Sandra‘s Closet

The press event for the launch of Lancôme‘s newest fragrance LA VIE EST BELLE started with the following statement:
“Lancôme is not a brand, it is a philosophy of femininity.”

The French house is turning over a new leaf. The scent is meant to be a declaration for a new era. In a world full of diktats and conventions, there must be another way. Therefore, the concept plays with the idea of natural and simple beauty, the choice of once own vision of happiness and freedom. This shows best in the advertising film directed by Tarsem Singh (Mirror, Mirror), in which the face of the campaign, beautiful Julia Roberts, frees herself from being an imaginary puppet on a string (Click here for the making of).

This gourmand and elegant composition was developed by three famous perfumers together, Olivier Polge, Dominique Ropion and Anne Flipo. It took them three years of probation and endless versions to create the final formula that includes 63 ingredients with iris playing the lead, surrounded by orange blossoms and jasmine as middle notes. I especially like the warm and powdery base with accords of tonka bean, praline, patchouli and vanilla. This fragrance is surely going to be a new bestseller, following in the steps of its famous predecessor Trésor.

The flacon is a redesigned version of the classic Lancome bottle from 1949. It is a masterpiece of crystal in the shape of a smile, a square in the circle that achieves the impossible. Happiness captured in a bottle.

Top notes: Pear and black currant
Middle notes: Orange blossom, jasmine and iris
Base notes: Praline, tonka bean, vanilla and patchouli

Available in Switzerland in September 2012.
Eau de Parfum 30ml (CHF 75.-), 50ml (CHF 115.-) and 75ml (CHF 145.-)
Shower Gel 200ml (CHF 59.-) and  Body Lotion 200ml (CHF 66.-)

The press event took place at the Dolder Hotel in Zurich. The weather was definitely not co-operating but you have to take the rough with the smooth. No matter what: La vie est belle – Light up the world with a smile from the heart, like Lancôme’s lovely PR-lady Magi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lancôme and © Sandra Bauknecht

Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances unveils its newest face: the French model and actress, Laetitia Casta. Laetitia’s unparalleled beauty, sensuality and femininity brought her to the attention of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who chose her to embody the Dolce & Gabbana woman for the launch of their newest fragrance Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme.

“Laetitia has always bewitched us with her sensual and natural charisma: she is the perfect interpretation of the Dolce&Gabbana woman of today.” says the famous designer duo.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana launched their first scent Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme in 1992 that marked the decade of the nineties. In 2012, the designers have decided to re-launch their rich floral perfume in a new version.

Top notes: Neroli, raspberry and tangerine
Heart notes: Jasmine and orange blossom
Base notes: Marshmallow, vanilla, sandalwood and heliotrope

The advertising campaign was shot by Mario Testino in Sicily with Laetitia Casta and Noah Mills. The fragrance is available from July 2012 – as 25, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum for women.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances

Blake Lively is the face of Gucci’s new upcoming fragrance Gucci Première, named after the Italian house’s haute couture line. This is the “Gossip Girl” regular’s first scent campaign, though she posed for Chanel last year.

The scent is meant to evoke Old Hollywood and so does the short movie for the campaign shot by director Nicolas Winding Refn. “She is a girl of extraordinary beauty and she’s a girl who loves fashion. She has great taste in clothes. Although she’s young, she’s also very determined, and I liked this spirit. She knows how to be a diva in the right sense, with an aspirational glamour,” said Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini.

Lively was the perfect choice to transport that glam retro-Hollywood look, don’t you think? The perfume will be launched worldwide Mid July.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Gucci

The name Nina Ricci is famous, especially the house’s most famous perfume, “L’Air du Temps” (created in 1949), but the brand has dropped off the fashion radar for quite some years. The French fashion house was founded by Maria “Nina” Ricci and her son Robert in Paris in 1932, and has been owned by the Spanish beauty and fashion group Puig since 1998.

After Maria Ricci’s death in 1970, the label went through a difficult phase, with different owners and designers. In 2009, designer Peter Copping, who had worked for Louis Vuitton, took over and since then Nina Ricci has been on the rise again. I absolutely adore Peter’s designs.

When designing the F/W 2012 collection which will be presented this Thursday during Paris Fashion Week, Peter Copping, Creative Director of Nina Ricci, asked himself what the Nina Ricci uniform would be. First and foremost among the house codes is the little black dress.

Here you can see me in Paris, posing in front of the Nina Ricci store window on Avenue Montaigne in the same dress that was on display:
Ruched taffeta and lace dress by Nina Ricci, tweed and leather jacket by Antonio Berardi, Black Mamba gold-plated snakeskin-effect cuff by Yves Saint Laurent, studded leather ankle boots by Valentino and Constance leather clutch by Jason Wu.

Tweed materials are another house signature; here Copping whipped them up in a feminine and soft style. Combined with a floral skirt, it takes your summer wardrobe to the next level.

Tweed coat, open-knit crew-neck sweater, mini pansy-print skirt, ruched linen wedges and Liane top handle bag, all by Nina Ricci.

For all perfume lovers, I recommend Nina Fantasy, a gorgeous Limited Edition version of her classic Nina fragrance, which will be availbale in Switzerland in April, just in time for spring.

Slightly sweeter smelling than the original, the scent combines top notes of bergamot, mandarin and pear with the delicate, powdery heart notes of cherry blossom, rose and heliotropes. Base notes are mate and brown sugar.

The white procelain bottle in the shape of a flamboyant apple is very fairytale-like. It draws inspiration from spring and magical moments. It is finished with a golden stem and leaves, engraved with the Nina Ricci signature, and has some sweet illustrations in golden pink.

Eau de Toilette, Limited Edition, 50ml, CHF 77.-

LoL, Sandra