Sandra‘s Closet

Butter London is a favorite among nail polish lovers around the globe. The high-quality texture is long-lasting, and first and foremost non-toxic (free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, and parabens). But mostly, the brand is standing out because of its huge range of offbeat hues.

Please let me introduce you the beautiful jewel-toned F/W 2011 collection (each $14):

From left to right:

Bluey – A slightly metallic dark peacock blue, perfect for fashionable birds.

Toff – A darker, dustier, brownish variation on a rose pink. Stop to smell them. The roses, not the toffs.

Knees Up – A smashing metallic red perfect for getting smashed in.

Wallis – A tarnished, metallic olive gold, as mysterious and regal as its namesake.

No More Waity, Katie – A soft, elegant greige shade with a splash of lilac glitter is the perfect marriage to combine fashion and fun.

No More Waity, Katie had been especially created for the Royal Wedding last April and was supposed to be limited edition. Due its huge success, the beautiful hue will stay and be part of the F/W 2011 collection.

Below you can see two of my favourite shades. For store locations, please click here (Unfortunately, Butter London is not yet available in Switzerland).

LoL, Sandra

Victoriana – a greyish green with silver sparkles, suede effect

Henley Regatta – a glittering emerald green with blue elements

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Finally we definitely know who is the designer behind Kate Middleton’s wedding gown. It’s Sarah Burton, the McQueen designer. I was right with my speculation a few weeks ago.

Kate, who is now Princess Catherine, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stunned the crowd in an English and French Chantilly lace gown worn with a 2.70m long train and a silk tulle veil. The ivory duchesse satin shoes were also handmade by the McQueen team.

The look reminded of Princess Grace’s wedding dress in 1956. Sarah Burton captured Kate’s style in the right way, very classy and kind of simple for the house of McQueen. Only the draping at the back side of the dress seemed like a reference to the late designer. The Cartier tiara was lent to the bride by the queen.

Kate carried a secret love message by including „sweet william“ flowers in her bridal bouquet.

Here are some quotes of famous designers concerning the bridal look:

“She is very elegant,” Karl Lagerfeld said. “The dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor. I love the modest veil with the Queen Mother’s Thirties scroll tiara and balanced volume of the whole gown. She’s radiant; She never was so beautiful.”

“Kate’s dress was beautiful,” Donatella Versace said. “She looked very regal.”

Designer Elie Saab added: “It was a very elegant dress, subtly refined and discreet, in keeping with her style. I would have liked it even more with a little extra volume and a longer train.”

Oh what a royal wedding – congrats to the newly wed couple!

LoL, Sandra

In case that you don’t want to miss the big event, you can enjoy the royal wedding at a royal location and book Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s wedding tour.

With special access and hosted tours by first-hand family members and associates of the royal family to Kensington Palace, Chartwell, Spencer House, Althorp and Westminster Abbey, all venues which members of the public have not had access to before, this promises to be the truly majestic stay. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park also boasts the only private Royal Entrance from Hyde Park.

This exclusive itinerary for the Royal Wedding Tour at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is as follows:

Tuesday 26 April

Check in to the hotel. Pre dinner drinks and a welcome dinner, before retiring to a deluxe room.

Wednesday 27 April

A tour of Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill’s family home in Kent since 1924, with a special greeting from a member of the Churchill family and lunch at the nearby private family home.

That evening guests depart for Spencer House, the home of the Spencer Family, for drinks on the terrace overlooking Green Park followed by a private tour and dinner in The Great Room designed by James Athenian Stuart.

Thursday 28 April

The morning begins with a visit to The British Museum followed by lunch at The Wallace Collection with a special visit with the Director Dame Ros Saville.

Dinner will take place at the home of a member of the royal family, at their private London townhouse.

Friday 29 April

Visit the Institute of Contemporary Art with exclusive use of the venue and roof terrace overlooking The Mall. Guests will have unrestricted views of the royal wedding parade, nestled above the crowded streets and hustle below. Toast the happy couple with a glass of champagne before a sumptuous three course lunch served in the gallery.

After returning to the hotel, guests will then depart for Kensington Palace where the evening will begin with drinks in the sunken garden, followed by a tour by esteemed curator Nigel Arch and dinner in the newly restored Kings Gallery.

Saturday 30 April

Begin the day with a visit to the setting of the royal wedding, Westminster Abbey, with the Dean. This senior church in London is where great coronations, weddings and burials take place, and is an historic Royal Peculiar (a church whose jurisdiction falls directly under the monarch).

The afternoon allows time for a leisurely roam around London or perhaps a visit to The Spa at Mandarin Oriental to soothe aching muscles and unwind tired minds, followed by dinner at one of the hotel’s celebrated restaurants, Bar Boulud, London or Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

Sunday 01 May

The day starts with a trip to Northamptonshire for lunch at Althorp, the ancestral home of Diana Princess of Wales’ family since 1508.  A private visit and lunch will be hosted by a member of the Spencer family.

That evening, guests can enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel before departing on Monday morning in majestic triumph.

The Royal Wedding Tour package is priced from GBP 11,300 for one person and GBP 18,800 for two people sharing the same accommodation.  Valid between 26 April and 01 May only, inclusive of Full English Breakfast, exclusive of VAT at 20% and 5% discretionary service charge, subject to availability.  Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel directly on +44 (0) 207 201 3618, on email or through the direct on-line reservations service, www.mandarinoriental.com/london.

And if you cannot get enough to commemorate this momentous occasion or you are a little insane, I recommend this fancy product: A refrigerator is being unveiled in tribute to the century’s super wedding. GDHA, a distributor for GE appliances in the UK, has launched a 5’9” side-by-side fridge freezer emblazoned with one of the official engagement photographs of the couple.

This is your chance to keep the royal romance fresh! And it is not an April Fool’s joke!

LoL, Sandra