Swiss Luxury – Page 5

Posted on January 16, 2021February 4, 2021 by — Leave a comment

The January Beauty Edit

The glacial cold and snow outside combined with the third national lockdown in Switzerland is all the more reason to focus on your self-care routine. With Christmas over, I wanted to share with you my favorite monthly beauty goodies…

First up is Fullord’s “Carré de Soie” perfume. It is such a luxurious and expensive smell that I was hooked the second I smelt it. I almost wanted to keep it a secret and not share this scent with you – it’s just that good! It is my current obsession and I love it so much. It is an exclusive scent that was developed by the Firmenich Fragrance House for Fullord. Captivating and with a slight powdery note to it, I cannot tell you how pleased I am every time I spritz it on. It stays all day, so the longevity is excellent. Overall one of my favorite beauty buys.

Next is actually a brand I discovered at Harvey Nichols in my University years. It is a Danish skincare brand called Ole Henriksen. As you know Scandinavian women are pretty much flawless with or without makeup so I really trust this whole nation when it comes to cosmetics (trust me, I lived with two stunning Norwegian girls when I was a student and my gosh their skin was just flawless). Almost 8 years ago now I tried the Truth Serum. It is to this day the most divinely delicious smelling serums I have tried. Indeed this is one of the brand’s strong points: they strive to create a sensory experience with each of their products. So I was thrilled when Sephora launched Ole Henriksen in Switzerland. I was gifted the most wonderful skincare set including their 3 bestsellers:

C-Rush™ Brightening Gel Crème. This cream is exactly what you need during the winter cold. It has the coolest gel-cream texture. Pick me up packed with vitamin C. It smells insanely fresh and luxurious. You really feel like you are giving your skin some much-needed TLC.
Glow2OH™ Dark Spot Toner. This tonner is packed with powerful AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids) and reduces fine lines and dark spots.
PHAT Glow Facial™. This is the perfect product for your self-care Sundays. It is Ole Henriksen’s first one-step at-home facial filled with PHAs. Anti-aging, it instantly exfoliates and illuminates your skin. What’s more, the texture is very cool. A pink terracotta cream which when applied and massaged into your skin turns white.

Next, I want to share with you my favorite nail care product. With the cold weather and all the hand sanitizer I have been using, my hands and nails are pretty dry. So I have been doing a nail cure with Essie’s Help Me Grow. It is a 5-day nail strengthening polish which is great if you want to give your natural nails a fighting chance to grow. I already see huge improvements within the two weeks of using it and would strongly recommend it for anyone who’s looking to do a nail detox.

Now on to some fun and glitter! I am a huge fan of Too Faced. Their packaging is always on point and every year they launch the best Limited Edition Christmas Collections. This said, my current favorite palette is actually a classic and Switzerland Sephora Bestseller. It is the Too Faced Born This Way palette and it was actually a Christmas gift. I was so happy when I got it, I love Too Faced as I find the eyeshadow quality and pigment payoff so amazing. This particular palette is truly versatile yet totally wearable. It has a range of neutral shades each time featuring a sparkling and matte version. I have already been able to create some super fun looks with this Too Faced palette. On New Year’s Eve, I did a holographic glitter-eye and I also created the most sumptuous copper cat-eye which lasted all day. It’s great for all skin tones and even comes with a helpful makeup tutorial depending on your complexion. Overall it is just is such a great palette to have, especially for on-the-go as it’s super practical and portable.

Last but not least I want to share my favorite lipsticks. Revlon’s new Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipsticks. They launched in late 2020 and I received three gorgeous shades. The texture of them is superb, the finish is super shiny “glass-like” and the colors are gorgeous. I love the formulation as they are very moisturizing lipsticks made with hyaluronic acid, aloe, and rose quartz. This is great as they protect against chapped lips in the cold months. They also smell super delicious. My absolute favorite shade is Sparkling Honey, a soft, golden nude shade.

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Posted on January 8, 2021February 5, 2025 by — Leave a comment

Layers of luxury with Princess goes Hollywood

It seems that the winter weather in Switzerland is getting glacial to say the least! I was up in Verbier over Christmas and when I returned to Geneva the temperature just dropped. There was such a gorgeous layer of snow over the city this morning. This is extremely pretty but in terms of fashion, it can be quite a challenge to stay stylish. Layers of sumptuous cashmere sweaters have been helping me survive the biting cold at the moment. This is why I wanted to share with you a couple of looks to keep warm and cozy.

What’s more, I always feel rather flat after Christmas and New Year’s are over. So I wanted to share some fun fashion looks to keep your spirits up even when the weather is not on its best behavior.

Firstly let’s face it, in Geneva and most of Europe, chances are your winter outfit is made up of mostly all-black. But there is a way to keep that part of your winter wardrobe and still switch it up a bit. I’m talking of course of duo-tone looks. For example, mix up your mostly black looks with a bit of navy blue, dark red, silver-grey, or a touch of green. It still looks pulled together and you can continue to wear your usual black. With this in mind, let’s look at my first outfit…

Double Trouble: Burgundy & Black

I am absolutely in love with this two-toned velvet pleated skirt from Princess Goes Hollywood. It can be dressed down or up depending on the occasion, as I also styled it for a party look in this post here.

For a casual day look, I layered the long skirt under a black knitted cardigan also from Princess Goes Hollywood. It’s like a bit of a sexy grandma look as cardigans always have that connotation. So adding heels is a must. I chose some with a bit of a patent crocodile to contrast with the soft and comfy aspect of the top half of the look. Punctuating the look with a luxury Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Pochette Métis (borrowed from the stylish fashionista and friend, Miss Xenia).

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The next tip I want to share with you is for more adventurous fashion daredevils. The idea is to mix and juxtapose your evening accessories with everyday outfits. A soft, cozy sweater paired with statement earrings. Or else a pair of everyday jeans and stiletto heels. A sweatshirt with a luxury, monogrammed brooch pinned on it. You get the idea. The options are endless and ever so fun!

Cast a Wide Knit: Day meets Night

Here I played with proportions and mixed daywear with evening accessories. Flared jeans and an oversized fluffy jumper from Princess Goes Hollywood that had a definite retro vibe to them. Making sure to keep it modern by pairing the wide pants and a cozy sweater with a sleek updo. I selected quite a statement accessories that would traditionally be worn for an evening look, including my very much loved silver Bulgari Forever Serpenti bag and bold, gold earrings from Stein Kult. I was so pleased because the stones exactly matched the colors of my sweater, so that was a happy style accident. I love these earrings from Stein Kult as they look very luxurious. The brand itself is a Swiss one. They had amazing quality jewels, like the earrings and ring I’m wearing here. What I love as well is that the designer creates capsule collections based on her travels.

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So there you have it, a little style inspiration to start 2021 off.

For more fashion and Swiss-style tips, click here.

Posted on December 22, 2020March 14, 2022 by — 1 Comment

3 holiday party outfits

It’s officially the Christmas season! Which means, that aside from stocking up on Christmas gifts, it’s time to get dressed up and shimmy your way into the new year. I love the holiday season because I love to dress up. I enjoy doing my hair and makeup whilst blasting a bubbly music playlist in the back.

1. Velvet Muse

So with Christmas fast approaching I wanted to share with you three different holiday party looks. From sequins to all black ensembles, here are my favorite party options for the festive season…

Pair a long pleated skirt with a tight sweater embellished with jewels. Soft, dreamy and elegant. This is an easy way to look ladylike and festive at the same time. I contrasted the madame aspect of the Princess Goes Hollywood velvet skirt with some snake earrings from APM Monaco and my silver Bulgari Serpenti Forever bag.

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2. Black on Gold

An iconic combination that goes hand in hand with the holiday season, black and gold is such an easy and chic look. So why not exude instant classiness with an all black look offset with accents of gold jewelry. Below I combined a Princess Goes Hollywood festive black dress with gold necklaces from In Bloom, pearl hoops from Lov & Lav and a statement ring from Stein Kult. Topping off the look with a camel coat from Maje Paris.

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3. Glitter Galore

Amp up the glam with sequins and sparkles. This is if you’re going all out, and by goodness with the year we’ve had you should. Glam up and add as much sparkle to your outfit as you can. Below I have shared with you two different looks to show you how to wear glitter by night and by day. Either with this super Elisabetta Franchi dress or with a simple sequined t-shirt dress. The sequined T-shirt dress is a look I love wearing when I want to go from day to night. As it looks pulled together and is flattering if you are worried about looking a little bloated from eating too much at Christmas dinner!

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Posted on December 2, 2020February 5, 2025 by — 1 Comment

Winter Warmers

5 ways to beat the winter chills in style.

With the first snow flakes falling this week in Switzerland, I wanted to share some helpful fashion hacks on how to stay stylish even when it’s freezing cold outside.

There are three crucial elements to getting dressed when the temperature drops to subzero. First things first, choose your textiles wisely. Opt for HeatTech thermals, cashmeres, silks and wool to be sure your as warm as can be. Next be sure to layer like no other. Last but not least, use accessories to your advantage. Hats, scarves and gloves are not to be overlooked when winter sets in. They are great assets that can elevate any look whilst keeping you warm and toasty at the same time.

So with that said, I wanted to share with you my winter style hacks. So here are 5 essential that I like to keep on rotate during the bitterly cold days of the year:

1. Leather

Leather leggings, leather jackets, leather caps, leather boots… the list goes on! What I can say is that this autumn I made sure to stock up on leather leggings in taupe, stone grey and of course, black. Let me tell you they have been absolute lifesavers this season. Especially as leather looks so good when paired with softer textiles like a fluffy jumper or super soft cashmere.

2. Velvet

This is another textile that I love wearing during the winter months. It’s so soft, warm and comfortable. I love wearing velvet dresses as they feel so festive and velvet co-ords are great when travelling. Instantly injecting a bit of luxe into any look.

3. Cashmere

If you haven’t already guessed, I am a huge advocate of cashmere. I even dedicated an entire post to cashmere and how to style your sweaters. Cashmere is the ultimate, luxury basic which looks and feels fantastic. I love opting for neutral shades like oatmeal, black, beige and white. However, once in a while it’s nice to add a bit of color. A statement, bold blue or a deep orange cashmere can brighten up a dreary winter evening instantly. In fact, I have both these shades of cashmere that I bought in Paris from Maje. I love wearing them on a night out for example to brighten an all-black ensemble. Otherwise I opt for a tone on tone look. All grey or all beige which always looks polished and put together.

4. Faux fur

This can be tricky to get right. I firmly believe that you have to touch and feel the quality of the faux fur before anything else. It has to be soft and fluffy like a cuddly toy, otherwise it will look and feel cheap (which one should avoid at all costs!). My favorite faux fur coats are actually from a Geneva-based brand called Kattard Genève. They have the absolute best range of faux fur coats. The cuts are flattering and they have a very useful hood which is great if you forget to take your hat with you. What’s more they are machine washable. So you can really keep them for season after season. I bought three, that’s how much I love them!

5. Uniqlo’s HeatTech

These thermals were my life line when I was in London in the middle of a bitterly cold January a few years back. I bought one in nude, black and white so that I could layer them under everything I wore. They even have different necklines. Uniqlo teamed up with global textile maker Toray to create this unique HeatTech fabric. It’s ultra light, yet keeps you warm. Basically the synthetic fibers trap warm air the way heavy wool would, but they are lightweight instead of bulky. The texture is super soft and comfortable unlike some thick, itchy wools. Indeed so as to make this synthetic insulation fabric soft, Uniqlo treats the HeatTech fibers with milk proteins and amino acids. They also have a version which is double HeatTech for those extra icy days.

Posted on November 20, 2020November 22, 2020 by — 4 Comments

4 ways to wear cashmere this winter

Anna Swiss mermaid cashmere fashion guide

It’s winter’s most luxurious basic. Cashmere is a cold weather go-to classic. Be it a super soft cardigan or a rib-knit turtleneck, cashmere sweaters are an effortless way to stay in style this winter.

If you’re looking for high quality, cashmeres with cool, contemporary designs then Princess Goes Hollywood is the brand for you. This Swiss fashion brand is famous for their luxuriously cool cashmeres. Their collections feature a modern take on luxurious textiles featuring playful details such as pearl beads and crystal embellishments.

Cashmere is a textile that transcend seasons and will always be in style. Making it a winter wardrobe must-have. In fact, my love for cashmere stems from my years studying in Scotland. It was the first thing I purchased as a student, frozen by the highland winds I ran into the first store selected a soft, nude cable knit which became my faithful companion throughout university. What I love about cashmere is that it is incredibly soft and lightweight. You don’t need to have tons of layers to stay warm, just a good quality cashmere. Snuggly yet stylish, these sweaters will keep you warm all winter!

So let’s take a look at 4 classic winter knits and how to wear them.

Looking for timeless, winter-closet staples? Here are the 4 must-have sweaters for this season:

1. The cashmere cardigan

I am a huge fan of cashmere cardigans, they are amazing loungewear luxe pieces. They look effortlessly chic when thrown over a silk camisole in the evening or else paired with a graphic tee on the weekend. I love this plush, oatmeal colored cardigan that ties at the waist. Here I chose to play with textures a bit by layering this Princess Goes Hollywood cashmere cardigan with a black leather skirt, sheer tights and tall crocodile print, pointed boots.

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2. The black turtleneck

This is one of my wardrobe staples when the temperature drops. I love wearing turtlenecks and I pretty much own one in every colour. They are so easy to wear, warm and oh so effortlessly elegant. You can layer them or play with proportions like it did here. Pairing my black Princess Goes Hollywood turtleneck with one of their beautiful, beaded black tulle skirts. To glam up the look, I added a dash of red lipstick and a huge pair of Topshop earrings.

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3. The white cable knit

This chunky cable-knit is a classic preppy piece which looks great in the winter. Soft, light and amazingly warm this Princess Goes Hollywood ivory knit is a made of 100% Merino Wool and makes a wonderful wardrobe staple. What’s more I am a huge fan of the “all white outfits” which are currently trending so I couldn’t resist trying it out myself. Although I did break up the all white with my snakeskin Zadig et Voltaire ankle boots.

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4. The neutral knit

Crew neck with embellishments, this Princess Goes Hollywood cashmere sweater is the perfect piece for any occasion. Be it for a weekend walk, a laid back dinner with friends or an end of the year party – the subtle sparkles add a little luxe to this truly timeless piece. I opted for a tonal look here. Adding a pair of coffee colored leather pants and chestnut red ankle boots to compliment the accents of crystals

So there you have it, 4 winter ready ways to wear your favourite snuggly sweaters.

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Posted on November 12, 2020March 14, 2022 by — Leave a comment

Manolo Blahnik in Geneva

Since the 1970s, this high-end luxury footwear brand has grown into one of the most recognised shoe brands in the world. Hailed, “The King of Shoes”, Manolo Blahnik needs no introduction for luxury lovers.

This autumn, Manolo Blahnik in Geneva welcomed me into their stunning store situated on 20 Rue de la Corraterie to discover the latest collections. Upon entering the store I was struck by the gorgeous scent of Diptyque’s Baies. Like an elegant introduction welcoming me into the luxury store.

Indeed, did you know that Manolo Blahnik actually lived and studied in Geneva? It was the first place he moved to after growing up in the Canary Islands. The location of the Geneva store was actually very strategically chosen as it holds fond memories of Manolo’s years walking to the Université de Genève. It is situated just across from the cinema (Ciné 17) he loved going to. Geneva is a cosmopolitan city that hold of quiet luxury. In the Spanish designer’s own words, “Geneva, such a charming city that is calm and beautiful. And the people! I was spellbound by them, they are intelligent and sophisticated with an incredible eye for detail and craftmanship.”

Now speaking of craftsmanship, let’s take a closer look at the latest collections…

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The New Manolo Blahnik Collection

The Autumn / Winter 2020 footwear collection included a sumptuous array of ankle boots and pumps. In fact, this collection was designed during the lockdown earlier this year. Details of the collection pay hommage to designers Paul Poiret, Azzedine Alaïa and Eileen Gray. Inspired by a concoction of art, architecture, and landscapes. The collection plays with form, texture and pattern, featuring geometric patterns, embroidery and animal print details.

The Icons

Signature styles from the luxury shoe designer include the Lurum mules. One of my favorite pairs was this beautiful burgundy satin one with Swarovski crystal embellishments. A timeless style which can be worn with a beautiful dress just as easily as it can rocked with a pair of jeans. With eye-catching details, they are true show stoppers.

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The Nadira courts are another incredible pair of Manolo Blahnik’s iconic shoe designs. I was immediately mesmerized by the delicate curve of glittering crystals that tickled the sides of the satin pumps. What is more the embellishments act almost like straps when you wear the shoes. I loved how comfortable and easy they were to walk in. Indeed I was very pleasantly surprised by just how comfortable all the heels I tried on were!

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Of course one cannot go to Manolo Blahnik and not try on a pair of Hangisi. They are one of the most well know of Manolo’s designs. Made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Luxurious and regal, these shoes dress up any outfit. My favorite variant was the Hangisi denim and diamanté combination.

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Indeed with a lengthy list of cult silhouettes, it’s not hard to see why Spanish shoe designer Manolo Blahnik is hailed as a living luxury icon. Indeed he has won many awards along his career including the most recent Luxury Legend Award which was given to Manolo Blahnik by UK’s leading luxury alliance, Walpole in 2018. In 2015, The Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion was bestowed to him by the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Art and the list goes on! Exemplifying timeless luxury and true creative flair.

The Manolo Blahnik Store in Geneva

The Geneva store was opened May 3rd 2020. The exposed walls are actually historic, dating over 100 years. The interior is a beautiful combination of classic and modern design. With mod art monochrome polka dots and stripes on the walls, big glass cabinets are filled candy colored collections of satin shoes and Manolo’s framed shoe design illustrations line the walls. Indeed these illustrations played a key part in inspiring my own creative journey. I discovered the illustration book before I went to art school and spent hours pouring over the creations. Loving how playful yet detailed each one was.

I was honored to have such a wonderful experience at Manolo Blahnik. It was a fantastic afternoon spent discussing the designs, the brand values and heritage as well as discovering new collection and playing Cinderella.

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