Sandra‘s Closet

This October sees the launch of L’Occitane‘s extremely beautiful limited edition Shea Butter Fortune Flowers collection. The colourful range was inspired by two West African traditions: Basket weaving and storytelling. Decorated with striking motifs that evoke the baskets woven by women, the collection captures the delicate scents of “fortune flowers” whose qualities are praised in popular folklore.

Generosity is another African tradition – so it made perfect sense to include a fund-raising soap in this collection. All profits from the sale of this product – sales price in store minus taxes, transport and production costs – will go towards fighting preventable blindness in developing countries.

The limited editions come in three new scents to captivate the senses:
ROSE PETALS: Evokes the sweet floral notes of rose with a hint of the sugar-coated scent of candied almonds.
DATE BOUQUET: Recalls the mouth-watering essence of this deliciously sweet fruit.
MANGO FLOWER: Reveals a full and zesty aroma – the olfactory signature of the wide open spaces of Burkina Faso.

HAND CREAM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 30ml (CHF 10.-)
HAND CREAM COLLECTOR 150ml (CHF 27.-)
ULTRA RICH BODY CREAM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 100ml (CHF 31.-)
LIP BALM (Rose Petals, Mango Flowers, Date Boutique) 15ml (CHF 15.50)
SOLIDARITY SOAP (Rose Petals) 50g (CHF 2.50)
Available Mid October 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Occitane and © Sandra Bauknecht

Sparkling fashion label Swarovski launches a new scent for women, so-called SWAROVSKI EDITION. After the huge success of last year’s launch AURA, the brand presents its new delightful limited edition fragrance that will hit stores this month. The design of the bottle is reminiscent of the house’s clutch evening purses.

A fruity-floral fragrance created by perfumer Sonia Constant.

Top notes: Clementine and red currant jam
Middle notes: Wild rose and gardenia
Base notes: Cedar and musk

Available now as a limited edition Eau de Toilette 50ml (CHF 71.-).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski

Lancôme has got my favourite makeup look for this fall: MIDNIGHT ROSES. The colours, designed around a purple spectrum, are so feminine and seductive.

Imagine midnight in Paris, the hour of untold possibilities…

In fall 2011, Lancôme introduced 29, Saint Honoré, a collection paying homage to Lancôme’s emblematic address. Today, marking the next chapter in this beautiful story, the French house invites us to number 29 on a secret street. A magical, coveted address. A perfect location that opens its doors at the hour when purple roses come into bloom…

It is here that the “Midnight Roses”, women among the most elegant in the world, emerge just after midnight. Somewhere between mystery and magic, the “Midnight Roses” collection showcases nocturnal seduction through each of its “purple-tinted” dimensions.

When night-time becomes a magical celebration… and as I just spent four magic days in Paris, I exactly know what Lanôme is talking about!

Let’s unveil purple’s deepest secrets:

L’Absolu Rouge Mat

For the first time, the mythical Absolu Rouge is as matte as velvet…
As comfortable and replenishing as ever thanks to its formula enriched with Pro-Xylane™, it caresses lips in three new seductive purple tones.

360 Rose Aphrodisia, 361 Rose Sortilège, 160 Rouge Hypnôse (All three one shots)
CHF 44.- each

L’Absolu Crème de Mat

For the “Midnight Roses” collection, L’Absolu Crème de Brillance has undergone a transformation and become completely matte. The smoothness of a gloss, the coverage of a lipstick, the comfort of a cream texture.

100 Potion d’Amour, 300 Magie Pourpre, 301 Prune Élixir (All three one shots)
CHF 44.- each

Blush Highlighter

Like reflected moonbeams dancing on the banks of the Seine…
The Blush Highlighter captures the unique light that bathes Paris at midnight. Crafted thanks to a new technology combining a high-comfort “marshmallow” texture with an illuminating effect, this extremely fine, light-infused powder is adorned with an embossed emblematic Lancôme rose. The powder feels whisper-soft on application, leaving just a veil of sheer pearly radiance.

Tips:
– Applied in delicate strokes following the lines of the shoulders, the Blush Highlighter beautifully emphasises a low-neck dress.
– Delicately applied using a sponge applicator, it catches the light, playing with “matte and gloss” contrasts.

001 Moonlight Rose (One shot)
CHF 65.-

Vernis In Love

A manicure resonant with the colours of Parisian night-time…
This season, Vernis In Love plays with a trio of shades infused with mystery: an intense purple, an urban khaki and a timeless powdered beige. Lancôme also creates a magical formula: a top coat that completely transforms nails, instantly turning them velvet-matte.

453 Infusion de Prune (One shot), 250N Beige Poudré, 280N Cosmopolitan Kaki, 030 Givre Magique – Top coat (One shot)
CHF 25.- each

Le Regard Pro

A must-have to enhance eyebrows and eyes in a handbag-friendly case. Le Regard Pro contains three universal shades of brown for made-to-measure mixing to redefine eyebrows, as well as a highlighter to apply just below the eyebrow arch for added depth. Created to suit all skin tones, the four shades can also be blended on the eyelid.

The crucial detail: the compact also contains a pair of tweezers. For perfect brow-grooming.
(One shot) CHF 75.-

Hypnôse Brow Shaper

In one simple step, this transparent gel structures eyebrows. To be used alone for a natural effect, or combined with Le Regard Pro to ensure make-up lasts through to the early hours.
(One shot)
CHF 35.-

Le Crayon Khôl

Incredibly creamy and highly pigmented, Le Crayon Khôl casts a spell on eyes with this season’s it-shade: bewitching purple.

