Sandra‘s Closet

To front the CHANEL S/S 2014 eyewear collection, Karl Lagerfeld chose his muse Alice Dellal and showed a much softer side of the famous model and punk rocker.

No more half-shaved head and ripped tights – those details are replaced by baby pink Chanel boucle jackets and flowers in her hair. The new campaign, photographed by Lagerfeld himself in an intimate, youthful and mischievous atmosphere, evoking a student’s bedroom, shows the House ambassadress posing nonchalantly.

In this post you can discover the campaign and the exclusive behind the scene shots.

The visuals, with their edgy yet gently romantic energy, present Alice Dellal as part rebel, part blossoming young girl, revealing another of her facets for a collection that’s both feminine and in tune with the zeitgeist.

The sunglasses focus on contemporary and stylised shapes, the cat eye, butterfly, round and XXL square, while the optical glasses prefer more classical frames including the pantos, square and oval.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel 2014

Last week, I went one day to the famous International Jewelry and Watch Show in Basel, Switzerland: BASELWORLD. In the morning, I was picked up by Tesla for my first ride ever in an electric super car and brought directly to the VIERI showroom, located in a beautiful location in St. Margrethen, Binningen, to explore their stunning new Haute Joaillerie collections.

I have become a huge fan of the jewelry brand lately that is looking back at over 70 years of experience in the jewelry industry. Launched in Pforzheim, Germany, the company moved its headquarters to Switzerland in 1999. Not long ago, I met Guya Merkle, granddaughter of VIERI founder Rudolf Merkle, through common friends. I was fascinated by her taste and vision. The charming 28-year-old took over the management of the company spontaneously in 2007, following her father’s sudden death. Since then, VIERI has produced all its collections in Valenza, a small municipality in northern Italy famed for its gold and jewelry.

Under the forward-looking leadership of Guya, VIERI Haute Joaillerie has been moving into a new era. »What is true luxury? Shouldn’t a luxury product have a positive effect on everyone who comes into contact with it?« Guya decided to give the company her personal stamp and to instil it with her own values. She travelled to Peru to get a true picture of working conditions in several gold mines – an experience that left a deep and lasting impression on her.

Afterwards, she founded earthbeat foundation, a foundation for responsible gold mining, and transformed VIERI into one of the first high-end jewelry companies to work exclusively with ethically sourced gold.

Please enjoy some more of VIERI’s impressive designs below:

Lily Collier Fireworks

VIERI – Lily Ring Fireworks

VIERI by Bibi van der Velden – The Pearls Light Earrings

VIERI by Bibi van der Velden – The Cobweb Bracelet

For further information, please visit the VIERI homepage.
More from my visit to the Baselworld 2014 coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Vieri and © Sandra Bauknecht

Complementing the recently launched limited edition of eight new Sheer Lip Colors and four new Nail Lacquer shades, Tom Ford offers everything you need for a sunkissed glow with the following amazing new products:

TOM FORD SUMMER 2014 COLOR COLLECTION 
Eye and Cheek Compact – CHF 90.00

This limited edition eye and cheek colour palette imbues a sultry, effortless summer look with a refreshing twist of colour. Eyes are enveloped in a blend of soft pearl and satin finish neutrals and a bold accent of cobalt. Cheeks are illuminated with light rose and peach coral shades for a warm and sexy glow. Packaged in a retro-chic, ivory and gold coloured Tom Ford case.

Skin Illuminator – CHF 76.00 (30ml) in Fire Lust

Inspired by the look of skin bathed in summer evening light, this limited edition illuminator creates an irresistible, translucent glow. Its peach-pink shade flatters every skin tome while moisturizing and soothing skin and it’s highly micronized pearls diffuse light for a natural enhanced, sun-kissed look. Apply the illuminator all over the face on its own or mix it with the Tom Ford traceless foundation to achieve radiant and balanced skin. The illuminator can also be used as a highlighter under or over makeup.

Lip Shimmer – CHF 62.00 in Moonlight, Solar Gold

The new lip shimmer in moonlight and solar gold can be swept onto bare lips for a sultry, glimmering effect, or veiled over Tom Ford lip color to add radiant shimmer to a spectrum of nude and vivid shades. Infused with vitamins C and E and shea butter, this moisturizing lip glaze in a domed bullet is package in a limited-edition, ivory and gold-colored Tom Ford Case.

In Switzerland exclusively available at Jelmoli Zurich from April 2014.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford

Nature’s blooms at their most tempting. The nectarous, pink-fringed pompoms of Silk Blossom. Irresistible to hummingbirds and butterflies. Apricot-fresh with a touch of spice. Airy with clouds of powder-soft heliotrope, nestling on a bed of moss. Fruity and enticing.
JO MALONE has captured spring in a bottle.

FRUITY FLORAL

Top note: White Pepper
Middle note: Silk Blossom
Base note: Moss

Fragrance Combining™: Orange Blossom

Available from May 2014.
(In Switzerland from May 21, 2014 at Jelmoli Zurich and Globus Geneva).
Cologne 30ml CHF 68 / £41
Cologne 100ml CHF 130 / £82
Home Candle 200g £42

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

I am completely obsessed with Dolce & Gabbana‘s S/S 2014 collection inspired by ancient Sicily and Greece. The prints and details are all about coins that give the impression they have just been dug up on an archaeological excursion and in combination with polka dots, they look divine, sophisticated and feminine. The bag is like a treasure chest that I will surely keep forever!

My look: Polka dot top, cotton-blend coin-jacquard mini skirt, coin earrings, oversized gold-tone coin belt, ancient coin print scarf and inlaid wood top handle bag, all by Dolce & Gabbana. Janis leather pumps by Saint Laurent, Mitza ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie and Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This upcoming Saturday, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum‘s hotly-anticipated new fashion exhibition will officially open its doors. Dedicated to ‘The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014‘, it illustrates the history of Italian Fashion from the Second World War to the present day, and will be held until July 27th 2014. It features many looks from the archives of different Italian designers which pay tribute to the quality of the Made in Italy style.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7, +44 (0)20 7942 2000

To celebrate the opening, NET-A-PORTER and the The Victoria & Albert Museum present a 22-piece limited edition jewelry collection that will be available as an online exclusive with 10% of all sales being donated to the V&A. Below you can explore my favorite pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Gold-plated, resin and macramé lace clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana + V&A

Swarovski crystal and resin necklace by Marni + V&A

Set of two gold-plated knuckle rings by Moschino + V&A

Gold-tone agate clip earrings by Etro + V&A

Set of three palladium-plated woven bracelets by Missoni + V&A

Photos: Courtesy of NET-A-PORTER and The Victoria and Albert Museum

Supermodel and face of Guerlain NATALIA VODIANOVA shared her travel tips for Paris with us. The city where she is living with her three kids from a previous marriage and her partner Antoine Arnault with whom she is expecting her fourth child. The tall blonde was born 1982 in Gorky, Soviet Union (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia) and moved to France 15 years ago when she signed with Viva Models to start her modeling career.

Your favourite city?
I love PARIS. It was the first city I moved to when I was 17. I feel more at home here than in any other city.

Your favourite hotel?
The BRISTOL is one of my favorite hotels in Paris. It was my second home before I moved to live in Paris.
112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, +33 1 53 43 43 00

Your favourite restaurant?
L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON, absolutely delicious, the perfect place for two.
133, Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris, +33 1 47 23 75 75

Your favourite bar or nightclub?
I love the CAVIAR KASPIA.
17, Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris, +33 1 42 65 33 32

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
I like to go to the PALAIS DE LA DECOUVERTE with my children, the science museum located in the Grand Palais.
Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris, +33 1 56 43 20 20

Your favourite park?
We love the playground at the JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG.
6e Arrondissement, 75006 Paris, +33 1 42 34 23 62

Your favourite shop?
The GUERLAIN BOUTIQUE on Champs-Elysées. The atmosphere is unique, it is absolutely magic and with an incredible attention to details. I feel like home.
68 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, +33 1 45 62 52 57

Your must-have accessory?
A BAG.

Your favorite song?
I would say maybe “WHERE DO THE CHILDREN PLAY” by Yusuf Islam, I really like this song.

Your favorite holiday book?
My favourite book is Mikhail Bulgakov “THE MASTER AND MARGARITA”.

Thank you, Natalia, for sharing your insider scoop on Paris with us.

LoL, Sandra

Flats are a must this summer. So why not shunning our heels for the humble high-top sneaker. From Balenciaga‘s multi-panel trainers to the effortless Converse classic, here are the best ones for the laid-back look.

1 Tyson high-top sneakers in confetti-print leather by Givenchy
2 High top trainers by Saint Laurent
3 Francy suede high top trainers by Golden Goose Deluxe Brand
4 Multi-panel high top trainers by Balenciaga
5 Chuck Taylor All Star polka-dot suede sneakers by Converse
6 Paneled satin high-top sneakers by Gucci
7 Embellished leather high-top sneakers by Versace
8 Dunk Sky Hi metallic leather wedge sneakers by Nike
9 Tokyo studded suede high-top sneakers by Jimmy Choo

LoL, Sandra