Something for my Swiss and German based readers: The newest issue of SI Style magazine featuring my monthly fashion column is available now.
This time, I am telling you more about my road trip through the US and the horrible hailstorm, that I hit on my way back from Mount Rushmore.
LoL, Sandra
Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht
Many Marseille locals love their panoramic view of the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica that majestically reigns over the Provençal city. But it is more than just a religious monument, it’s a participant in the life of the city: the inhabitants refer to it in everyday language as “La Bonne Mère”, or the “Good Mother” which is an expression of surprise, relief and joy. It is synomynous for the love of a mother and confers to the Virgin Mary.
L’Occitane, founded by Olivier Baussan in 1976 with the purpose to celebrate and preserve the traditions of his native Provence, continues with the traditions of soap masters with a tribute to the “Good Mother” through its Bonne Mère line of soaps and body products which are all-natural, hypoallergenic, made with a pure plant base and lightly scented. The only question you have to answer is if you prefer milk or honey?
Savon de Marseille 100g (CHF 6.-)
Douceur de Douche – Gentle Shower Gel – 600ml (CHF 24.-)
Crème Lavante Mains – Creamy Hand Wash – 300ml (CHF 16.-)
Crème Douceur – Gentle Cream – 75ml (CHF 22.-)
I love the retro-feel of the packaging that looks adorable on display. Transform your bathroom in a land of milk and honey.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of L’Occitane and © Sandra Bauknecht
The new season is fast approaching and some of the best F/W 2012 runway looks are available now. This is your chance to be in fashion’s forefront.
Brocade is set to be one of the season’s hottest trends, and Stella McCartney‘s black and cobalt pattern is a typically chic take on the look.
Wool-blend brocade top and Patty brocade skirt, both by Stella McCartney
No one delivers contemporary femininity quite like Christopher Kane, and this rose-flocked tulle dress is a standout piece from his F/W 2012 runway show.
Leather-trimmed flocked tulle dress by Christopher Kane
With his trendsetting vision, Marc Jacobs predicts precisely what women want to wear every season.
Metallic bouclé wool-blend jacket and metallic bouclé wool-blend skirt, both by Marc Jacobs
Mary Katrantzou brings her beautifully mesmeric prints to knitwear this season. Coziness has never been that beautiful.
Wool-blend dress by Mary Katrantzou
Miu Miu‘s acclaimed F/W12 runway collection was a riot of colour and dandy-esque tailoring. Miuccia Prada‘s message was clear: Pants are a must for the new season!
Belted wool-crepe tunic and wool-crepe straight-leg pants, both by Miu Miu
LoL, Sandra
Welcome to the world of Acqua di Parma
Indulge yourself in Italian grandeur and explore the brand that stands like no other for understated luxury, sophistication, elegance, exclusivity and authenticity. All those pillars that are synonymous with being “Made in Italia”. The lifestyle brand, that is also known as a celebrity perfume classic, has existed for almost 100 years.
Its history began like an alchemy in 1916 in a small Italian factory with the creation of Colonia, the origin of the legend. The refreshing, crisp and subtle fragrance that was so different from the perfumes that were the vogue in those years. Until today, Colonia has got cult status.
In 1993, Acqua di Parma was bought by three famous Colonia-lovers and entrepreneurs, Luca di Montezemolo (Chairman of Ferrari), Diego della Valle (CEO of Tod’s) and Paolo Borgomanero (Shareholder of La Perla), who were eager to reinvent the brand.
A very important chapter opened in the company’s history when LVMH bought into the hundred-year-old Italian house in 2001. Today, Acqua di Parma offers a huge selection of luxury goods, from the famous Home Fragrance Collection (scented candles for the home) to the Home Collection (linen and terrycloth products), the Collezione Barbiere (shaving products and accessories) and the Tournée Collection (leather accessories). Fragrance aficionados love the Blu Mediterraneo and Blu Mediterraneo Italian Resort ranges (fragrances and cosmetics inspired by the most natural and exclusive locations on the Italian Mediterranean) and sophisticated ladies around the globe buy Le Nobili from Acqua di Parma (feminine fragrances inspired by the “noblest” flowers of Italian gardens).
