Sandra‘s Closet

Going backstage before the Michael Kors S/S 2014 show was a truly great experience as I was able to explore the newly launched collection of amazing makeup products, body and sun care, and three new fragrances, set to launch in Switzerland in October 2013.

The look was all about the American designer’s beloved healthy glow and the new bronzer compacts were bringing the colour to the models’ cheekbones. Makeup artist Dick Page explained his inspiration for the runway make-up look and told me more about the new range, which is divided into three different “moods”, so-called SPORTY, SEXY, and GLAM, one to represent each of the Michael Kors woman’s changing moods.

“Very cool and downplayed, probably the cleanest look I’ve done in a while,” Dick Page told me. “The look is clean and warm. The collection has sort of 40s elements to it, so we didn’t want to get too ‘costumey’.”

He goes on: “I am mixing the two bronzers, using the SPORTY one ‘Glow’ for the general warmth on the face and the SEXY one ‘Flush’ on the cheeks almost like a blush accent. For the lips, I took the berry shade ‘Dame’ from the GLAM collection which is first painted on with a lip brush, then blotted and powdered over with a light tan eye shadow to diffuse the colour to the edge of the mouth, just for a hint of the shade. I also used the same eye shadow like a sort of concealer around the eye.

When I created that look, I was kind of thinking black and white, tone and structure of the face, something healthy, relaxed animated. Very confident, very Kors. Michael likes a lot of energy.”

Manicurist Jin Soon Choi, that I have had just met at Tibi backstage at few days ago, was applying the perfect nude nail polish ‘Hint’ from the SPORTY collection onto the models’ hands and feet, a sophisticated nail tone perfect for all skin tones.

The three new fragrances are:

SPORTY CITRUS – For the confident woman.
A crisp scent with orange and mandarin at the forefront, while warm woods and white florals linger in the background.

SEXY AMBER – For the seductress.
It puts the spotlight on sumptuous amber wrapped in sandalwood and musk, against a bright backdrop of dazzling orange, mandarin and white florals.

GLAM JASMINE – For the lady who likes to turn heads.
Giving center stage to Kors’ beloved floral note, jasmine, while warm woodsy notes and sparkling citrus are less prominent, the fragrance is overtly feminine.

Michael Kors with American television personality Joan Rivers backstage before the show.

After all those backstage photos, you might be interested in how the collection looked like on the runway. Here we go with my favourite looks. Are you sexy, sporty, or glam? With Michael Kors’ new fashion must-haves, your entire closet can match your personality according to your mood. The designer has created one of his best collections ever, with colours to match whichever occasion you choose. Two things not included? Michael Kors replied: “No flip-flops and leggings.But the collection is glamourous and practical at the same time.” And I am sure it will sell out fast… front row A-listers Kate Mara and Katie Holmes looked like they wanted to have every single piece. Get in line, ladies, we all want Michael!

LoL, Sandra

Runway Photos: Courtesy of Michael Kors, All Backstage Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Across the land of Provence, people will tell you that l’Aigo es d’Or (Water is gold). Inspired by the freshness of the fountains of Provence, L’OCCITANE has created its very first collection of Eaux de Cologne.

Three rippling fragrances bring a splash of timeless freshness to those warm, sunny days. First, there’s EAU UNIVERSELLE, a zesty scent that owes its name to its unisex nature. Next, EAU RAVISSANTE, with its flo­ral, feminine, sparkling notes. And finally, EAU CAPTI­VANTE, destined for men, with its aromatic and stimula­ting tones. These three olfactory worlds together form Eaux de Provence, a new tradition from L’OCCITANE.

EAU UNIVERSELLE
If freshness were a match made in heaven, it would be the zest of two juicy citrus fruits.

Type: For men or women
Mood: With its refreshing accord of bergamot and grapefruit, this sunny, invigorating Eau de Cologne is a beautifully timeless scent.

Family: Citrus

Top notes: Bergamot, grapefruit
Heart notes: Petit grain, geranium
Base notes: Woody notes, musk

EAU RAVISSANTE
If freshness were a woman, it would be both mischievous and graceful.

Type: For women
Mood: The sensual softness of flower petals combined with the sparkling freshness of citrus fruits, to give this Eau de Cologne a mischievous, almost beguiling air.

Family: Floral

Top notes: Bergamot, pink pepper
Heart notes: Damascena rose, freesia
Base notes: Musk, amber notes

EAU CAPTIVANTE
If freshness were a colour, it would be the green of the aromatic plants of Provence.

Type: For men
Mood: A cologne with a very Provençal feel, which combines aromatic notes with the invigorating radiance of bergamot and lime zests. A wonderfully fresh bouquet!

Family: Aromatic

Top notes: Bergamot, lime
Heart notes: Mint, basil
Base notes: Lavender, woody notes

Eau Universelle, Eau Ravissante and Eau Captivante, CHF 42.- (50ml) and CHF 75.- (300ml)
In stores now. All three bottles together look so beautiful on display, don’t they?

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht and Stills: Courtesy of L’Occitane

I recently stumbled upon this picture of Tom Ford photographed by Nigel Parry for the October issue of GQ Russia in a very ironical way, taking the scent of a woman literally. For all critics, he is not a misogysnist, he is just the king of sex!

Multi-talent Tom Ford is a true fragrance connoisseur and his two new additions to his Private Blend collection are absolutely divine. He is bringing his luxe aesthetic to the world of scents. You have to try them, they are lovely for winter, warm and sensual!

SANTAL BLUSH

Top notes: Indian spices, cumin, cinnamon, carrot seeds and fenugreek.
Heart notes: Jasmine, ylang-ylang and rose.
Base notes: Australian sandalwood, cedar, benzoin, musk and oud.

“TOM FORD SANTAL BLUSH is a mesmerizing, spicy wood oriental designed around the richly textured creaminess of Sandalwood, and contrasted with exotic Eastern spices, intoxicating florals, and sumptuous woods. This is a complex scent with a hypnotic and mysterious pull. Masala spices from India, Cinnamon Bark Oil Sri Lanka ORPUR™, Cumin Seed Oil, Fenugrec Absolute and Carrot Seed Oil, are enriched by a floral blend of Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute and Ylang Madagascar. An infusion of richly textured Sandalwood captives, Australian Sandalwood, Benzoin, Agarbois™ and Skin Musks, transport the scent to another level. A nude colored juice displayed in a transparent bottle, Santal Blush expresses a modern earthiness. It is as sensual as beautifully contoured nude skin.”

SANTAL BLUSH EdP 50ml, CHF 260
SANTAL BLUSH Decanter 250ml, CHF 660

JASMIN ROUGE

Top notes: Bergamot, mandarin, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black and white pepper.
Heart notes: Sambac jasmine, broom, neroli, ylang-ylang and clary sage.
Base notes: Mexican vanilla, labdanum, leather, wood and amber notes.

“TOM FORD JASMIN ROUGE is a voluptuous, saturated, spiced floral presented in a deep-red bottle. Two bespoke ingredients, Sambac Jasmine Sepals Absolute and Clary Sage Essence, are brought into unexpected union: Together, they create a scent that is hedonistic and erotic. This composition is enhanced with unusual, exotic spices such as Indian ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, and lively florals such as Ylang Ylang, Italian Broom Flower and Neroli. Finally, an accord of Labdanum Resin, Amber and Abstract Woods is wrapped in Vanilla Bean Infusion and Leather to create a sensuous texture. Jasmin Rouge is as audacious as lacquered red lips and dark, smoky eyes.”

JASMIN ROUGE EdP 50ml, CHF 260
JASMIN ROUGE Decanter 250ml, CHF 660

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford, GQ Russia and © Sandra Bauknecht

“I always wanted to make a perfume which would have the same resonance for everyone, something like tenderness, or childhood and I wanted there to be such a sensual contact with this perfume, that you almost feel like devouring the person you love.”

Thierry Mugler

Love it or hate it! It seems that this oriental-gourmand fragrance allows only the extreme. Since its creation in 1992, it is one of the bestselling scents around the globe.

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS ANGEL…
A GOURMAND PERFUME THAT HAS BECOME LEGENDARY.

FROM STAR TO COMET – A NEW EAU DE TOILETTE

Almost 20 years later, a new satellite appears, Angel will be available as Eau de Toilette with a new shaped flacon in a modern interpretation.. Angel’s dazzling star gives birth to an undulating comet.

More than just a difference in concentration, Angel Eau de Toilette is a unique harmony of scents composed by Amandine Marie (Robertet). It has become “oriental-gourmand-powdery”.

Top Notes: Bergamot, red berries and pepper

Middle Notes: Praliné, caramel and berries

Base Notes: Patchouli, vanilla, cedar and white musk.

Faithful to Angel’s tradition, the Comet, available in 40 ml and in 80 ml, is refillable, thanks to its eco-source bottle (40 ml).

A MESMERIZING CAMPAIGN

Eva Mendes is the glamorous woman for the Eau de Parfum and beguiling icon for the Eau de Toilette, she embodies all the addictions of Angel.

New muse, new campaign… I loved the illustrations so much that I wanted to share them with you.

Always spectacular, the Angel woman rediscovers a certain type of intimacy in her perfume and in her dreams, expressing a seduction more moving than ever.

One woman, two stories…

A deserted train station. A shimmering clear night. The Angel woman waits for the train that, with its guiding star, will take her to the depths of her dreams.

In the “Dream Machine”, comfortably seated, she sprays her wrist lightly. After scarcely a whiff, she gives into pleasure, eyes closed, and takes off…

Her first dream brings her back to childhood memories of a fair, the Ferris wheel and cotton candy. This vision becomes hazy and takes the shape of the Eau de Toilette bottle followed by the Eau de Parfum bottle that sets her off on her next trip. She dances in this day dream, as though completely spellbound, among constellations of stars. Enchanting…

And the imaginary odyssey ends, giving way to reality. As she gets off the train immersed in a blue light, her exalted expression keeps you guessing about the thrill and the transgression of her experience.

Looking up to the sky that welcomed her, she takes the ultimate memento of her recent experience out of her trench coat pocket: the scintillating Angel bottle.

Illustrations: © Stefano Canulli

The world wide campaign, conceived by Thierry Mugler and orchestrated by Christophe de Lataillade, the brand’s Artistic Director, has brought together an exceptional cast. British director, Baillie Walsh, directed the film and the image was immortalized by the duo of fashion photographers Inez van Lansweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.

Below is the new commercial with Eva Mendes singing. Hope that you like it.

LoL, Sandra