Sandra‘s Closet

No other than Cara Delevingne is the face of Yves Saint Laurent’s campaign for this year’s fall beauty look, so-called ELECTRIC CHIC. As described in the press release as Cara herself, the YSL woman “is urban, strong and self-confident. She knows how to play with cosmopolitan codes and contrasts. She gets inspired by the electric energy of the town. She accentuates all her facettes. She invents herself every day and every night.”

As always, here is a good look at the collection that is in stores now. The star products pay tribute to pop art and NYC’s street art.

The two limited edition graffiti-embellished eye palettes are called City Drive Classy (black and gold case), and City Drive Arty (fuchsia and gold case).

Left: PALETTE CITY DRIVE ARTY
Right: PALETTE CITY DRIVE CLASSY
CHF 89.00 each

BLUSH RADIANCE N°9 and N° 10
CHF 67.00 each

ROUGE PUR COUTURE N° 50- Rouge Néon, N° 51 – Corail Urbain, N° 53 – Beige Promenade – N° 54 – Prune Avenue
CHF 48.00 each

From left to right: EYELINER BABY DOLL N° 14 – Reflets Cuivre CHF 51.00
DESSIN DES LEVRES N° 20 – Mocha and N° 21 Sepia, CHF 35.00 each
MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS SHOCKING N° 8 – Noir Asphalte – CHF 49.00

LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 38 – Gris Underground, N° 39 – Beige Gallery (Limited Edition), N° 40 Sepia 7e Art (Limited Edition), CHF 38.00 each

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty

The star of YSL‘s Summer 2013 Baby Doll Collection is the house’s new mascara, applied in the ad campaign by Cara Delevingne. The gorgeous collection will also feature new shades of eyeliner and a limited edition glossy stain for lips and matching nail polish.

The new MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS BABY DOLL provides volume  and clean definition in one. The brush surrounds each lash with a breakthrough clump-free formula that is also protecting lashes from free radicals.

The micro-faceted brush is easy to use: lashes are multiplied, precisely defined and magnified. On one side, thick and spaced bristles coat the lashes and create volume. On the other side, fine and close bristles reach every lash, including the smallest lashes at the corner of the eye for a full fringe effect.

Available in 4 different colours.
(Fetish Black – Audacious Blue – Indiscreet Purple – Wheedler Brown)
VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS BABY DOLL N°01, N°02, N°03, N°04 – CHF 53.00

EYELINER BABY DOLL N°10, N°11, N°14, N°15, N°16  – CHF 51.00

VERNIS A LEVRÈS Baby Doll CHF 48.-
LA LAQUE COUTURE Rose Baby Doll CHF 37.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL

Ladies, save your money this month until the new YSL makeup collection for Spring 2013 will hit the shelves in Switzerland Mid February. The range just looks fab and is inspired by the beauty of precious stones. Its credo: “Let’s fight against boredom” – I am on and you?

YSL Arty Stone Makeup Collection comes in cool shades of mint and pink, purple and blue. “Pink quartz, amethyst, pyrite, malachite, azurite, jade, each possesses a hypnotic beauty. When you hold them in your hands, these precious stones diffuse energy and light, like galaxies. Their crystalline purity and voluptuous opalescence were the departure point for the creation of the Spring Look 2013 for Yves Saint Laurent,” explained Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director Make-up Yves Saint Laurent Beauté.

Pure Chromatics Eye Collector Palette – CHF 79.00 (One Shot)
Shades: Malachite, Fluorite, Amethyst, Azurite
Can be used wet and dry, 4 colours for endless combinations.

Dessin du Regard – CHF 36.00
N° 15 (One Shot) & N°16 (One Shot)

Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
N°21 Green Emerald (One Shot)

Crème de Blush – CHF 54.00
N°7, N°8, N°9

Volupté Sheer Candy – CHF 49.00
N°12 Tasty Raspberry
N°13 Griotte Mocha

Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres – CHF 48.00
N°27 Pêche Cerra-Colla
N°28 Grenat Acrylique
N°29 Rose Fourreau
N°30 Mauve Fusain

Volupté Sheer Candy – CHF 49.00
N°11 Frosted Mint (One Shot)

La Laque Couture – CHF 37.00
N°34 Jade Impérial
N°35 Bronze Pyrite (One Shot)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL and © Sandra Bauknecht

“If Yves Saint Laurent was a religion, his divinity would be a woman.”
Cotton-poplin shirt, chain-trimmed leather mini skirt, patent-leather escarpins and Cabas medium leather tote, all by Saint Laurent.

Complementing the house’s beautiful prêt-à-porter collections, Yves Saint Laurent launched many iconic and famous fragrances over the years:
1971 Rive Gauche  – for the woman, who asserts herself
1977 Opium – for the women, who is mysterious and sensual
1983 Paris – for the passionate woman
2009 Parisienne –  for the freedom-loving woman

2013, Manifesto – a declaration of feminity is added:
The expression of audacity, excess, and desire.  A bouquet of jasmine punctuated by green notes and a bold trail combining wood, vanilla, and tonka beans are the scent’s very own signature. In a flacon reminiscent of the silhoutte of a woman. The face of the fragrance is actress Jessica Chastain. The composition was developed by Anne Flipo and Loc Dong.

ORIENTAL FLORAL
Top notes: Bergamot and black currant
Heart notes: Sambac jasmine and lily of the valley
Base notes: Cedar, sandalwood, vanilla and tonka bean

EdP 30ml (CHF 84.-), EdP 50ml (CHF 124.-) and EdP 90ml (CHF 157.-)
In stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL and © Sandra Bauknecht

A Small World hosted the pre-launch party of Zurich’s new hot spot Aura last Thursday.
The location is gorgeous, home to a bar and smoker’s lounge, a restaurant and a nightclub which can be booked for special events. The large room is surrounded by projectors that can be part of a presentation or show.

Getting ready at home, I put on some upbeat music that got me psyched for the night. Great for dancing, I chose a pretty short dress and comfortable boots. 
My look: Knit dress by Alexander McQueen, purple “punk”-style fur bag by Tom Ford, overknee boots by Gucci and cocktail ring by Roberto Cavalli.

With night in full swing and the lights low you can afford to get stronger with your makeup. I went for smokey eyes paired with dark bold lips. Here are all the products I used:

FACE
1 NEW Teint Visionnaire by Lancôme
Launched this month, this first hi-tech make-up duo pushes the concept of perfect skin to an all-new level by the help of a high-coverage corrector enriched with vitamin CG and a perfecting foundation that reconciles perfect coverage, a natural finish and skincare efficacy.
2 Maestro Eraser by Giorgio Armani (the perfect lightweight concealer)

EYES
3 Pure Chromatics Collector’s Palette Arctic Night (limited edition) by YSL
4 Eye Color Quad in 10 Titanium Smoke by Tom Ford
5 Long-Wear Eye Pencil in Jet by Bobbi Brown (glides on smoothly, stays in place for hours)
6 NEW So Intense Mascara in Black by Sisley
The most innovating mascara that thickens, lengthens, curls and nourishes in one.
Easy application! In Switzerland available from February 2013.

LIPS
7 Cremestick Liner inVelvetella by MAC
8 Rouge Dior in 786 Mysterious Mauve by Christian Dior

CHEEKS
9 Bronzing Blush Duo in Orgasm/Laguna by Nars (for the ultimate sun-kissed radiance)
10 Météorites Wulong by Guerlain (pressed powder, great for highlighting)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Aura, A Small World and © Sandra Bauknecht

YSL Holiday look 2012, “Northern Lights”, is probably of the most wanted Christmas makeup collections with its beautiful colour palette inspired by the northern lights.

Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Makeup Director of YSL Beauty, says about the collection: “During my childhood I was fascinated by the northern lights – also known as Aurora borealis – with its incredible vitality and color, which can never forget in life. They inspired me to this collection with exceptionally bright colours, laced with violet and midnight-blue hues and dotted with pearl highlights like a grand night sky! “

My favourite products are from left to right:
PURE CHROMATICS Collector’s Palette Arctic Night (Limited Edition) – CHF 79.00
(It comes with this super-cute sequined pochette.)
LA LACQUE COUTURE Top Coat N°33 Première Neige (Limited Edition) – CHF 38.00
(For an irresistible frosty finish on your nails, reminiscent of the moonshine.)
GOLDEN GLOSS N°55 Bleu Artique & N°56 Rose Polaire (Limited Edition) – CHF 46.00
(Two scintillating sheer lip glosses that can be worn on bare lips or over your favourite lipstick.)

I absolutely adore the combination of LA LACQUE COUTURE N° 18 Bleu Majorelle (from YSL’s summer look 2012) with the Limited Edition Top Coat N°33 Première Neige. Hope that you will like it, too. The collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of YSL Beauty and © Sandra Bauknecht

This weekend, I was invited by Dior to the Zurich Film Festival that is celebrating the art of film in all its facets this year for the 8th time. In a very short amount of time, it has established itself upon the national and international festival landscape.

We started in the afternoon with the vernissage “Stars in Dior”, a beautiful exhibition of photographs featuring celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Sharon Stone, who have often worn creations by the house of Dior, whether they were designed by its founder or his successors, on the set, at cinema-related events or simply in their everyday life.

At the vernissage framed by Manuela Pastore (Sales Manager Parfums Christian Dior) to the left and Sonya Burch-Baumann (PR Manager Parfums Christian Dior) to the right.

Later, we went to the screening of “Love is all you need” (Den skaldede frisor), a film directed by Academy Award Winner Susanne Bier and starring Pierce Brosnan plus a famous Danish cast, among them Trine Dyrholm and Kim Bodnia.

The heartwarming story is very moving but at the same incredibly funny with a hint of absurdity. A hairdresser (Trine Dyrholm) who has lost her hair to cancer finds out her husband (Kim Bodnia) is having an affair, travels to Italy for her daughter’s wedding and meets a widower (Pierce Brosnan) who still blames the world for the loss of his wife.
Of course, nothing goes according to plan and yet everything works out in the end. The film was shown in Danish/English with German subtitles and I have to admit that the original soundtrack added even more charm to it.

The Dior after party took place at the Frauenbadi that was beautifully decorated.
What a great night!

My look: Black belted gown by Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, cropped fur jacket by Prada, feather stole, handbag and pearl multi-strand necklace by Dior, pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

In the end, Dior spoilt us even more with the wonderful coffee-table book “Stars in Dior” (Available in stores for around €45.-) and a bottle of the house’s recently launched fragrance: MISS DIOR – Le Parfum.

The scent is announced as elegant, sensual and intoxicating nocturnal perfume extract. The nose behind this fragrance is François Demachy who said he “wanted to bring something precious and luminous to the composition of Miss Dior Le Parfum, like an oriental jewellery set or the reflections of shimmering fabric.” Yet again, beautiful Natalie Portman is the face for the campaign, formerly she presented Miss Dior Cherie.

MISS DIOR – Le Parfum
Oriental – Chypre

Top notes: Mandarin
Middle notes: Bulgarian rose absolute and Turkish rose absolute
Base notes: Patchouli, amber and vanilla.

Available now for CHF 129.50 (40ml) and CHF 179.50 (75ml).
My new favorite, such a warm, beautiful and very feminine perfume. A must for all lovers of oriental fragrances.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior, IMDB and © Sandra Bauknecht

This winter, Ladies, we wear the pants! And to be precise, the cropped ones which draw attention to our ankles. Therefore, it is time to get a gorgeous pair of ankle boots.

Here are some of the most outstanding ones available at the moment:

1 Marychal 100 calf hair ankle boots by Christian Louboutin
2 Suede brogue ankle boots by YSL
3 Suede and snake-effect leather ankle boots by Miu Miu
4 Bi-colour ankle boots by Balenciaga
5 Gisèle suede ankle boots by YSL
6 Palma fuchsia ankle boots by Acne
7 Suede peep-toe platform ankle boots by Giuseppe Zanotti
8 Geometric-heel printed silk-covered leather ankle boots by Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem
9 Elsa boots by Sam Edelman

I couldn’t resist those beautiful suede and snake-effect leather ankle boots by Miu Miu.
Which ones are your favourites? Happy Saturday Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

It is this exciting time of the year when the new pieces for Resort 2012 are hitting the shelves. Indulge yourself with spring coolness and enjoy the vibrant colours. Probably you are one of the lucky ones leaving for an exotic hot spot. But even if you are going to the mountains, you could work this metallic leather mini skirt by Gucci with boots, tights and a great sweater perfectly. To shop the pieces, please just click on the highlighted text below:

Shopping Wish List

Intrecciato oxidized-silver bracelet by Bottega Veneta

Metallic leather mini skirt by Gucci

Croc-embossed leather mini skirt by Kelly Bergin

Printed silk blouse by Peter Pilotto

Tribtoo suede pumps by Yves Saint Laurent

Marlene feather and suede sandals by Jimmy Choo

Single quilted leather shoulder bag by Marc Jacobs

LoL, Sandra

Tata, we have a lucky winner for the amazing one-of-a-kind purple dress by Versace for H&M. As I told you there are only two in the world.

I wore mine to the Versace for H&M pre-sale last Wednesday with a black blazer by Stella McCartney, “Opaque” tights by Fogal, suede pumps by Yves Saint Laurent, “Nightingale” bag with panther print by Givenchy and my beloved “Diorette” ring by Dior Haute Joaillerie.

And the winner is… Courtney from Ancaster, Canada who will rock that dress with golden high heels and accessories to a holiday cocktail party. She will hopefully send me some pics along to feature her look here.

Thank you to my dear subscribers from everywhere in the world for participating! The winner of this prize draw was chosen at random. Stay tuned as there will be another exciting competition coming soon on Sandra’s Closet.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Streetstrut