014 Prune Crépuscule
(One shot) CHF33.-

Hypnôse Drama

A true essential to perfect eye make-up: The iconic mascara, the instant and full body volume expert, in its “timeless black” shade.

01 Black
CHF 44.-

Lancôme Midnight Roses makeup collection for fall 2012 is available now. For a night of untold possibilities…

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of Lancôme

This late afternoon, I came back from my trip with Piaget to Paris for the 26th Biennale des Antiquaires. I had four amazing days and have so much to show you.

When I arrived at my house, a very special gift from Valentino waited for me that left me speechless: RED ON RED ROCKSTUD kitten heels designed by the house’s Creative Directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli for the upcoming launch of the ultimate on-line shoe shopping experience, SHOE ROOM. Stay tuned as I will keep you posted once it is live.

I will be leaving tomorrow for London Fashion Week and those beauties will definitely be in my suitcase. Thank you, Valentino, for letting me be part of this awesome project!
I love my new shoes!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I love violet nail polishes but finding the right hue can be pretty tricky. Christian Dior defined purple as a demanding and sophisticated shade, calling it the veritable “Queen of colours”. As for me, Tom Ford offers the two perfect shades for nails.

“African Violet” is a very bright hue that immediatly helps to make your skin tone looks more radiant. It is part of Tom Ford’s standard palette.

“Dominatrix” is a limited edition nail polish for F/W 2012. It has a hint of silver shimmer that gives it a very interesting metallic shine.

Available in Switzerland at Jelmoli for CHF 44.- each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The second half of the Louis Vuitton – Yayoi Kusama collaboration (Please click here for the photos of the first arrival in July) will hit the shelves tomorrow, September 8, 2012 – much earlier than expected. Here is your sneak preview of the upcoming pumpkin-inspired products.
Aren’t they just polka-dot enthusiastic fantastic?!

LoL, Sandra

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots white

Neverfull MM Monogram Waves red

Papillon Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town blue

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots red

Speedy Monogram Town red

Keepall 55 Bandouliere Monogram Pumpkin Dots green
Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The hype started two years ago, when Valentino designers, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, presented their first Rockstud heels. For the designer duo, contrast is the essence of contemporary life. Their stylistic approach, however, aims at blending antithetical elements – for example, Valentino’s proverbial grace and bold metal studs – in a distinct, timeless image. This season, the fashion house celebrates the new classic with the Noir capsule collection of Rockstud shoes, bags and accessories in edgy black with ruthenium studs. Rock on with this clean yet strongly evocative design.

I am convinced that the streets during Fashion Week will be filled with those new icons. Fashionistas everywhere, better start hoarding these limited edition pieces and see the dark side of the stud!

To shop, click on the highlighted product descriptions below.

LoL, Sandra

Rockstud leather tote

So Noir studded leather tote

65mm Rockstud patent So Noir pumps

Studded cuff

Studded So Noir ballet flats

Photos: Courtesy of Valentino

Great news! Lanvin is collaborating with Ladureé and Alber Elbaz has art directed a special bubble gum-flavoured macaroon set. The designer stirs our imagination, arouses our fantasies and now, plays to our weakness for sweets.

It is this whimsical spirit that inspired the lovely faces of playful women on Ladurée boxes containing eight pink bubble gum-flavoured macaroons.
The delicacies will go on sale on Sept. 25 in France, in time for Paris Fashion Week’s. The U.K., U.S. and Japan will follow on Sept. 28.

Lanvin are not the first fashion house to team up with the famous French salon de thé – other designers to have collaborated include Matthew Williamson, Christian Louboutin, Sonia Rykiel and many others.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lanvin

Charlie Le Mindu, Lady Gaga’s eccentric hairstylist, has redesigned L’Oréal Professionnel’s Infinium hairspray. “Fashion hairstyling is very demanding, and styling products should give the best result possible in record time,” he explained. “This is why a majority of hairstylists use L’Oréal Professionnel’s products. They know the exact result of each formula, so if, for example, they want a really strong hold hairspray which also gives the hair a beautiful shine, Infinium is ideal and very easy to use.”

This new design comes with a silhouette of one of Charlie’s designs lined in midnight blue on a pearl white background.

On his website he says: “The inspiration behing this drawing was a model I loved on one of my catwalks but it is also a drawing of a hat that Lady Gaga was wearing few month ago. I m really exited to see this spray backstage and in every bathroom.”

If you like strong hold hairspray, you will love this limited edition Mademoiselle Infinium,
available in two versions, Strong (2) and Strong (3), both for CHF 18.- (300ml) in L’Oréal Professionnel salons.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Oréal Professionnel, © Zak Hussein/PA Wire

This September, the wait will be finally over: Chanel OMBRE CONTRASTE NOTORIOUS will hit the shelves. I have whetted your appetite for this amazing product already in March after the Chanel F/W 2012 show (for the previous post please click here).

This hybrid powder was used by Peter Philips for all the sculpting and shading of the face like an “eye shadow meets blusher.” Nestled in the iconic JOUES CONTRASTE case, OMBRE CONTRASTE NOTORIOUS, the Exclusive Creation of the Collection, sweeps over eyelids and cheeks in a single stroke. The grey taupe shade, tinged with lavender, is almost imperceptible at first but becomes more intense with each application. Applied as blush and eyeshadow, it acts like a sculpting halo and makes it possible to build a singular, intriguing shadow effect.

Available at Chanel boutiques and at selected retailers such as Jelmoli in Zurich.
Ombre Contraste Notorious CHF 60.-

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Chanel