Acqua di Parma also supplies the suites of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels in the world with its Luxury Hotel Line, which embodies the inimitable Italian style of Colonia.
I had the huge honour to meet and interview Acqua di Parma’s CEO and President, Gabriella Scarpa, in person. The Italian lady, “una bella bionda” is what you would call a “power woman”. Holding multiple positions, she is also the Country General Manager of Christian Dior Couture and LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics. After LVMH had bought Acqua di Parma, Scarpa took over the reins of the company in 2003 and brought it to success. Keeping up with Gabriella is hard, she is full of dynamite, a very passionate and feminine lady.
She is proud of her country’s heritage values and its craftsmanship. “The way the Italians make their products has a lot of tradition and Acqua di Parma’s roots are all very artisan. We are inspired by these regions with their own characteristics, such as Tuscany or Sardinia. Italy is a wonderful place to live.”
She was in Zurich for the opening of the new Acqua di Parma corner at Jelmoli which brings us this iconic Italian style, the atmosphere that is loved around the world to Switzerland.
Do you like to travel?
I travel a lot for business reasons and I love to travel ! This is part of my lifestyle. I travel around the world and my favourite cities are New York obviously, London, Paris all these cities that have excitement in them. And of course China now. Asia is giving you lots of energy and excitement! And travelling for Acqua di Parma, I enjoy seeing how the brand is sold in those countries and to meet people who really enjoy our Italian style.
Do you have a favourite fragrance from Acqua di Parma?
Yes! I did the Iris Nobile actually for myself. Since my early days, I had been a fan of Miss Dior 1947. I only used extract because I preferred the higher concentration. After a while, the original Miss Dior 1947 perfume was discontinued and I was all of a sudden without my favourite scent. This was the moment for Acqua di Parma to enter the female world. Women had been asking for such a product for a long time.
Personally speaking, I knew that our first fragrance had to be a chypre floral scent, very elegant and modern. Obviously I thought about iris, which is also the emblem of the city of the Florence and a symbol for aristocracy. For Le Nobili, I wanted to create a world in which sophisticated women can recognize themselves. This concept represents also the world of the Italian villas with their famous gardens, another Italian tradition which has inspired us. We travelled around these beautiful villas and identified the flowers, the plants which were mostly used and beautiful to see. Iris is a very delicate flower, they only bloom fifteen days a year from 1st to 15th of May. In Florence, behind the Piazzale Michelangelo, there is this garden of iris, which is open for tourists, too. Moreover, there is a contest in which participants around the world compete to create the most beautiful and newest iris. In that particular year, the winner was an Australian who grew a very special blue flower that we used. Interesting to know is that we use the concrete of iris for the fragrance which takes three years. Once you have the concrete, you have to wait three years for it to dry and from a ton, you just get a few spills of fragrance. So it is extremely expensive. In fact, nobody in the perfumery used the extract of concrete because of its value. We launched it in 2003 and it was immediately a big success. After a few years, in 2009, I created Magnolia a very refined and wonderful plant which is different from iris.
New this fall! Iris Nobile Sublime – The new fragrance for women that is a flanker to 2004′s Iris Nobile. The notes feature mandarin, neroli, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, rose, jasmine, iris pallida, wood, cedar, acacia, birch, patchouli and musk. Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile Sublime will be available in 75 ml Eau de Parfum.
How are you involved in this creative process?
From the very beginning, the concept is always mine. After that, I transfer the idea to the marketing team, they transfer it to the fragrance people. Luckily enough, we have François Demachy, one of the most famous nose in the world, working for us. He is the creator of all our LVMH fragrances. He loves Acqua di Parma and because of his connections, we got to the famous fragrance houses to create the ingredients exactly as we wanted them. Now with François Demachy, we work with Italian producers, many of which are in the South of Italy with their own plantations working almost exclusively for us.
And for example the story of Gelsomino is very bizarre in a way but also very significant, because the “gelsomino” (jasmine) for fragrances didn’t grow in Italy anymore. Three years ago, we decided to create the Gelsomino fragrance and to get a new plantation in the South of Italy where it is more sunny and easy to grow that beautiful plant now used for Acqua di Parma and Guerlain, only for these two brands. I am proud that we revived the tradition of gelsomino for the fragrances.
Where are you from originally?
I’m from Milan and my family is from Venice.
Do you feel more Northern?
Yes, I’m more Northern, but the South is giving us all these amazing products like the oranges, the mandarins, the cedars, the bergamot among many others. All these fragrances derive from a fantastic, unique cultivation. All our ingredients are coming from Italy.
Everything from Acqua di Parma is produced in Italy?
Yes, everything is produced in Italy!
How is it for you to head a French haute couture company and in the same time an Italian brand. What’s the biggest difference regarding the mentalities for you?
It’s actually not very different because at the end of the day, we talk to the same people. The difference from Dior, obviously it’s a big brand and so it’s more commercial in a way, more international and more decisive. Both brands have different means but their quality is the same. For Acqua di Parma, it is very important to keep it Italian which is sometimes hard, because you cannot find everything in the country. This is why we adapted our production to our original produce of Italy. So this is the main difference.
Looking at our communication, it is also standardized on a model, that only changes the name of the product or the flowers. It is very simple. So another big difference is that we are not a fashion brand, we don’t have a designer and a fashion show. We are selling what we are very basically.
On the website, there are five words to describe Acqua di Parma: Quality, creativity, elegance, exclusivity and selectivity! If you could add three more, which ones would that be?
The real thing, emotion and fashion!
How strong is the Asian market for you?
We waited with the launch quite a while because 80% or 90% of the market is skincare and make-up, so the fragrances are not so strong depending on the countries, mostly 5% maximum 10%. Asia is not a fragrance market. Therefore for us, it was very important to enter in the right way, to make a difference.
We started in Korea because the Korean’s are very much attracted by the Italian brands and European heritage. We had the opportunity to create the first counters in the middle of the cosmetics so even that we were just fragrances, we were very successful from the very beginning. In Japan, we launched at Isetan, a famous chain, that had asked for the brand many years ago. China was completely different. The Chinese were building up new cities, new shopping malls which became the most luxurious in the world. I have to say they are copying a bit the American model but in the highest way. When we negotiated with them, as we were interested in opening so many stores, they were also interested in getting the brand. We got fantastic spaces from the very first beginning.
Many Chinese celebrities and VIPs knew Acqua di Parma from their travels around the world. Everybody came to visit the first counter in Beijing at Mitsukoshi, which is the most luxurious department store, with all the high end brands having their own boutiques. Being attracted by our tradition, the men began to use the Collezione Barbiere which is fascinating. Chinese men don’t shave, they don’t have a beard, but they like the texture, the presentation, the packaging, the fact that it is luxurious, that it is Italian and they adore the atmosphere.
In fact, we sell a lot of Collezione Barbiere and skincare because it’s different from many others. Of course, a lot of our iconic Colonia, along with Magnolia, Iris, honestly we sell everything. The Asians have become friends of Acqua di Parma and are more into fragrances now. Moreover, the young generation is more occidental than oriental.
Nowadays we have eleven counters, one boutique, another one to be opened this year, and people are really passionate about the brand and very much loyal. They buy all the line, and I mean all the line!
Do you have a bestselling product that is successful around the world?
Yes, it is definitely Colonia.
Speaking of fragrances, it’s always Iris or Magnolia. In Asia, the Blu Mediterraneo collection is stronger than in Europe, because those scents are less complex in terms of structure and ingredients. The candles are very strong in the U.S. followed by the UK and also Asia.
You have collaborated with Maserati among others. Why them?
Our partnerships are very much authentic, we want to live the Italian myths – and Maserati is one of these. They exude the same elegance and heritage. Ferrari, for example, is different – it’s wonderful but it’s more show. So we did many projects with them.
How can I imagine such a collaboration?
For example when we do events, we use a Maserati to shuttle our guests.
Have you ever thought of a special scent for Maserati?
We were actually thinking about it. Could be that one day we are doing something special.
Have you done bespoke scents?
No, we haven’t done bespoke scents yet!
Do you offer other personalized services?
Yes, you can have your initials on the bags as well as on the fragrance bottles which will be done in Italy. We even have a special cap to conserve the personalized cap which is really unique. It takes like three hours to produce just the lid, all handmade. People want to keep it. This has happened very often with our products, even with the candles.
Are the candles all handmade?
