is this fun statement starfish gold-tone ring by Versace.

Gigantic shark tooth necklaces were seen on the Givenchy S/S 2012 runway as well as many jellyfish inspired jackets and dresses. One of my favourite collections of the summer season.

You can shop a large selection of Givenchy at Matches and Farfetch.

There are many wonderfully designed blue coloured pieces in stores now that really represent the fairytale world of the deep blue. Stella McCartney drew inspiration from the sea waves for her S/S 2012 collection.

Here are some of best pieces to buy for the upcoming summer (from top left to bottom right):

Candy printed acrylic clutch by Jimmy Choo
Printed scuba-style top by McQ Alexander McQueen
Joan silk crepe-de-chine and lace dress by Stella McCartney
Printed silk kimono maxi dress by Issa
Paillette-embellished silk-georgette dress by Roberto Cavalli
Fish-charm corseted strappy sandals by Tabitha Simmons

LoL, Sandra

OPI launches six new shades, inspired by the world renowned New York City Ballet.

The line includes (from left to right): My Pointe Exactly, a soft gray; Care to Dance?, a pastel purple; You Callin’ Me A Lyre?, a pinkish-orange; Bare My Soul, a pink-grey; Don’t Touch My Tute!, an off-white; and Pirouette My Whistle, a glittery silver.

My favourites: Pirouette My Whistle, Care to Dance? and You Callin’ Me A Lyre?

Take your nails to a new level of style in a hop, skip, and a jeté. A must have collection for prima ballerinas everywhere.
Available in Switzerland April 15, 2012 for CHF 23.90 each. Already in stores in the US.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

S/S 2012 is all about print, especially floral and ikat print, but how far are you willing to go?

Think head-to-toe as seen at the Matthew Williamson S/S 2012 show and add a colourful standout clutch for the ultimate fashion statement. 
If you nod to the look confidently, the compliments will be all yours.

Shop the look:
Floral ikat print blouse and floral ikat print trousers by Matthew Williamson, Falabella fold-over clutch by Stella McCartney and textured-leather platform sandals by Rochas.

The perfect outfit for a nice spring day.

LoL, Sandra

For Spring 2012, TOM FORD introduces a limited edition collection of smoldering, molten-toned colour inspired by the beauty of a radiant, bronzed face.

“I have always loved the look of tanned, glowing skin, whether it is achieved with bronzing powder or with a natural tan,” says Ford.

I was able to try some of the new products and I am absolutely sold on them.
These are my favourites:

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in Gold Dust, Lip Lacquer in Gold Dust, Nail Lacquer in Burnished Rouge and Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum.

The TOM FORD BRONZING POWDER has been created to achieve an unmistakably sexy glow, Tom Ford Bronzing Powder features a rare mineral blend of brilliant and energizing sunstone, amber and black tourmaline crystals, in a choice of shimmer or matte finish. It captures and enhances the skin’s golden and bronze undertones, flawlessly highlighting your natural, sensuous radiance.

When used in combination with colour on the eyes, cheeks and lips, the Bronzing Powder can help to create one of Tom Ford’s favorite looks—the burnished, sun-goddess face.

Bronzing Powder Gold Dust, CHF 82.- (shimmer)
Bronzing Powder Terra, CHF 82.- (matte)

A new introduction, the TOM FORD CREAM COLOR FOR EYES delivers four pure and luminous, metallic shades—Platinum, golden Guilt, burnished red Illicit and shimmering Spice—with an ultra-smooth, non-creasing and long-wearing finish. Its highly reflective, ultra-pigmented formula combines advanced color technology with antioxidant-rich ingredients.

I love this creamy eye colour as it is very easy and fast to apply and stays on the whole day.

Cream Color for Eyes, each CHF 38

The collection also includes a new shade of TOM FORD LIP LACQUER called Gold Dust. It infuses the perfect amount of gold-particle pearls into a clear and lustrous lacquer that lavishes and nourishes the lips. Gold Dust can be worn on a nude lip as a seductive lip accent, or layered over a TOM FORD LIP COLOR to create a glistening, gold sheen.

This lip lacquer comes with such a yummy taste that you would like to lick your lips all the time.

Ultra Shine Lip Gloss Gold Dust, CHF 42.-

Four new shades of TOM FORD NAIL LACQUER complete the look. Silver Smoke, Gold Haze, Burnished Rouge and Burnt Topaz are extra-amplified colors formulated with unique mirror pearls to maximize their metal effect and create a molten mirror look. The groundbreaking, high-performance formula with bendable coating delivers high coverage and shine while staying color true throughout wear.

As for me, the Tom Ford nail lacquers last for a very long time, awesome texture!

Nail Lacquer, each CHF 42.-

This Tom Ford Beauty Spring 2012 limited edition collection will be available in Switzerland end of April.

LoL, Sandra

On my nails: Burnished Rouge

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford, © Sandra Bauknecht

This was my look for a lovely dinner with friends: Ribbed neon pink cashmere sweater by Michael Kors, stretch-leather leggings by Gucci, Clematis leather clutch by Christopher Kane, “Audrey” sunglasses and green calfskin cuff, both by Céline, cocktail ring and sandals with coral shape heel, both by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I am subscribed to BUNTE, a German weekly magazine that includes celebrity, gossip, news and lifestyle matters. So today, the newest edition was in my mail box and you should have seen my eyes while flipping through the pages.

On pages 54-56, there is a huge article about the importance of bloggers in our days featuring the nine most important ones according to BUNTE including Bryan Boy, Hanneli Mustaparta, Garance Doré, Scott Schuman of The Satorialist and my humble self. Thank you, BUNTE, I truly feel honoured to be named among those famous trendsetters!

LoL, Sandra