Edie Parker – Personalize Your Bag

Brett Heyman’s line of clutches and bags EDIE PARKERicon is inspired by the mid-century styles favored by showgirls and socialites of the ’50s and ’60s. The brand’s glitter-finish and acrylic designs are all-American – each one sketched in New York and handmade by skilled craftsmen in Chicago using New Jersey-sourced materials.

A piece from the F/W 2017 collection: Macy Kiss marbled acrylic box clutch

Such a sweet way to propose: Jean embossed acrylic box clutchicon
icon

Bespoke Flavia Clutch

But what I absolutely adore is that EDIE PARKER offers you a bespoke service. You can choose the colors, the text, the shadow, the hardware and the font. This is such a beautiful gift idea that I had to share with you! For more information, click here please. It is so much fun to play around with this tool… you will see!

LoL, Sandra

Double-sided bespoke Flavia CutchPhotos: Courtesy of Edie Parker

My Look: An Ice Bear in Milan

Hello from beautiful sunny Milan. Here you see me in front of the iconic Duomo (Cathedral of Milan) which is is the largest and most complex Gothic building in Italy. But who would have thought that this embroidered skirt with the cute ice bear would also be the perfect look last night? Surprisingly it was as Moncler had transformed the Via Montenapoleone in a snowy landscape for the opening celebration of their newly renovated store. Most of the street was cordoned off and covered in white, as a multitude of snowflakes fell continuously from the building, landing on the heads and coats of the invited guests (see photo at the end).

My look: Ruffle-trimmed cotton-blend cady jacketicon, ruffled-hem silk and wool-blend skirt, ruffled-neck chiffon blouseQueercore embellished leather ankle boots, GG Marmont matelassé shoulder bagicon and oversized round-frame actate sunglasses, all by Gucci.
iconHorsebit blue topaz diamond white gold ringicon by Gucci Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Pink Ribbon Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

October is breast cancer awareness month and this year marks Estée Lauder‘s 25th anniversary of the iconic Pink Ribbon collection, a special range of beauty products with 20 per cent of the profits donated to research. A movement that started with one woman, Evelyn H. Lauder in 1992, The Estée Lauder CompaniesBreast Cancer Awareness Campaign was born when the visionary became troubled by the lack of awareness, funding and resources necessary to overcome the disease.

Evelyn H. Lauder co-created the pink ribbon 25 years ago.

In the beginning, the brand started the campaign by handing out pink ribbons at its beauty counters around the world, and one year later, Lauder went on to establish the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a non-profit organisation, to generate funding that would be solely dedicated to the study of the disease. A quarter of a century later, The Estée Lauder Companies’ beauty brands – among them La Mer, DKNY, Jo Malone London, Tom Ford Beauty just to name a few – continue to create a breast cancer-free world by raising funds.

Interesting to know is that a touch of blue in the design represents the less than 1% of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information on The Breast Cancer Campaign, visit bcacampaign.com.

For more information on the Pink Ribbon products, click here please.

By shopping one of the specially created products, you can support the campaign. Moreover for every post on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #PinkRibbon25 and #ELCdonates @bcacampaign until October 31, 2017, The Estée Lauder Companies will donate $25 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to fund a half-hour of breast cancer research. The goal is to finance 500 hours worth $25.000.

Time to end breast cancer!

LoL, Sandra

My Instagram post with my beloved Advanced Night Repair in pink by Estée Lauder.

Photos: Courtesy of The Estée Lauder Companies and © Sandra Bauknecht

My Look: Rock the Rainbow

I am in love with Gucci‘s bold prints and kaleidoscopic color palettes. While a real rainbow is a rare shot of magic across the sky and we cannot rely on Swiss fall weather, I suggest letting our wardrobes lift our spirits. Vibrant stripes are a symbol of fun, luck and positivity and make every outfit pop.

My look: Planet hoodieicon, plissé-lurex midi skirticon, Peggy striped platform sneakersicon, GG Marmont matelassé shoulder bagicon, embellished oversized square-frame sunglassesicon, and earrings with pearls and tiger heads, all by Gucci.
icon

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Look, No Make-up

Are you one of my beauty-obsessed readers who’s quick to notice even the most minor cosmetic tweak? Then this post is for you. Today, I would like to share my time-tested recommendation for the perfect concealer, foundation and powder trio.

One lovely morning in Zurich‘s Park Hyatt Hotel, I had the pleasure to try the three products by one of my favorite brands LA MER. All enriched with the brand’s coveted, ultra hydrating Miracle Broth™, the nourishing formulas blend seamlessly into the skin to conceal pores and even out texture. Forget the drying, cake-y powders of your makeup bag’s past, this is the answer to nailing the flawless complexion of everyone’s dreams. It is make-up that looks like no make-up.

Dream trio: Concealericon, Soft Fluid Long Wear FoundationiconPowder and don’t forget to use the right iconPowder Brush.

New to the family: Sheer Pressed Powder (to the left) is the ideal compact companion to create a healthy matte finish – wherever you go.

In the beautiful ambiance of one of the suites at Park Hyatt Zurich, we were able to explore the products and enjoy some yummy food. What a great idea to serve desert in your used cream pots (see photo below) … ladies, keep collecting!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of La Mer and © Sandra Bauknecht

H&M x Erdem Lookbook

Finally we know what to expect on November 2, 2017, when Erdem‘s collaboration with Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M will hit the stores. It’s full of tweeds, animal prints and of course so many florals, everything the London-based designer is known for.

The lookbook, that you can enjoy below, was photographed by Michal Pudelka, who is known for his dreamy fashion campaigns. I am sure that you will agree now that we’re finally getting a glimpse at what, exactly, the Erdem collection will include, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t disappoint at all.

For the first time, the retailer’s designer collaborations will include men’s wardrobe offerings, which is also marking Erdem’s menswear debut at the same time!

I love this collaboration and it is truly hard to decide what to get as everything is beautiful. My personal favorites are those ones shown in the collage above… and yours?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of H&M

My Look: Must-Haves

Last week, I flew for two days to Hamburg as guest of Steinway & Sons. An amazing experience I will soon tell you more about. Here you see me leaving the Gastwerk hotel for the gala dinner on Tuesday night. I am wearing my new must-haves pieces by Gabriela Hearst (for a previous post click here please) along with an iconic trench coat embellished with a cartoon and doodle print from the house’s latest S/S 2018 runway collection. See now, buy now at its best!

My look: Printed cotton-gabardine trench coat by Burberry, Betty open-back wool-blend dressicon and Nina leather tote in cognacicon, both by Gabriela Hearst, leather platform pumps by Gucci4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc.

I adore the combination of navy blue and cognac – what about you?

LoL, Sandraicon

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Gucci Unveils Culture of Purpose

 

This week during the Kering 2017  Talk at the London College of Fashion, GUCCI President & CEO Marco Bizzarri unveiled the brand’s new ten-year «Culture of Purpose» sustainability plan with two major announcements. One is very surprising to me, the house’s pledge to go fur-free beginning with the S/S 2018 collection by joining the FUR FREE ALLIANCE. According to a statement, GUCCI will no longer «use, promote, or publicize animal fur» in its collections and will be organizing a charity auction of remaining animal fur items with proceeds to benefit LAV and THE HUMANE SOCIETY.

Gucci President & CEO Marco Bizzari at the Kering 2017 Talk

Building on its long term CHIME FOR CHANGE campaign for gender equality, Gucci is donating € 1 million as a Founding Partner of UNICEF’s Girls’ Empowerment Initiative, which underpins the company’s approach to creating a more responsible business.

This will help UNICEF reach more than 50,000 girls directly with programs aimed at empowering them, and indirectly reach 150,000 more.

Gucci’s bestseller: the Horsebit-detailed shearling-lined leather slippers.
icon

Following Kering’s sustainability framework, the plan is focused on three pillars:

Environment – Gucci is committed to reducing its environmental impacts and is setting ambitious targets to create a new standard in luxury retail, e.g. guaranteeing the traceability of 95% of our raw materials.