Yes, absolutely and it takes hours and hours to do them. They burn only inside, the outside remains beautifully intact. Therefore, people like to keep them for decoration.
Do you sponsor certain events?
We are sponsor of the FAI, which is the Fondo Ambiente Italia, a fund also of ancient villas and cultural things and of Mille Miglia, the very famous antique car race. This is our world, because obviously the owners of these cars are very sophisticated and love culture. Funnily enough, they all love Acqua di Parma, it may be surprising, but when we go to the Mille Miglia, everybody comes to our lounge and says: „ OMG! I use Acqua di Parma since ever, you are here, I love this brand, please don’t change it – it’s wonderful, I love this!” It’s really a tradition.
Would you say that the American perception of the brand is different?
Yes, in the U.S. it’s different, Acqua di Parma is known as the brand of the celebrities. The story behind it is very funny; in the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, the American actors came to Cinecittà in Rome to exchange movies. They used to come to Italy and get their clothes made, especially the men. They went to the famous Italian tailors where Acqua di Parma at that moment, was distributing its signature Colonia. This is how they met the brand and brought it back to America. So it became immediately the fragrance of the stars. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn among other very famous names were using Acqua di Parma. And even today, it has still remained the product of the stars – in the U.S. everything is about celebrities.
Have you ever worked with an ambassador?
No, but we have some agents working for us on different initiatives in Los Angeles because of the Italian Film Festival in California. We have contacts with some actors: Jude Law or Al Pacino for example is someone who comes to Italy very often and has bought a lot of Acqua di Parma, really a lot…!
Elton John buys huge amounts of Blu Mediterraneo, like a hundred pieces and puts them in all of his houses. This is happening very often. People are buying for all their houses, for their boats and so on – they want to have their property fragranced.
If you wished for an ambassador, who would that be? Probably someone Italian…
It’s evident. Once, the owner was Montezemolo (Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is an Italian businessman and Chairman of Ferrari. He is aristocratic and widely regarded as a stylish, classic dresser). He is the Italian successful, elegant, aristocratic man. He can impersonize the best what we are representing. If you look at our communication for the Colonias, we are representing a very elegant man, either with a tuxedo, either with a suit – it’s a very elegant man. And he is successful because he has a capability, a character. It’s transmitted character – that’s very important.
Another guy, who represents Acqua di Parma very much, is Giovanni Gastel, the famous photographer who shot a lot of campaigns for Guerlain, Dior, Tod’s in the past and who is the perfect gentleman. You see in the manner, in the education, in the physique, in the way he dresses – he’s the face.
Would you say that Acqua di Parma is still more a male company? Or has that changed?
No, it is the same, regarding the style, we can have the same for women, obviously. And when we talk about women, you can have Lavinia Borromeo, who is very much similar to you, very elegant in a sophisticated way. She is not bourgeois, she is not putting on many many things just to show off. It’s the real elegance, the real aristocratic. It is the manner, it’s the way they act while being very simple people. They don’t play the role of the sophisticated, but they are sophisticated, because they don’t play. So it’s something that they have inside. Something that is difficult to express, something that comes from the class. The class, that is important.
You have one Acqua di Parma SPA in Porto Cervo. Will there be more?
For the moment being, that is the only one. Our Acqua di Parma SPA is located within the exclusive Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. This represents the selectivities like nowhere, because they only have five hundred members which are chosen by the club and not chosen by the fact that they are rich. It’s a club of selected members depending on their origins and their class. And so this is the preferred place for us to be. Finding another place of the same level is difficult, as we want something special!
Do you have any special products in the SPA?
Yes, we have a line of products which are used for the therapies and methods, a range of 22 products which are specific for the SPA.
What are your future plans?
The advantage of Acqua di Parma is that this brand can go everywhere. It can go into the spa, into the hotel, into the leather goods, into accessories, it can go everywhere. We could build a hotel of our own, I don’t know. That brand has such a personality today, such a recognition and a reputation around the world. We can do whatever we want but we have to be authentic and pay attention not to lose our originality. Everything has to be made in Italy, so this is another limitation for us.
Look at our boutiques for example. The concept is very unique, very Italian from tip to toe in the sense that we use only Italian materials, only Italian artisans. It’s proof of the Italian capability to do wonderful things, to produce real handmade things of a certain quality. The brand is a way to promote Italy in the world.
