Sandra‘s Closet

Recently, I was invited to a beautiful masquerade ball in Venice to celebrate the 10th wedding anniversary of my friends, Kristina and Piero, at exactly the same location they had tied the knot a decade ago. The dresscode was black and red with headdress. Wearing a Venetian mask with feathers makes you feel truly mysterious. What a fantastic night, thank you!

My look: Rilla crochet cage stitch gown by Hervé Léger,  Monogramme Kate studded leather shoulder bag and cutout leather platform pumps, both by Saint Laurent, cashmere scarf in black and white by Chanel, earrings and choker both by Dior, diamond rose ring by Piaget, diamond bracelet and diamond ring, both by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Cabinet of Wonders
The Gaston-Louis Vuitton Collection

Edited by Patrick Mauriès With texts by John Banville, Stephen Bayley, Alberto Manguel, Delphine Saurat, Pierre Senges

Such a wonderful coffee table book – a perfect gift for somebody who likes traveling and vintage collector’s items. Over his lifetime, Gaston-Louis Vuitton, grandson of the founder of the House, collected trunks and every kind of article related to travel, invention, craftsmanship and bibliophilia. With more than one thousand objects and documents, this volume pays homage to an ‘unrepentant collector’, his wide interests and voracious curiosity.

In Louis Vuitton stores worldwide July 2017
In bookstores September 2017

Below you can enjoy some of the different sections of the new tome to get an idea of what the book is about. Enjoy and happy weekend! I am off to London…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

June 8th marks World Oceans Day which is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future. This year’s overall theme is «Our Oceans, Our Future», with the focus on encouraging solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a healthier sea life.

Shades of blue: GG Marmont matelassé mini bag by Gucci and the limited edition Crème de la Mer Blue Heart.

To commemorate World Oceans Day, La Mer has created as in previous years a special collector’s edition of its much coveted miracle cream «Crème de la Mer Blue Heart» which will be available from now for CHF 490.00 (100ml). The ultra-luxury skincare brand has long been a committed guardian in assisting with the protection of sea habitats. Inspired by its healing power and the natural regenerating properties of plants, the Crème de La Mer creator and aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber looked to the sea to transform the look of his skin.

THE MISSION

The La Mer Blue Heart Oceans Fund launches with a focus on protecting ocean habitats by expanding Marine Protected Areas and empowering ongoing ocean conservation projects around the globe.

This year, La Mer is taking its mission a step further through a New York City-based art walk and auction in collaboration with ocean conservation organization Project 0 and the storied auction house Sotheby’s.

Here is a glimpse of the extraordinary sea-inspired sculptures on display in New York City through the end of June.

THE LA MER
WAVE WALK

Partnering with La Mer, Project 0 brought together some of the world’s most influential artists, designers and culture-makers to create their own wave-inspired, charitable works of art.

On display in New York City during the months around World Oceans Day, the artworks will be auctioned off with all net proceeds going to ocean protection efforts. The online auction will be live until June 23rd, 2017. Sotheby’s will auction off select wave sculptures in an exclusive, live charity event on June 21st in NYC.

YOU CAN SHOP LA MER ONLINE HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of La Mer and © Sandra Bauknecht
#LaMerBlueHeart – #LaMerWaveWalk

Hello New York! You never fail to amaze me, you always impress me with your magnitude. Running through the concrete jungle, I like the vibrating, humming energy.

My look: Melissa satin-trimmed wool tuxedo jacket by Stella McCartney, tropical print silk cape shirt, tropical print pajama pants, fringed cracked-leather pumps and drop flower earrings with green crystals, all by Gucci, Tribale small fringed python shoulder bag by Lanvin, Linda sunglasses by Tom Ford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Strolling through beautiful Venice, which is the most unique city in the world for me. Those little canals are so romantic and thanks to its many historical spots, this town is recognized for its cultural richness. Every corner offers a unique photo opportunity.

My look: Embroidered-cuff cold-shoulder top and asymmetric cotton-poplin skirt, both by Peter Pilotto, printed leather, raffia and canvas wedge sandals by Valentino, Kan I Mini studded leather chain shoulder bag by Fendi and purple mirrored round sunglasses by Chanel.

And if you want to enjoy some amazing impressions of Venice, watch the movie «The Tourist» with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. A very good one!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I love denim and adore this season’s hype of star prints or applications that are officially everywhere on our blue favorites. Tracking the trend, click here to see how I wear my star print jeans…

1 The Skinny printed boyfriend jeans by Stella McCartney
2 Printed mid-rise straight-leg jeans by Stella McCartney
3 Printed low-rise skinny jeans by Givenchy
4 Denim shirt by Givenchy
5 Printed denim shirt by Saint Laurent
6 Embroidered cutout denim dress by SJYP Steve J & Yoni P
7 Court Classic leather-appliquéd denim sneakers by Saint Laurent

And here is the master piece that works with many looks: the to-die-for two-tone appliquéd denim coat by Roberto Cavalli.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Today we get a quick chat with MAC Executive Director of Makeup Artistry, Lyne Desnoyers (@lyne_desnoyers), a nomadic polymath for whom makeup is an act of storytelling. Memories – from her time living in Canada and more recently in Paris – inform the spellbinding and ethereal looks that she creates for shows and editorials. These days, an even wider array of experiences gathered while travelling for her global role add to her inspiration, but Lyne credits her time as a dancer with originally fuelling her lifelong love of makeup. Though a master of her craft, she doesn’t believe it has to be complicated. With a few key products, a healthy glow and enough energy, she explains us today the yellow beauty trend and that there is no need to be afraid of this vibrant colour which seems rather tricky to apply.

MAC Executive Director of Makeup Artistry Lyne Desnoyers 

Please explain us why yellow is  such a free-energized expressionist and why it is trending now?

I really loved how SS17 celebrated modern ways of making colour flattering! This was done through beauty details worn in classic placements but using free form techniques. Sometimes worn as an adornement, sometimes as a bold statement or as a simple gesture, these colour accents energize the face, they give freshness to a look in an unexpected way. Yellow is probably the most dynamic of all: solar and luminous, this colour brings almost a super highlight to eye makeup and has had many interpretations this season.

Haider Ackermann S/S 2017

How & where do you apply it best so that it will look elegant and is easy to do for consumers (a little artistry take on yellow)?

I personally find that the easiest way to wear yellow is to pair it with a neutral. For example as an eyeliner: first line your eyes as you would normally do with a dark brown or a black. Then you apply the yellow in a thin line right above it. It creates a very lovely 2 toned eyeliner with which you do not have to put any other eyeshadows since the yellow really brings out the lid.

Photo via @TicoXPassion

Another way I think works well also is to apply the yellow all over the mobile lid and then continue your makeup with warm browns in the crease, as eyeliner etc. What I like about this is that it is quite classic in the way it is executed, but the pop of yellow really makes it different and flattering. You can apply the yellow either as a transparent wash or in a more opaque “colour block” way. Both options work very well…it all depends how much impact you want! The secret in all cases, is to do a very transparent and soft focus skin…it is that contrast that makes the colour fresh looking and totally wearable.  

Products to have:

MAC PAINT STICK in Primary Yellow
MAC EYE SHADOW in Chrome Yellow
MAC CHROMALINE in Primary Yellow
MAC CHROMAGRAPHIC PENCIL in Primary Yellow
MAC LIPSTICK in Yellow You Dare

Have fun experimenting!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics and via Pinterest; Harper’s Bazaar Mexico

After yesterday’s post about Carmen Miranda’s legacy inspiring the fashion world, I have some more tropical moments this weekend.

Shake up the summer with a frootilicious collection of sun-kissed succulence by MAC Cosmetics. Take a sweet vacation of vibrant colour for lips and eyes with a stunning special packaging throughout! Love at first bite thanks to  the FRUITY JUICY pattern of papayas, pineapples, bananas and hibiscus flowers, that are also printed on the cap and the body of the products.

LIPSTICK – CHF 28.00

• Calm Heat – mid-tone nude (matte)
• Shy Girl – creamy neutral coral beige (cremesheen)
• Love At First Bite – bright fuchsia (amplified) – (I love!)
• Sí, Sí, Me! – deep violet (satin)

CREMESHEEN GLOSS – CHF 32.00

• Cha-Cha-Cha – warm peachy pink
• Shake, Shake, Shake! – bright apricot orange
• La Salsa – soft purple
• Summer Succulence – cool beige

EYE SHADOW x6 Fruit à la la – CHF 60.00

• Glamour Light – warm beige (satin)
• Soleil, So Lovely – dirty grey nude (matte)
• ¡Arriba! – frosty rose (frost)
• Carnal Charm – bright burnt orange red (matte)
• Fuchsia Fury – bright blue pink (satin)
• Cocktail Black – deep brown grey with pearl (satin)

