Sandra‘s Closet

Call me a true fashion lover. This look has become one of my favorites of the season, exaggerated houndstooth pattern, combined with a logo print cape and my new Hermès Himalaya Birking bag which is considered the holy grail in a handbag collection. It is crafted from Nile crocodile hide. The name «Himalaya» is inspired by the delicate gradation of the colour that is resembling the majestic, snow-capped mountains. The process of dyeing the leather is exponentially more difficult as the shades lighten. It takes a lot of time and craftsmanship. I feel blessed to call one my own.

My look: Wool-jacquard cape by Gucci, bow-detailed houndstooth wool-blend sweater and houndstooth jacquard-knit shorts, both by Alexander McQueen, T-Rex shearling-lined logo-print coated canvas and leather ankle boots by Fendi, set of two silver-tone and crystal hair slides by Saint Laurent, sunglasses by CHANEL, rose diamond ring by Piaget and Himalaya Niloticus crocodile Birkin bag by Hermès.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken at The Dolder Grand on the terrasse of the Maestro Suite.

Those four brushes should be in every woman’s closet. Björn Axén has launched a collection called «Hairdressers’ Favourite»! Blow out, detangling, wet or volume – a brush for every occasion.

Volume Brush
Styling & Detangling

Use this light and convenient hair brush for creating volume at the roots, styling and detangling. Perfect for fine or thin and normal hair.
CHF 39.00

Wet Hair Brush
Detangling & Blowout

This detangling and blowout brush in one is perfect for blow-drying thanks to the vents that help reduce the drying time. It gently detangles wet and towel-dry hair and performs just as well on dry hair. The soft bristles are kind and gentle to your scalp.
CHF 39.00

Blowout Brush
Volume & Curls

This professional round styling brush is especially designed for blowouts. It creates volume, curls or gentle waves. It has strong bristles for rapid styling. The vented metal barrel makes styling easy. The handle is a unique design by Björn Axen to give you the best grip.
CHF 39.00

Detangling Brush
For All Hairtypes

This very effective detangling brush with flexible bristles and soft tips ensures minimum damage and kind and gentle scalp treatment. It is designed for dry or towel-dried hair. Suitable for all hair types.
CHF 39.00

For your new hair accessories to last longer, protect them from dust, dirt and damage by using the bag they come with (see photo above) at home or when travelling.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Björn Axén

Baby, it’s cold outside and so important to protect and nourish your skin during these freezing temperatures. Especially in the mountains, it is extremely dry and that makes your complexion suffer. Furthermore, you need a lot of sun protection. Here are some of my favorites that will help you survive your stay in St. Moritz or Gstaad or wherever in the cold you are planning to go… to shop click on the highlighted text.

Beauty on the slopes – enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Perfect Moment Ski Cream, 30ml by Dr. Barbara Sturm
The extreme winds and temperatures on the slopes can be harsh on your complexion. Created in collaboration with Perfect Moment, this cream is an innovative, intensely nourishing water-in-oil formula that provides a protective shield, with active ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba oil and sunflower extract.

Rescue Diver – Multi-Level Hydration Cell Plumping Infusion, 30ml by Elixseri
This intensely hydrating gel-serum drenches your skin with moisture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s formulated with exclusive bio-regenerative technology, which blends light water with antioxidant gardenia meristem concentrate and prebiotic tropical papaya ferment. A few drops help to retain optimum moisture levels throughout the day and leave you with a dewy, glowing complexion.

In-Depth Hydration Face Mask, 50ml by Circumference
The brand’s products are developed based on two standards – healthy skin and an appreciation for natural ingredients. Blended with the sustainable and locally sourced botanicals, this hydrating face mask is formulated to replenish and rejuvenate dry and dull skin. Antioxidant-rich moringa oil and cactus flower extract help retain moisture, while hibiscus extract nourishes and smooths for a radiant complexion.