How do you create the amazing ambiance in your stores?
Some of the furniture for our boutiques is made by a very small family-owned Italian company. In addition, we work for example with Poltrona Frau, which re-edited a chair from the ’50s for us – and we covered it with the same leather of our leather collection. So everything is very unique. We have tables covered in leather, glasses that are handmade, the mosaics made one by one, it’s amazing!
First of all, we want our customers to sit down and relax. For that reason, we have different chairs, sofas and so on. It is a different situation to pay while you are seated and comfortable. We want for them to live an experience and they are all so amazed that they buy everthing you propose them. In this way we gain the loyalty of our customers, the respect and they talk about us, so it’s all about word of mouth in the end.
What do you think is like the entrance product for the brand ? Personally speaking, I started buying the candles and explored the brand from there.
It depends a lot on the customer’s interest and taste. Obviously the candles are very much the entry for countries like the Anglo-Saxons. It is depending on the culture.
Soon the company will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, in 2016. Are you preparing a special celebration already?
Yes, we will have a celebration, I am already thinking about that! But cannot tell you more.
Do you have one baby in the company that you’re so proud of, like “your baby”?
They are all my babies. I have been with Acqua di Parma for many years and helped to create a whole universe.
You are such a powerful woman and you also have children. How have you balanced both, professional and family live?
Yes, I have two children, but I have no time to follow them. They grew up with nannies but as I’m a good cook, whenever I was at home, I organized these big parties for our friends with their kids. I cooked a lot in my life, actually whenever I could. And this was a way to keep them very much linked to me. We have a very fantastic relationship. I have to say I owe very much to them, because I was never there. I travelled a lot.
Did they go to boarding schools or did they stay at home?
They stayed at home. My daughter is a nuclear physicist, something very different. She studied in Italy, and did after her doctorate an MBA. Today, she works for the Bayer Group – after five years in Berlin, she’s now in Pittsburgh. She has a fantastic life travelling around the world.
My son is studying marketing communication in Italy, and he will graduate in the end of the year. Afterwards, he will go to the U.S. to get his MBA. And probably he will live there too, because he is very American.
I have pushed them a lot to go outside, obviously I love my country but for young people at this moment in these years it’s not so exciting and not so promising. Outside, there are plenty of opportunities. It’s also an experience they have to do, learn languages, learn how to live with other mentalities and after that they could come back with all their experience. I think it’s good for them.
So I’m not a real good mother, but I love my children.
I wouldn’t say that. There are some mothers who are always there physically but they are not there for their children. It is more about quality time.
This is what my children always told me, when I excused myself during the years, saying: “I’m so sorry that I’m never here”. They answered: ” But you have no idea: Many mothers that are staying at home, are always depressed, always crazy, always shouting. Our friends admire us because we have a brilliant mother who is always happy.” That is true, I’m always happy and very optimistic. I have always talked to them about respecting their job and finding a profession that lives up to their own expectations. We love to work, even that you have to make sometimes sacrifices regarding your personal life or even physically. Obviously, travelling a lot has an impact on your body that you have to resist. Most importantly in life, you have to learn how to manage stress. There are so many people stressing themselves just for nothing. People that have crazy lives are not stressed. Personally speaking, I think that it depends very much how much you love what you do. If you are passionate and satisfied by what you do, you don’t feel stressed.
How long did you stay home when you had your children?
For example, when I had my son, I stayed home three days. It was Saturday, Sunday, Monday… The morning I had to go to the hospital, my boss called me and asked: “Where are you?” I said, “I’m in the hospital, sorry but I am in labour.” I had worked until the last day and had been travelling with a certificate of the doctor. This might be the reason why my son is a bit nervous sometimes. But in the end, I had responsibilities, I was number two in the company at that time, I couldn’t stay home. My son never knew a different system because when you stay at home for the first three years and go back to work, it’s a trauma for the children.
An intimate question. Where you with your husband all the time? Have you brought up your children alone?
No. My first husband used to travel a lot like me. But we tried not to be gone at the same time. After I had divorced him, I married the man that has been by my side now for thirty years. He is a finance guy and more organized than me in terms of life. He’s very good with the children and has two of his own, so we have four children alltogether.