EYE SHADOW x6 Love in the Glades – CHF 60.00

• Greystroke – tinted white grey (satin)
• Cumulus – mid-tone frosty grey (frost)
• Bye Bye Bahamas – soft chocolate with pearl (frost)
• Palm Leaves – soft grey green (satin)
• Neoprene Green – bright frosty emerald (veluxe pearl)
• Russian Blue – dark blackened blue grey (matte)

EYE SHADOW x6 Oh My Banana – CHF 60.00

• Retrospeck – beached blonde (lustre)
• Big Kahuna – true gold (frost)
• Soft Brown – soft golden peachy-brown (matte)
• Electric Mandarin – champagne orange (satin)
• All’s Rosy – deep pink rose (matte)
• Land of Delights – mid-tone cranberry

BRONZING POWDER – CHF 35.00

• Refined Golden – finely spun golden with soft pearl
• Banana Bronze – medium-deep toned neutral matte bronze

MAC STUDIO SCULPT BRONZING POWDER – CHF 41.00

• Delicates – neutral deep bronze with fine gold shimmer
• Delphic – coppery bronze with gold sparkles

PEARL MATTE FACE POWDER – CHF 41.00 (I love!)

• Oh My, Passion! – shimmery tan / light soft yellow /bluish pink / bright coral

LUSTRE DROPS – CHF 32.00

• Bronze Hero – rich deep bronze
• Sun Rush – peachy bronze with gold pearl

PREP+PRIME FIX+ – CHF 26.0 with coconut scent

BRUSH 

• 125 Split Fibre Dense Face Brush – CHF 54.00
• 126 Split Fibre Large Face Brush – CHF 67.00

MAKEUP BAG – CHF 38.00

In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

“I never followed what people said was in fashion. I think that women should wear what suits them. So I created a style that fitted my type and my artistic genre.”
– Carmen Miranda

The Portuguese-Brazilian actor and samba singer – and one of the first celebrity fashion designers – died over 60 years ago today. But her legacy remains …

Carmen Miranda’s name has become synonymous with frilly blouses, plastic fruit accessories and extravagant headpieces, items that were always essential to her larger-than-life look. Her influence on fashion had broader consequences too: the colourful aesthetic that made her a hit in Hollywood was controversial back home in Brazil.

Known for her tutti-frutti turban, A Pequena Notável, as she was known in her home country Brazil, or The Brazilian Bombshell, as they called her in the USA, did not just sing and dance. She also created the costumes for her Broadway shows and Hollywood musicals in the 40s and 50s, a period when she was the highest paid studio actress.

Born in Portugal, she moved to Brazil with her family when she was still a child. In 1925, as a sixteen year old in Rio de Janeiro, she discovered she had a talent for making hats and dresses while working in a clothing shop. She began to design and sew her own costumes when in 1930 she started singing professionally. As she was just five foot tall, she was also known for wearing platforms and making them very popular.

Many designers have been inspired by her tropical image over the last years but I truly adore what Dolce & Gabbana has come up with for the S/S 2017 collection:

Appliquéd polka-dot stretch-silk turban by Dolce & Gabbana

This playful turban combines the label’s ‘Mambo‘ and polka-dot inspirations. Modeled after dancer Carmen Miranda’s iconic headpiece, this structured style is made from patterned stretch-silk and topped with flowers and colorful fruit appliqués. The internal brim is lined with a grosgrain ribbon to keep it comfortably in place.

By the way, Carmen Miranda’s original costumes were brought together by her sister in the Museu Carmen Miranda in Rio de Janeiro. A museum that is worth the visit if you love fashion as much as I do. Therefore I adore how Dolce & Gabbana also reinterpreted beautifully the singer’s iconic bow turbans:

Floral-print silk-satin headband by Dolce & Gabbana

This headband is twisted at the front and patterned with pretty pink roses, blue butterflies and the label’s signature. Isn’t it so pretty?

To a tropical weekend…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana, Bettmann/CORBIS and via Vogue Brazil

Block heels are one of the best investments you can make this year if you want to stay on top of the fashion charts and comfy at the same time. I have been going crazy for those embellished ones teamed with this beautifully feminine blouse and skirt for instant style status.

The photos were taken at the Rote Fabrik in Zurich where Juergen Teller shot the S/S 2013 ad campaign for Marc by Marc Jacobs. A perfect match and a little trip down memory lane… !

My look: Ruffled tulle blouse, tulle wrap skirt and Adriana leopard-print calf hair and snake-effect leather platform sandals, all by Marc Jacobs, gold bar clutch by Chanel and cocktail ring by Robert Cavalli.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht