Sandra‘s Closet

For 2011’s Cannes International Film Festival, Only The Brave Foundation and Le Baron have invited celebrities (Jude Law, Kirsten Dunst an many more) to sign a Diesel Black Gold denim, during their fabulous nights at Le Baron Piano Bar.

This denim is now sold by auction on ebay until 22nd September : all profits will be donated to the Only The Brave Foundation, that supports and develops a variety of innovative development projects in Africa.

Many celebrities attended last week’s S/S 2012 runway presentation in New York City, among them Gerard Butler with his date Petra Nemcova and the Roitfeld girls.

“It’s time to reflect.” This was written on the program at the Diesel Black Gold S/S 2012 show. There were dangling mirrors hanging down, perfectly reflecting the light and preparing the audience for a show full of metallics. I am in love with those shiny materials. As this is already a huge trend for F/W 2011, I am glad to see that this is going to stay for a while.
Let the light of Diesel Black Gold shine on me…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Diesel Black Gold

Remember last year’s hype about Chanel’s three limited edition nail polishes Les Khaki de Chanel that the French house released for Fashion’s Night Out.

This year for FNO 2011, it is going to be Les Jeans de Chanel, a collection of three über-cool blue shades: Blue Rebel, Coco Blue and Blue Boy.

NY’s Fashion’s Night Out is September 8th and luckily it looks like I will be there. If you are not around, check out if retailers in your city or country are participating here, and look up the list of online retailers here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The 29, St. Honoré collection, named for Lancôme’s Paris address is an homage for F/W 2011 by creator Aaron De Mey to the most sophisticated femininity and style – the Parisian woman. This seductive colour statement captures the glamour of the 1940s (complementing the ’40s runway trend) with luscious red lips, thick eyeliner and seductive smokey eyes.
Discover your inner femme fatale!

Maison Lancôme Blush – $48/CHF 65 – Limited Edition

Les Oeillades Eyeshadow and Brow Compact Quad – $54/CHF 75 – 02 Blondette Fatale – Limited Edition – with 4 subtle matte and iridescent shades to enhance eyes and define eyebrows and Ombre Absolue Palette – G10 Gris Fatale

Hypnôse Drama Mascara – $31/CHF 44 – 15 Gris Fatal – deep grey – Limited Edition

Le Crayon Khôl – $28/CHF 39 – 10 Black Gold or 11 Strass– a waterproof eye pencil with sparkles – Limited Edition

Le French Touch Absolu Lip Colour – $40/CHF 48 – Rouge Saint Honoré – highly pigmented red or – Rouge Faubourg – captivating carmine lipstick with red flecks of glitter – Limited Edition – Rouge 29 – a bluish red

Le Vernis Nail Polish – $16/CHF25 – 22 Rouge Saint Honoré or 23 Noir 29 – infused with mini multi-coloured flecks – Limited Edition. Use these hues individually or combine them for an ultra-sophisticated look.

Enjoy those behind-the-scenes photos below and get inspired for your F/W 2011 makeup look.
The collection will be available in Switzerland next month.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Barwerd Van Der Plas for Lancôme © 2011, Stills: Hondodigital for Lancôme © 2011

Here is an eye candy for all fans of Hello Kitty and Swarovski crystals among you:
First introduced in 1974, Hello Kitty has been winning over the hearts of the young – and young at heart – ever since. Being an icon of the pop culture, the oh-so-adorable little cat upgrades its look in a sparkling collaboration between the Japanese company Sanrio and Swarovski through jewelry pieces, charms, accessories and figurines. You might have to be a truly dedicated fan to be willing to spend such amounts of money on those playful sparkling pieces. But if you are, I am convinced that you will love those girly treasures.

Clutch, CHF 820

Ring Set, CHF 130

Charm Sitting, CHF 95

Necklace, CHF 330

Earrings, CHF 120

Helly Kitty fans might ask themselves: “What’s better than a Hello Kitty doll?”
Here is the answer: “A Hello Kitty doll covered in Swarovski crystals of course!”

Limited Edition 2011, CHF 10.000

With almost 20.000 crystals embedded into its surface by hand, this iteration of the the world’s cutest kitty is pretty glittery. And also rare – only 88 of them will be made.

The collection will be available starting in August in the 1900 Swarovski stores worldwide.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Swarovski 2011

Matthew Williamson has announced his collaboration with Ladurée Paris on a limited edition macarons box. The British designer has transformed the traditional Ladurée box using an iconic Matthew Williamson butterfly wing print repeated in kaleidoscopic layers. These ornate boxes of macarons will be exclusively available at London Ladurée retailers first from the start of London Fashion Week: 16th September and then available worldwide from the start of Paris Fashion Week: 26th September for a limited period only.

I love both Matthew Williamson and Ladurée, this is one of those rare fashion-meets-food moments. I might just have to go one size up after all those yummy macarons…

LoL, Sandra

Bold glasses are as much a fashion staple as they are a personal statement. Now revered as a stylish accessory, a great pair of frames is a must have (and a great go-to on bad beauty days). Bobbi chooses between her iconic black frames and a pair of tortoise shell frames – ones which served as the inspiration behind her new Tortoise Shell Collection for fall. The Tortoise Shell Collection is Bobbi’s modern take on a classic look.

Stunning shadows in shades ranging from bronze to gold to espresso are housed in gorgeous tortoise shell compacts with gold detailing; one is for lighter skin and the other for darker complexions. To balance the warmer tones on the eyes, cheeks and lips are dressed up in soft nudes. And the good news is that if you do wear glasses, Bobbi designed the collection to complement—rather than compete with—your frames.

Highlight of the collection is the amazing limited-edition Tortoise Shell Eye Palette, available in two different versions, each including 8 eyeshadow shades, CHF 90.

My personal favourites are Bobbi’s new High Shimmer Lip Glosses that have a new formula and a new size (they are longer than they used to be). They deliver the ultimate in shimmer, shine and color. Their formula glides on smoothly and provides medium to full coverage, CHF 33.

The limited-edition Tortoise Shell Mini Brush Set is great for travelling. It includes four brushes: Mini Angle Eye Shadow, Mini Eye Sweep, Mini Blush and Mini Ultra Fine Eye Liner, all tucked into a chic tortoise shell case. In your evening purse, gym bag or carry-on, this brush set always fits, CHF 95.

If you like the model’s look, you will find the list above to make it yours. Happy Colouring! The collection is available worldwide now.

LoL, Sandra

The enchanted world of precious materials is brought to life at your finger tips. The caress of a feather, the texture of shagreen and the sparkling facets of cut stone inspire the imagination. Each creation and each jewellery set bears a hint of illusion and sensation that emerges from the shadows into the light. Inspired by the heritage and savoir faire of the artisanal craftsmanship of the House of Chanel, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, introduces new textures and makeup effects for F/W 2011. Shimmery and seducing, with a smoky twist in tune with the upcoming season’s colour trends! Explore the magic world of “Illusion d’Ombres”!  Available now in the US, in Switzerland in the beginning of August 2011.

CHEEKS

JOUES CONTRASTE, CHF 60
Against a pure, translucent complexion, ROSE ÉCRIN spruces up cheekbones with a breeze of freshness and a tender healthy glow effect.

LIPS

ROUGE COCO, CHF 46
Two new colours of the iconic lipstick are introduced for fall.
PLUMETIS: an innocent peach tone, ÉTOLE: luminous copper y rosewood that matches the lip pencil.

LÈVRES SCINTILLANTES/ GLOSSIMERS, CHF 41
Used on its own or layered over ROUGE COCO lipstick to harmonise, the sparkling CHANEL gloss pairs its extreme shine with the shimmering glimmers on nails and eyelids.
PAMPILLE: a peach with silver reflections, BRAISE: a pink bronze.

LE CRAYON LEVRES, CHF 34
A precise line emphasises the lip contour f or a perfectly traced smile. The two shades play with the elegance of orange tones in a fresh spirit with CORALLINE or an opulent style with ROSE CUIVRE.

EYES

ILLUSION D’OMBRE, CHF 47
For F/W 2011, the eyes play the starring role. At the heart of the “Illusion d’Ombres” collection, a new CHANEL eyeshadow interprets the richness of this world of precious materials and intangible colours. Its long-lasting, ultra-light and silky cream texture with a powdery appearance becomes one with the skin. Thanks to its translucent silicone-based formula, Illusion d’Ombre brings out the authenticity of pure pigments and thereby accentuates the intensity of colours and their iridescent reflections.

“Illusion d’Ombre is a new and exciting product, that’s easy to apply. I would suggest finger application. The texture is unique and has a very pleasant touch.” – Peter Philips

The eyeshadows come in six shades:
FANTASME: an iridescent white, MIRIFIQUE: every nuance of black, ÉMERVEILLÉ: a tender peach, ÉBLOUI: a brown smouldering with red, ILLUSOIRE: a grey-tinged taupe, ÉPATANT: a grey-shadowed khaki.

LES 4 OMBRES DE CHANEL, CHF 77
PRÉLUDE offers a base of essential, chic and classic tones. The four understated shadows in timeless colours – grey brown, grey beige, luminous beige and deep taupe brown, provide a matte or satiny makeup result.

LE CRAYON YEUX, CHF 33
A stroke of KHAKI PLATINE eye pencil with metallic glimmers captures the light for an eye-opening effect. Like a magical line on the inner eyelid rim or along the lash, it heightens intensity and increases the sense of mystery.

NAILS

LE VERNIS, CHF 35
Like the eyeshadows, LE VERNIS is inspired by effects of materials to adorn nails in shades with metallic and shimmering reflections. It wouldn’t be Chanel, if they didn’t come up with another It-colour for the nails. For F/W 2011, it will be limited edition Péridot that will be gettting all the buzz.

PÉRIDOT: gold and green intertwine and immerse themselves in the glow of a moiré effect, GRAPHITE: silver, gold and platinum, fuse in an unprecedented effect, QUARTZ: bronze becomes smitten with pink for a sophisticated result.

Photos: © Chanel

Rena Lange knows how to design the perfect bow-tie blouse and Closed stands for the ultimate chino pants. The two fashion houses had an idea: Why not combining the two of them?

My favourite colour combination of the dream team: khaki and bright blue.

Well done! The look is cool, casual and elegant in one – with that certain twist. The limited edition dream team will be available in Rena Lange and Closed stores or can be ordered online, starting July 18, 2011.

Hurry, they will sell out fast!

LoL, Sandra

Last December, I told you already about the beautiful Chanel Paris-Byzance Pre-Fall 2011 Collection and the gorgeous limited-edition byzantine shaded make-up that comes with it. Now it is available in the Chanel stores around the globe.

Inspired by the mosaic of Empress Theodora, Chanel Global Creative Director of Make-up Peter Philips created a beautiful, graphic look. Like the famous portrait, a red line crosses the eyelid, following the brow line. Parallel to this, a stroke of deep black eyeliner accentuates a graphic effect, which frames the eye as if setting a precious stone, redefining its proportions.

Inspired by Byzantine treasures, red, black, gold and bronze-tinged shades offer a classic base that can be adopted as desired in sumptuous or simply day-to-day makeup.

Rouge Allure Rouge Byzantin CHF 48.- / Joues Contraste Or and Rouge, each CHF 60.-

The Regard Signé de Chanel palette takes center stage: mirroring the Chanel suit button, each shadow is dressed in a quilted effect and stamped with the double C. The texture can be used in two ways, powdery and creamy.

Regard Signé de Chanel Topkapi CHF 77.-

Hurry, those items will sell out fast!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chanel

When you hear the name Victorinox, you might associate it immediately with the Swiss Army Knife. But the Swiss brand has much more to offer, from travel luggage to watches to perfume and clothes.

I was recently invited to their hometown Ibach, Switzerland to visit the factory and to explore their newest project:
Christopher Raeburn for Victorinox – REMADE IN SWITZERLAND.

At the entrance a colourful and dramatic installation welcomed me presenting the capsule collection that the young UK designer has created for Victorinox for F/W 2011, consisting of eight items for both genders, each to be produced in a hand-numbered limited edition of 100 pieces.

“The project is a fantastic opportunity to align the innovation and individuality of my brand with the heritage and quality of Victorinox.”
– Christopher Raeburn.

Christopher Raeburn with me

From Parachute Poncho to Runway Couture

Raeburn has been known for his pioneering work taking old military surplus and transforming it into beautiful clothes since he launched in 2008 his label utilizing decommissioned military stocks of uniform and parachute fabrics to create functional and intelligent garments. Raeburn’s namesake designs are proudly REMADE IN ENGLAND in his small East London production facility.

For the project with Victorinox, he did the same. By taking apart the existing garments from local military surplus stores, he found inspiration and ideas to create new ones, re-imagining unexpected uses for the old and challenging the concept of what is considered new. Everything is proudly produced (“remade”) in Switzerland.

A rare find was a box of horseshoe nails that became the symbol of the project for Raeburn. He challenged Victorinox to recast that nail into scales for an Original Swiss Army Knife to complement the project. The nail also inspired a print used for linings and other graphic treatments.

For the project, Victorinox is working with local seamstresses and tailors. Corinne Kaiser, who is heading the team with Camilla from England, explained the process and the difficulties they experienced with some of the fabrics.

OFFICER’S PARKA constructed from surplus Swiss military sleeping bag outers, 2 front chest
pockets featuring reused original military Riri zips.

CAPTAIN’S COAT constructed from re-appropriated Swiss wool coats dating back up to 60 years and lined with over-dyed surplus Swiss military cotton bed sheets.

HORSESHOE NAIL KNIFE crafted from surplus military horseshoe nails melted down and recast as knife scales, packaged in reclaimed original coated paper box that held the nails.

PARACHUTE HOODIE constructed from 2 colours of surplus Swiss military air-brake
parachutes, tape from original parachutes and jersey cuffs from military balaclavas.

RECRUIT’S CAP constructed from offcuts of surplus Swiss military wool jackets and over-dyed cotton bed sheets, side panels can flip down to cover ears or fold up.

DUFFLE BACKPACK constructed from surplus heavy canvas Swiss tarpaulin with integrated
original buckles.

SENTRY’S SCARF constructed from surplus Swiss military blankets and over-dyed surplus Swiss military cotton bed sheets.

COCOON BLOUSON constructed from surplus Swiss military sleeping bags, reinforced with waterproof sleeping bag outer, can be roll packed like original sleeping bag.

The collaboration will be available throughout Victorinox flagships and most high-end shops worldwide. Check out the stop-motion preview below, it is pretty cool. Prices will range between CHF 700 – 2000 depending on the piece.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of Victorinox