It is amazing what you have achieved. Congrats on your success!
The fact that I am here to talk with you about Acqua di Parma is a success for me, because it means that you are interested.
Yes, I absolutely love it!
So it is a success for us, because it means that people like you really appreciate the job we have done. So thank you very much !
Thank you! We could go on and on and on…
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Acqua di Parma, © Susanne Riz and © Sandra Bauknecht
For F/W 2012, Giorgio Armani draws a “no complex” style, for confident women who play with men dress codes humorously. His couture collection shows contrasts with these eccentric but still classic women suits, mixing bright, vibrant colours.
In opposition to these silhouettes, Linda Cantello, International Makeup Artist, came up with a pale matte skin, subtly rock and glamorous. “Clothes were very colorful so we imagined with Mr Armani a monochrome face, with no blush or contour.”
Inspired by the ’80s, the makeup is matte black and white. A new conception of the smokey eye, with a matte black “neo classic” look.
First, Luminessence, the new brightening and anti-dark spots skincare range, is applied to regenerate skin’s light and obtain a default less matte result. Maestro concealer is smoothed on under the eyes and gives the last touch to unified skin.
The “smokey eye” is reinvented with a black shadow swept around the eye in a “teardrop” shape, stretched to the inside of the eyelid and under the eye.
The colour is defined and softened with a white liner applied on top of the upper eyelid emphasizing the C-shape. The anthracite grey pencil #4 is faded with a brush on the arch of the eyebrow, the latter being emphasized with a black pencil.
To contrast and soften the look, a matte soft dusty rose, Rouge d’Armani #526, is applied on the lips with the fingertips.
Your shopping list:
On the skin: Essence in lotion Luminessence bright primer, bright regenerator concentrate, BB cream bright revelator universal greige.
Skin tone: Maestro Concealer dark circles eraser AMAZING!
(Available in Switzerland in September 2012 for CHF 53.-)
On the eyelids: Neo classic look through the colours, the textures and the shapes, with the Fall 2012 “Easy Chic” palette #1 Neo Black – Harmonie noire
(One Shot – Available in Switzerland this month for CHF 89.-)
and the NEW Armani Eyes To Kill Quad palette #1 Maestro – Harmonie blanche
(Available in Switzerland in November 2012 for CHF 81.-) and the “Smooth Silk” black pencil #4
Lips are matte soft, enhanced with Rouge d’Armani #526 Plum from the Fall 2012 “Easy Chic” collection. (One Shot – Available in Switzerland this month for CHF 54.-)
I just would like to have everything and you?
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani
Red is such a big trend for F/W 2012 and there is no other colour that has such a “wow”-effect! In every holiday season, the eye-catching red dress is always in the forefront of the fashion trend and celebrities know use the vibrant, powerful shade to their advantage. A lady in red is such a head turner wherever she goes. It makes her instantly stand out in the crowd.
When it comes to red carpet glamour, Kate Perry, Claire Danes and Reese Witherspoon show us how it works. Shop their amazing gowns now, just click on the highlighted text below.
Kate Perry wowed in this stunning strapless intense-red velvet dress by Dolce & Gabbana.
The flow of Claire Danes‘s lace and ruffled silk-organza gown by Valentino is extraordinary.
Reese Witherspoon radiates Old Hollywood glamour in this strapless crimson silk-taffeta gown by Zac Posen.
Are you RED-dy?
LoL, Sandra
This week, I was in Munich for work. I absolutely love the Bavarian city in which I had lived for 8 years. The most important events of my life took place there: My studies, my engagement and wedding, the birth of my daughter, my first job as an editor for Marie Claire magazine and so on. Therefore great memories are around every corner.
As I haven’t been very active on instagram so far, I thought it would be a great way to get started by sharing some of my favourite places with you.
Follow me on instagram: @sandrascloset
Rhubarb tart at my favourite place for lunch: Schumann’s Tagesbar
Lodenfrey is prepared for the upcoming Oktoberfest season with beautifully decorated windows and the new Wiesndirndl 2012.
Spotted at Theresa: My beloved Irma (Do you remember my fabulous T-shirt? )
You can shop all of the shop’s treasures online at mytheresa.com.
