Sandra‘s Closet

Blake Lively is the face of Gucci’s new upcoming fragrance Gucci Première, named after the Italian house’s haute couture line. This is the “Gossip Girl” regular’s first scent campaign, though she posed for Chanel last year.

The scent is meant to evoke Old Hollywood and so does the short movie for the campaign shot by director Nicolas Winding Refn. “She is a girl of extraordinary beauty and she’s a girl who loves fashion. She has great taste in clothes. Although she’s young, she’s also very determined, and I liked this spirit. She knows how to be a diva in the right sense, with an aspirational glamour,” said Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini.

Lively was the perfect choice to transport that glam retro-Hollywood look, don’t you think? The perfume will be launched worldwide Mid July.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci

Givenchy’s Creative Director Riccardo Tisci asked models Stella Tennant, Joan Smalls, Stef van der Laan, Daniela Braga, Simone Nobili, Jarrod Scott, and Rodrigo Braga to come up with their best dance moves for the latest GIVENCHY RAVE ad campaign. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and styled by Carine Roitfeld. The clothes are divine, definitely on my shopping list this winter.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Givenchy

At the moment, I am doing a crazy road trip through the US. I have so much to show you but for lack of time and internet connection, I am far behind posting. Today was an amazing day that ended pretty badly and I am thankful that I am still in one piece. But see for yourself…

I left this morning the city of Lusk, Wyoming driving all the way up to South Dakota. Those two states have got a real cowboy feel to them. I love this old school western charm and of course, I had to buy me a cowboy hat on the way.

I drove around 130 miles through the middle of nowhere, vast land areas without any population, totally flat. The whole ride, I thought that this could be a region where tornados could take place.

My first stop was Mount Rushmore National Memorial that I had been wanting to see for a long time. The colossal portraits of four famous presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt in the Black Hills of South Dakota are pretty impressive.

Please stay tuned for a post about my look that I shot at this outstanding location.

My second stop was the Custer State Park where the Needles Highway and other roads offer idyllic scenic drives. It encompasses an abundance of wildlife.

So when I thought that it couldn’t get more thrilling than having a real bear in front of my car, I was completely mistaken.

On my way back to Wyoming, the sky started to darken and I could see lightnings. Then, it all happened very fast. The wind got stronger and the rain heavier. All of a sudden, the radio announcer issued a warning that a severe thunderstorm was approaching and that people should look for shelter. For me it was too late. I was surrounded by miles and miles of flat land. All of a sudden, the sky dumped golf-ball-sized hail with 70mph winds. I stopped the car and threw myself on the floor. It was so scary. The hail made a horrible noise and broke the windows of the car. The glass went all over me. I was so scared that this would become a twister but fortunately, it didn’t go that far. Nevertheless, the car is completely destroyed and looks from the outside as if I had been in a fight with Terminator.

Right after the storm had passed, I saw a rainbow through my destroyed rear window.

No more windows left…

… and glass all over.

Do you see the damage of the roof? Can you imagine the size of the hail that leaves such marks?! It is impressive how strong the forces of nature truly are and that there is a point where you are at their mercy. Thank God that all went well!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

A Forest fairytale, Mulberry launches its F/W 2012 campaign, shot by renowned British photographer Tim Walker in an English forest, with beautiful, evocative images that play on the romance and darkness of children’s fairytales.

The campaign features two giant furry, forest creatures and the gorgeous Lindsey Wixson, in her third campaign for the English luxury brand. Wearing key looks from the F/W 2012 collection, silhouettes are luxuriously layered, textures rich and contrasting and the pieces accessorised with Mulberry’s latest bag icons Del Rey, Maisie and the new embellished Alexa; Zig Zag Bag.

The campaign was inspired by Creative Director Emma Hill’s visions of explorers, dark fairytales and fantasy travels. I find the campaign absolutely awesome. Tim Walker is the best photographer to play with the idea of fairytales. He comes up with the right mix of darkness and romance.

A forest fairytale brought to life. As Tim said: “Ever since I was a little boy, I always hoped to see a monster in the woods. Now, we all get to.” I am on my way to Yosemite National Park, I hope that I won’t see one.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mulberry

Prada Parallel Universes started out of the drive to experiment with, and to match, new communications media and Prada’s semiotics. To explore new ways for their social media strategy, the Italian fashion house worked together with Armenian-born illustrator Vahram Muratyan to create some mesmerizing gifs. A tiny car racing along a pair of Dixie sunglasses, a man teeing off on the bridge of a pair of Teddy sunnies, studded Rocket shoes becoming the roofs of twinkling skyscrapers.

According to Prada’s microsite, Muratyan’s images create “a virtual road paved with Prada S/S 2012 men’s and women’s accessories, which highlights through rapid and intuitive movements two parallel universes that meet under the auspices of Prada style.”

Now those creations will be immortalized with a T-shirt capsule collection that will hit Prada stores worldwide Mid July. I like and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada

To celebrate the return of summer, Louis Vuitton has opened its first pop-up store exclusively dedicated to its “summer resort” product range in Mykonos, Greece. I was invited to experience this very special new shop but couldn’t make it due to my trip to the US. It is so beautiful that I have to share it with you.
In a sleek and bright setting, a selection of leather goods, women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, and accessories are brought together in a range that has been especially designed to reflect the area’s warm and gentle weather and the flavour of summer holidays. It will be available to visitors until October 2012.

The store is part of a new sales experience and a new interpretation of sophistication. Louis Vuitton presents collections that have been specially designed to reflect and enrich the “Summer Resort” spirit, synonymous with relaxation and well-being.

Protection from the dazzling brightness of the Greek sun is available in the form of beautifully crafted sunglasses, which enhance the wearer’s features with shaded timeless elegance. Just looking at those photos makes you want to go to Mykonos, isn’t it?!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Do you remember the beautiful Margot lantern dress by Roksanda Ilincic? It is now available in a gorgeous blue hue with yellow zip detail exclusively at matchesfashion.com for £950. To shop, please click here.

I am completely in love with this dress and you?

LoL, Sandra

As promised less than two weeks ago, here is the new fragrance, that I was telling you about: Pleats Please by Issey Miyake – the perfume that moves you.

The launch event took place at the Louvre in Paris with a very different und beautiful presentation. Dressed in pleats of every colour, models leaped and danced, twirled and spinned, motivating the audience to join in the fun.

The designer Issey Miyake is known known globally for his signature pleats – a look that went around the world in more than 80 colours; it is contemporary yet timeless. Today, the iconic line Pleats Please Issey Miyake has its own fragrance. It is a scent that pays homage to a seminal fashion creation: an infusion of emotion and olfactory ode to joy.

The iconic L’Eau d’Issey and L’Eau d’Issey Pour l’Homme burst forth from the fountain of Issey Miyake fragrances; clear and shimmering, the waters heralded Issey Miyake’s first foray into perfumery.
Pleats Please is completely different, a joyous, light-hearted scent with meticulously sculpted facets created by perfumer Aurélien Guichard. For this new fragrance, the exuberance and heartiness of a floral bouquet was a must – flowers to define the femininity of a subtle delicate composition.

Perfumer Aurélien Guichard

Top Note: Nashi (a hybrid fruit that oscillates between pear and apple, with the pear note predominating).

Middle Notes: Peony and sweet pea. Indole adds a fleshly, voluptous touch and „gives substance to the note“, the perfumer explains. The accord is warm and vibrant, like „an invitation to fluidity“. (Remember Roja Dove who explained me the sexual power of indole. Click here if you would like to know more.)

Base notes: Cedar, patchouli, vanilla and white musks.

Available from September 2012. The product range comprises a trio of eau de toilette in three formats: 30, 50 and 100 ml. The EdTs are supplemented by two derivatives infused with the notes of Pleats Please: a creamy, body lotion and a deodorant spray.

The bottle is very interesting. Its shape is reminiscent of a bag that is put down on the floor. The cap takes the form of a floral calyx, a finely pleated abstraction that symbolises both a white flower and the Pleats Please fabric.

In his quest for the timeless and functional in fashion, Issey Miyake found his answer in pleats. Fashion keeps moving, and so does fragrance!

It was such a beautiful presentation at the Louvre! For more details about my look, please click here for the previous post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The Bulgari Hotel and Residences, London officially opened its doors last week. The luxury hotel located in Knightsbridge is the third hotel project of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, following the opening of the Bulgari Hotel in Milan in 2004 and of the Bulgari Resort in Bali in 2006.

The Bulgari Hotel in London was designed for Bulgari by the renowned architectural firm Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel and Partners, with Squire and Partners as the local architect for the project.

With the contemporary style, the hotel features sleek lines and refined colour combinations created using a variety of marbles, fine woods, and unique details. The hotel has 85 rooms and suites, including seven extraordinary Bulgari suites, each more than 200 square meters that offer a unique combination of refined amenities and exclusive services. Its restaurant and bar have been designed to become the destination of choice in Knightsbridge. The hotel also features a large ballroom, a private cinema and a 2,000 square meter Spa and fitness centre with a 25 meter indoor pool.

LoL, Sandra

The restaurant

The bedroom

The spa

Photos: Courtesy of Bulgari, © Massimo Listri and © Leo Torri

Last week, I was invited by Galerie Gmurzynska to a dinner with the Pritzker Price winning architect Zaha Hadid for the start of Art Basel at the Hotel Les Trois Rois. (If you would like to get more information, please click here for a detailed post on the previous exhibition Zaha Hadid and Suprematism.)

My look: One-shoulder silk-chiffon and woven mini dress by Matthew Williamson, black blazer with exaggerated shoulders by Balmain, cage sandals by Alexander McQueen, fluo pink python Box bag by Céline and daisy earrings by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht