Sandra‘s Closet

Yesterday, despite all the horrible incidents that happened to the famous French fashion house during the last seven days, the Dior F/W 2011 show took place inside the tent situated in the gardens of the Musée Rodin – just without its designer John Galliano who got fired after his anti-Semitic assaults.

But before the models appeared on the catwalk, Dior CEO Sidney Toledano made a speech onstage about the values that Christian Dior has represented for more than six decades. With no word he mentioned John Galliano by name.

In the end of the défilé, the seamstresses and craftsmen who had been working for Galliano over the past 14 years showed up on stage and the audience cheered and clapped.
Isn’t it on one side such a sad ending for such a talented designer as Galliano is and on the other hand so unbelievable that it took an heinous act like that to finally thank the people in the ateliers for their amazing work!

I have absolutely loved the collection, the rich colours, lush textures and the bohemian theme. Romantic and edgy, quintessential pillars of the Galliano woman. The buckled knee boots worn with a sweeping cashmere cloak, mmh, just love that! And our Swiss supermodel, Julia Sahner, looked so pretty in the long ruffled chiffon gown, blowing kisses.

It was completely wrong and despicable what Galliano did but let’s see if he will have a comeback one day. People forget and time changes everything. Did you know that Coco Chanel experienced an exile from the fashion world for nine years after having been denunciated as a Nazi collaboratrice? I detest Galliano for his behaviour but I absolutely love his talent.

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

CAPTURE TOTALE – a complete skincare ritual to lastingly triumph over time

Let me get you started on the Dior Capture Totale line with some astonishing facts:
1986 Launch of the first Capture serum
2011 25th anniversary 1 nobel price for the discovered technology
13 international patents for Capture Totale & One Essential
260 scientists have worked on the products

I have tried all of the revised and new products for almost a month now to give you an honest and detailed report of the results.
Moreover I will explain a little how the ingredients work. Once you understand the strategy, it all makes perfect sense. The official launch date will be January 14, 2011.

25 years of breakthroughs by Dior Science now make it possible for CAPTURE TOTALE to target the very „heart“ of the skin: the stem cells, the source of youth. At the origin of all other cells of the epidermis, they have the power to regenerate the skin’s beauty, day after day.
However, over time, the structures that protect this source of life break down. Cells with high regenerating power are „deactivated“. By targeting the stem cells directly, it allows the skin to recover perfectly.

Question is now: Is your anti-aging 100% effective?

Dior discovered that skin toxins significantly impair cell regeneration and the effectiveness of your skin treatment. Building up by billions every day in the skin, toxins exhaust and suffocate cells. The consequences are that aging celerates, firmess disappears and that anti-aging ingredients cannot deliver their full power to the heart of the cells.

ONE ESSENTIAL – the first universal anti-aging booster by CAPTURE TOTALE

More than a simple serum, ONE ESSENTIAL goes beyond skin repair. By eliminating skin toxins, it achieves to trigger exceptional cellular regeneration to heighten the youthfulness of the skin. All visible signs of aging (wrinkled, loss of firmness, uneven skin tone) are intensely corrected.

Applied before all other skincare products, it boosts its performance by amplifying the targeted effectiveness of major anti-aging active ingredients for exceptional youthful appearance.

At the heart of ONE ESSENTIAL is Dior’s most powerful anti-aging blend composed of Longoza-Cellular Complex and Dextoxinyle. Longoza is a plant from Madagascar of which blossoms, stems and seeds are used.

I have to say from the first application, my skin was instantly brightened. And even if you prefer other anti-aging products to follow, I recommend using ONE ESSENTIAL as a base because no serum or cream can be 100% effective without skin detoxification. Even that I am not a scientist, this makes perfect sense to me. It is really an amazing product.

Price: 30ml, CHF 128 / 50ml, CHF 179

MULTI-PERFECTION CONCENTRATED SERUM – ultra-concentrated with anti-aging active ingredients, it restores the fine qualtiy and velevty feel of youthful skin and deeply repairs even the most deep-set visible signs of aging.

Price: 30ml, CHF 216 / 50ml, CHF 280

MULTI-PERFECTION CREME (normal to combination skin)
NURTURING RICH CREME (normal to dry skin)

Two textures specially adapted for each skin type in order to fulfill all needs and lastingly correct all visible signs of aging with each application. Intensly nourished, moisturized and strengthened, the skin reveals new youthfulness.

Price: 50ml, CHF 216

CAPTURE TOTALE RADIANCE RESTORING SERUM FOUNDATION

The radiance of the complexion comes not only from the skin surface, but also from the very „heart“ of the skin.

Young skin has a structure and surface which give it optical properties of translucency. Light infuses all layers to inundate the complexion with vivid radiance that seems to come from within. However, as time passes, skin becomes less smooth, firm and even. Dior’s Light-Booster Pigments help to get that youthful appearance back. After just 5 minutes, the complexion gains more radiance. No kidding, it is true!

Price: 30ml, CHF 119.50

My opinion is that all products together really work well and give you an energy boost that you might need while it is cold outside and after all the partying during the last weeks.
Even if you are attached to the products you are using, it is truly worth changing sometimes your cosmetic line as it challenges your skin again in a good way.

LoL, Sandra

„Who said that real jewels have to be boring?“
Victoire de Castellane

Barbara Hutton wearing the 55-carat Pasha diamond and the Vladimir emeralds

When it comes to fine jewelry, Dior’s Victoire de Castellane is the designer that I truly admire for her amazing creations that are for me the most beautiful and outstanding pieces in the world. Often imitated but never equalled, Victoire is the lady of the rings.

Bold, chunky and huge are her designs that appear more like pieces of art than jewelry.

Born into an aristocratic Parisian family, her first experience with making jewelry happened when she dismantled her grandmother’s (Sylvia Hennessy from the cognac family) charm bracelet and transformed it into a pair of earrings, much to her mother’s dislike. As a young girl, her grandma and her best friend heiress Barbara Hutton involved the little girl in their love for enormous gems. A passion was born.

Victoire de Castellane started her career at Chanel working alongside Karl Lagerfeld as costume jewelry designer for fourteen years. In 1999, she was appointed by Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, as designer of the first ever collection of Fine Jewelry for the house Dior that allowed her to create her own daring and dramatic style that shook up the staid Place Vendôme from the very first beginning.

Each collection tells a story or evokes a place. The French aristocrat is inspired by the exuberance of technicolour, bright and fluorescent. Her designs are known for the best quality enamel with gems and semi precious stones.
“I prefer huge coloured stones instead of diamonds. And I like to wear and design things that look fake; like costume jewelry, but real” , says Victoire.
The collection Milly Carnivora, includes pieces that can open up to show the amazing inside creation. Love those surprises!

The Coffret de Victoire collection for Dior has some of the most unusual and original rings crafted from the finest gems, golds and materials. It includes creations with skulls, cameos and sealife inspirations – a reflection of world travels and exotic adventures with flavours from the ocean and the orient.

This year, the rose flower, which played a big role in the life of Christian Dior, has inspired Victoire de Castellane to create a new jewelry collection for Dior, so-called „Bois de Rose“.

This month, I was lucky to enjoy a presentation of how the rings are crafted at the Dior boutique in Zurich. After having seen the craftmanship and having talked to the goldsmiths who came from Paris for the event, I value Victoire’s designs even more.

Those fanciful wonders sometimes take months to be finished depending on the design. Every little detail is made by hand. I am truly fond of the jewelry’s bold presence.

If you are interested, please visit the Dior homepage for further information and store locations.

So lovely Ladies, think big and enjoy the little forest on your finger…

LoL, Sandra

One of my favourites: Bague Diorette