Humanity – Gucci recognises the value of its employees and is dedicated to enhancing the lives of the people who make its products as well as supporting communities, e.g. responsible and innovative management of the supply chain (Gucci was recently awarded with the Green Carpet Fashion award for Sustainable Innovation), gender equality (59% women senior manager, campaigns to support girls and women empowerment), diversity and inclusion (membership with Parks).

New Models – Gucci is developing new solutions by applying technical innovation to improve efficiency in its production and logistics. e.g. setting up an incubator and start-up environment to foster innovation within the company.

A look from the Gucci S/S 2018 that will obviously not be produced!

Explaining the origins of GUCCI’s progressive approach, Marco Bizzarri attributed dynamic change to the unified vision he shares with the brand’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, «In selecting a new creative director I wanted to find someone who shared a belief in the importance of the same values. I sensed that immediately on meeting Alessandro for the first time. Together, by committing to a culture of purpose, taking responsibility and encouraging respect, inclusivity and empowerment, we want to create the necessary conditions for a progressive approach to sustainability

To a better future!

LoL, Sandra

This Resort 2017 fur coat with snake intarsia will probably become a museum piece.

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci, © Getty/Gucci

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Part Two

Last April, Jeff Koons and Louis Vuitton teamed up on a limited edition «Masters» capsule collection of bags and accessories. This month, the duo will launch a second collaboration inspired by iconic pieces of legendary artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Nicolas Poussin, J.M.W. Turner and François Boucher. This second chapter will debut on October 27, 2017.

«Boucher’s Reclining Girl is a painting I often visit in the old Pinakothek in Munich. It strikes me as one of the most sensual images ever painted.» – Jeff Koons

François Boucher
Reclining girl (1752)
Alte Pinakothek museum in Munich, Germany

Paul Gauguin
Delightful land (1892)
Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki, Japan
Presently at the Grand Palais exhibition “Gauguin l’Alchimiste“, Paris

Édouard Manet
Luncheon on the grass (1863)
Musée d’Orsay in Paris

Nicolas Poussin
The triumph of Pan (1636)
National Gallery in London

Claude Monet
Water lilies (1916)
Matsukata Collection
National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, Japan

J.m.W. Turner
Ancient Rome (1839)
Collection of Tate in London

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Louis Vuitton

Strengthen Your Body with Pilates and Yoga

I get often asked how I am staying fit. And the answer is I love doing sports. After years of ballet, I am more in the mind-body wellness and adore pilates and yoga. Both workouts lengthen and strengthen the body. They both focus on breath, alignment, balance, strength, flexibility and are done barefoot. Some moves and poses even overlap.

Strengthening your core in pilates class will give you better balance in yoga; increasing your flexibility in yoga class will enable you to move deeper in pilates. Both sports are highly effective as they use your whole body and different muscle groups.

Yoga Wheel Training with Karolina Schmid

In Zurich I train with Karolina Schmid who runs a studio for high end pilates and yoga personal training, with private lessons or trainings in small groups. Her team of 10 people consists of physical therapists, midwives and personal trainers all working with the PILATESwiss® method for viszeral core that Karolina has developed herself. The Canadian born also offers teacher training so that PILATESwiss® is now globally represented. For more information, please visit the website.

Pilates Karolina Schmid – Seefeldstrasse 225, 8008 Zurich / Switzerland – Phone: +41 78 891 03 17

In all of the photos we took at Karolina’s studio, I wear CASALL clothes, a brand I truly like for their quality and design. For more than 30 years, the Swedish label has created high end training wear and equipment using for example innovative and sustainable bio polyamide fabrics. To find out more, you can visit the website HERE.

Working out and fashion belong together, don’t you think?! I like to look and feel great during my whole training session because IT MATTERS!

So excuses don’t burn calories, put on the right workout gear and see what happens…
and by the way I am not getting paid for this post – I show it because I am loving it!

LoL, Sandra

YOGA WHEEL

REFORMER / CADILLAC

FLYING YOGA / PILATES

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
A huge thank you to my daughter for taking them!