Sandra‘s Closet

What could be more British than London rain? This fact inspired Master Perfumer Christine Nagel to capture the different moods of a downpour, from the soft sparkle of a morning shower to a wild rainstorm at night for Jo Malone‘s upcoming limited edition LONDON RAIN collection.

“The initial concept from Jo Malone London was to create a scented portrait of London to conjure up the romantic and deeply intense rainy days,” says Nagel.

I find the weather inspiration such a great concept and I cannot wait to indulge my nose in those four new scents.

Rain & Angelica
Glassy beads of dew, awakening a London park at dawn. A revitalising scent, enlivened with herbaceous angelica and juicy lime on an earthy base of vetiver. Aqueous and clear.

Wisteria & Violet
A soft morning shower, soaking purple wisteria cascading over London stone walls. Infused with the wet-petal scent of violets and water lily. Rainwashed and intoxicating.

White Jasmine & Mint
An afternoon cloudburst, drenching gardens exuberant with jasmine, lily, orange flower and rose. Eccentric with its dash of scrambling wild mint. Enchanting and refreshing.

Black Cedarwood & Juniper
Midnight rain. Seductive with the carnal touch of cumin, chilli leaves, and aromatic juniper. Dark with cedar wood. Humid with moss. Modern and urban.

LONDON RAIN Limited Edition
In the UK and other countries available from March 2014. Each Cologne 100ml RRP £82 / €100.
In Switzerland available in the beginning of May 2014. Each Cologne 100ml RRP CHF 130.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone

I cannot wait to fly to London soon to visit The Burberry Beauty Box in London’s Covent Garden. This new retail concept brings the house’s must-have fashion and beauty together in an innovative format that allows you to explore the connections between make-up, fragrance and accessories through personalised physical and digital experiences.

Featuring the full Burberry Beauty collection of make up and fragrance, as well as limited edition beauty products, the new space also houses accessories including sunglasses, scarves and an exclusive selection of bags, available only in the store. A new look will be revealed each month, available to experience in store.

Below you can discover some of Burberry signature looks:

Brit – an irreverent look inspired by music

Body – a natural, nude look

Tender – a fresh, dewy look

Icon – a timeless look inspired by the Burberry icons

All products are gift-wrapped in exclusive Burberry Beauty Box gift packaging. Payments are taken using a mobile point of sale system on iPads and iPhones, which also offers the option of digital receipts. What a great concept! Love it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Burberry

ARIZONA MUSE is not only a famous model, the face of Estée Lauder‘s new scent Modern Muse, but also a mother and extremely sweet and charming young woman. During New York Fashion Week she shared her travel tips for Great Britain’s capital with me.

Your favourite city?
LONDON – I love this city, I live there, I am half English and very patriotic.

Your favourite hotel?
FIRMDALE HOTELS – The interior is so cute, every room is different and the food is amazing.
For example the HAYMARKET HOTEL, 1 Suffolk Place, London SW1Y 4HX, +44 20 7470 4000

Your favourite restaurant?
GRANGER & CO – They have very healthy and delicious food. They are on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, an exciting pretty street, very close to where I leave.
175 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB, +44 20 7229 8944

Your favourite dish there?
My favourite dish is their MISO PORRIDGE for breakfast.

Your favourite bar or nightclub?
THE BOX – The best place for a crazy night out.
11-12 Walker’s Ct, London W1F 0SD, +44 20 7434 4374

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
The TATE MODERN – A really interesting building and there are a lot of great things to do near there, too.
Bankside, London SE1 9TG, +44 20 7887 8888

Your favourite park?
RICHMOND PARK – It is so wild, so large, you can just roam around there the whole day, spotting deers. It is absolutely beautiful.
Richmond, Greater London TW10 5HS, +44 20 8948 3209

Your favourite shop?
JOSEPH – They have the most amazing choice and the shops are so lovely to walk into.
299 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH UK,  +44 20 7352 6776

Your must-have accessory?
An UMBRELLA – A must for London.

Your favorite playlist for vacation?
THE XX – I absolutely love their music. It is an English indie pop band, formed in Wandsworth, London in 2005.

