Sandra‘s Closet

Family owned and operated for over ninety years in Zurich, Osswald will officially open its doors in the heart of SoHo, New York City in August 2012. Highly regarded in Europe for their carefully curated array of niche perfumes, luxury skincare and exceptional customer service, Osswald is pleased to bring their time-honoured values and standards to the US for the first time.

Since 1921, generations of the Dreiding family have been continuously progressing the Osswald Parfumerie in Zurich. It began with founder Boris Dreiding, who was then succeeded by his son Jago Dreiding, Jago was followed by his wife Tamara who took the helm in the late eighties.

Tanja Dreiding Wallace and Werner Abt (Photo: Bolero)

With Tamara’s direction and the help of store manager Werner Abt, Osswald entered the niche perfume and luxury skincare market. In 2005 she asked her daughter Tanja Dreiding Wallace, who had been living in New York City for over 8 years at the time, to return to Zurich and manage the company’s future growth. Tanja found herself becoming fiercely passionate about the brand’s international plans. She took pride in staffing the Zürich flagship with the most knowledgeable professionals in the beauty care business. Within a few years, Osswald became one of Europe’s leading niche parfumerie and skincare boutiques known for its superior customer service.

“Once Osswald was established as one of the leaders in the European niche perfume, skincare and cosmetic market, I realized that growing the family business was my true calling,” says Tanja Dreiding Wallace, CEO of Osswald. “In 2010, during a visit to New York, I detected a void in the beauty retail industry for premium service and quality products. At that point, I was committed to launching Osswald in the US and sharing my family’s vision of premium Swiss hospitality with New Yorkers, individuals who would appreciate our approach to an extraordinary shopping experience.”

My dear NY-based readers, here is my shopping list of exclusive must-have products that you will only find at Osswald NYC in the US:

For the American debut, Osswald will exclusively launch and sell coveted Swiss skincare brands Bellefontaine, Cell Premium, and La Colline as well as established brands Cellcosmet and Valmont. Each brand is on the cutting edge of skincare, using advanced technologies including the use of stem cells.

My skincare shopping suggestion:

This is an amazing magical product that will be launched in September 2012: Time Master Intensive Program by Valmont. The Swiss brand with over 25 years of experience calls itself the magician of time and is renowned for its spa treatments. Now, a professional unique intensive program will be available to be used at home. A combination of technology, efficiency and precision, this nano-emulsion is so delicate that it penetrates the skin in a split second and treats all the causes for aging. Within 28 days, Time Master Instensive Program regulates the cellular mechanisms of the skin and turns back the clock.
The 4-week treatment will be available for CHF 1235.-/ € 950.-.

Sought after perfumes including Pierre Guillaume’s Parfumerie Générale and Profumum Roma will only be available at the Osswald New York location, as well as Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Clive Christian, MDCI, Kilian, Micallef, Amouage, Pierre Guillaume’s Huitième Art and Six Scents amongst others.

My fragrance shopping suggestion:

If you get a chance, please explore the fragrance world of Pierre Guillaume: Parfumerie Générale and Huitième Art, a niche collection of 8 fragrances launched for the brand’s 8th anniversary in 2010 – synonymous with perfume being the 8th art. His creations are a must for anyone who loves perfume. 
I met the perfumer once at an event held at Osswald in Zurich and was truly impressed by his passion. He is young, brilliant, intellectual and very handsome. My favourite – among many of his scents I like – is PG19 Louanges Profanes, an oriental floral, that is fresh and soft in one.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian offers bespoke scents. Ask the Osswald team for more information. So sophisticated!

Other offerings will include By Terry makeup, scented candles, exquisite bathroom accessories and mirrors, manicure etuis, shaving kits, toiletry bags and other beautiful items in the luxury lifestyle sector.

Osswald NYC will open August 2012
311 W. Broadway New York, NY 10013 www.osswaldnyc.com

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of the Brands

Personally speaking my favourite Hawaiian resort to stay at is the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, located at the Wailea Beach.

The beach in front of the hotel is wider than most of the others on the island with wonderful golden sand. This is where I started each morning with a yoga session. Listening to the sound of the waves, embraced by the softness of the sand was just amazing. Of course, this hotel is the perfect place to get married and during my stay, I witnessed many wedding celebrations.

The five-star hotel is home to four restaurants and bars, including an outpost of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s famous Spago. During your stay, you can treat yourself to some fine food. And of course, upon your arrival at the resort, you will be presented with the obligatory lei greeting.

The pool area is great but if you travel with kids not comparable to the Grand Wailea Resort which is next door, reminiscent of an amusement park, with fountains, tarzan’s swing, slides, caves, a bar in the pool and many other attractions. One of them while I was there: Britney Spears with her sons.
But be careful, all Grand Wailea Resort guests have to wear silver bracelets in the pool because it seems that Four Seasons guests tend to go over there from time to time.

If you travel without kids, you will have the best experience at the Four Seasons with a special pool area for adults only. Fashionistas will love the Missoni cabanas, furnished with the Italian brands fabrics and towels, but they cost an additional $495.- a day which I find absolutely crazy. I would prefer spending that money in the hotel’s boutique Knots 22 that carry the latest fashion from top designers, such as Missoni, Stella McCartney, Lanvin and many more.

As you see in the collage above, I love to pack Missoni when travelling. Those amazing knitwear pieces don’t wrinkle and are airy to wear in warm weather. To shop Missoni, please click here.

You can explore Missoni Home by clicking here for a great selection of cushions, towels and throws. Have fun decorating your world with the iconic zigzag pattern.

There are many sport activities offered at the resort, from yoga to hula dancing, from surfing to probably the most exciting one scuba diving. The hotel has also a well-equipped gym. If you like, you can book private lessons in tennis, pilates and gyrotronics® among others to keep yourself fit and busy.

I had a wonderful time at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. Mahalo nui loa (Thank you very much) and a hui hou (Goodbye)!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht