The Alexa Factor

Today marks the launch of Alexa Chung‘s debut collection ALEXACHUNG. Drawing on the model, muse and journalist’s own idiosyncratic sense of style, her beautiful collection applies over a decade of experience in the fashion industry and is packed with personality and humour. “Music has had a huge influence on my work as have my friends,” she explains, citing icons Jane Birkin, Brian Jones, David Hockney and David Bowie as inspiration. I especially love her fun slogan tops and the gorgeous denim overall.

To celebrate the new line, luxury online retailer MYTHERESA has joined forces with musician Mike Skinner to produce the second instalment of mytheresa.com tunes.

In 2004 English musician, The Street’s Mike Skinner booked a then unknown model, Alexa Chung, to star in the music film clip of “I could well be in”. They met again for the first time in twelve years at a mytheresa.com intimate dinner in Germany and an idea ensued. To celebrate the launch of Alexa’s collection, mytheresa.com re-united them for the mytheresa.com tunes series. The song “In my head – the darker the shadow the brighter the light”, is classic Mike Skinner prose and features Alexa Chung narrating her way through Ireland, from the iconic Lismore Castle to the dive bars of Cork, in selected looks from her debut collection.

Being the first mytheresa.com woman in a series of inspiring women, there is a special bonding between mytheresa.com and Alexa Chung since 2013 when the first joint project launched. Since then Alexa Chung has attended several mytheresa.com events (click here please for a previous post), but was also the main character of the very first mytheresa.com tunes instalment for the launch of AC by AG jeans, singing a cover of “Blue Denim” by Stevie Nicks.

TO SHOP ALEXACHUNG ONLINE AT MYTHERESA, CLICK HERE PLEASE. Alternatively, the collection is also available at NET-A-PORTER.

LoL, Sandra

Photos and Video: Courtesy of Mytheresa.com and via Vogue UK

Even Cinderella Would Be Jealous

Even Cinderella would be jealous of the shoe of 2017, mules of all shapes and sizes have been spotted allover. My new favorite? A version that’s been reinvented with a vintage Barbie feel in gorgeous nude hues. The stiletto mule can be styled for both casual and dressy moments, worn from brunch to dinner and everything in between.

Myla satin mules by Jimmy Choo
2 Birdie cutout metallic leather mules by Sophia Webster
iconEmbellished knotted satin mules by No. 21
icon4 Andrea patent-leather mules by Giuseppe Zanetti
iconEmbellished satin mules by Miu Miu
iconKeely knotted satin mules by Jimmy Choo
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Or shop the modern transparent Cinderella mules (that still look completely nostalgic) here:
Transparent mules (SEASON 4) by Yeezy

Happy Shopping! Don’t forget…
Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

My Look: Spring Into Summer

Back in St. Tropez at the beautiful Château de la Messadière enjoying the beginning of the summer season…

My look: Cutout bandage swimsuit and Gabriella mesh pointless dress, both by Hervé LégerMare fringed stretch crochet-knit pareo by Missonitasseled gold-plated, lapis and crystal necklace and multi layered necklace, both by Etrostudded leather bracelet and matching iconCandy heels, both by Saint Laurent, Plage Beach woven-hessian tote by Lanvin, and pearl embellished sunglasses by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Jo Malone New Exfoliating Shower Gel

 Jo Malone is extending its Bath & Body line with the launch of three new exfoliating shower gels that cleanse and polishe skin in one easy step. With just the right balance of exfoliating ingredients, it is perfect for an effortless and pampering daily routine.

Soft jojoba beads, finely crushed walnut shells and bamboo stem work together to delicately smooth away dryness and impurities. Your skin is left feeling soft, reinvigorated and primed to receive the benefits of your body cream.

Geranium & Walnut Exfoliating Shower Gel
Developed to complement every Jo Malone fragrance, this shower gel layers crisp, vibrant geranium with the warmth of walnut.

Pomegranate Noir Exfoliating Shower Gel
Ruby-rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum are spiked with pink pepper and laced with Casablanca lily and spicy woods.

Lime Basil & Mandarin Exfoliating Shower Gel
It revives your body with Jo Malone’s signature fragrance Lime Basil & Mandarin. Peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean beach.

Available in Switzerland from June 5th, 2017 for CHF 47.00 exclusively at Globus Geneva, Globus Glattzentrum and Jelmoli Zurich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone London and © Sandra Bauknecht

30 Years of Guerlain Météorites Pearls

This year, Guerlain celebrates the 30th birthday of its iconic Météorites Pearls and launches a special and limited edition of these famous, luminous spheres in a light pink packaging for S/S 2017, called Météorites Happy Glow. The famous light-catching pearls were created in 1987 by Dominique Szabo, Creative Director of Guerlain Makeup at the time, who wanted to offer women pure radiance with these little helpers that act as a concentrate of optical technologies.

Needless to say that over the last 30 years, they have managed to evolve into a product that keeps on offering more and more. Pioneers of color correction and glow sublimated by optics, Météorites pearls have been enriched with “Rainbow” and “Star Dust” technologies to make the invisible visible and to reveal more light on the skin.

Characteristics:

  •  Three color harmonies are created to meet the needs of color correction and brightness of light, medium and dark skin
  • Each of the harmonies contain 6 shades of powdered pearls compacted with a specific benefit and effect.
  • Under the hairs of the brush, these 6 shades of pearls mix perfectly for a smart multi-benefit color correction with a natural finish and a “supernatural” appearance.

In 2017, Météorites celebrate their 30th anniversary. On this occasion, they reinvented themselves with the collector products that promise a very desirable “rosy glow” and continue to diffuse the scent of violets signature to the Météorites Guerlain line. The limited edition collection that says “Happy Birthday” offers 4 new products that pay homage to the mildness of the spring:

Météorites Happy Glow PearlsLight Revealing Powder Pearls – CHF 87.00

The new limited edition pearls offer a new color harmony with a combination of corrective and brightening pearls to erase the signs of fatigue and restore the natural glow f the skin. The largest “Rainbow Glow” pearls amplify light with multicolored pearl particles, while the 3 other colors each provide a special benefit: Champagne to reflect the light, Purple to neutralize yellow and attract the light and Pink for the refreshing effect against a dull complexion.

Météorites Happy Glow Blush– Light-Sculpting Compacted Pearls of Powder – CHF 63.00

Inspired by the the Météorites Voyage and their micro-pearls of powder compacted in a travel case, this 2-in-1 product  is both blush and highlighter, ideal for a quick boost of radiance. Rainbow Glow pearls bring a boost of light thanks to the multi-colored pearl particles, Pink pearls are there for a refreshing anti-dull effect and Fuchsia pearls revive the skin’s radiance and give a fresh boost to the complexion.

KissKiss Lipstick (Le Rouge Crème Galbant) – CHF 54.00

The two new Météorites collector products are accompanied by two new colors of the KissKiss lipstick in limited edition. Two new colors have a rosy finish: Blossom Glow, a bold pinkish red, and Pearly Pink, a more tender and glossy pink.

Météorites The Brush – CHF 51.00

Guerlain also launches a new version of the Météorites Brush with improved and highly practical design. It is even softer and stronger at the same time, still as easy to use and makes the emblematic G* gesture of the Météorites a piece of cake.

*G gesture – From the center of the forehead to the cheekbones through the temples, then continue down the face and neck. On each side of the face.

In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain

The New Prada Cinéma Eyewear Collection

The new Prada Cinéma S/S 2017 eyewear collection stands out with its stylistic blend of sophisticated elegance and contemporary details.
The new sunglasses draw inspiration from the 1960s, reinterpreting the classic rounded shape with a modern twist. The oversized acetate front features thick lines enhanced by the shiny metal upper front profile. They are sophisticated while being extremely wearable.


The iconic flat metal temples – a key theme of the Prada Cinéma collection – are creatively matched with the acetate tips.

The palette includes a wide range of colour combinations, from classic Black and different shades of TortoiseClassic, Medium, Orchid, Talc – to the new fresh upcoming delicate nuances of Crystal Nude, Crystal Aqua and Crystal Blue.

The collection is available at prada.com, Prada stores and selected retailers worldwide.

The launch is accompanied by a digital film starring model Giedre Dukauskaite – a playful homage to the cinematic escape in which the transformational fantasies of film take center stage. A deceptively simple story of a day at the movies, but what apparently seems an ordinary escape gives way to an unexpected plot.

If you are like me a big fan of the Prada feather top, you can click here to shop it.
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LoL, Sandra

Photos and Short Film: Courtesy of Prada

Midnight Magic for Your Skin

I am travelling quite a lot at the moment which can be extremely stressful for the skin. Therefore I love to take GLAMGLOW‘s DREAMDUO Overnight Transforming Treatment with me.

