Sandra‘s Closet

Under the fading full moon, I had the pleasure of attending the Gala Night of the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025 at the National Museum in Riyadh, a truly enchanting evening that felt straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. For this special occasion, I chose an outfit from Taller Marmo, a brand that perfectly embodies modern sophistication with a touch of timeless Middle Eastern allure. Surrounded by inspiring women, art, and culture, the night shimmered with creativity, beauty, and elegance.

My look: Suratt fil coupé kaftan by Taller Marmo, Torchon gold-tone crystal clip earrings by Alessandra Rich, Angel leather platform sandals by Gucci, black shimmering scarf by Moschino, and velvet strass evening flap bag in black and gold by CHANEL.

Stay tuned for so much more coming up from my recent trip to Saudi Arabia.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Aiman Fekri @aiman.ph
The photos of my outfit were taken before the event at the Jareed Hotel.
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The defining knit dress. An instant outfit solution. This season’s knitwear goes beyond cozy, think silhouettes that deliver polish and ease. Here is the outfit that I wore to the Lanvin S/S 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week in October.

My look: Embellished draped wool-blend turtleneck midi dress, vintage fringed bag in python leather, and vintage Gloria resin, Swarovski pearl and crystal necklace, all by Lanvin, Lisa square-frame metal sunglasses, and black suede booties, both by Saint Laurent, «L’AMOUR D’UN GITAN» hat by Jacquemus.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Erika Kostialova
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A New Chapter of CHANEL Chance: Eau Splendide Eau de Parfum

Sometimes, a fragrance arrives and instantly rewrites your olfactory memory. CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE by CHANEL is exactly that. I recently had the pleasure of receiving an enchanting press box from CHANEL, complete with a vintage-inspired record player that set the perfect tone for this new chapter in the CHANCE universe.

CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE is vibrant, joyful, and full of contrast, a radiant blend of freshness, softness, and unexpected character. The first one in the CHANCE family with a fruity note. It opens with a juicy raspberry accord, layered with red fruits, a hint of rose and violet, and a soft, velvety nuance that adds roundness and warmth, a subtle nod to the creamy sweetness found in nature’s ripest fruit. In the heart, the fragrance reveals the cool, green facets of mint and geranium, enriched with a powdery touch of iris. The base settles into an elegant, comforting blend of cedarwood and white musk, leaving a sensual and quietly confident trail.

Masterfully composed by Olivier Polge, CHANEL’s in-house perfumer, this Eau de Parfum is a celebration of chance, spontaneous, bold, and unmistakably feminine.

The record player included in the press kit wasn’t just a nod to vintage elegance, it was a beautiful metaphor. Just like putting on a vinyl record, wearing EAU SPLENDIDE is a ritual, an experience. It slows you down, draws you in, and surrounds you with emotion.

I created a reel to share the unboxing and the feeling this scent evokes. I hope you can feel the joy, the elegance, and that little sparkle of magic that only CHANEL can create.

CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur 50 ml CHF 146.-
CHANCE EAU SPLENDIDE Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur 100 ml CHF 203.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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On October 25, 2025, in Monaco, the inaugural Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie celebrated creativity, excellence, and exceptional craftsmanship in High Jewelry.

CHANEL Haute Joaillerie received the prestigious «Best Piece of the Year» award for its stunning Sweater Prestige Necklace from the Haute Joaillerie Sport Collection.

Crafted in white gold, platinum, diamonds, onyx, and 11 emerald-cut emeralds totaling 37.18 carats, the necklace blends sportswear inspiration with timeless CHANEL elegance. Inspired by sweatshirt drawstrings, it redefines luxury with a touch of casual sophistication. The design represents a dialogue between elegance and excellence, echoing CHANEL’s sports-style heritage since the 1920s.

This recognition reaffirms CHANEL’s position as a leader in Haute Joaillerie, where artistry, innovation, and elegance meet in perfect harmony.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL 
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It is with deep gratitude that I share this exciting news. After the recent passing of my beloved father, I am only now finding the space to announce something truly meaningful to me, I will be joining the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025 as one of its distinguished speakers.

I still hold the most beautiful memories of attending the Creative Women Forum back in 2019 in Cyprus, a time filled with inspiration, connection, and powerful conversations among women shaping the world. To return now, on an even greater stage in Saudi Arabia, feels both humbling and uplifting.

Taking place from 4–6 November 2025 under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Noura Bint Saud Bin Nayef Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Forum will be hosted at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, the largest women’s university in the world. This extraordinary venue stands as a true symbol of empowerment and progress.