Hello Sunshine Sensitive Sunscreen SPF30, 40ml by Pai Skincare
Sarah Brown founded London-based brand Pai Skincare when she developed chronic urticaria and many products irritated her sensitive, acne-prone skin. Formulated with protective zinc oxide – which acts as a natural mineral filter and shields against UVA and UVB protection – this sunscreen is balanced with cotton extract to repair any damage caused by the sun’s rays, infrared and visible radiation. The light and non-greasy formula means you can wear it as a base for makeup, too.

Kosasport LipFuel – Baseline by Kosas
Kosas founder Sheena Yaitanes knows intense gym sessions can leave lips dry and cracked, which is why she came up with ‘Kosasport LipFuel’ – it’s infused with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to lock in moisture for a smooth, supple pout. Botanical konjac root extract protects against environmental aggressors, too, making it perfect for long runs. 

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

The Year of the Rat has officially begun and I am celebrating the start of the lunar new year today with an outfit post inspired by Shanghai during the 1920s, at that time known as «The Paris of the East, the New York of the West», a melting pot of different nations and styles.

The photos were taken inside the Maestro Suite at The Dolder Grand in Zurich.

My look: Crystal-embellished ruched velvet gown by Paco Rabanne, ostrich feather-embellished taffeta clutch by The Attico, Edwige embellished satin sandals by Saint Laurent, marabou-trimmed crystal clip earrings and marabou feather headband, both by Alessandra Rich, and feather boa by Michael Kors Collection.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography

Fashion is a novel. And the Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2020 collection embarks on a narrative journey where the garments tell their own tales.
These characters from our wardrobe set the scene for our days, our moods, our lives. This meeting of periods, stylistic movements and anachronistic combinations brings to life a rich cast of costumes.

In such a ‘wearable library’, each outfit writes its own chapter made up of romantic monologues. Peculiar dialogues between stylistic rebellion and fine crafts- manship. An account of sportswear’s encounter with tailoring. Taking the cultural references even further, Louis Vuitton has adorned one of the collection’s t-shirts with the original cover from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 cult science-fiction novel The Exorcist.

To illustrate this collection – a term that works just as well with fashion as it does with literature or on the big screen – the House’s muses proudly take to book covers or film posters as protagonists, fitting perfectly into Louis Vuitton’s history and brilliantly embracing the role of adventurer.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton announces its participation together with Lucara Diamond Corporation and the HB Company of Antwerp, in a unique collaboration to transform a rare and exceptional diamond specimen, a 1758 carat diamond, the second largest rough diamond ever discovered.

April 19th, 2019 will go down as a history-making moment in the long story of the divine diamond: the day when the monumental 1758 carat rough diamond, now named Sewelô, meaning Rare Find in the Setswana language, was recovered at the Lucara Diamond Corp.’s 100% owned Karowe mine, Botswana. It is the second largest rough diamond ever discovered and the largest to come out of Botswana.

Roughly the size of a tennis ball, measuring 83mm x 62mm x 46mm, weighing 352 grams, the Sewelô is the second largest rough gem diamond in recorded history, eclipsed only by the Cullinan, at 3106 carats, discovered in South Africa in 1905, and fashioned into historic diamonds that are now in the British Crown Jewels and royal collection. The Sewelô is also the largest, exceptional rough diamond to be recovered from Lucara’s state-of-the-art Karowe mine in Botswana.

Remarkably, the diamond remained unbroken thanks to Lucara’s high-tech XRT circuit, a highly advanced recovery process that avoids crushing the diamond-bearing rock, a drawback of previous processes. Initial analysis of the Sewelô characterises the stone as ‘near gem quality’ with ‘domains of high-quality white gem’, while detailed studies of the stone, its composition, qualities and potential will continue for several months.

The Sewelô is spectacular not only for its immense size but also for its intriguing characteristics
of shape, colour, formation and composition. The rough crystal is largely covered in a very thin layer of black carbon, enveloping yet hinting at the 2 billion-year-old secrets hidden within; the full extent of variations in colour and clarity of the diamond yield is still unknown. This was exactly the kind of extreme rarity, unconventional and challenging, to appeal to Louis Vuitton’s sense of adventure and creativity: an extraordinary, idiosyncratic diamond specimen, a wondrous miracle of Mother Nature, mesmerizingly mysterious, with its contradictions of darkness and light, and hidden depths of beauty and lustre, waiting for the right expertise and sensibility to be revealed to the world.