Residenzstreet
Marion Heinrich‘s new shopping temple carrying Tom Ford, Chloé and Céline among others.
Munich Opera
Can you guess what I was wearing?
Dress and jacket by Stella McCartney (I sported that look for the event with Kaufmanfranco in London. Click here for the outfit post.), python Boston bag by Céline (Close-ups here) and my new Rockstud ankle boots by Valentino (Fall’s It-booties).
My Diorette ring by Dior Joaillerie. On my nails: 563 Vertigo by Chanel.
Kusama windows at Louis Vuitton
In stores now: Louis Vuitton‘s amazing F/W 2012 runway bags. My personal must-have: The sequined North South bag in Monogram Sunshine Express (see photo).
Very funny, this is how Munich policemen are giving parking tickets. Real horse power!
The Michael Jackson Memorial is still in front of the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, where the famous scene took place when the King of Pop held his son out of the window.
I hope that you have enjoyed those little moments via instagram.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Today is my 11th wedding anniversary. It is crazy how time just flies. If you are curious how I looked in 2001, click here for a previous post.
Yesterday, I went to Munich for work which felt like taking a trip down memory lane. This was the place where my civil wedding took place 11 years ago. The religious ceremony was celebrated one week later in Marbella, Spain.
Being all nostalgic, I was woken up by my husband this morning with a wonderful surprise:
The amazing Diorette earrings by Dior Joaillerie. matching my favourite ring perfectly.
After all those years, it really feels good to say: “I would marry him again!”
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
This was my look I wore to a dinner with friends. I love two-tone dresses as they are easy to combine and so classic. You will enjoy them for many seasons to come. For winter, try this sophisticated piece in a different colour combination.
Sophie two-tone crepe dress (available this season in signal-orange and navy blue), brass palm tree brooch , all by Stella McCartney, green python leather jacket (from a previous season) by Gucci, Clematis leather clutch by Christopher Kane, cherry earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, Twilly by Hermès and coral shape heels by Chanel.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
LUNA ROSSA, Prada’s newest men’s fragrance, seeks inspiration from the Italian house’s sailboat of the eponymous name which regularly participates in the prestigious America’s Cup (For more information on the famous competition, scroll to the end of this post please).
The scent and ingredients blended by Daniela Andrier, Prada Luna Rossa is a masculine fragrance without compromise that reinterprets traditional ingredients with agility.
A wave of aromatic freshness crashes through the scent conveying strength and dynamic energy, while its signature is noble and sensual.The backbone of the fragrance is lavender – an unmistakable natural ingredient in perfumery – but here pushed to the edge in a unique modern interpretation. Even the Prada Luna Rossa fragrance bottle is inspired by the technological excellence and sleek, dynamic beauty of extreme sailing boats. The power of the elements is reflected in the materials and design, which project both strength and sophistication.
Top Notes: Lavender Absolute and Bitter Orange
Middle Notes: Clary Sage and Spearmint Nanah
Base Notes: Ambroxan and Ambrette Absolute
Prada Luna Rossa for Men EdT 50ml (CHF 87.-) / EdT 100ml (CHF 117.-)
Aftershave Lotion 125ml (CHF 85.-)
Shower Gel 200ml CHF 50.-)
Deodorant 150ml (CHF 45.-)
Available September 2012.
The Luna Rossa Story
The America’s Cup is the most coveted and elusive prize in sport and the apex of the sailing world. It is an intense competition propelled by an almost mythological history, the obsession and dedication of its participants and thrilling advances in design and engineering. It is a race fought along lines of technology and athleticism, but fundamentally bound by the forces of nature; enjoyed the world over both for the visceral excitement of the competition and the grace of the boats as they cut through the waves.
The Luna Rossa sailing team emerged from the shared determination and grand ambition of two men. Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada and German Frers, one of the world’s foremost yacht designers, met in 1997 to discuss a cruising boat and the designer made a provocative jibe – “why not the America’s Cup?”. There was no turning back. In order to meet strict entry deadlines Bertelli organized a crew from scratch in a record time of just two weeks – a process usually taking many months. Since then, the Luna Rossa team is one of the most renowned and beloved competitors of the America’s Cup – the oldest and most prestigious trophy in sport.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Prada, © Carlo Borlenghi