Your favorite scent to wear in London?
Obviously it is MODERN MUSE around the world.

Thank you, Arizona, for sharing your insider scoop on London with us!

LoL, Sandra

Last week in London, I stayed for the first time at the Haymarket Hotel which I adored. My avid readers know that I am usually loving the Browns Hotel but sometimes a little change is great. Today, I was supposed to fly again to the UK for a wonderful press trip with Cowshed but had to cancel last minute… so I enjoy those sweet memories.

My comfy look: Black double-breasted wool coat with gold bars by Givenchy, the perfect grey cashmere sweater with suede elbow patches by Saint Laurent, jeggings by Marc by Marc Jacobs, studded biker boots and sunglasses by Miu Miu, Bamboo leather tote by Gucci, diamond rose ring, necklace and Limelight Gala watch, all by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I spent the last days in London –  a city that I love very much. The double decker buses, the black cabs, and the red telephone boxes, some of the iconic sights on the streets of the British metropole, symbolise gorgeous design while fulfilling their purpose with efficiency. The same goes for my Givenchy sweater – it’s comfy and stylish in one. You need one of those printed must-haves in your closet this season!

My look: Black double-breasted wool coat with gold bars and printed cotton sweatshirt, both by Givenchy, black pants by Alexander McQueen, textured-leather tote by Gucci, Susanna studded leather ankle boots by Chloé and rose ring by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

“Dior is this agile genius of our times whose magical name contains Dieu (God) and or (gold).”
– Jean Cocteau

When I was with Marionnaud in London for the Rodial Beautiful Awards (post coming up in the beginning of next week), I had the chance to take a glimpse at the So Dior exhibition at Harrods, showcasing artists reinterpreting some of Dior’s most famous codes.

The Brompton Road store windows are transformed into Dior’s iconic colours of grey and white, featuring the complete product palette of the French Maison.

Inside the department store, on the fourth floor, I entered “the ultimate Dior experience”, from the house’s Lady Dior handbag to its instantly recognisable scent, J’Adore.

To celebrate the exhibition, Harrods has launched a set of limited edition Dior cupcakes. If you are unable to make it to the store, then fear not, as you can purchase them online HERE.

The Harrods Dior takeover will run until April 14, 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Dior

The most technologically advanced high fashion store in Britain, and probably worldwide, opened its doors on London’s Regent street. It is the biggest Burberry branch in the world with four floors for an overall extraordinary shopping and digitally-advanced brand experience, bringing to life every aspect of Burberry World (burberry.com) for the first time.

“We are so excited to launch Burberry World Live at our new Regent Street flagship, bringing our physical and digital worlds together to create amazing experiences that encompass everything from fashion, to heritage, to music, to the Burberry Foundation.

Burberry Regent Street is one of the most architecturally and culturally significant projects we have undertaken. In renovating this iconic London building we have worked with some of the UK’s finest craftsmen to restore a wealth of historic features, at the same time as pushing the boundaries of digital technology. The result is a space defined by contrasts: at once imposing and intimate, its juxtaposition of craft and innovation is designed to delight, surprise and entertain. It is a reflection of how we approach everything at Burberry – revealing the different layers of the brand’s heritage within a modern context, and forever celebrating design and expert craftsmanship.” Christopher Bailey, Burberry Chief Creative Officer.

The shop is in Westmoreland House, which was built in 1820 for the Prince Regent.

Personally speaking, the most amazing piece of technology is the use of radio-frequency identification technology (RFID) in some of the clothes. When shoppers wearing the pieces approach one of the so-called “magic mirrors”, the mirror transforms into a screen that shows runway footage and exclusive videos.

Enjoy the Burberry Prorsum S/S 2013 show live streamed here on Sandra’s Closet on Monday, September 17th, 2012:

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Burberry

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STEPHEN WEBSTER

The famous jeweler lived in many different countries, among them Canada and the United States. Till this day, he enjoys travelling very much, but always comes back happily to his hometown: London. Below you will find his tips for the best places to visit in Great Britain’s capital.