Karowe, meaning ‘precious stone’, is Lucara’s 100% owned diamond mine that is situated on the northern fringes of the Kalahari Desert and came on stream in 2012. It is renowned for the quality and size of the diamonds it produces, specifically superlative Type IIA diamonds – chemically pure, and with exceptional limpidity – of over 10 carats. These have included the 1109 carat Lesedi La Rona, and the 813 carat Constellation.

Karowe uses the most advanced processing technology in the world, and puts corporate and social responsibility, sustainability and the safety and welfare of its workers, at the heart of the business. Boasting a workforce which is 98% comprised of Botswanan nationals, the huge success of the mine has brought great economic and social benefits to local communities. Lucara is committed
to ensuring the Sewelô has a positive, lasting impact on Botswana. As part of this mission, when the astonishing 1758 carat rough diamond was discovered last year, the mine invited the people of Botswana to submit ideas for a name. The winning submission, Sewelô, or Rare Find, one of 22,000 entries, was announced and the stone officially named at a gala event last summer in the presence of the President of the Republic of Botswana.

Louis Vuitton is working closely with master diamond cutters, HB Company, from Antwerp, studying the Sewelô in minute detail, using the very latest scanning and imaging technology to assess the final potential of the stone, and plan the optimum yield of individual finished, cut and polished diamonds. The first step is to open a window onto the stone, in order to gain visibility into the heart of the Sewelô, and plot various permutations of size, colour and shape. Diamond-cutting is an age-old, near-mystical blend of art and science, expertise and intuition. Advanced, cutting-edge technology will play a crucial role in the entire process from initial scanning and planning to the cutting and polishing which is estimated to take a year to complete. The unique properties of the Sewelô, its size and black surface coating, mean that new nano-technologies have to be used in place of standard equipment. In a spirit of creative collaboration with HB Company, Louis Vuitton will be involved at every stage, ensuring that the maximum light, life and fire, character and charisma will be unleashed from the magnificent rough crystal. The size of the diamond will enable production of Made-to-Order Louis Vuitton Cut diamonds, each complex, each skillfully fashioned in the form of one of Louis Vuitton’s emblematic Monogram, the rounded flower and star-shaped motif.

Finally, in a characteristically barrier-breaking initiative of innovation and individuality, Louis Vuitton plans to use the extraordinary variety and abundance within the Sewelô to offer clients the opportunity to create bespoke, custom-cut diamonds. This industry disrupting move allows for the ultimate personalisation and exclusivity, remaining entirely in tune with Louis Vuitton’s heritage of special, made-to-order commissions. In this way, the client will be intimately involved in the entire creative process, in the life and story of an extraordinary, magnificent diamond from its source in the famous Karowe mine in Botswana, Africa, to a refined masterpiece, conceived and crafted in Paris, Place Vendôme – from the centre of the earth to the heart of High Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

After this week’s post about the 20 most important runway trends, you know that we will be wearing tropical prints, bermuda shorts or gypsy dresses. But what about our shoes, bags and accessories? The fashionable additions to the season’s best outfits have an equally polished attitude. A lot is to stay from the F/W 2019 season, such as chain necklaces, single earrings, head scarves, belts and platforms. Furthermore, the runways were mastered by XXL bags, Mary Janes, and vibrant sunglasses that complemented the looks. On the new side of things, I spotted rope belts and hats on many runways.

Enjoy this season’s unbridled fun and catch up on the season’s most covetable accessories below.

LoL, Sandra

The single most popular material of the entire season was humble raffia, plant-derived, biodegradable, promising that your new It bag will have less of an environmental impact.

If there’s one accessible trend to cop next season, it’s the rope belt – at least you can find one at your local hardware store.

Gold buckles, set with rhinestones, embellished with animals as lucky charms, belts play an important role. If you are among the fashion-forward, opt for colorful choices.

Flower pins elevate every summer look to new heights.

This summer, brighten up your wardrobe with sunny shades of yellow and green, or an unexpected shade of blue.

Dust off your silk scarf collection for the next season, as they were worn around the head on several runways.

When it comes to choose your new bag, think big and soft. Many beautiful XXL editions large enough to fit all of your life’s belongings.

This season, chains get bigger and bigger.

Earrings are going solo next season. Just look for a statement-making piece enough to stand on its own.

Hoop earrings never really left, but get ready to see them multiply in size next season.

Hats make a grand comeback and guarantee that all eyes are on you.

With the preppy trend all over the runways, loafers were seen modernized in different shapes.

Thanks to Bottega Veneta’s Daniel Lee for making strong square toes, the decade’s most experimental shoe silhouette are trending more than ever.

Another trend thanks to Daniel Lee, chain accents are a must for your summer footwear, consider them built-in anklets for your shoes.

Sunglasses come in all shapes with a focus on major color, enjoy those new fantastical shades in every hue under the sun.

If sneakers have lost their luster on the runways, ever-practical platform and flatform sandals have emerged as fanciful and comfortable alternatives.

The classic Mary Jane pumps have taken a backseat over the last decade, now they are making their comeback in bold, whimsical, and playful designs.

From espadrilles to sexy sandals, lace-up shoes are the move come spring and summer. If you really want to be trendy, lace them up right over your pants to be ahead of the fashion tribe.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

F/W 2018 saw the birth of Moncler’s innovative Genius line – a groundbreaking series of monthly drops in which the iconic French house teams up with trailblazing designers of the moment. The F/W 2019 offering included Richard Quinn, Simone Rocha and 1952 presenting their signature take on Moncler’s key house codes with vibrant patterns from Quinn, elegant British florals from Rocha and bold colour palettes from 1952.

For the newest capsule, Moncler Genius has partnered with no other than Valentino’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli who states dreaminess, extravagance and traditions as inspiration behind those to-die-for pieces. The colour-block motif used for this collection – an exclusive pattern from Lemlem founder Liya Kebede, whose work supports African artisans.

My favorite pieces are below –  this gown is an avant-garde alternative to classic eveningwear along with the amazing ski jackets that are perfect for every day.

TO SHOP MONCLER GENIUS, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Moncler

Just as you were all getting comfortable with your winter wardrobes and discovering the art of dressing sustainably, the close of 2019 has got some of us thinking about our 2020 wardrobe. Shopping needs to be more about investment pieces. From bermuda shorts with blazers to head-to-toe white and tropical prints, scroll through for the biggest trends from the S/S 2020 season here.

LoL, Sandra

There is a reason why Pantone announced it the Color of the Year 2020.

Denim borrows from all manner of eras, from the ’70s to the ’90s, more sophisticated than ever and perfect for everyday.

Putting a twist on the classic suit, designers embraced the Bermuda short suit for spring.

Welcome to the resurrection of the waistcoat. Wear the vest alone to a formal event or get dapper with a tailored three-piece.

This season, designers are encouraging us to get colorful, when it comes to buttery leather.

Extra volume and statement shoulders go well together.

This season, your adventurous spirit is to be celebrated and you are heading to the jungle in these tropical prints.

Subtle may not be their specialty, but these vibrant highlighter-inspired shades know how to make an entrance.

Crochet is getting a cool update come spring, modern with a special touch of Grandma’s handmade technique.

Seventies-style, bohemian rock accents, hippie silhouettes set a modern Woodstock tone.

Your grandparents’ old wallpaper, but make it fashion in the form of a swinging ’60s motif.

The look is most impactful in jacket form – extra style points if it has a contrasting collar.

Those slouchy white suits transition the monochrome set into daily wear. Alternatively, you can opt for upscale in an elegant lace.

There is a new kid in town. A hybrid between long pants and shorts. Too cool!

Thanks to the Khaite hype, crop tops are no longer cutting it – the bra top has officially entered the party, preferably with a pair of tailored pants.

Set your expectations high and keep your inseams higher with the newest versions of hot pants that are so tiny, they might technically be hot (under)pants?

The all-time favorite dot – simply put, the trend shows no sign of slowing, this summer, opt for colourful pieces.

What will 2020 entail? Feathers, feathers, and more feathers, and it won’t be long before they fly into your closets.

It wouldn’t be a spring trend report without some sort of floral reference. This season, designers are honing in on the queen of flowers, the rose.

Tiered dresses and skirts offer volume, high drama, and maximum twirl-ability, perfect for your next black tie gala.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Personally speaking, I had never been a fan of detoxing. Until now. After one week at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth, my view has changed. And so has my life. It is not only a cure, it is a lifestyle. Sounds too dramatic? Only the truth but please see for yourself what happened in this one week in Austria.

When I booked my trip, I didn’t really pay attention to the location. Maria Wörth belongs to the Austrian state of Carinthia. The centre of the resort town is situated on a peninsula at the southern shore of the Wörthersee, where the detox resort is also located. It is just above the Slovenian border. There are many options to get to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth from Zurich, by train (too many changes of trains), by plane (you can land in Klagenfurt for example and will be picked up from the airport) and by car. I chose the latter, almost 700 km, the route takes you via Munich, Salzburg to Maria Wörth. As the longest part of the trip is on the German autobahn, and as I drive a Porsche 911, I made it in 6.5 hours with one stop on the way at Burger King (not recommendable to eat this kind of food before detoxing, you will understand later why) to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth.

Finding inner peace at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth

My goal was: «Take a break from my daily routine. Reduce my stress. Relax and unwind. Feel healthier.» That was exactly what I was looking for. But I had a second reason to go to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth and that was my dear travel companion, my 17 year-old daughter Anouk. Being stressed with college applications, exams and the typical teenage problems, I observed her graving for unhealthy food, snacks and soft drinks. My maternal advice was unheard and made it even worse. I was convinced if she felt the change nutrition can have on the body and mind herself, she would become more aware of it and enjoy greater balance and health afterwards. And my plan worked out…

My room at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth and the view from my balcony.

On a Sunday morning in October 2019 during fall break, we drove all the way to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth. Anouk was skeptical, totally scared she would be starving to death the next week. When we arrived, I was kind of unsure as well. From the outside, it looked more like a private hospital in concrete past the prime of its life than a five star hotel. Inside, it was quiet and we were greeted warm-heartedly by a lovely receptionist who handed us two glass bottles for water that we could carry around during the day. The style itself is quite Scandinavian, white tiles as well as light wood floors combined with natural fabrics in muted colors. Our room was spacious with a beautiful view on the lake.

The world’s most glamorous have been sneaking off to  VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth for dramatic health makeovers. While I was there, Chase Crawford had checked in.

I had read about VIVAMAYR before, supposedly the hottest health and weight loss destination in Europe. Let’s be frank, the world’s most glamorous have been there. Liz Hurley just left and Alber Elbaz, former Creative Director of Lanvin, is coming here yearly for a health makeover. While we were there, Gossip Girl star Chase Crawford had checked in together with German supermodel Anna Ewers. They had the table close to us in the dining room. Let’s be frank, if such a glam couple comes for their first trip together to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth, it must be cool. At this point, my daughter was on board.

Karlie Kloss photographed by Mario Testing for Vogue UK at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth

VOGUE UK came all the way to Austria to shoot an amazing editorial with Karlie Kloss and Mario Testino at the famous detox resort. And then there is this fabulous book «The Viva Mayr Diet» by Dr. Harald Stossier, who directs the prestigious VIVAMAYR Medical Centre, and Helena Frith Powell, former serial dieter and author of «Two Lipsticks and a Lover», that promises 14 days to a flatter stomach and a younger you, even while having a glass of wine. Do I have your attention now?

Let me get you started with a sneak preview of facts every girl should know:
• Agonising over water or wine at dinner? Make it wine every time!
• Stop eating on the move! Eating when you’re all stressed out is your no.1 enemy.
• Eat a cheese burger really slowly and it’ll be better for you than wolfing down an all-organic fancy salad.
• Never, ever skip breakfast! If you’re really that busy, drop dinner from your day instead.

Changing your lifestyle at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth…

After one week already at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth, my stomach that tends to be my week point felt amazingly well, no cramps or tensions, and my skin was absolutely glowing. I felt so good I have decided to incorporate certain things in my nutritional plan and make it my way of life. Let’s face it girls, you are what you eat. But what does the magic at VIVAMAYR?

Serhan Güven, Managing Director VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth, told me about the plans to renovate and built a new clinic next door that will focus on mental issues such as burn-out syndrome or depressions. Funny… I look like the doctor in my bathrobe.

Medical treatments developed by Dr. F.X. Mayr assume we can «become healthy, happy, and more efficient» by temporarily changing our normal diet. Regular (lifelong) fasting leads to greater health by observing specific dietary guidelines and changing eating habits. Every patient at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth is seen each day by a doctor. I had been assigned to Dr. Werner Zancolo, who explained me that the VIVAMAYR Principle was developed on the basis of modern Mayr medicine, based on the four principles of Rest, Cleanse, Train and Substitute with the goal of integrating and practicing each principle individually for a period of time. The reason why it is so successful and worked perfectly for me is that the dietary guidelines are combined with modern complementary procedures including Functional Myodiagnostics (A.K.) and Orthomolecular Medicine. Tuning into your health and well-being is a memorable experience of self-discovery. «Bring your health back to life» – this is the catchy slogan which is exactly what you are doing at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth.

Dr. Werner Zancolo performing a tummy massage followed by an Applied Kinesiology test, after which he determined that I was fructose-intolerant.

Once the great team of doctors have treated your condition, proper nutrition combined with exercise and improved mental awareness become the building blocks of your new life.

We arrived on a Sunday late afternoon and our first meal was dinner that is served between 6-7 pm. Everything at VIVAMAYR follows a strict schedule. You are asked to go to bed early pushing the button next to your night table to cut off all electricity that is said to lead to better sleep. In the beginning, it feels more like being in a health jail, than a detox deluxe.

The dining room where you have all your meals at VIVAMAYR Maria Woerth.

In the dining room, the so-called patients eat in silence, mainly dressed in white terry-cloth robes and matching slippers. A sign on each table showing a cell phone, an iPad and a computer, all with a thick red line through them, banned any form of technology or communication with the outside world. The focus should be on the act of chewing as this is an important part of the digestion. Therefore you always get a stale spelt bread. Mayr believed the staler the bread, the more you chew it, therefore the better it is for you. Who would have thought that masticating 40 times before swallowing could be so difficult? But there is method to this madness. Chewing slowly and intensively promotes the production of an enzyme called amylase which helps your gut digest your food more easily. Eat in peace and with pleasure, chew extensively in order to salivate the food well, and avoid raw food in the evening.

All day you can prepare yourself yummy herbal teas.

Very important at VIVAMAYR is that you keep cold liquids separate from mealtimes. You’re asked not to drink for half an hour before and after mealtimes. Something that you should be always doing in order not to dilute the digestive juices. The biggest meals are breakfast and lunch, dinner should be light and small. Something I cannot integrate in my lifestyle as supper is my biggest meal of the day for me also in terms of social aspects.

The food served is very satisfying, even that the portions are not so big. The intense chewing helps.

The nutrition plan is based on the principle of maintaining a healthy acid–alkaline balance. For the optimal flow of all metabolic processes, a balanced ratio of acids and bases is important. It is also reasonable to ensure that the food is balanced when it comes to eating: less meat, fish, cheese, white bread, pasta, rice and sugar, but more vegetables, potatoes, mature local fruit and cold-pressed vegetable oils.

No need to suffer…

The transition phase at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth was extremely tough on me, less on my daughter. The deprivation of caffeine, alcohol and sugar lead to severe headaches. Something that the lovely team at the detox resort is familiar with. You can feel that your body is rebooting which also takes a lot of strength, makes you feel shaky, weak and extremely tired. All the energy goes to your gut that is the center of your health. If your digestive system works well, everything is in the flow. Patients start their morning in general at VIVAMAYR with instructions to drink a large dose of vile, bitter-tasting Epsom salts, which induces a significant bathroom visit. My daughter and I were prescribed the lighter version, magnesium citrate  to help cleanse our guts.

Fighting my back pain with the help of the Detensor spine traction decompression therapy device.

Be prepared that the way to a glowing complexion means being sallow-skinned, with enormous dark-purple circles under your eyes, and some break-outs at your chin. On the third day, I even had to have an IV with pain killers because also my lumbago all of a sudden became severe. Then your transformation begins, all of a sudden, as the week passed, the detox program became more pleasurable. Instead of pining to go home, I wanted to stay and feel even better. My energy levels rose, cellulite, which is a phenomenon of overacidification, my dear ladies, disappeared completely, my skin was glowing and I was in a great mood. Of course I was hooked and wanted to make the VIVAMAYR diet a way of life. And so was my daughter. Her teenage skin problems had diminished only in a few days, she felt less tired and less bloated.

One of my favorite treatments was the oxygen therapy where you «climb» the Mount Everest 5 times in 30 minutes in terms of the oxygen levels. While you do this, you build more blood cells and get more energized.

Be prepared that you will have extra costs due to additional treatments that I highly recommend, I loved the massages, detox foot bath, oxygen treatment and more… The more distraction you have, the easier it is to transition into your new lifestyle.

If you want to make a permanent dent into those belly rings or wobbly knees you’ve got to look a bit further into the future. The difference is that after you understood the concept you’ll be hooked, will have less pitfalls and it will feel normal to follow this regime as it is reaching for your lipstick.

Exercising is as important as your changing your nutrition.

Key facts that I have incorporated in my daily routine and that help me not to be bloated anymore:
• I stopped drinking Coke Zero at all. As your body tries to maintain the acid-alkaline balance, diet pop leaches the calcium out of bones, which can lead to osteoporosis. If you are toxic, you are consuming your own minerals.
• I take the VIVAMAYR alkaline powder on a daily basis which helps to reduce the overacidification of the body that we all most likely have.
• Instead of starting my day with three cappuccinos, I have two matcha teas. The reason for it is very obvious. In the morning our energy levels are high already, when we push them to extreme with caffeine, it has contra-productive effects. Saving the cup of coffee for the time when you are feeling drowsy after lunch, is much better for your health.
• I eliminated raw vegan regimes in the evening, salads only at lunch. The cold raw food is tough on the digestion. I feel so much better since then.
• A big step for me was changing my beloved Kinder chocolate bar in the morning for a healthy breakfast. I mostly eat porridge or fruits with yoghurt and walnuts.

My daughter has absolutely changed her eating habits, makes now healthier nutritional choices and exercises more. I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome.

So close from VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth: Lake Bled is one of the most picturesque spots to visit in Slovenia.

For those who get bored easily, there are plenty of options to do sportive activities or excursions, from Vienna to Klagenfurt, Lake Bled or Ljubljana. You can book them directly with the hotel. My daughter and I for example went one day to Slovenia that is only an hour away by car. VIVAMAYR packed us our lunch so that we didn’t mess up our strict diet. We had such a great time in Austria and will be back for sure this fall. Below you can find some more treatments that you shouldn’t miss…

I always made fun of my girlfriends who attend like pilgrims their respective cure at least once a year. Not anymore. I am a VIVAMAYRista now, too!

LoL, Sandra

So interesting: the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a commonly used method for estimating body composition, in particular body fat and muscle mass.

Don’t miss a bath in the Hydroxeur – this hydromassage bathtub with chromotherapy lamps is very relaxing.

Several treatments are designed to support the detoxifying process in your body, such as the full body mud wrap or the electrolysis footbath.

My highlight: a QMS Oxygen Facial that was sensational.

Don’t miss these four previous outfit posts, all shot at VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth:
Vivamayr – You Can Do It – Chill & Relax – Golden Fall

Photos in cover collage and of Karlie Kloss: Courtesy of VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth and © Vogue UK / Mario Testino, all other photos: © Sandra Bauknecht