Sandra‘s Closet

Red: it signifies power, boldness, and confidence. Whether you’re choosing lipstick or clothing, you will definitely make a statement. The vibrant hue represents all things emphatic – stop signs, fire trucks, London’s telephone booths, Ferraris, Louboutin’s shoe sole, good luck (in Chinese culture) and of course fierce love! Personally speaking, it is my number one choice for holiday attire.

It has been asserted that it also acts subconsciously how you are perceived. Chris de Burgh‘s famous hit Lady in Red was inspired by the memory of when he first saw his wife Diane wearing a red dress. See, the red dress can even get you a famous husband, haha!

Click here for the previous outfit post.

Scientists speak of the red dress effect, a putative phenomenon in which a woman wearing a red dress, are perceived to be more sexually appealing than she is when wearing other colours. In primates, a visual indicator of female fertility occurs by way of swelling during the follicular phase and is correlated with increased estrogen levels. Here we have proof that men tend to act like primates, haha! Sorry I had to do it again…

Red dresses are a beautiful choice, also for New Year’s Eve. I put together some beautiful ones and as it is Christmas, they are all on sale. Happy shopping!

LoL, Sandra

SLEEK DREAMS
Left: Laurel cape-effect crepe gown by Alex Perry (30% off)
Right: Asymmetric bow silk-blend jacquard gown by Rebecca de Ravenel (60% off)

FLOWING PRINCESS
Left: Bow-detailed ruched silk-georgette maxi dress by Giambattista Valli (60% off)
Right: Cutout silk-crepon gown by Alexander McQueen (40% off)

STRAPLESS BEAUTY
Left: Off-the-shoulder silk-dupion gown by Rosario (60% off)
Middle: Layered silk-satin mini dress by Alexandre Vauthier (60% off)
Right: Draped silk-faille strapless gown by Marchesa (60% off)

LA VIE EN ROUGE
Left: Hollywood crystal-embellished stretch-crepe maxi dress by Alessandra Rich (50% off)
Right: Wrap-front belted cady-crepe midi dress by Dolce & Gabbana (40% off)

Photos: © David Biedert Photography and Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

A minaudière is a a great substitute for an evening bag, generally considered a jewelry piece. It’s an easy way to look chic and glamorous and to vamp up a cocktail dress.

Here are the most head-turning clutches to spice up your look:

1 Jean Watermelon pearl-effect box clutch by Edie Parker
2 Let It Shine Pandora embellished glittered Perspex clutch by Charlotte Olympia
3 Lily embellished mesh box clutch by Marchesa
4 Love Swarovski crystal-embellished box clutch by Sylvia Toledano
5 Morley patterned raffia box clutch by Kotur
6 Diagonal Minaudière leather clutch by Saint Laurent

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the brands

Happy Easter to all of you, my fabulous readers! This year, I would like to share with you some of the probably most stunning Easter eggs ever seen, coming from the house of Fabergé, a name that is synonymous with eggs of the most luxurious kind.

In New York City, Fabergé has been sending the residents on their biggest ever egg scavenger hunt to raise millions for charity. Almost 300 giant egg sculptures were scattered around the city’s five boroughs. The jeweller had commissioned renowned artists, designers and architects to create the two-foot tall eggs as part of a citywide art display. Among those participating in the project are Tracey Emin, Mark Quinn, Zaha Hadid, Ronnie Wood, Peter Beard, Diane von Furstenberg, Marchesa, Oliver Theykens and Bruce Weber.

Those amazing egg sculptures are auctioned off (bidding has already started) until April 26 on Paddle8 to raise money for the conservation organization, Elephant Family. The hunt will also gather funds for Studio in a School, a program that brings visual arts to New York City’s public schools.

Some of the amazing egg sculptures by famous artists such as Jeff Koons or Julian Schnabel will close on Paddle8 at 12:00pm EST on Tuesday, April 22nd. Live auction begins on Tuesday, April 22nd at 07:00PM EST.

Fabergé is hoping that the New York initiative will repeat the success of The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt in London in 2012, which set two Guinness World Records and raised more than $15 million for charity.

In London, Fabergé has teamed up with Harrods for a creative collaboration that will run until 21st April 2014. An exhibition space has been set up in the famous department store, with the famed Brompton Road windows and façade dressed in Fabergé flags, telling the story of the legendary jewelry house.

On display is a a rare masterpiece, an original Fabergé Egg – The Apple Blossom Egg, together with other historic Fabergé treasures. This Egg was designed in 1901 and is beautifully crafted in gold, diamonds and nephrite.

Harrods Exclusive
To celebrate the extravaganza, Fabergé has created a limited-edition Spiral Tassel Pendant, available exclusively at Harrods. The modern, playful, diamond-set egg comes with a stunning gemstone tassel, finished with amethyst, tsavorite, or spinel.

Happy Easter Sunday!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fabergé

For the Cannes Film Festival 2012’s opening night, the who’s who of Hollywood came down to the Côte d’Azur. Here are the best dressed ladies of this amazing night. Enjoy!

Jury member Diane Kruger looked amazing in a mint green sheer couture gown by Giambattista Valli.

Eva Longoria wore a flowing, feathered train gown by Marchesa in which she had quite some problems walking on the red carpet.

American singer Lana Del Rey was wearing a classy black long dress by Alberta Ferretti that gave all the attention to the 18-carat white gold necklace set with a 31 carats yellow pear-shaped diamond by Chopard.

Eva Herzigova, the Czech model, was wearing a lace gown by Dolce Gabbana combined with the Marilyn Monroe Tribute set from the Red Carpet collection composed of a necklace in 18-carat white gold set with beads diamonds (151.64 cts), heart shaped diamonds (30.72 cts) and diamonds (18.53cts). Earrings en suite. All by Chopard.

Actress Tilda Swinton, who stars in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, wore a bronze gown by her fashion friend, designer Haider Ackermann.

Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto wore a strapless beaded bodice gown, with a peplum pink satin skirt by Michael Angel, accessorized by Chopard jewelry.

The legendary Jane Fonda, wearing Chopard jewelry, looked absolutely stunning at 74  in a form-fitting metallic gown from Stella McCartney‘s new evening collection I saw her during the day at the Chopard lounge and was overwhelmed by her charisma.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©VALERY HACHE/AFP/GettyImages, ©Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, ©Rex, ©Lia Toby / WENN

The Met Gala is the party of the year, like the Oscars in fashion. It is also the opening night of the annual fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. After last year’s posthumous Alexander McQueen retrospective “Savage Beauty”, the “Schiaparelli & Prada – Impossible Conversations“ is now on show.

With the met gala being one of the biggest red carpet events, it is quite a task narrowing down the many fabulous gowns to choose my absolute favourites. The ones in the collage above are on my best-dressed list, with the following three being at the top:

Dreamlike: Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada…

…with beautiful jewels by Anna Hu

A piece of art: Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou F/W 2012

Soulmate: Lizzy Tisch in Mary Katranzou‘s stunning Harp Hazzard dress from S/S 2012

But it wouldn’t be fun if I didn’t point out the more questionable fashion moments or let’s say to show you the most daring appearances. Enjoy!

Bird of Paradise: Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen

Too much bronzer: Leighton Meester in Marchesa

Scene-stealer: Marc Jacobs in Comme des Garçons with Lorenzo Martone

Booty Call: Beyoncé in Givenchy Haute Couture

Unlikely couple: Karolina Kourkova with tiny Rachel Zoe, the designer of her space-like gown

The new Anna? Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana with Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld

The Jolie-leg effect: Anja Rubik in a scary hip-slit gown by Anthony Vaccarello

Daughter of Daphne Guiness? Mary-Kate Olsen in The Row

Which one is your favourite or which one don’t you like at all? You can comment on Sandra’s Closet’s facebook page here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Getty Images and © Rex Features

Last night, the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards were held at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.

This year the red carpet came alive with colour– emerald green (Angelina Jolie was among my favourites of the evening), feminine hues like rose, peach and sultry red captured the aisle (Best nude dress: Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé).
But also some gorgeous black gowns embellished with lace and rhinestones were breathtaking (Best: Olivia Wilde in her fairytale Marchesa dress). Armani, Versace, Calvin Klein and Lanvin among others delivered amazing gowns for deserving ladies.

An expectant Natalie Portman showed off her blossoming figure and her mommy glow in a peachy silk Viktor & Rolf gown and took her second Golden Globe award home.

Enjoy the impressions of the glamourous night.

LoL, Sandra

To all of my viewers around the world: Happy New Year to you and thank you for being  so lovely and faithful to Sandra`s Closet! May 2010 be sparkling, vibrant and joyful, bringing along many reasons to celebrate. And celebrations need fantastic outfits! So enjoy those stunning looks I put together for all of my fabulous cosmopolitan readers.

Let`s make a resolution for the New Year to experiment more and to enjoy unleashing our inner fashionistas.

May all your dreams come true!

LoL, Sandra