Sandra‘s Closet

PRISON ART is the result of the entrepreneurial vision of Jorge Cueto, a former inmate of the Puente Grande federal penitentiary in Jalisco, Mexico. Unjustly arrested for fraud in 2012, Cueto spent 11 months behind bars before a judge determined there was no crime to prosecute and that he was innocent. Today, this organization helps former prisoners reintegrate into a normal life through creative artwork in Mexico.

Jorge Cueto launched Prison Art in late 2013 after being unjustly arrested.

This craftsmanship and know-how of PRISON ART is part of a project by premium tequila brand PADRE AZUL and tequila aficionado, PADRE AZUL co-owner and Swarovski partner Georg Weis. The new «Padre Azul Cristalino Añejo Tequila», limited to 1,000 bottles, is also a co-production with Swarovski, who have created the unique skull with an engraved number for each bottle. The bottle itself was designed for the special edition by PRISON ART and part of the proceeds will be donated to the charitable organization.

Cristalino Tequila, which uses a special process to remove the natural color, currently happens to be the new trend in Mexico. Crystal clear in the glass, «Padre Azul Cristalino Añejo Tequila» convinces on the palate with maturity and a finely honed composition of aromas.

The limited edition is an ideal gift for tequila aficionados, and once the bottle is empty, it remains a precious designer item. But that means acting fast, because only 1000 bottles are available worldwide for €1000 each. You can order your bottle here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prison Art, Swarovski and Padre Azul

«Sometimes you just need to allow inspiration to find you—wherever in the world it may be.» – Duro Olowu

Nigerian-born, London-based fashion designer Duro Olowu, the prince of prints, created his first-ever makeup collection with Estée Lauder, that I don’t want you to miss as I spotted it myself in British Vogue. Beautiful, vibrant and full of life are the six customized make-up products, inspired by his own effortlessly stylish clothing collections, which celebrate freedom of expression, individuality, and the strong, confident woman who wears them.

Being trendy has never been of interest to Duro. He has always been more interested in the culture of style to create pieces that effortlessly stand the test of time. His prints are inspired by his Nigerian, Jamaican, and British backgrounds, as well as his love of art. About his creative process he says: «Fabrics always tell a story, and, when mixed well, exude the kind of joie de vivre and allure I am constantly inspired by.»

In Switzerland, the Estée Lauder x Duro Olowu collection is only available online.
CLICK HERE TO BE TRANSFERED DIRECTLY. Great news is that shipping is free until this Sunday, Aug 4, 2019.

LoL, Sandra

Duro Olowu with me

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of Estée Lauder, Magazine in Collage: British Vogue

After Mykonos, Capri and Porto Cervo, HUBLOT conquered another Mediterranean jewel last week, inaugurating a pop-up boutique on Ibiza for the summer. It was also an opportunity to unveil the Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza, an innovative watch in blue ceramic, limited to only 50 pieces, that draws its creative inspiration from the island, its festive nature and its symbolism.

Ibiza the white island; like its immaculate traditional fincas, stands out against the pure azure sky and overlooks the crystal-clear blue sea. This Mediterranean pearl, imbued with bohemian nonchalance, harbours elegant, intimate places and radiates the festive atmosphere of the season.

HUBLOT has set up shop here for summer 2019, dedicating its blue-and-white Classic Fusion Chronograph Ibiza model to the island. Crowned with a blue ceramic bezel, the 45-mm case encloses a chronograph movement, held on a bi-material strap in blue rubber and white alligator. As a nod to the hippy spirit that is part of Ibiza’s charm, the Peace and Love symbol features on the seconds counter drawn at 3 o’clock on the dial.

A horological dedication to the enchantment of Ibiza, and a way to treat yourself to celebrate the summer.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © HUBLOT

Kilts, bagpipes, unicornsand the legendary Loch Ness monster –experience all this and more with the Scotland Collection by OPI!

Inspired by fashion trends for the season, including windowpane plaid and classic houndstooth in unique fabrics with detailed embellishments, this collection includes 12 new shades for F/W 2019 in various shades of purple, blue andred, along with pops of orange, dark green and taupe.

The striking landscapes of Scotland are represented in these hues, from rolling hillsides filled with purple heather bloom (Good Girls Gone Plaid (hero shade), Boys Be Thistle-ing at Me, You’ve Got that Glas-glow, Edinburgh-er & Tatties) to fiery foliage in brilliant shades of red, orange and deep green (A Little Guilt Under the Kilt, Red Heads Ahead, Suzi Needs a Loch-smith, Things I’ve Seen in Aber-green) to thousands of miles of coastline and numerous lakes and rivers in every shade imaginable of blue (Rub-a-Pub-Pub, Nessie Plays Hide & Sea-k, OPI Grabs the Unicorn By The Horn, and Nice Set Of Pipes).

“After seeing so many variations of plaid forecasted for fall fashion, we knew we’d end up in Scotland for inspiration this season,” declares OPI co-founder and brand ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. “The collection’s hero shade, Good Girls Gone Plaid, captures the moody, ethereal beauty of Scotland in autumn. Its dark amethyst hue takes on the appearance of super trendy black in certain light, but with much more dimension thanks to the jewel undertones.”

Scotland Collection by OPI is available in Nail Lacquer (CHF 19.90), Infinite Shine (CHF 24.90) and GelColor formulas for in-salon treatments from Mid August 2019 for at least 6 months.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © OPI

Only Watch is a biennial charity auction of unique timepieces created by the finest brands for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It will be held in Geneva on November 9, 2019 for the 8th time. 40 million Swiss Francs were raised in the previous 7 editions with 99% of proceeds going directly to research projects of AMM, the Monaco-based association (Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies).

LOUIS VUITTON is taking part for the sixth consecutive time in Only Watch and presents a bold and unique piece: the «Escale Spin Time» watch with a dial inspired by tattoo art, that I don’t want you to miss as it is so beautiful.

Made using Grand Feu champlevé enamelling and painted by hand, the dial is a creation by Anita Porchet, one of the greatest independent enamellers in fine watchmaking. The dial required 200 hours of work and used two specific traditional techniques which are only mastered by very few artisans in Geneva: Grand Feu champlevé enamelling and miniature painting.

The dial is a white gold plaque, recessed by hand and covered with Grand Feu enamel. Three shades of enamel — black, turquoise and transparent — were selected to bring out the floral design. The choice of powders, the repeated layers, as well as the finesse of the grain meant that many hours of meticulous work had to be undertaken before the dial could go through a series of firings at 840°C.

Then came the miniature painting process. During this final stage, around ten colours were applied one after the other using a brush, each one requiring drying time in a furnace heated to 100°C.
The delicate design of the 18-carat white gold hand forms the stem of a rose on this dial, which is set with white diamonds and rubies. To mirror the exquisite beauty of the dial, the bezel, lugs, and 41 mm diameter case crown made of titanium and white gold, are also set with white diamonds.

The Escale Spin Time for Only Watch contains the LV79 caliber, which cleverly displays the time in a playful manner using rotating cylinders. Here, each cylinder is set with diamonds, a process which required 40 hours of work. The patented self-winding movement was entirely developed and assembled by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and highlights the expertise of Louis Vuitton watchmakers.

The exceptional creation is presented in a custom Monogram canvas watch case — also hand-painted — recalling the floral pattern of the dial. Finally, the watch also comes with four alligator straps — black, red, green and white — and is fitted with an 18-carat white gold ardillon buckle set with diamonds. The 2019 Escale Spin Time for the Only Watch auction is a delicate, technical object; a precious tribute to traditional and exceptional fine watchmaking craftsmanship.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Bid farewell to the heavy oriental, woodsy fragrances you wore on those cold days. Summer is here, and your perfume wardrobe is due for an update. As you are sporting your espadrilles with your favorite sundress, reach for fresh citruses, florals, and other sparkling uplifting notes to wear on your escapades in the sun, salt, and sand. Below my three favorites that fit the bill.

LIGHT BLUE SUN by Dolce & Gabbana
Inspired by sunny days and romances, this delicious fragrance is conveyed with a summery coconut water accord.

Fruity Floral
Top Notes: Lemon, Granny Smith Apple, Ozonic Notes and Coconut Nectar
Middle Notes: Jasmine, White Rose and Frangipani
Base Notes: Ambergris, Bourbon Vanilla, Cedar and White Musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 68.40 (25ml) and CHF 91.80 (50ml)

RISING SUN by Shiseido
Specially formulated without photosensitive or phototoxic ingredients, this mood-lifting Eau de Toilette can be even worn in the sun.

Fruity Floral
Top Notes: Lemon and Mineral-Marine Accord
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine Absolute and Rose
Base Notes: Coconut, Mirabelle Plum, Cashmerean and Musk
Eau de Toilette CHF 75.60 (100ml)

ANGEL EAU CROISIÈRE by Thierry Mugler
A new summer edition of the iconic gourmand perfume inspired by the leisure atmosphere of summer cruises and flavours of fruity cocktails.

Fruity Gourmand
Energetic Cocktail Facet (Top Notes): Mango, Grapefruit and Black Currant Sorbet
Voluptuous facet (Base Notes): Patchouli and Pralines
Eau de Toilette CHF 69.00 (50ml)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht  and Courtesy of the Brands

For F/W 2019, Louis Vuitton has collaborated with Alex Israel on a textile collection featuring the Los Angeles-based artist’s trademark vibrant pop aesthetic.

Alex Israel in front of his famous Wave paintings.

An original and strikingly modern addition to Alex Israel’s searching exploration of art and branding, the cultural and the commercial, the new eight-piece collection features playful and beautiful scarves, shawls, blankets and a bandeau.