Your favourite city in the world: 
LONDON

Your favourite restaurants: I am actually in this business as well and own three restaurants. 

HIX, 66-70 Brewer Street  City of Westminster, W1F 9UP,
+44 20 7292 3518
(Favourite dish: Webster’s fish fingers, fish & chips)
HIX BELGRAVIA, Pont Street, London SW1X 9EJ, +44 20 3189 4850
TRAMSHED, 32 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3LX, +44 20 7749 0478
It’s just opened in Shoreditch, which is the real trendy place for London. The menu primarily focuses on steak and chicken items. Greeting guests and reminding them of this fact is the spectacularly placed Cock and Bull piece from Damian Hirst created specifically for us.

Your favourite hotel: 
CLARIDGE’S, 49 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, +44 20 7629 8860.

Your favourite shop: SELFRIDGES
I especially love the food department.

Your favourite nightclub: 
THE WELLINGTON, 116A Knightsbridge  London SW1X 7PL, 
+ 44 20 7823 8211
I don’t hardly ever go to nightclubs anymore. If I do go to a nightclub, I go to the Wellington, which it’s the place where I know everybody, I know the DJ, and that’s probably what I’m looking for right now.

Your favourite art gallery: TATE MODERN, Bankside London SE1 9TG, +44 20 78878752

Your favourite park: HYDE PARK
I live right next to it and walk across it nearly every morning.

Your favourite transportation in London: THE TUBE
I use the tube, because if you don’t you’re going to get very frustrated. My motorbike, I keep at the country.

Thank you, Stephen, for sharing your insider scoop on London with us!

LoL, Sandra

British new It-label Teatum Jones has been asked by London’s famous hotel The Dorchester to create an exclusive printed scarf of the same name, that will be officially launched this September during London Fashion Week for S/S 2013, alongside a special Teatum Jones fashion tea. This is truly great news for a label only into its third official season and for all fashionistas among you.

‘The Dorchester’ scarf designed by Teatum Jones, measures 136cm by 136cm, is made of 100% pure silk double georgette and will be sold exclusively at Liberty, from Tuesday 18 September 2012, priced at £245.- and at shop.thedorchester.com.

The ‘Teatum Jones Fashion Tea’ will be held on The Promenade at The Dorchester bringing fashion week to everyday London fashionistas showcasing Teatum Jones F/W 2012 collection, and of course the  ‘The Dorchester’ scarf.

Afternoon tea sittings for this special event on Tuesday 18 September take place at 2.15pm and at 4.45pm, and are priced at £52 per adult including a glass of champagne. (Prices are inclusive of VAT and exclusive of service charge at 12.5%). For reservations or further information, please telephone The Dorchester on +44 (0)20 7629 8888 or email restaurants..

About Teatum Jones

Catherine Teatum and Rob Jones studied at Ravensbourne College of Design and Central Saint Martins respectively. They worked with Luella Bartley, Warren Noronha and John Richmond before setting up Teatum Jones, and were picked up by Liberty in their second season for S/S 2012. This year has seen the launch of the Teatum Jones’ S/S 2012 collection in Canada, adding to existing retail territories in the UK, US and the Middle East. Teatum Jones have also been name-checked on 2012 Hot Lists in UK magazines Vogue, Elle, Stella and The Observer.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Teatum Jones, Timeout and The Dorchester

“I’m renowned for my love of a high collar and I wanted to create a true collector’s item,” says Karl Lagerfeld of his jewel-encrusted collar.

Fusing “the masculine with the feminine and uniting the world of fine jewelry and high fashion”, the designer’s spectacular collar is an extraordinary collector’s piece. Handcrafted from black suede, sparkling with pavé black diamonds and a single emerald- cut stone, produced exclusively for the Vogue UK jewelry editor Carol Woolton-curated Brilliant exhibition at Masterpiece, London, the capital’s luxury art and design fair, it will be on display from June 28th – July 4th. The piece will be accompanied by a hand-signed sketch from Mr Lagerfeld himself.

A percentage of profits from the sale will be donated to children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

This collar will be available for shipping from 7th July.
TO SHOP, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra