Sandra‘s Closet

Christian Dior admired his beloved muse, Mitzah Bricard, as much for her refined and distinguished taste as for her mysterious personality that inspired him throughout his career.

Legend has it that Mitzah used to wear a panther print chiffon scarf at her wrist to hide a scar. Fascinated by her elegance, Mr Dior decided to include this magnificent Jungle motif in his collections from 1947 onwards.

“Madame Bricard is one of the rare people for whom elegance is their sole reason for living,”
Christian Dior.

The Jungle panther print corresponded perfectly to the world of Haute Couture. It was reproduced numerous times in chiffon, taffeta and silk and as become an emblematic House reference.

In 2011, Dior presents the famous print in a limited edition make-up collection composed of a limited edition numbered eyeshadow palette and two shades of nail varnish (912 Ebony – 622 Camel). Thus the Mitzah legend lives on at Dior.

Discover below how to apply the Mitzah palette eyeshadows:

1. The camel shade emphasises eye colour. Apply to the lower eyelid then blend gently upwards. Apply also to the lower lash line.

2. The Ebony shade intensifies  the eyes. Apply it along the upper and lower lash lines. Blend with the camel shade.

3. The Nude shade brightens  and opens the eyes. Apply to the inner corner of the eye.

Photos: © Courtesy of Dior, © Sandra Bauknecht

In Switzerland the collection will launch Mid April.
The limited Mitzah palette is CHF 135. The two limited nail polishes are CHF 37 each.

LoL, Sandra

Just as there’s a tea to suit every taste and disposition, there is a Tea Cologne for every style and mood. Jo Malone unveils a limited edition collection, inspired by the most quintessential of British traditions: the Art of Tea. 

The Tea Collection, in five modern and unexpected fragrances, encapsulates Jo Malone’s hallmark simplicity and elegant restraint: Assam & Grapefruit, Earl Grey & Cucumber, Fresh Mint Leaf, Sweet Lemon and Sweet Milk.

And of course the Tea Collection lends itself to being personalised with Jo Malone’s unique philosophy of Fragrance Combining™. In true British style, the collection allows you to combine your Tea Fragrance Blend, with a dash of Sweet Lemon or a splash of Sweet Milk. 

You are invited to visit your nearest Jo Malone counter to test those lovely scents now.
Available in 30ml for CHF 68.

Assam and Grapefruit is a refreshing and energetic aroma, invigorating like the first morning cup of tea. It opens with notes of grapefruit, violet and rhubarb. The heart includes Assam Indian black tea and rose, spiced with cardamom and placed on the base of patchouli, almond and musk.

Top notes: grapefruit, violet, rhubarb
Heart: Assam tea, rose, cardamom
Base: patchouli, musk, almond

Earl Grey and Cucumber is a playful interpretation of the most famous English tea brand, made from black tea, bergamot and citruses. The composition opens with apple, bergamot, jasmine and aquatic notes, with cucumber, angelica and davana in the heart, on the base of vanilla, bees wax, cedar and musk.

Top notes: bergamot, apple, jasmine, water notes
Heart: angelica, cucumber, davana
Base: beeswax, vanilla, cedar and musk

Fresh Mint Leaf is a refreshing aroma based on green mint. It starts with notes of basil, mint, and bergamot. The heart is composed of water jasmine and rhubarb, laid on the base of mate tea, cedar and musk.

Top notes: basil, mint, bergamot
Heart: water jasmine, rhubarb
Base: mate, musk, cedar

Sweet Lemon is a fruity mixture that you can combine with any of the previous fragrances from this collection. The composition starts off with sparkling lemon, bergamot and rhubarb. Middle notes include pineapple, freesia and peach, placed on cypress, cedar and musk nuances.

Top notes: lemon, bergamot, rhubarb
Heart: pineapple, freesia, peach
Base: cypress, musk, cedar

Sweet Milk, as well as the previous fragrance, serves as an “additional tea flavor” and can be combined with the other fragrances of the collection. Its gourmand composition begins with star anise, heliotrope and bergamot. Milk and caramel are in the center, rounded by almond, vanilla and musk.

Top notes: star anise, heliotrope, bergamot
Heart: milk, caramel
Base: vanilla, almond, musk

Jo Malone will launch a new, limited-edition perfume from May 2011 called Sakura Cherry Blossom destined to celebrate the beauty and transiency of blossoming cherry trees in the springtime. The composition was created by perfumer Christine Nagel working in tandem with the Jo Malone Creative Studio in London.

“A symbol of beauty and new beginnings, cherry blossom trees grow throughout Japan and for centuries have been celebrated in every medium, from poetry to painting. No flower captures the Japanese aesthetic as powerfully as the cherry blossom.”

Top Notes: bergamot, mandarin, cardamom
Heart: rose, mimosa
Base: musk, woods

Sakura Cherry Blossom works very well in combination with French Lime Blossom or Orange Blossom.
Available in 30ml (CHF 68) or 100ml (CHF 130).

My personal favourite combinations are at the moment: Earl Grey & Cucumber with Sweet Milk and Cherry Blossom with French Lime Blossom.

Definitely my cup of tea!

LoL, Sandra

Yesterday in New York City, influencers from the worlds of fashion, art, philanthrophy, business and entertainement came together like last year at Christie’s Bid to Save the Earth. After a live auction, the Runway to Green fashion show took place that must have accelerated every fashionista’s heart. The pieces on the catwalk from over 25 designers including Prada, Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Thakoon and many more were from the upcoming F/W 2011 collections.

Now, those must-haves are available on net-à-porter, but only on the US site. No worries, my dear European and Asian readers, they also ship to us. A minimum of 10% of net-proceeds from the sale of each item will benefit Alliance of Climate Protection, Natural Resource Defense Council and United Nations Environmental Programme’s Billion Tree Campaign. Shopping for a good cause and your chance to be the first to wear a stunning piece from the next season. Do I need to say more..?!
Ready, set, go!

LoL, Sandra

The countdown is on. Available exclusively via www.navyboot.com starting on the 17th of April 2011 at midnight CET is a collabration of superlatives. Top Formula 1 racing driver Michael Schumacher and Navyboot Creative Director Adrian J. Margelist have joined forces to devise and develop four luxury sneakers for men that set new footwear benchmarks in their materials, style and design.

18-carat gold, water snakeskin leather and polished crystals: welcome to Navyboot’s limited “MSone” luxury sneaker collection.

To put it in Formula 1 terms: these shoes are right on the pace!

MSone triology: Afternoon/ Night/ Morning

Each of the new models boasts outstanding material quality, with the leathers used extending from nappa calfskin to salmon, water snakeskin, pearly ostrich leg and karung, all combined with polished crystals and 18-carat-gold adornments. Sneakers have never shone in such exclusive materials before.

The whole upper of the new sneakers features clean and stylish lines. One unmistakable detail, however, is the hand-stitching around the tongue. Most of the lacing is concealed. The design of the sole combines the key elements in this limited collection: the Navyboot trademark artichoke, Michael Schumacher’s initials and seven stars representing his seven world championship titles. The metal colour of the stars embodies the car industry, and is applied by hand. MSone sneakers are a masterpiece of handcraft right down to the finest details!

The highlight is definitely the Starboot, the absolute eyecatcher in the new MSone collection. A high-top shoe made completely from red-dyed karung, the leather of the water snake. Seven 18-carat gold stars adorn its heel, while even the lacehooks have been lovingly handcrafted in 18-carat gold.

MSone Starboot

A Collector’s Box with the full new MSone trilogy is also being produced, in a limited edition of 888. Each box will feature its own metal plate stamped with the box’s serial number. EUR 3 000, sizes available: 39-45

The Starboot Collector’s Box is limited to just 88. Here, too, each box will have a metal plate showing the box’s serial number. EUR 5 000, sizes available 39-45

Every Collector’s Box comes with a Certificate of Authenticity in the form of a book specially created for the project. Its cover will be signed by Adrian J. Margelist for the Triology Collector’s Box, while that of the Starboot Collector’s Box will bear Michael Schumacher’s personal signature.

The new Navyboot MSone sneaker collection will be launched at a major event in Shanghai on the 16th of April, with Michael Schumacher and Adrian J. Margelist in attendance and be part of Formula 1’s 2011 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

LoL, Sandra

As part of Gucci’s 90th anniversary celebration this year, the Italian fashion house is taking a stylish spin with another titan of Italian design, Fiat.

Gucci creative director Frida Giannini in collaboration with Fiat’s design office has customized the iconic Fiat 500, or as it’s known in Italian, “cinquecento”.

“When the Fiat 500 first hit the road in the fifties it created a style revolution.” says creative director Frida Gianinni. “Gucci’s history has always been about traveling in style so when this collaboration came up, it struck me as the perfect opportunity to create a new modern travel statement.”

Called 500 by Gucci, the special edition car, which comes in glossy black and white, will be presented from March 3rd to March 13th at the Geneva Motor Show. Be the first to shift into high gear by pre-ordering the 500 by Gucci from April 1st to June 30th exclusively on 500byGucci.com. (Recommended list price in Italy €17.000). Road trip anyone?

Throughout the sporty car, you’ll find distinctive Gucci elements starting with the iconic green and red stripe, which runs along the exterior and also appears inside on the seats, gearshift, carpet, and seatbelt. The interlocking GG makes an appearance on hubcaps, and topping off the design is the cursive Gucci signature, which you’ll find on the hatchback as well as the doorpost.

Complementing that statement is an exclusive 500 by Gucci collection of travel accessories, leather goods, track suits, driving accessories and sunglasses, all of which will be available in select Gucci stores and on gucci.com starting this April.

Hit the road in true Italian style!

LoL, Sandra

Jimmy Choo has collaborated with the Dynamo Camp to create the design for a limited edition pair of shoes.
With the help of the amazing creativity of the children at The Dynamo Camp, the limited edition snake skin peep toe sandal is vibrantly coloured and comes with a leopard printed lining.

The renowned Italian illustrator, Beppe Giacobbe, worked with the children to create and paint their shoe by telling them a story about a very special shoe brand that offer the most beautiful shoes in the world for the stars of stage and screen. The excited kids created 14 different imaginative designs of which one was selected and has been produced for sale as a special limited edition which will be available to purchase at Milan, Rome and online at www.jimmychoo.com.

100% of the profit from the sale of the limited edition shoes directly benefitting the charity. (To learn more about the Dynamo Camp, please click here.)

Shopping for a good cause! Two thumbs up!

LoL, Sandra

Ladies, haven’t you started wondering how your nails shall look like this summer? Chanel will launch another new It-colour, so-called Mimosa, a lemon yellow tone.

The S/S 2011 make-up look “Les Fleurs d’Eté de Chanel” offers also a bright range of summery shades and bronzers.

Here is the list of my Chanel favourites for summer:

EYES
Les 4 Ombres (Quadra Eye Shadow)
Lilium (deep green, light green, grey, beige)

LIPS
Glossimer (Les Lèvres Scintillantes)
Aurore (orange with pink shimmer)
Pink Peony (pink)
Pensée (pink coral with gold shimmer)
Limited editions

FACE
Moisturizing Bronzing Powder (Soleil Tan de Chanel)
Bronze Corail (deep beige with coral highlights)
Bronze Rose (natural beige with rose highlights)
Limited editions

NAILS
Nail Colour (Le Vernis)
Mimosa (lemon yellow)
Beige Pétale (beige rose)
Morning Rose (rose), on the campaign model
Limited editions

And don’t forget to get on the Mimosa waitlists now…

LoL, Sandra

Prada launched a few days ago at the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing, China the new Minimal–Baroque eyewear collection with some beautiful illustrations by Ivo Bisignano, Marcela Gutierrez and Andrea Tarella. The idea takes its inspiration from the S/S 2011 runway show and the capsule collection will be produced as a limited edition, being sold starting February in Prada boutiques, selected department stores and ILORI eyewear shops.

If you don’t manage to get your hands on one of these 500 unique pairs of shades, Prada will be releasing two more models from the Minimal-Baroque collection in April. I am loving them! And you?

LoL, Sandra

Grey is the colour of the time – Tyen

Dior’s Spring 2011 make-up collection created by Tyen that will officially launch on January 14, 2011 has some fun new products and inventions.
In a very Parisian spirit, the new spring look is called Gris Montaigne and it features the iconic greys of the House of Dior paired with fresh, feminine shades of pink.

One of the top products is the nail polish 707 Gris Montaigne (CHF 37) that was part of the Gris City collection last November. For further information, read my previous post by clicking here.
The grey shade incorporates all the tones of Avenue Montaigne N°30 and is an indispensable addition to the newest model of the Lady Dior handbag line: The Lady Dior Grey. Matching your nails identically to your handbag sounds pretty elegant, don’t you think?

The star product of Dior Spring 2011 make-up line is the limited eye-shadow set Dior Cannage that opens up to reveal four flattering shades perfect for the season. Paying tribute to the iconic Dior bag, the palette features such couture-like details as the quilted leather exterior and Dior letter charms. Available in 001 Gris Petit Jour & 002 Gris Soupir, each CHF 95.

001 Gris Petit Jour

002 Gris Soupir

My personal favourite is the new Mascara Diorshow 360° in 090 Noir (CHF 59) that mimics a professional make-up artist’s hand. Inside there is a revolving brush that offers a dual rotation, meaning faster and slower motion depending if you want to use it on your lower or upper lashes.
You have to assemble it but that works very easy, see my demonstration below.
Thumbs up for super volume and length without being caky!

LoL, Sandra

Pearls and Chanel go hand in hand. Coco Chanel’ s belief that „the light-reflecting property of pearls enhanced a woman’s natural beauty by bringing a delicate luminosity to her skin“ inspired Peter Philips, the Global Creative Director of Chanel make-up, to design the S/S 2011 Les Perles de Chanel make-up collection. He used the iridescent reflections of pearls to flatter face and fingertips.

Some products were seen already on the runway, please click here for my previous post.

There is no doubt that the three limited nail polishes will be absolute bestsellers.

511 Pearl Drop – white pearl

513 Black Pearl – pearly grey shimmer with deep blue and green reflections (so hot!)

515 Pêche Nacrée – soft tender peach

The limited edition Ombres Perlées de Chanel eyeshadow palette is also among my must-haves.

It includes beautiful shades that you can play with, perfect for summery smokey eyes: Blanc Perle, Rose Porcelaine, Violine Clair, Gris Vert and Gris Noir Scintillant.

Another gorgeous product is the limited edition Poudre Universelle Shimmering Powder in Rose Merveille – a pale pink with subtle sparkles that will make your skin look fresh and radiant.

The Glossimers are available in two new shades: Nakkar (raspberry) and Aragonite (iridescent white).

The S/S 2011 Les Perles de Chanel make-up collection is available now in the US, other launch dates (depending on where you live) are January 8th and January 28th, 2011.
Please contact your nearest Chanel beauty counter for further information.

LoL, Sandra