Pink silk square

It begins with a collection of scarves which use Israel’s celebrated Wave paintings as the basis of a radical and remarkable update of the simple, elegant medium of the silk square.
The Wave scarves use a cutting-edge, technically innovative quilting technique. One side of each scarf is padded to recreate Israel’s Wave paintings’ puffy texture, while the reverse features the House’s iconic Monogram pattern.

Israel has designed four colour combinations across three sizes (classic, giant and jumbo- which doubles as a blanket), a new approach to sizing that creates original and modern ways to wear and use the classic square.

Sky Backdrop Monogram shawl in blue

The collection’s Sky Backdrop Monogram shawls are made in a delightfully airy silk and cashmere blend onto which Sky Backdrop paintings, another of Israel’s most recognizable series, are transferred in two different colourways using Louis Vuitton’s state-of-the-art digital printing.

The collection’s final piece, the double-sided, brightly coloured Desperado bandeau, features a ludic desert scene with cacti and cars inspired by the artist’s 2015 bronze sculpture, Desperado, and a Sky Backdrop overprinted with the House’s Monogram.

This new collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Alex Israel – following on from the artist’s recent Arty capucines bag and packaging for Les Colognes Perfumes – is an inventive and playful new chapter in the House’s long history of working with celebrated artists on its textiles range.

Love it so much: Louis Vuitton x Alexis Israel Arty capucine bag

After creative legends including Sol LeWitt, James Rosenquist, Andrée Putman, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Stephen Sprouse and Yayoi Kusama, Israel becomes the latest artist to bring his talents to these «blank canvases».

The Louis Vuitton-Alex Israel textile collection is available in a selected network from now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © LVMH, © Louis Vuitton, © Gagosian
Photographer: Dan Martensen for Louis Vuitton
Fashion: Karla Welch for Louis Vuitton

From bright sparkling eyes to bronzers, here are the key must-haves for summer 2019 to get on your radar. My beauty mantra for the hot season is simple: the less work I have to do, the better. As it turns out, we should all be embracing the fact that wearing a ridiculous amount of makeup in sweltering temperatures is never a good look. I recommend some sparkle for your eyes and the right amount of bronzer for a sun-kissed complexion. Enjoy!

NARS Exposed Cheek Palette (top left)
Cheeks are up front and versatile with a limited edition palette of six universally flattering shades in a breakthrough formula that delivers unparalleled color. LOVE! CHF 66.60

CHANEL Bronzer and Highlighter Duo in 317 Medium (top right)
Part of the Maison’s Cruise 2019 collection, this two face powders palette, consisting of a matte bronzer and a pearlescent highlighter, fits in every bag for immediate touch-ups. CHF 78.00

TOM FORD Soleil Contouring Compact in Bask (center left)
Blush, highlighter and bronzer in one for the perfect complexion. CHF 100.00

NUXE Multi-Usage Compact Bronzing Powder (center right)
Beautifying and long-lasting, this multi-usage powder with its yummy Huile Prodigieuse® fragrance (orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla) provides an immediate «healthy glow». CHF 35.00

ESTÉE LAUDER Desert Heat Eyeshadow Palette (bottom)
Turn up the heat with 9 silky shadows to emphasize, customize and dramatize your eyes. Matte and shimmer finishes, limited edition. CHF 72.00

BOBBI BROWN Molton Drama Eye Shadow Palette
Brighten your eyes with these ten highly pigmented colors in four different finishes, including 5 Chrome Metal Eye Shadows for a hypnotic glow. My favorite this summer! CHF 84.00

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Do you remember when fashion lovers around the globe were craving for the limited edition pieces, such as the Book Tote, that were only available in DIOR‘s Mykonos pop-up store (for the previous post, click here).

This season, DIOR presents DIORIVIERA, a new capsule collection created by Maria Grazia Chiuri, that celebrates the beauty, leisure and art of farniente. A bright and sunny wardrobe, like an invitation to travel, dedicated to the most delightful Mediterranean getaways, the promise of an eternal summer, from Forte dei Marmi, Capri to Mykonos, from Marbella, Saint-Tropez to Ibiza. Great news is that the beautiful items are this season all available online and of course in the respective local holiday boutiques.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior
#Dior #DiorRiviera #DiorCruise #MariaGraziaChiuri #PamelaHanson

Pride is good… and so much more fun with this dedicated capsule collection created by Jeremy Scott for Moschino.

«I’m excited to announce I was able to convince Playboy to let me alter their iconic logo to read as GAYBOY for pride month and create an 8 piece capsule collection at the PLAYBOY pop-up in Soho with the net proceeds going to support the Trevor Project.»
– Jeremy Scott

The 8 piece capsule collection is available online by clicking here to be transferred directly. The only piece for women is this cool cropped sweater below – a must for my closet!

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: Courtesy of Moschino and Playboy