Sandra‘s Closet

If you want to make an easy fashion statement, I suggest that you dress all in white.
No matter if it is off-white, pure white, a greyish white or with a pale pink undertone, the non-colour from head to toe looks impressive. The innocent shade itself brings elegance, sophistication and a certain nonchalance to your outfit.
Being an ultra chic alternative to all black, white for summer is always a must, having this crisp natural freshness to it. Above you will find the most beautiful runway looks for S/S 2011.

Bags, shoes and accessories in white are warm weather essentials and infuse every look with new season lightness.

If you don’t want to wait, white can also be a sensational winter choice. Match your clothes with similarly hued accessories to channel the directional runway styling.
Discover your inner snow bunny for the ultra A-list appeal.

All items are available now, just click on the designer name to start shopping:
3.1 Phillip Lim, silk flower and pleat-embellished dress, $875
3.1 Phillip Lim, belted cotton cardigan, $225
3.1 Phillip Lim, boxy coat, $895, on sale $626,50
Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte, platform patchwork sandals, $1645
Vera Wang, pearl medallion necklace, $795
Montse Esteve, rose ring, $2050
Chloé, Marcie large shoulder bag, $1320

To make sure that you have the perfect glowing eyes and skin, I recommend a killer new product line: White Caviar Illuminating Système by La Prairie.
The innovative three-part system works to reveal a brighter, clearer complexion, free of future age spots and pigmentation patches. A must for women of all ages who are looking to fight aging and skin discoloration.

La Prairie’s latest addition includes three products and truly works its magic:
White Caviar Illuminating Cream, 50ml, CHF 558.-
White Caviar Illuminating Serum, 30ml, CHF 558.-
White Caviar Illuminating Eye Serum, 15ml, CHF 310.-

I am using the eye serum at the moment. It is a great way to boost and re-energise tired looking skin, especially now during the cold season. As I am a very visual person, I also adore the beautiful packaging, white pearlescent jars with La Prairie’s signature silver caviar beads around the cap.
One drop of bitterness comes with this feast for your skin: The price! La Prairie is one of the most expensive collections on the market at present, well-known for using high-quality ingredients like the famous caviar extracts which might justify the exorbitant costs. To Swiss quality!

LoL, Sandra

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Here is a perfect look to celebrate in style. The colour combination of rust tones with red shades is divine and suits this festive autumn day amazingly.

The shift dress by Narciso Rodriguez is a classic piece for many years to come. The flower embellished shoes by Nina Ricci along with the stunning jewel-encrusted frame bag by Lanvin add the right amount of eyecatching drama to your outfit. Finish off your look with the bright statement necklace by Oscar de la Renta and vibrant earrings by Bottega Veneta for maximum impact. Being so tasty, there is no need to worry about the turkey.

Unfortunately, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving here in Switzerland like our dear friends over the ocean do and we do not have a Black Friday tomorrow.
In case you are not familiar with that term, Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving , traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season with many promotional, gorgeous sales. It is heaven on earth for shopaholics!

But no reason to be sad. Tonight here in Zurich, we will have for the first time a long shopping night. Most of the stores will be open until 10pm and will start their markdowns. Wow!

LoL, Sandra

Zara has this months some amazing pieces giving you the opportunity to include some of the new season’s must-haves as well as some solid classics into your wardrobe. Decide for yourself if you want to go steal or splurge. Those styles are both ways great.

I always recommend to understand and recognize quality materials and craftmanship, not only a designer label. With this in mind, you will invest with confidence and mix with less expensive pieces to create your own individual, so hard-to-copy look. But be careful! Your shoes and bag should always be of good quality.

For all Zara pieces click here for the webshop (not available in all countries) or visit the nearest Zara store.
For all designer pieces you just have to click on the label in the text to be transfered directly.

One of the It-pieces for Resort 2011 is Stella McCartney’s ivory wool-twill tuxedo jacket with black and white lapels above.

Animal prints like cheetah (Azzedine Alaia) or leopard (Chloé) are very trendy at the moment. Spotted on an A-line swinging skirt combined with a leather top (Derek Lam) shows the real fashionista. Suede pumps (Jimmy Choo) are always a good investment.

The basics are your wardrobe’s building blocks. A bow-tie blouse (Balmain) combined with a pair of wide-leg pants (YSL) is a truly classic look. The colour combination of black and white always in style. Those items will last for years. Shoes by Gucci.

Of course, no list of basics is complete without the ubiquitous LBD (Little Black Dress) This season has been all about leather and this is going to stay. So why not indulging yourself in the trend material and adding a striking, sizzling touch to the classic piece (Bottega Veneta; Maje). Suede wedges (Bottega Veneta) give another modern, edgy touch.

Happy Smart Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

To celebrate Dior’s love for grey, the French fashion house has launched a new limited edition trio of nail polishes: Dior Vernis Gris City.
The three grey-hued shades are inspired by the greatest metropolises of fashion and luxury: Paris, London and New York.
With this fall’s most recent enamel collection, Dior changed the shape of their brushes. As I told you before, it took me some time getting used to at first, but now I actually love the more precise control this new shape affords.

707 – Gris Montaigne

807 – Bond Street

797 – NY 57th

Below you see three mood boards that I put together for you to capture the city’s style and to inspire you for some great outfits.

Gris Montaigne is an elegant tone celebrating the iconic code of the Dior house in Paris where Christian Dior’s favourite colour dominates the decoration of the boutique on Avenue Montaigne.

Bond Street is a grey muted with blue, inspired by the emblematic English fog.

NY 57th is the address of Dior’s New York boutique. The metallic grey enamel stands for the colour of asphalt and is an homage to the dusky light of the Manhattan skyline.

This exclusive trio is available in a limited edition now in the new Christian Dior boutique in London on Bond Street, designed by Peter Marino, as well as in the Dior house on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. Starting December 9th, 2010, it will then be sold in the New York store.

So it might take some major work to get your hands on them.

LoL, Sandra

As you already know if there is one piece fashion is gushing over this F/W 2010, it is the camel coat. Being a true classic and always in style, this season seems to be the perfect time to get one. Many designers showed their own unique take on it. Whether it is made from genuine camel hair or not, it is an investment always worth it.

In case you have not decided yet, please find above a summary of the best pieces in stores at the moment. There is something for every taste and budget.

I decided to go for the long caramel camel-wool wrap coat by Chloé. It is a very versatile piece. Cinched at the waist with the skinny tan belt or thrown over loose, the overall impact is pure sophistication.

I love to wear it tone on tone with my chunky wool cardigan dress by Stella McCartney and my suede Gucci overknee boots for an instant sensual upgrade. The Céline box bag adds the perfect minimalistic chic.

The probably most authentic choice is the iconic and much-copied Max Mara cashmere blend overcoat that launched in 1981. It has been the company’s bestseller since nearly thirty years. What the trench is to Burberry, the classic camel coat is to Max Mara, specifically the model with the so-called style number “101801”.

Therefore, it is no wonder that the Italian brand has recently used the wool and cashmere icon to launch its e-commerce business. The double-breasted outerwear piece has an 42 inch length and kimono sleeves that can be rolled up. Its proportions make it an ideal fit for all women. It can be personalized with a special lining and a name or monogram on the inside label.
Available for purchase exclusively at maxmara.com.

LoL, Sandra

Not so in the mood for dressing up for Halloween?! Here is the perfect look for a fashionista glam witch. There is no need to wear a polyester costume!

Try a sharp leather bustier dress and add some orange-black accessoires like those gorgeous leopard pumps and clutch by Roger Vivier. Some fun earrings like the spider studs by Betsey Johnson, long leather gloves and a half-mask give you the right amount of Halloween touch without feeling too disguised. Play with your make-up and opt for smokey eyes and a black lipgloss. This is partying in style! And you could wear those pieces all year around!

Do not forget to carve your pumpkins with a little CC or LV logo to set the right fashion statement for your decoration!

Happy Halloween!

LoL, Sandra

Olivia Palermo, US-socialite, model and actress has not only a pretty face but has also become a fashion icon. Let’s have a closer look at her personal style that is something between Italian-American princess and sohisticated Upper East Side chic.
There are certain must-haves that the brunette is rarely seen without. First, probably her cute boyfriend, German model Johannes Huebl, second her cognac-coloured Hermès Birkin bag in Togo leather with golden hardwear and third her wayfarer sunglasses by Ray-Ban. She loves her Rolex watch and lots of golden jewelry. Olivia’s favourite shoe designer at the moment is London-based It-girl Charlotte Olympia Dellal with her hot footwear label Charlotte Olympia.

This look is so hot! I admire her for riding a bike in those killer heels by Charlotte Olympia. The black leather shorts by 3.1 Phillip Lim combined with the military jacket by Diane von Furstenberg look amazing.

Classy Elegance. Recently in London, Olivia was spotted in a minimalistic beige sweater combined with a well-tailored dark blue pencil skirt.
The extravagant heels by Charlotte Olympia spicened up the look and the amazing gold statement jewelry showed perfectly what a difference the right accessories can make.

On the streets of Manhattan, Olivia was seen wearing a pair of skinny jeans, two layered tees and a boyfriend blazer. The flat Lanvin sneakers and her favourite compagnion her versatile Birkin bag added a sophisticated touch to her casual outfit.

Olivia has launched this year a capsule collection “Roberta by Olivia Palermo” consisting of five bib necklaces in cooperation with the American jewelry designer Roberta Freyman. The pieces are inspired by Olivia’s favourite districts: Belgravia and Chelsea in London, Le Marais in Paris, TriBeCa in New York and Mitte in Berlin. Available at matches.com starting at £195.-.

LoL, Sandra

I love the colour combination of ink blue and teal with grey. Those shades just belong together. The outfit above proves my theory perfectly:
The gorgeous grey dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim (€305.-) and ink-blue belted long-length blazer by Elizabeth & James (€430.-) look stunning combined with teal accessories like the velvet ankle boots by Maison Martin Margiela (£455.-) and the cross-body bag by See by Chloé (€305.-).
For daily glamour add a statement necklace like the crystal-embellished one by 3.1. Phillip Lim (€590.-) and a cool leather bracelet by Chan Luu (€175.-).

Indigo eyeshadow by Givenchy (one of my favourites) and the OPI “Ski teal we drop” nail polish will top off your outfit amazingly!

Feeling blue can be fun!

LoL, Sandra

Are you tired of your traditional business attire? Have you seen your classic two-piece suit too much and feel like wearing a uniform?
Why don’t you try something new, that still looks classy but makes you feel like a woman without loosing your serious business allure?

Tia Carrere with me

Tia Carrere, American actress (True Lies, The Relic Hunter…) shows it perfectly: A comfortable and appropriate silk shirt looks amazing combined with a well-tailored pencil skirt that should defintely end a little above or below the knee. The last length is very à la mode at the moment. The leather gives the skirt a very feminine and kind of sexy look. Instead of adding a blazer, you could opt for a slim cardigan.

Patent pumps will make your legs look so much longer. Keep your jewelry simple, a nice watch and some diamond studs work always very well. The most fashionable item of your look could a statement bag, like the large Alexa by Mulberry. This detail will underline your style in the best way possible.
I am sure that the compliments will be all yours and the business deals anyway!

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

Thank you for all the lovely feedback on my recent coverage of my Paris Fashion Week’s highlights. Many of you were asking about my outfits, so please find herewith some detailed information.

At the Stella McCartney show, I wore a lot of her designs:
The cropped slouch-fit wool pants worked so well with the snake-print tank and the studded boyfriend blazer. The pale rose python scarf matched the top and gave a little hint of colour.
To finish off the look, I put on a felt hat by Dolce & Gabbana and my beloved stocking-detailed suede ankle boots by Givenchy for new-season cool. A very practical and stylish bag in one is the embroidered medium PS1 by Proenza Schouler.

Please stay tuned as I will give you more details on the must-have shoes and bags spotted at Paris Fashion Week soon.

So long, Happy Shopping!

LoL, Sandra