Its promise to wake up makeup ready with an instant sexy Hollywood glow is true. DREAMDUO will give you plump, hydrated skin in one night in only two steps:

Step 1 (Pearl): DREAMSERUM is an overnight melt-in serum
Step 2 (Gray): DREAMSEAL is a nourishing moisture boost

Plumping isn’t just for lips anymore, DREAMDUO is midnight magic for your skin.
In stores for approximately CHF 60.00 (40g), for example at Marionnaud.

Stay sexy! I am off from Cannes to Venice for a masquerade ball.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

My Look: High Strung

While you are reading this, I am on my way to the Cannes Film Festival. I always have a great time there and have so many wonderful memories such as the dinner I attended with the lovely film crew of «High Strung» and Swarovski. As I am a ballerina myself, I absolutely adore this movie.

Dancing with the main actors: Jane Seymour, Nicholas Galitzine and Keenan Kampa.

The plot is about a hip hop violinist is busking in the New York subway. When he encounters a classical dancer on scholarship at the Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts, sparks fly. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives forever.

My look that night: Black embellished cocktail dress andiconicon cutout leather platform pumps, both by Saint Laurent, embellished clutch by Balmain, Limelight Gala watch
icon by Piaget, leather bracelet by Hermèsdiamond ring and bracelet, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Balmain to Partner with the Paris Opera

Balmain is collaborating with the Paris Opera on «Renaissance», a new creation from choreographer and dancer Sébastien Bertaud, with Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing designing all of the ballet’s costumes.


The partnership builds upon the singular talents and visions of two young French talents – both Rousteing and Bertaud are thirty years old and both are from Bordeaux – and their shared appreciation for the history and traditions behind both, Balmain and the Paris Opera.

«Renaissance» forms part of the Bertaud / Bouché / Paul / Valastro performance at the Opera Garnier, running from June 13th through June 19th. The Paris Opera, which will soon celebrate its 350th anniversary, has placed the spotlight squarely on Bertaud and three other emerging creators from the Opera National de Paris, giving each carte blanche for their creation.

Bertaud’s ballet pays tribute to the refinement of the Ecole de Danse Française—from the Versailles of Louis XIV to the Opéra Garnier of today and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto No. 2. Since his creation celebrates the elegance, sophistication and opulence of the legendary French dance academy, Bertaud believed that a collaboration with Balmain was a natural fit.

Of course, it is an amazing honor to work with the Paris Opera,” notes Rousteing. “There are few institutions that embody so well the essence of French culture and creativity. Obviously, designing for the rigors and techniques of classical dance was a new challenge for me and my team – but it one that we very much enjoyed facing. As someone who has always been fascinated by the beauty and power of dance, this project was a joy to work on, giving me the unique opportunity to learn from and share ideas with a group of incredibly talented artists and craftsmen for whom nothing seems to be impossible.”

Rousteing’s designs highlight both the acclaimed savoir-faire of the Balmain’s atelier and the recognizable modern style of the designer. Impressive golden and silver embellishments cover flesh-colored performance pieces, with rhinestones and pearls embroidered directly onto bodysuits, tights and draped tees. A similar treatment has been given to the dancers’ spencer coats, cardigans and fringe skirts.

As a ballet addict, I am so much looking forward to seeing the final result of this beautiful collaboration!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balmain

Emilio Pucci’s Travelling Bikini Bar Concept

A whole summer trip, which begins at the Cannes Film Festival and moves among the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. It’s a new itinerant shop concept designed by Emilio Pucci completely dedicated to summer. It’s the Bikini Bar.

Bikini «Libellula»

In select boutiques, a specially designed colorful cabin will contain limited edition triangular Emilio Pucci bikini sets in 9 iconic prints, including: «Ranunculi», «Lance» and «Labirinto», archival prints; «Gazelle», «Parasol» and «Libellula».

The silhouette of a mermaid, the mythical figure loved by Marchese Emilio Pucci, characterizes the concept of the Bikini Bar.

The special collection of bikinis will be available for a limited time at the Emilio Pucci boutiques listed below, and also at the brand’s online flagship www.emiliopucci.com.

Cannes: May 16th – 28th
Beirut: from June 13th
Capri: July 1st – 15th
Mykonos: July 3rd – 20th
Taormina: July 6th – 20th
Saint Tropez: July 25th – August 4th
Porto Cervo: July 29th – August 13th

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Emilio Pucci
©Daniele Venturelli