While being in Los Angeles last week with Smashbox, I visited the Max Factor Hollywood museum, a real treasure box for all makeup and movie addicts. I will soon tell you more about it. Later, Davis Factor invited me to his amazing mansion for lunch. It was truly the perfect day not only because of the sunshine…
My look: Chain trim dress, logo bucket shoulder bag and pearl necklace with bow, all by Moschino, sunglasses by Miu Miu and shoes by Prada.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Being in my favorite city, Los Angeles, always makes me happy. Therefore I was over the moon when Smashbox (in Switzerland available at Marionnaud) invited me to come here for a truly amazing experience that I will tell you all about.
The first night I had dinner at Chateau Marmont. Here you see me leaving my hotel, Sunset Tower, which is right around the corner.
My look: Lampion dress, leather waist belt, platform shoes and stingray clutch, all by Azzedine Alaïa, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring, both by Piaget, diamond ring and bracelet by Vainard Fine Jewellery.
TO SHOP A GREAT SELECTION OF ALAÏA ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Here is the second look from my photo shoot in Los Angeles with PIAGET. This outfit is one of my favorites this season. The blood lustre rockabilly-inspired satin bomber jacket with the vampire detail on the back is such an eye-catcher while giving an unexpected twist to the feminine Piaget jewelry. An unbeatable combination!
My look:Embellished satin bomber jacket, leopard print blouse, red skinny stretch-leather pants, Betty chain red leather shoulder bag and suede ankle boots, all by Saint Laurent, sunglasses by Céline, jewelry and Limelight Gala watch, both by Piaget.
LoL, Sandra
Behind the Scene Photos (Collage): © Sandra Bauknecht – Photos: David Shama
Last Sunday evening, the 2014 Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton. American Hustle was responsible for the most wins (three, including best movie in the comedy/musical category); other multiple-category winners were Dallas Buyers Club, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Breaking Bad and Behind the Candelabra. But of course, we all might be even more interested in the gowns spotted on the red carpet.
One of my favorite looks was worn by Sandra Bullock. The brunette actress went for a bright gown, sporting a striking pink, black and blue Prabal Gurung dress teamed with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry with her hair pulled into a side ponytail.
YOU CAN ORDER SANDRA BULLOCK’S COLOURFUL DOUBLEFACE SATIN V-NECK GOWN HERE.
Fellow nominee Cate Blanchett took home the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her role in Blue Jasmine and striked a pose in amazing lace backless Armani Privé couture gown. Personally speaking, this is how a winner should look like!
Her makeup was done by Jeanine Lobell who used NARS Love Blush from the Final Cut Collection along with Eyebrow Perfector and Brow Gel.
NARS Final Cut Collection for Spring 2014 (coming out in February).
Bringing world class sustainable luxury centre stage, the blonde actress paired her couture gown with a pair of earrings from Chopard’s Green Carpet Collection, featuring marquise-cut white diamonds (11 carats) set in a laurel design, crafted in 18-carat Fairmined white gold. She also selected a white diamond line bracelet (35 carats) set in platinum, and a white diamond ring featuring three stacked rows of brilliant-cut diamonds (6 carats) set in 18-carat white gold.
Founder of the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC), Livia Firth says, ‘Cate Blanchet is both a fashion icon and a woman with an intuitive grasp of the issues that matter. By choosing to wear Chopard jewels for the Golden Globes, she is supporting a profound and dynamic shift toward sustainable luxury that affects change right at the beginning of the supply chain among artisanal miners.’ If you like to find out more about the dynamic project, please click here for a previous post.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Steve Granitz/WireImage – © Jason Merritt/Getty Images – © Getty – Courtesy of Nars
Something for my Swiss and German based readers: The May issue of SI Style magazine featuring my monthly fashion column is available now. This time, I tell you why I am so in love with Los Angeles and how much fun I had at Montblanc’s Pre-Oscar ‘Signature for Good’ charity brunch. For further information on the look, please click here.
LoL, Sandra
Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht
As you know, I was with Montblanc in Los Angeles recently. One spot that is fun to visit is Madame Tussauds Hollywood Wax Museum which is located right next to the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame.
I jumped in the middle of all the touristy action and went a little crazy. But I mean where on earth can you in one day…
…get a close-up with Steven Spielberg…
…sit next to Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump…
…dance with Madonna…
…chat with Jack Nicholson…
… make fun with Jim Carrey…
…get a photo with Angelina Jolie…
…see Michael Jackson again…
…hold hands with Robin Williams…
…swing your hips with Beyoncé Knowles…
…be so close to Hugh Jackman…
…hang from the ceiling next to Spiderman…
…and get to film with Alfred Hitchcock?
My look: Two-layered top by Gucci, distressed gray jeans by Dolce & Gabbana, embellished sandals by Prada, bangles by Chanel, necklace and sunglasses, both by Roberto Cavalli and Elsie bag by Chloé.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
While doing my tour around Los Angeles, I had to stop at one of my favourite shops in town: Opening Ceremony.
My look: Printed stretch-satin jersey top, striped low-rise skinny jeans, both by Balmain, crystal cat’s-eye sunglasses by Prada, flat tote bag
by Saint Laurent, patent leather jeweled heel lace-up oxfords
by Miu Miu and 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc, dotted socks by Fogal.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
As promised, here are some impressions of the Montblanc ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 charity brunch at the iconic Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles that was truly outstanding. Each year Montblanc presents on the day before the Oscars their charity initiative of the year and this time the German house supports UNICEF educational projects, which benefit children around the globe giving them access to education and aims to raise at least $1.5 million dollars.
Here you see me arriving at the Hotel Bel-Air which is nestled in an exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by stunning homes and mansions.
Me on the red carpet (I could totally get used to that feeling.)
Two of the official photos (© Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc)
Guests from the world of entertainment, young Hollywood and the worldʼs best producers including Hilary Swank (Actress), Rosario Dawson (Actress), Christopher Lambert (Actor), Patricia Arquette (Actress), Peter Fonda (Actor), Joel Madden (Singer – UNICEF Ambassador), Alyssa Milano (Actress – UNICEF Ambassador), Michael York (Actor), Olga Kurylenko (Actress), Martin Landau (Actor), Petra Nemcova (Model), Jesse Metcalfe (Actor), Billy Zane (Actor), Mimi Rogers (Actress), Emmy Rossum (Actress), Jane Seymour (Actress), Clemens Schick (Actor), Alexander Ludwig (Actor), Tom Hooper (Director), Natasha Henstridge (Actress), Lydia Hearst (Socialite) and Tippi Hedren (Actress) joined Lutz Bethge (CEO Montblanc International) and Caryl M. Stern (CEO and President U.S. Fund for UNICEF) to support a very special cause.
Academy Award winner Hilary Swank
Emily Rossum
Cas Anvar who plays Dodi Al-Fayed in the new Diana movie with Naomi Watts.
Alexander Ludwig (Hunger Games)
Natasha Henstridge
Christopher Lambert
Rosario Dawson
Martin Landau
Jane Seymour
Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
DJ Bob Sinclair
German actor Wayne Carpendale
Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (Spago)
German actor Clemens Schick
Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc, and Ingrid Roosen-Trinks, Director of Montblanc Cultural Foundation
During the brunch, Lutz Bethge gave a very emotional introductory speech regarding Montblanc’s new charity initiative, Signature for Good, and his field trip with actress Hilary Swank to Ethiopia last October, where he was able to witness the incredible work of UNICEF. “I will never forget the pride in the eyes of those children to go to school. Something that I haven’t seen in my own children.” He was very impressed by the so-called “gender clubs” where the children have a chance to talk about issues such as domestic abuse or child labour, “because school helps them make a change.”. Since 2004, Montblanc has raised over $5 million dollars.
Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, brought tears to the eyes of the audience. “You are not only helping children to learn and to write, you give them a brighter future, you unlock doors that would have been shut. We do whatever it takes to save a child all over the world.” It gave me shivers when she stated that “19.000 kids will die today and the same amount tomorrow and so on of causes we could already save.” UNICEF lowered that number by 40%. Caryl M.Stern went on: “No matter where we go, we all want the same for our children, we want them to be safe, healthy, educated, to survive and to fulfill their dreams. Our own children get a great seat at the table, but there are some who don’t get a seat at all. An investment in our children is the most important investment we can make.”
The very moving moment culminated when Hilary Swank went on stage to share her personal experience from her field visit to Ethiopia with Montblanc and UNICEF. The actress had tears in her eyes when she gushed about “the smile on the children’s faces when they go to school and their determination to learn.”
As a performing surprise, young opera star and Montblanc brand ambassador Shenyang delighted guests with a dazzling performance of two songs.
Symbolic of Montblancʼs commitment to giving children access to better education, guests were invited to pledge their support for the Signature For Good 2013 initiative by signing bricks of a school specially recreated inside the Hotel Bel-Air.
I have been deeply impressed by UNICEFʼs life-changing work in Africa and the impact of Montblanc’s contribution over the recent years in funding education programs. If you like to support the good cause, have a look at the new ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 collection which is in stores now.
LoL, Sandra
All Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Photos (Red Carpet): © Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc
Yesterday, I arrived in Los Angeles in the late afternoon and went straight to my hotel, the Beverly Wilshire, one of the filming locations for the 1990 movie “Pretty Woman”. There, I attended a cocktail reception at the Montblanc Arts & Artisanery Lounge located at the fabulous Royal Suite, followed by a dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, Osteria Mozza.
My look: Black crystal embellished wool dress by Emilio Pucci and patent pumps with bows
by Saint Laurent.
The decoration couldn’t have been more perfect for an Oscar experience…
The last photo of this post was taken this morning when I woke up after two hours of sleep. Gorgeous sunshine in the city of angels. I just love L.A.!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Five years ago, Sue Giers, PR Director of Closed, had a spontaneous idea while vacationing in L.A.: Why not introduce Closed to the US ?
Together with a friend, American socialite Stephanie Salay, she considered organizing a “denim bar” in Los Angeles. Giers and Salay soon implemented their idea, put up a clothesline in a suite of the infamous Chateau Marmont, hung-up the different Closed highlight styles, and invited L.A.’s fashion community. Stylists, stars and starlets dropped all to discover the new brand from Germany. Perhaps it was precisely the unusual and the lack of perfection that the Americans liked so much… Or maybe they were impressed by the now more than 30-year history of the brand. The first denim bar was not just a success in L.A., but it also produced a lasting effect. Photos of celebrities wearing Closed have been published continuously since then
Brad Pitt wearing the Clifton Chinos.
Sarah Jessica Parker at the set of Sex and the City in a custom-made pair of Pedal Pusher.
For the second time the simple indoor clothesline was swapped for a showroom at the famous Margaret Maldonado Agency in Melrose Place. There was even a blog with all the “real time” news for those who could not come personally.
This summer for the third time the temporary store will go back to its origins and reside at the famous Chateau Marmont for two days, August 14th and 15th.
The ‘must have’ F/W 2012 Closed pieces will be presented to the L.A. fashion society during those days. These styles were selected from well-known US retailers such as Ron Herman, American Rag, Traffic, Fred Segal Trend, Elyse Walker, and Stacey Todd.
Follow Closed on Twitter or Facebook during the Denim-lounge at Chateau Marmont. The host Sue Giers will keep you updated.
Here is my personal craving from the Closed F/W 2012 collection.
To shop, please click on the highlights product description below.
Denim jacket with leather sleeves
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Closed