Sandra‘s Closet

Ariana Grande has been named as the new MAC Viva Glam frontwoman following in the same footsteps as Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna among other celebrities.

The 22-year-old singer will represent the Viva Glam branch of the famous beauty brand, which sells limited edition products with the proceeds going to charity.

Good girl? Bag girl? Ariana’s range includes her dark matte plum lipstick (CHF 28.00) and her shimmering light baby pink lip gloss (CHF 26.00). Show your both sides and don’t forget it’s for charity, every cent from the selling price of Viva Glam lipstick and lipgloss goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Available in Switzerland from January 21, 2016 at all MAC counters and online.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s Costume Institute in New York City and marks the grand opening of its annual fashion exhibit. Celebrating this year’s theme “China, Through The Looking Glass”, it seems to be one of the most challenging yet. See below who honored China’s heritage and its present culture on the red carpet best.

This year’s award to best dressed of the night goes to:

Rihanna wearing Chinese designer Guo Pei

The butt girls:

Jay Z and Beyoncé in Givenchy

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West in Roberto Cavalli

Donatella Versace and Jennifer Lopez, both in Atelier Versace.

Best Chinese inspirations:

Zendaya Coleman in Fausto Puglisi

Karolina Kurkova in Tommy Hilfiger

I am always looking forward to seeing Sarah Jessica Parker‘s outfit because she has never let us down in pulling off the best looks. And let’s just say the headpiece combined with her H&M dress is divine.

Georgia May Jagger in Gucci and Alessandro Michele

Chloë Sevigny in J.W. Anderson

Very sophisticated: Tom Ford and Rita Ora in his design.

Alexa Chung in Erdem

George Clooney and Amal Clooney in Maison Margiela

Not so inspired by the Chinese theme… but great to watch:

Jeremy Scott kissing Kate Perry‘s hand who is wearing Moschino.

Also Madonna wore Moschino.

Stella McCartney framed by Cara Delevingne, Sofia Richie, and Zhu Zhu, all dressed in her designs.

Alexander Wang kissed by Lady Gaga in Balenciaga

Miley Cyrus and Zoë Kravitz dressed in Alexander Wang.

Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection

Robert Pattinson and FKA twigs in Christopher Kane (definitely not my favorite gown of the night).

Supermodel Joan Smalls arrived at the Met Gala in a black tulle and purple silk one-sleeved Roberto Cavalli gown with cutouts and sheer paneling. Her date was the newly appointed designer of the Italian fashion house Peter Dundas. Isn’t this gown to die for?!

Anna Wintour in Chanel

LoL, Sandra

Photos via: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com, Moschino, Vogue and Style.com

Greetings from New York City where I am at the moment for the launch event of Alexander Wang x H&M. The highly anticipated collection which had been announced back in April, will finally hit H&M stores around the world on November 6, 2014.

While I am writing this post, I am enjoying the view from my room at the Soho Grand hotel.

The invitation says it all. Tonight, the cocktail reception will start at 7.30pm, followed by the show, a pop-up store where we can buy the collection first hand and a live performance which I am absolutely convinced will be amazing.

Do you remember Nicki Minaj and Prince playing at the Versace x H&M launch in 2011 or the amazing party to celebrate Maison Martin Margiela x H&M two years ago in NYC? We always talk superlatives. Be sure to follow me tomorrow on instagram @sandrascloset for live updates.

By now you might have seen some sneak previews of the very sporty collection. The press release reveals that Alexander Wang X H&M captures the speed of the city, mixing sports and performance of everyday life. The pieces are meant to be worn on the street, in the gym, at the club – the way women and men live their lives today.

Rihanna led the way and was already spotted in a look from the collection: a stretchy crop top and leggings emblazoned with Wang’s blocky logo.

In addition to apparel for both women and men, the collection includes shoes and bags, as well as “objects,” a selection of everyday items that are infused with a sense of humor and irony, as for example mini sized boxing gloves as key-rings or a whistle on a two-finger ring and for the victor, a magnetized Alexander Wang trophy cup.

Below you can enjoy a sneak preview of the advertising campaign shot by Mikael Jansson for Wang’s one-off collaboration with H&M that features sports gear like a hockey stick and boxing gloves plus real athletes, soccer player Andy Carroll and kickboxer Rivaldino dos Santos.

The female models are Joan Smalls, Raquel Zimmermann and Isabeli Fontana.

“We wanted to take certain elements of each sport and portray the ultimate warrior,” Wang told WWD. “The girls had to feel big and heroic, and Mikael used sunlight glares to heighten that effect against a stark white backdrop.”

I am truly excited for tonight’s event! Stay tuned for more!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of H&M

Great news for my Swiss readers! The extra big September Issue of L’OFFICIEL Schweiz/Suisse will hit the newsstand nationwide tomorrow and subscribers will find it already in their mailboxes today!

On the cover is Rihanna sporting the must-have military khaki trend in perfection!

F/W 2014: Calvin Klein Collection – Isabel Marant – Balmain

Get her look: Stretch-cotton gabardine jacket, cotton-gabardine vest (pictured in leather) and brushed cotton-blend twill skirt, all by Balmain.
Berbère 18-karat rose gold link ring by Repossi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Stéphane Feugère

MAC Cosmetics has chosen Rihanna as their new spokesperson for 2014.
The dynamic beauty launches her VIVA GLAM campaign with sultry yet chic lipstick and lipglass in a creamy red frost. Personally speaking, I find her a great match.

The MAC AIDS Fund and the VIVA GLAM program are the heart and soul of the American makeup brand. Every cent of the selling price of those specially launched lip products is donated to the fund and goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Really worth supporting!

I totally agree with Rihanna who said: “To me makeup is a major accessory. It can change an outfit, it can make the outfit, it can be the outfit, and that’s why I like to play with it. Lipstick can glam up a whole look- especially in red.” Buy yours and help!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Co. all came to watch Opening Ceremony‘s runway debut that took place yesterday evening at Pier 57 in New York City. The runway felt like a scene of Fast & Furious when the audience spotted a row of very luxurious cars of which the models were exiting.

The collection was, of course, ultra-cool, coming from designer duo Humberto Leon and Carol Lim (who are also the masterminds behind Kenzo’s success) and inspired by street-racing with layers, buckles, visible zippers, and parachute-like shapes.

I had the honour to go backstage before the show and to meet Carol Lim in person.

Another amazing highlight was the interview with Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director for Estée Lauder, who was in charge for the runway show’s makeup look.

I love Tom, he is so sweet with his very charming French accent. It is always a pleasure talking to him and listening to his beauty secrets. I had interviewed him already two years ago (For the previous post, please click here).

Estée Lauder and Opening Ceremony have teamed up to dress Estée Lauder’s beauty advisors around the globe. Please tell me a little more about it.

It was a big challenge. You need to create clothes for different countries, different characters, bodies, you have to be able to wash and dry them easily, best without ironing, so you have to find the right material. Makeup should be like that, too.

What do you hope that stands out the next season?

Beauty and indivisuality. The makeup is not about looking good is about feeling good. My job is to bring a proposal, like every fashion brand does. Afterwards you will have to decide if you like to embrace it. I don’t like to dictate a rule.

Is there a special reason why you give a kind of massage to the models in the beginning?

The models are working very hard, much harder than we do. They need a little bit of love, it is a great way to connect, to relax. You do a better job if the person on the chair feels good. When you do a massage, you relax all the muscles, you activate the blood circulation. By performing the massage, in terms of skin quality, you get a much better result. The makeup stays longer, the complexion looks more radiant.

The cheeks for your look seem very contoured?

Yes, because the young girls with their baby cheeks love to have a little bit of contour.

Do you have a favourite product right now?

Every day is different, every model and skin texture is different. A good concealer, a nude lipstick, a white and black eye pencil are among my essentials.

Do you think the red lips will stand out the next season?

The red lips will always be in. Orange will go, red will stay. It is pure femininity.

Personally speaking, what are you doing to find always new inspirations?

I work with talented people. I have been working for three decades and I am terribly afraid to work by myself. I love to meet new people, like Humberto and Carol, Derek Lam, all such creative people. The sharing is the most important thing.

MAKEUP: Tom Pecheux for Estée Lauder

Eyes: Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint in Halo, Pink Zinc or Chained (Matched with Skintone)

Lips: NEW Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Insatiable Ivory – launching March 2014

Cheeks: Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer (Matched with Skintone)

Brows: NEW Double Wear Stay-in-Place Brow Lift Duo – launching January 2014

Face: Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup
Lucidity Translucent Loose Powder in Transparent
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer

Skin: NEW Revitalizing Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme – launching November 2013
Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher
Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Male

NAILS: Naomi Nails for Estée Lauder

Nails: Nail Lacquer in Blue Blood
Overlay design: White and light blue acrylic paint

The hair was kept in a low tousled ponytail for the show. I have just loved every single detail of this look and hope that you have enjoyed it, too.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Getty and Estée Lauder

Treat yourself! It’s the patriotic thing to do and this was my motto for the day of the Fourth of July. After a lovely yoga session at the beach early in the morning, I wore my new stars and stripes bikini for a lazy day at the pool followed by a little shopping tour in the afternoon at The Shops at Wailea, a sweet little mall close to my hotel.

My look, of course Hawaiian-inspired:

Orchid printed T-shirt by Givenchy (also a favourite of Rihanna and Liv Tyler), denim mini skirt by Dolce & Gabbana, Audrey wayfarer sunglasses by Céline, white and silver wedges by Prada Sport and Falabella shoulder bag by Stella McCartney.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and ©style.mtv.com

Starting from today, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, is on view until July 31, 2011 at the Metropolitan Museum’s second-floor Cantor Galleries.

So if you just can’t get enough after having seen Kate Middleton’s bridal dress, that was made by Sarah Burton for the house of McQueen, you might consider a trip to NYC. The designer’s costume institute retrospective features approximately 100 ensembles and 70 accessories from the late designer’s prolific 19-year carreer with some outstanding pieces from the Givenchy Archive in Paris, custom-made items from the closet of Isabella Blow and even his graduate collection at Central St.Martins among others.

To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, the Museum’s Costume Institute Benefit took place Monday night with high-profile guests in high-profile fashion. The Met gala has anyway become over the years the fashion community’s biggest red carpet night. It was no wonder to spot some McQueen tributes to the mix.

My favourite two looks by Alexander McQueen were Gisèle Bündchen who looked so radiant in her red gown next to her husband Tom Brady…

… and Anna Dello Russo, known for her eclectic style, showed up in a pant suit from the S/S 2011 collection, divine!

As for me, the ultimate highlights were the „Stella Girls“ with Stella McCartney herself making an appearance in a black and white tuxedo gown of her own design. It was a modern, probably experimental but uncoventional look. The British designer is also a Co-Chair for the fundraising event.

The Stella McCartney parade was led by Madonna in a silky blue gown with a beautiful embroidered train. With her 50’s hair and make-up, she looked very Hollywood. Wow!

Very pregnant Kate Hudson glowed in her champagne-coloured Stella gown and long tousled hair.

This is my favourite. Gwyneth Paltrow chose to go with long sleeves which was a popular trend at the gala. So simple and absolutely stunning. The actress is good friends with the British designer.

Rihanna in a one-shoulder black lace gown, an iconic Stella look!

Adding some colour drama, Eva Mendes enhanced her complexion by wearing a cobalt blue plissé dress by Stella McCartney. So beautiful!

What a night!

LoL, Sandra

Thank you to all of you who were sending me such sweet e-mails regarding my outfit that I wore to the Chanel show in Paris last month (see photo in the middle below). Some of you were curious about the colourful fur stole, so let me tell you more about it.

The fashion world has declared Prada’s hot accessory from the S/S 2011 runway show as the must-have item. Just look at who’s already been spotted with it.

First on the scene with the stole was no other than ueber-stylish editorilista herself, Anna Dello Russo.

Marc Jacobs wore it casually draped around his neck to party with Kanye West while Mary-Kate Olsen was trying to hide from the paparazzi with it. It has appeared in many editorials and Rihanna sported the stole in her latest music video for her single “S&M”.

It comes in an array of vibrant colours and is perfect to work this season’s colour block trend.

As it is mostly sold out worldwide, I have some exciting news for you. There are three pieces left in Switzerland. For further enquiries and the colour combinations available, please contact this number: +41 43 2110943.

Below you can enjoy some close-up shots of my “baby”. Aren’t those colours divine?!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

They are loved and worn by Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Kate Perry: The crazy sunglasses by Kerin Rose. From lace-covered to paint-spattered, those sunnies might probably fail to fulfill their original purpose but they are definite eyecatchers. Being one-of-a-kind statement pieces with a rockstar allure, they are the perfect accessories for your next 80s revival party.
So go big, go hard, and go far! And do not take it too seriously…
Available at A-morir and Browns.

LoL, Sandra