The three-day event, created by the visionary Olga Balakleets, Founder and CEO of the Creative Women Platform, alongside Executive Director Rebeca Riofrio, brings together global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and policymakers. Under the theme «EMPOWER | ENGAGE | SUSTAIN – Women Leading Initiatives,» it celebrates female innovation and leadership in perfect harmony with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

I am deeply honoured to participate in the panel «The Future is Creative – Path to a Sustainable Future», which will explore how creativity and sustainability intersect to shape tomorrow’s world. The discussion will be moderated by Maxim Jago, futurist and author, and I am privileged to share the stage with these inspiring women:
• Prathibha Prahlad – Founder & Chairperson, Prasiddha Foundation & Forum For Art Beyond Borders; Founder & Festival Director, Delhi International Arts Festival
• Yasmeen Gailani – Deputy Director, MENA, Sotheby’s Middle East Specialist and Representative
• Martha Fiennes – Award-winning Filmmaker, Screenwriter & Digital Artist
• Norah Alkhursany – Head of Strategic Partnership Department, Oil Sustainability Program (OSP)

The Forum will conclude with a prestigious Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the evening of 6 November, celebrating leadership, sustainability, and creativity under royal patronage, an inspiring finale to three unforgettable days of empowerment, dialogue, and connection.

If you would like to be part of this remarkable gathering of women shaping the future, tickets are still available:
 creativewomen.co/creative-women-forum-saudi-arabia-2025

I look forward to reconnecting with inspiring minds from around the world and to celebrating the power of creativity, purpose, and female leadership in Riyadh.

With heartfelt gratitude, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Creative Women Platform / © Sandra Bauknecht 
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Rest in Peace Papa 🖤
December 6, 1942 – October 23, 2025

«My father’s love is the quiet light that will forever guide me home.»

Today is my mother’s birthday and though she is no longer with us, I believe she isn’t celebrating alone. My father has joined her on the way to celebrate together, just as they always did in life.

My father was the most loyal, honest, and authentic person I have ever known. A truly good soul, kind to everyone, never speaking an unkind word about anyone. He loved nature, he loved taking the train, he loved to travel and he loved horses and riding. He was sociable, funny, and always there for others. For me, he was simply the best dad anyone could ever wish for.

We shared wonderful journeys together, just the two of us, and later also with my daughter. We relived so many stories and memories on those trips.
Among the photos I’ll show today is one from Rome, our last trip together. The Eternal City will forever be tied to him in my heart. During that trip, I gave him a very special gift, a papal audience at the Vatican, an experience that filled him with joy.

Then there was Iceland, where we traveled all around the island with Anouk, and the US including Chicago, where he came to visit us while we lived there.

And there’s another very special photo from 1985, when I was ten years old. He took me with him on a business trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg because he knew how much I loved ballet. One evening, he took me to the Bolshoi Theatre, in the presence of Mikhail Gorbachev, to watch a ballet performance. That’s who he was, thoughtful, generous, and always finding joy in making others happy.

He passed away through a tragic accident. After breaking his thigh and undergoing surgery, his dementia made him forget that he had been operated on. When he tried to get up, he fell and suffered a severe head injury. The swelling and bleeding became too much for his body.
I was with him through his final days in palliative care, day and night. It was heartbreaking, but also a beautiful farewell, peaceful, full of love, just like when my mother passed away.

They were each other’s great love. I have never seen a couple with such a deep, genuine bond. So it does not surprise me that, only two months after my mother’s passing, my father followed her.

To both of you, I wish you joy and peace up there. Celebrate, laugh, and keep watching over us.
I am forever grateful and proud to have had such wonderful parents.

Dad, I love you. Always.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

«Some days you’re the pigeon, some days you’re the statue.»

Lately, I’ve been living in the space between those two, standing still while life leaves its marks, yet still refusing to lose my grace. Fashion has always been my quiet form of resilience, a language beyond words. Today I wear Tom Ford, a silhouette sculpted with the kind of strength I need right now. Haider Ackermann’s vision for the house speaks of poetry and precision, softness wrapped around steel and I love how he translates that into something as simple yet refined as a cashmere jogging pant: effortless, elegant, and impossibly comfortable. And in my hand, a pigeon clutch by JW Anderson, a symbol of both peace and fragility, and a reminder that even stillness can have wings.

My look: Wool-blend sweater, jersey tapered trackpants, gold-tone choker, and gold-tone cuff, all by Tom Ford, pigeon resin clutch by JW Anderson, Torchon gold-tone crystal clip earrings by Alessandra Rich, LV Link square sunglasses by Louis Vuitton, and Jeanne embellished glossed-leather slingback pumps by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Erika Kostialova
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There are colors that carry emotion within them and burgundy is one of them. Deep, romantic, quietly powerful. When I wore this look during Paris Fashion Week, I felt wrapped in its warmth, unaware that life was about to shift again.

