Sandra‘s Closet

In July, I showed you already a sneak preview of the gorgeous OPI The Man With The Golden Gun top coat, which contains real flecks of 18kt gold. For the previous post, please click here.

Of course, I was so excited to try it out myself and I have to say that it is an amazing product as it makes your manicure last forever. I wore it in Paris for fashion week and got lots of compliments for it.

Now I would like to present you the complete range by OPI for this holiday season, that pays homage to the 50th Anniversary of movie icon James Bond. This special line of nail polishes – named after the latest 007 movie Skyfall – features 13 limited-edition nail lacquers.

“From metallic and glitter finishes to jewel tones and even a jet black, these lacquers capture the film’s sophisticated and glamorous look.” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. The Skyfall nail polishes are even featured in the latest Bond movie by actress Bérénice Marlohe.

The OPI Skyfall Collection will be available in Switzerland starting November, 1st, 2012 for CHF 23.90 and CHF 49.90 for the top coat “The Man With The Golden Gun”.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Courtesy of OPI and IMDb

OPI has a very special treat in store for all of you this Holiday 2012! In celebration of James Bond’s Golden Anniversary OPI is releasing their first-ever 18 karat gold leaf top coat “The Man with the Golden Gun” together with a complete nail polish collection of 12 shades (The Spy Who Loved Me, Casino Royale, You Only Live Twice, Die Another Day, Skyfall, GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough, Moonraker, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Living Daylights, Live And Let Die, Tomorrow Never Dies) dedicated to the famous spy.

“For 50 years Bond beauties have graced the big screen with their dazzling looks and opulent style, and gold has always played a prominent role,” commented Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI’s executive VP and Artistic Director, in the press release.

Inspired by the world of 007, this stunning top coat contains real 18 karat gold and comes packaged in a special limited edition collectable gold bottle – the ultimate holiday gift!

Burgundy and golden nails were all over the F/W 2012 runways. So get your hands on this combination for the ultimate new season manicure. Available October 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI

Next stop: Salt Lake City, Utah.
The state’s capital is first and foremost known as home of the Mormon’s headquarter. The influence of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) can be felt everywhere. The city was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young and his Mormon followers, who extensively irrigated and cultivated the arid valley. It is such a clean and neat place that has a lot of beautiful old buildings. I was there Sunday and it was all closed due to the religious tradition.

Mormons self-identify as Christian, though some of their beliefs differ from mainstream Christianity. Between 1852 and 1890 many Mormons openly practiced plural marriage, a form of religious polygamy, which is not allowed anymore. Today, it is practiced only by fundamentalist groups that have broken with the LDS Church.

My look to explore the city: Lace top and denim skirt by Stella McCartney, small Marcie hobo bag in Skylight blue by Chloé, Audrey wayfarer sunglasses by Céline and embellished thong sandals by Prada.
On my nails: Fly (turquoise) with one layer of Save me (hologram silver glitter), both from the Nicki Menaj by OPI collection.

Let me take you on a tour through the city and enjoy some photos of my outfit.

LoL, Sandra

View from the top: The skyline of Salt Lake City in front of the mountains.

Salt Lake City is very close to the Great Salt Lake which you can see in the back.

Utah State Capitol

In the back: Temple Square in Downtown Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake Temple is one of the most iconic images of the LDS Church.

Assembly Hall

Mormon Tabernacle, home of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir, that is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir.

Shopping Mall: City Creek Center

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

OPI has just launched a vintage Minnie Mouse nail polish line that includes four colours that are perfect for summer!

Nothin’ Mousie ’bout It – Don’t squeak it – SHOUT IT! This confetti light pink is tops!
(My favourite, I love the pale pink hearts in this nail polish, similar to OPI’s Heart to Resist)
I’m All Ears – 
Tell me how much you love this magenta shimmer.
If You Moust You Moust – 
You gotta pink what you gotta pink.
The Color of Minnie – 
You had this little mouse at “red.”

The cute collection will be in stores in Switzerland starting July 2nd, 2012.
CHF 23.90 per 15ml bottle.

LoL, Sandra

In stores now are OPI‘s new six limited edition nail lacquers and a new shatter, inspired by Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man.
With an all-star cast including Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, this highly-anticipated series reboot opens in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The film villain’s reptilian look can be replicated with a high-fashion twist by using the new deep green shimmer Shatter coat.  Shatter the Scales is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter the Scales from matte to glossy in seconds.

Shatter the Scales

The line features six nail lacquers in addition to Shatter the Scales, ranging from white, coral and pink to mood-setting hues of blue, nickel and yellow-green:

From left to right:
Shatter the Scales
Green shatter top coat.

My Boyfriend Scales Walls
Climb new heights with this cityscape white.

Call Me Gwen-ever
Girlfriend, be sure to pick up when this urgent coral calls.

My Boyfriend Scales Walls
Climb new heights with this cityscape white.

Just Spotted the Lizard
Be seen in this reptilian yellow-green.

Number One Nemesis
Show your metal in this sparkling nickel.

Into the Night
This perfect midnight blue was made for prowling.

Just Spotted the Lizard on my nails

This limited edition promotion is available in Switzerland for CHF 23.90.
Have fun flying high with those new must-have shades and stay tuned for OPI’s newest collection coming up that is inspired by Germany, my home country with funny names for the shades such as “Don’t Pretzel My Buttons”, “Nein! Nein! Nein! OK fine!” and “Every Month is Oktoberfest”.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

OPI launches six new shades, inspired by the world renowned New York City Ballet.

The line includes (from left to right): My Pointe Exactly, a soft gray; Care to Dance?, a pastel purple; You Callin’ Me A Lyre?, a pinkish-orange; Bare My Soul, a pink-grey; Don’t Touch My Tute!, an off-white; and Pirouette My Whistle, a glittery silver.

My favourites: Pirouette My Whistle, Care to Dance? and You Callin’ Me A Lyre?

Take your nails to a new level of style in a hop, skip, and a jeté. A must have collection for prima ballerinas everywhere.
Available in Switzerland April 15, 2012 for CHF 23.90 each. Already in stores in the US.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of OPI and © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I would like to introduce you to Yves Saint Laurent’s newest nail polishes duos Les Manucure Couture Les Fauves that are available now in four different combinations, only in selected department stores for CHF49 each.

Duo N° 1 – Griffe Dorée – Gold and Black Shatter

Duo N° 2 – Griffe d’Argent – Silver and Black Shatter (on my nails below)

Duo N° 3 – Griffe de Sable –  Beige and Black Shatter

Duo N° 4 – Griffe de Jade – Khaki and Black Shatter

What looks like you just stepped out of a nail salon is actually quite easy to apply yourself and it is a lot a fun watching the effect happen. So how does it work exactly? Shatter polish is a special top coat applied over your regular nail colour that gives a “crackled” effect on the finish. As the shatter coat is matte, you can apply a topcoat for a high gloss finish if desired.

OPI was among the first ones to introduce the shatter polishes. Below you can see some of my favourite combinations.

LoL, Sandra

OPI Spark de Triomphe (gold) with OPI White Shatter on top

NARS Ecume (white) with OPI Blue Shatter on top

Have a look at the new Holland Collection by OPI: Inspired by the country’s range of beautiful shades – as seen in vivid tulips, windmill-dotted hillsides and bustling canals – the collection’s twelve colours offer a mixture of sophisticated neutrals and highly-pigmented brights.

My favourite colour is the shimmery “I don’t give a Rotterdam” (Photo: ©Sandra Bauknecht).

The new collection will be available in Switzerland starting February 15, 2012 for CHF 23.90 each.

LoL, Sandra

Can you imagine how I was dancing with joy when I received that beautiful red box with the twelve new shades for OPI’s F/W 2011 collection, so-called “Touring America”…

OPI hits the road with those coast to coast classics. Inspired by Americana and cities with rich cultural heritage like Philadelphia or Memphis, the hues go from cool heather to chic khaki, from warm chocolate to bright peach.

Let me take you on the ultimate tour across the USA and enjoy this rich palette of colours complementing perfectly the trends from the F/W 2011 runways.

Available around the world starting August 3, 2011.
To find a shop in Switzerland, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

From left to right:

A-taupe the Space Needle
You’ll climb to new heights with this creamy-rich taupe.

Suzi Takes the Wheel
Buckle up—she’s not stopping until she gets to gray!

Get in the Expresso Lane
An amped-up dark brown that’ll never letcha down!

French Quarter for Your Thoughts
Want beads? Then show us your sexy gray nails!

From left to right:

My Address is “Hollywood”
We put this pretty rose-pink on the map.

Color to Diner For
I’ll take the rosy-red with a side of “awesome.”

Are We There Yet?
Don’t make me reach back there and take that perfect melon shade!

I Eat Mainely Lobster
We “clawed” through crowds to catch this coral for you.

From left to right:

Road House Blues
In this case…R&B stands for “Really Blue.”

I Brake for Manicures
This gorgeous eggplant-plum has our full attention.

Uh-oh Roll Down the Window
You’re gonna wanna pull over for this “unexpected” olive green.

Honk if You Love OPI
Don’t let this gorgeous dark grape pass you by.

Get your sword and parrot ready for some nail fun in May with the new OPI Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides collection featuring six limited edition cool pastel lacquer shades and the treasure trove, so-called Silver Shatter top coat, a crackling shimmery two-texture silver finish, following on from the success of OPI’s Black Shatter top coat.

Disney’s highly-anticipated fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise is directed by Rob Marshall and features an all-star cast, including Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

Jump on-board the Black Pearl to find your own treasure with those new shades:

Sparrow Me the Drama, a cool shade of pink. Steady as She Rose, a pearly pale pink. Skull & Glossbones, a desirable nude with a hint of pale khaki grey.

Mermaid’s Tears, a sea foam pale pastel green. Stranger Tides, uncharted shade of oyster. Planks A Lot, a lavender purple shade.

And apart from The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides collection, OPI has more exciting news. Due to its big success, the Shatter line will be expanded in May with the addition of three new trendsetting shades: Blue, Navy and Turquoise.

With nautical hues of cobalt, indigo and sapphire, these blues provide the perfect look for summer nails in one simple step. Inspired by graffiti art, Shatter leaves behind a crackled, two-texture finish when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.
Cannot wait to dip my finger nails in those hues!

LoL, Sandra