Sandra‘s Closet

Your mum, your muse. My daughter, my muse. Anouk has been using Armani Sì Eau de Parfum since a long time. It is the fragrance I associate with her. Therefore, we loved the idea to collaborate with Armani Beauty for Mother’s Day to celebrate the launch of the new Sì EDP Intense.

My choice: The new Sì Eau de Parfum Intense

Sì Eau de Parfum Intense encapsulates the confident energy and modern femininity that characterizes the Sì woman. The fragrance’s signature is blackcurrant nectar, with this alluring note extracted from the heart of the fruit. In addition Ispartarose, harvested in Ispartaa region of Turkey known as «the city of roses», mingles with the velvety and liquorous davana. Together, these two notes create a fiercely intense effect. Finally, patchouli and benzoin resin lend an enveloping sensation. At the same time intense, voluptuous and sophisticated, Sì Eau de Parfum Intense, a chypré oriental, unveils each woman’s most intense side.

Anouk’s choice: The classic Sì Eau de Parfum

Both bottles come with the beautiful glossy black, stone-shaped cap that is a signature of Giorgio Armani fragrances, while sleek gold rings around the bottle’s neck and at its base lend a glamorous touch. Perfect for your bathroom display.

Happy Mother’s Day! To shop the fragrances, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Armani Beauty © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We truly love the scents. However we received the fragrances for free.
@ArmaniBeauty #ArmaniSi #SaySi #ArmaniBeauty

In case that you have forgotten that it’s Mother’s Day today, I have a last minute gift idea for you. Check out Paperless Post‘s latest collaboration with Carolina Herrrera, that is available for free, just in time to celebrate the woman, that brought you into the world. Surprise her with a personal message sent to her inbox directly and put a smile on her face.

Wes Gordon with me in Dubai last fall at an event with Net-à-Porter 

«I can’t think of a better way to reach out to your loved ones – especially mothers or maternal figures – than with beauty, optimism, and color.» – Wes Gordon, Creative Director Carolina Herrera

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE THE CAROLINA HERRERA MOTHER’S DAY SECTION.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: Courtesy of Paperless Post

This week, I was invited for Breakfast at Tiffany’s in Zurich to view their amazingly stunning travelling collection that will be here until the end of May 2019. Because it’s not every day you get to appreciate high jewellery pieces in person, I was extremely happy to explore those exquisite creations from the House of Tiffany. Needless to say, if they get sold, the travel will come to an end in Switzerland.

Have a look at this rare and refined jewelry that brilliantly blends beautiful gems and unparalleled craftsmanship. And as rare as they are, Tiffany & Co. invites you to discover those masterpieces.

Tiffany & Co. Traveling Collection – Green Tourmaline Handcuff
45,44 carat for the green tourmaline

Tiffany & Co. Traveling Collection – Necklace in Platinum with Emerald-Cut, Pear Shaped and Round Brilliant Diamonds of over 100 Carats
Each of the diamond strands varies in length and ends in pear-shaped diamonds to emulate the force of water rushing over the rim of the pavé diamond necklace.

Tiffany & Co. Travelling Collection – Round Diamond and Sapphire Ring
Central diamond of 5,05 carats, platinum ring

Tiffany & Co. Travelling Collection – Octopus Brooch in Platinum with a Baroque Pearl and Round Blue Sapphires and Diamonds
A beautifully formed and unusually large baroque pearl is masterfully transformed into an octopus. Set amid jeweled tentacles swirling with hand cut diamonds and sapphires, this lustrous gift of the sea takes on a powerful presence and playful spirit. The diamond tentacles are finished with bands of blue sapphires. Each stone is hand set along the curved surface, demonstrating the artisans’ skill in crafting this intricate design.

The best thing? Besides being able to ogle to your hearts’ content, mostly everything in the store sparkles beautifully, especially apt with Mother’s Day just around the corner, no? Treat the woman who does it all to a gift wrapped in the famous Blue Box. There are so many options in all price ranges…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Andrea Monica Hug (Instagram @andreamonicahug)
Stills: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. – Photo of the Ring: © Sandra Bauknecht

 You might wonder why I post wishes for Mother’s Day two days after the actual celebration. The reason is that I would like to remind everyone that we should worship our mums every single day. I read this amazing quote recently: “Call your mother. Tell her you love her. Remember you’re the only person who knows what her heart sounds like from the inside.” It’s so true!

Surprise her! Personally speaking, I was over the moon when those CHANEL must-haves found their way into my closet this weekend.

Protest-inspired, with slogans like ‘Make Fashion Not War‘ and ‘Feministe Mais Feminine,’ the S/S 2015 bags and accessories make a huge statement and every women’s heart leap with joy.
In CHANEL stores now.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Of all the special joys in life, the big ones and the small,
a mother’s love and tenderness is the greatest of them all.

Happy Mother’s Day 2014 to all the caring and courageous mums out there! While appreciation for any parent should be every day of the year, I still love to extra appreciate my mom on this special occasion. Dear Mama, I feel blessed to have you in my life, a true inspiration, my best friend, you’re my mother, I would have no other! I love you!

Touch your mum’s heart with a sentimental poem or gift her with a little surprise (If you have forgotten about Mother’s Day, get her a little gift online and hand her a voucher). Your mother will surely appreciate the heartfelt emotions and treasure them forever.

From left to right:
Heart-intarsia cashmere sweater by Chinti and Parker
Heart-print cotton-voile shirt by Chinti and Parker
Heart-print cutout-back bandeau swimsuit by Stella McCartney
Rose, geranium and jasmine pebble soap set by Bamford

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: net-à-porter

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, the 11th of May and I have the perfect gift idea for you: a self-designed Mother’s Day beauty basket. There are no limits to your creativity. Amongst some amazing beauty products, you can place finest pralines, macarons and chocolate truffles, a CD with chill-out music and a bottle of champagne. A great way for daughters to give their moms a relaxing little break from everyday life including an extra portion of beauty care.

Great news is that I have already a finished basket for you to win with some beautiful products from the house of Olaz, including the ultra famous Olaz Beauty Fluid has been around since 1952. Being bestseller for 60 years, its texture has thrilled women around the globe. It provides the skin with moisture and lends immediately an incredibly fresh appearance. Furthermore the fluid is a true multitasker: Placed in the fridge, it becomes a perfect cooling lotion during summertime. When applied to the hands, it makes them soft and smooth and with some glitter powder mixed, the fluid leaves the skin with a beautiful shimmering glamour effect.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Olaz releases a limited edition in a special packaging design of its iconic product.

Olaz Beauty Set for a self-designed Mother’s Day gift basket:
Olaz Beauty Fluid Limited Edition (CHF 9.45) provides the skin with moisture.
Olaz Regenerist 3 Point Cleansing System (CHF 52.20) for a cleansing massage.
Olaz Regenerist Regenerating Cream Cleanser (CHF 15.50) for effective skin cleansing.
Olaz Total Effects CC Cream (CHF 39.90) for an instantly improved skin tone.
Olaz Total Effects Night Firming Treatment (CHF 26.90) fights the signs of aging.

The package has a total value of CHF 143.35 and one lucky lady can win it.

To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Mother’s Day with Olaz” to . All entries must be received until May 1st, 2014. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules. The winner has to have a Swiss address.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Olaz

Today’s post is dedicated to my very own little family. Thank you so much for the lovely Mother’s Day I had! You truly have spoilt me. First of all, I woke up with my daughter’s arms around my neck to a bouquet of my favourite flowers, peonies, as you can see in my collage above. I am so proud of her as she came up with the most creative idea ever. She gave me a wall clock that she had embellished with photos of us. How cool is that?!

Then, she had convinced her Daddy to get me this gorgeous ‘Diorette Marguerite‘ ring, the miniature version of my beloved ‘Diorette‘ ring. She handed it to me while telling me how much she loves me. Being a mum is the best job ever, since the payment is pure love…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Swatch has created a beautiful Mother’s Day gift set that consists of five Matryoshka dolls and three Swatch watches hidden within. These famous Russian dolls tell the story of three generations; mother, daughter & grand-daughter. Look inside to find three brightly coloured, floral watch designs (New Gent, Gent and Lady) wrapped around the ladies waists.
The set is available for CHF 200.00.

Happy Mother’s Day means more than flowers and gifts. It means saying thank you. But in case you are in need of a last minute surprise, CLICK HERE TO SHOP A NET-A-PORTER VIRTUAL GIFT CARD that will be delivered directly one second later to your mom’s inbox.

Happy Mother’s Day to my fabulous Mom. I love you very much!!!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swatch

Here in Zurich, we have been anxiously awaiting for the flowers to bloom and the sun to shine. Finally, spring is here and you might be in the mood to look for a new scent. Roses are offering a modern twist on tradition and floral motifs have served as the main themes for some of the new fragrance launches .

Here are my three favourites highlighting the light and soft aspect of a rose, enhanced by feminine fruity notes. I hope that you will enjoy my mini-reviews for you.

EAU DE CARTIER Goutte de Rose

For Spring 2013, Cartier has launched a flanker to their best-selling Eau de Cartier from 2001, with the beautiful name Goutte de Rose. It is a bright and joyful fragrance, infused with the delicacy of a freshly picked garden rose, created by the French Maison’s in-house perfumer, Mathilde Laurent.

FLORAL
Top notes: Rose and yuzu
Middle notes: Violet, mulberry and litchi
Base notes: Cedarwood and lemon

Available as Eau de Toilette for CHF 65.00 (50ml), CHF 97.00 (100ml) and CHF 127.00 (200ml).

BALENCIAGA L’Eau Rose

The French fashion house’s newest flanker retains the iconic chypre character and violet accord of the original Balenciaga fragrance rom 2010. By adding luminous floral and fruity accords, the fragrance goes in a beautiful refreshing direction.

CHYPRE FLORAL
Top notes: Blackberry
Middle notes: Patchouli, rose and violet
Base notes: Musk, cedar and cypress

Available as Eau de Toilette for CHF 115.00 (50ml) and CHF 139.00 (100ml).
In Switzerland exclusively at Marionnaud.

pureDKNY A Drop of Rose

I have been enjoying the third fragrance in the pureDKNY series, quite much. The emphasis is on including roses that have been grown and harvested with care in the Turkish Isparta Valley by supporting CARE, an organisation helping lift women around the world out of poverty. The bottle is 100% recycable and the packaging is biodegradable as well. This scent is more than a fragrance – a state of mind, a way of being.

FLORAL
Top notes: Blackcurrant and Turkish rose
Middle notes: Magnolia and verbena
Base notes: Cedar and vanilla

Available as Eau de Parfum for CHF 59.00 (30ml), CHF 89.00 (50ml) and CHF 123.00 (100ml).
Body Butter CHF 57.00 (200ml) and Body Wash CHF 45.00 (200ml).

Wouldn’t one of this fragrances be a lovely surprise for Mother’s Day?! For more rosy gift ideas, have a look at this post.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

Don’t forget, on Sunday we are having a (MOM)ent. Here are some more ideas for a lovely gift for Mother’s Day.

Your mother is your first (and best) friend. Make her day all over again with something she adores like one of those recently launched fragrances.

LoL, Sandra

JOHN RICHMOND – VIVA ROCK
Eau de Toilette, CHF 46.- (30ml), CHF 84.- (50ml) and CHF 112.-(100ml)

Floral Aldehydic
Sophisticated and young, the perfect scent for a woman who loves life.

Top notes: Sicilian mandarin, carambola and cactus
Heart notes: Damascena rose, jasmine and cherry blossom
Base notes: Musk, iris and amber

KENZO FLOWERTAG
Eau de Parfum, CHF 81.- (30ml) and CHF 110.70 (50ml)

Floral Fruity Gourmand
Inspired by the urban art of graffiti, this intense version is all about sensuality.

Top notes: Grapefruit, black currant and rhubarb
Heart notes: Gardenia, jasmine and peony
Base notes: Praline, vanilla, patchouli and musk

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ – FOR HER EAU DE PARFUM DELICATE
Eau de Parfum, CHF 147.- (125ml)

Oriental Woody
A limited edition fragrance – an expression of femininity and gracefulness.

Top notes: Rose and peach
Heart notes: Musk and amber
Base notes: Oud, patchouli and sandalwood

HERMES – VOYAGE D’HERMES PARFUM
Perfume, CHF 105.- (35ml), CHF 151.- (100ml) and CHF 146.- (125ml Refill Bottle)

Woody Floral Musk
Classy, stylish and  rich – for the independent woman.

Top notes: Cardamom, lemon and spices
Heart notes: Hedione, floral notes with accentuated rose, green and tea notes
Base notes: Amber and musk

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the brands