These photographs were captured in a moment of light, laughter, beauty, and that fleeting Parisian magic. I look at them now, from the stillness of a hospital room, sitting beside my father on the palliative ward, and they whisper something different. They remind me that happiness is delicate, that life can change in the time it takes to exhale, and yet, beauty remains.

Since losing my mother, I’ve learned that love and loss often live side by side. In caring for my father, in the quiet hours between worry and tenderness, I return to these images to edit, to write, to remember. It’s my way of breathing through the heaviness. This post isn’t just about fashion. It’s about the contrast, between fragility and strength, between what fades and what endures. Burgundy became a reflection of my heart: graceful, bruised, but still beating.

My look: Cropped cashmere-blend turtleneck sweater, pleated knitted cashmere-blend midi skirt, and Le Teckel small leather-trimmed suede shoulder bag, all by Alaïa, vintage sunglasses in burgundy with stingray leather by Louis Vuitton, lace tights by Calzedonia, Rossy 160 patent leather platform sandals, and hoop-drop clip earrings, both by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Erika Kostialova
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During Paris Fashion Week, I had the pleasure of joining Lanvin and designer Peter Copping for an intimate dinner, a night filled with conversation, creativity, and the quiet glamour that only Paris can offer. For the occasion, I wore a dress and cardigan from Lanvin’s current F/W 25 collection, pieces that perfectly capture the season’s understated sophistication. I styled them with vintage pearl necklaces and glossy red pumps from my own archive, adding a personal twist to the look. To complete the outfit, I carried a vintage Balenciaga bag, a subtle nod to Peter’s past at the house, and, as he shared with me that evening, to his many visits to Zurich during Demna’s early days there.

My look: Cropped open-knit cardigan, and matching paneled knitted midi dress, platform heels in red patent leather, long necklace with pearls, feathers, ribbon and rhinestones, and long multi-strand pearl necklace, all by Lanvin, and suede opera clutch bag by Balenciaga.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Erika Kostialova
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Wednesday night I had the privilege of joining my dear friend Carmen Busquets in her beautiful Paris home to celebrate Lanvin and its creative director, Peter Copping. Just the day before, I attended the Lanvin S/S 2026 show, an unforgettable experience that once again reminded me why I have always admired this house so deeply.

Lanvin is not only the oldest continuously operating fashion house in France, but also one with a truly unique spirit. Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, a visionary couturière who began by designing dresses for her daughter, the house has always been rooted in elegance, intimacy, and a profound sense of artistry. That maternal tenderness and refined craftsmanship continue to resonate in Lanvin’s DNA today.

With Therese Westin, Founder of VINST, and Lupe Puerta, Founder of THE FLOORR, who co-hosted the evening (thank you for having me!)

Peter Copping’s S/S 2026 collection captured this heritage with such grace. His inspiration draws both from the timeless codes of the house and from his own refined sensibility. There was a lightness, a sense of fluidity and romance in the pieces, yet always anchored by Lanvin’s signature sophistication. What struck me most was how seamlessly he honored Jeanne Lanvin’s legacy while making it feel entirely relevant for the present.

Beyond his undeniable talent, Peter himself is one of the kindest and most humble people I have met in fashion, qualities that make his creations shine even brighter. His modesty and warmth are rare in this industry, and they infuse the collection with an additional layer of beauty.

Vintage Lanvin necklaces from my own archive #sandrascloset.

For the evening, I wore a look from Lanvin’s current F/W 2025 collection, styled with vintage Lanvin accessories and shoes. It felt like a personal way of connecting past and present, echoing the house’s long history while celebrating its modern vision.

With Peter Copping and Carmen Busquets, who co-founded NET-A-PORTER and is one of the most stylish ladies I know.

Lanvin is more than a brand; it is a story of artistry, heritage, and enduring elegance. And with Peter Copping at the helm, that story continues to evolve in the most beautiful way.

LoL, Sandra

It was such an inspiring evening with many amazing women.

Next to me was lovely Christine D’Ornano, who is Managing Director at SISLEY Paris, the beauty empire that belongs to her family.

With Brazilian influencer Camila Coutinho…

… and Martina Kojic Reiter, who just launched her own clothing label Maison Maxima.

The Queen of Eyebrows, Anastasia Soare, came from LA with her daughter Norvina.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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