Sandra‘s Closet

Beauty, Honestly: A Lunch with Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou

A beauty talk among women, honest, inspiring and delicious. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting an intimate lunch and Q&A with Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou at Club zum Rennweg in Zurich, and what unfolded over the following hours was less a panel talk than a candid conversation among women, the kind you wish you could bottle.

Let me introduce you to Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou, a Swiss board certified specialist surgeon and the founder and CEO of the Dr. Kelly Group in Zug. Her path reads like a masterclass in determination: medical studies in Greece, years as a surgeon at the University Hospital of Basel, further training in Munich, Miami and Singapore, and today more than 15,000 procedures and treatments to her name. She has developed her own signature injection protocol, the Kelly Lift, as well as a medical skincare line that, in her words, was not born in marketing but in the operating theatre.

What sets her apart, though, is not the CV. It is the philosophy. Dr. Kelly believes in natural results and long term thinking rather than fleeting trends, and she is refreshingly unafraid to say no. When I asked whether she ever turns patients away, she did not hesitate. A filtered selfie, she told us, is not a treatment plan. In an era of the so called Instagram Face, hearing a surgeon champion restraint felt almost radical.

And then there were my guests. A table of wonderful, accomplished, curious women who asked exactly the questions we all quietly carry with us. When should one really start with prevention? What makes a facelift look fresh rather than done? Is hybrid breast augmentation truly the future? Nothing was off limits, and that was precisely the beauty of it. Woman to woman, without taboos, without judgment, with plenty of laughter in between.

By the time the espresso arrived, one thing was clear: this conversation is far from over. I am delighted to share that Dr. Kelly has agreed to sit down with me for an in depth interview here on Sandra’s Closet.

And this is where you come in, my dears. What would you ask a top aesthetic surgeon if you had her all to yourself? Whether it is about skincare, surgery, ageing gracefully or the one myth you have always wanted debunked, send me a message to , and I will put your best ones directly to Dr. Kelly.

Because the best beauty conversations, like the best lunches, are always shared.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Sanjeev Velmurugan
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Back with Love, from a Parisian Wedding Weekend

My loves, I am back. After a few weeks of digital detox, a little pause I truly needed, I could not imagine a more beautiful reason to return to you than this: I am in Paris, celebrating the wedding of the daughter of one of my closest friends from New York, and my heart is overflowing.

Congrats Taylor and Vincent!

The most beautiful bride Taylor in Stéphane Rolland

This is not just any celebration. It is a three day festival of love, glamour and friendship, and it has only just begun. The bride wears Stéphane Rolland, and so does the mother of the bride. The couturier himself is here in person, which tells you everything about the warmth and intimacy of this wedding. Seeing his sculptural artistry on two women I hold so dear moves me deeply.

Jani and I last night at the pre-wedding cocktail party

The mother of the bride, Jani Gerard, is one of those rare friendships that feel like destiny. We met years ago over breakfast in Anna Wintour’s office, in the company of Kim Kardashian, and from that very first conversation something clicked. Over the years she has become a true friend, the kind you laugh with, confide in and cherish. Being here to share the most emotional milestone of her life as a mother means more to me than words can say.

I wore CHANEL for the first night.

Last night the festivities opened at Hôtel de Crillon, with stunning views over Paris, ice cold champagne, endless conversations and the pure joy of embracing girlfriends from all over the world. Moments like these remind me why I love what I do, and above all, the people I get to share it with.

What touches me most is the energy of the women gathered here. So many wonderful, accomplished women who inspire and support one another, and many of them dear friends of mine.

I am always having the best time with Corina.

Among them my good friend Corina Mihaila Lapin, whose stunning jewellery line Stéfère Jewelry could be spotted sparkling on many fingers throughout the evening …

Lovely Chrissi with her husband.

… and my dear Chrissi Sayare, who runs the most wonderful luxury resale and vintage shop TBC Luxury Resale. Do yourselves a favour and follow her on Instagram @tbcluxuryresale, her finds are pure treasure. This is what true friendship in our world looks like: women celebrating women, in life and in style.

With my childhood friend Anouschka and her husband.

Tonight it continues, and I can hardly wait. It feels so good to be back, my loves. The most beautiful chapters of this weekend are still ahead, and of course I will take you with me.

LoL, Sandra

Love is in the air in Paris. 

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

A beautiful lunch with Sunday Natural deserves a dress that plays along. For «Let’s Talk Hormones» at the Club zum Rennweg, I chose a dress covered in fruit from neckline to hem, a strawberry bag, shoes finished with tiny strawberry charms, and a pair of earrings to complete the look.

Healthy on the plate, healthy on the dress. Wellness does not have to look clinical. On this afternoon, it looked like a summer garden.

My look: Belted floral-print cotton-blend midi dress by Mary Katrantzou, earrings Fragola by Jennifer Behr, green Fragolina 105 embellished suede sandals by Aquazzura, embellished strawberry bag by Staud, and oval-frame gold-tone and tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses by Celine.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Anastasia Diadio @diadio.anastasia
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Let’s Talk Hormones: A Lunch with Sunday Natural at the Club zum Rennweg

Sunlight was falling through the windows of the Club zum Rennweg, the table was laid in white, and for once a Zurich lunch was not about hemlines or handbags. It was about the invisible orchestra that conducts our bodies every single day. Together with Sunday Natural, I had invited a group of wonderful women to an afternoon under the title «Let’s Talk Hormones», and what unfolded was one of the most open and honest exchanges I have hosted in a long time.

Our guest of honour was Dr. Katharina Maria Burkhardt from Vienna, a specialist in endocrinology, who gave us a rare insight into how hormones truly work together. Estrogen and progesterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol and insulin do not act in isolation. They speak to each other constantly, and when one voice rises or falls, the others answer. Stress, for instance, keeps cortisol elevated, which in turn can disturb ovulation and lower progesterone. Thyroid function influences the availability of our sex hormones, and estrogen in return affects how the thyroid is regulated. Little wonder that the majority of us experience hormone related symptoms at some point in our lives, from fatigue and mood swings to irregular cycles and the many faces of perimenopause and menopause.

What I found most encouraging was the professor’s message that we are not powerless. Sleep, nutrition, movement and stress management form the foundation, and where the body lacks certain nutrients, targeted high quality supplementation can support the system in finding its balance again. Which brought us, quite naturally, to our partner for the day.

Me with the lovely Sunday Natural team (from left to right): Clarissa Boeker, Miriam Blendorf-Preusche, Sandra Gehlen, and Stefanie Befort.

Sunday Natural was founded in Berlin a little over a decade ago out of frustration with the quality of supplements on the market. The founder wanted to create the kind of products they would take themselves and recommend to their own families. The result is a philosophy they call the True Clean Label: naturally sourced, bioactive ingredients, gently extracted, laboratory tested, free from GMOs and from the controversial additives, fillers and binders that so many capsules still contain. Even the capsule shells are kept pure. With its own research and development team and a range of more than a thousand products, from vitamin D3 and magnesium to adaptogens and fine Japanese teas, Sunday Natural has become the fastest growing premium nutrition brand in the German speaking world. Clarity, cleanliness and uncompromising quality are the three words I would choose for it, and after this afternoon I understand why so many women in my circle already swear by it.

The menu was created around Sunday Natural products, and it was extremely delicious, proof that conscious eating and true pleasure are not opposites. Between courses, the conversation flowed freely. Women shared their own experiences, asked the questions they had never dared to ask their doctors, and left with notebooks full of ideas and a new sense of ease about a topic that still carries far too much silence.

Thank you to Sunday Natural for a partnership that felt so effortless, to the Club zum Rennweg for the perfect setting, and to every woman at the table for her openness. This was only the beginning of the conversation.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Anastasia Diadio @diadio.anastasia
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Dressed in white for a White Starry Night in Florence. Shot in my beautiful suite and inside my hotel, the Portrait Firenze, where every corner feels like an editorial set. A total white dresscode, the Arno glittering below and a birthday celebration waiting. Florence, you always know how to set the scene.

My look: Tiered tulle bolero, tiered white tulle skirt, and organza flower pin, all by Rodarte, light blue cotton top with bow (Cruise 2020) by CHANEL, So High Plateau 140 metallic faux leather platform pumps by Aquazurra, Monet shell clutch bag by Simkhai, and Impatiens cream white earrings by Oscar de la Renta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Oliver Rauh 
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

I am delighted to present to you my Sisley summer glow. This summer collection appears in a new design and has an amazing novelty you shouldn’t miss. I took the products to the party in Florence and got lots of compliments for my radiant skin.

Protect the face with
SUNLEŸA SOIN SOLAIRE ANTI-ÂGE SPF 50+
Available on sisley-paris.com: CHF 258.00 (50ml)

More than just a sun protector, this new formula is a fusion of Sisley’s sun care expertise and anti-aging excellence.
At the heart of the formula, Sisley’s own revolutionary G+ Complex, whose action neutralizes the effects of glycation while correcting existing signs of ageing. Ideally protected, the skin reveals a natural tan that is all the more vibrant, luminous, and long-lasting.

Bronze with
PHYTO-TOUCHE GEL
GLOW AND MATTE
Available on sisley-paris.com: CHF 89.00 (30ml)

First, sculpt specific areas (temples, cheeks and jaw line) with Phyto-Touche Gel. Its fresh, sheer, gel texture blends seamlessly into the skin, giving it an instant healthy glow. Its coverage is adjustable, and it comes in two finishes, Glow and Matte, for tailor-made radiance. With hydrating and nourishing key ingredients, and anti-free radical properties, its formula prolongs natural tanning while revealing radiant skin.

Bronze some more
PHYTO-TOUCHE ILLUSION D’ÉTÉ
Available on sisley-paris.com: CHF 115.00 (11 g)

Next, perfect the sun-kissed effect with Phyto-Touche Illusion d’Été. This powder-gel leaves a translucent, iridescent finish on the skin. Its universal shade adapts to all skin tones, giving a natural, sun-kissed glow. Enriched with three key ingredients, its formula helps to improve skin appearance over time.

Capture the light with
L’ORCHIDÉE HIGHLIGHTER
Available on sisley-paris.com: CHF 115.00 (12 g)

Finally, the last step of the ritual: Illuminate the complexion to recreate natural summer light, on the skin.

Made of pure shimmer with no backcolour, this ultra-sensory powder-gel melts instantly onto the face, transforming into a subtle, ethereal veil of iridescence on the skin. Its universal shade matches all skin tones perfectly, enhancing natural radiance.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Oliver Rauh 
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

The magical opening evening of a birthday weekend in the Tuscan hills, dressed head to toe in white.

The first evening of the weekend, and the most special of all: Petra’s actual birthday, in the hills above Florence with the most enchanting theme: White Starry Night. Everyone, everything, was dressed in white, despite the beautiful table cloth that was reminiscent of Toile de Jouy by Dior, her favorite brand.

The setting was Villa I Collazzi, roughly thirty minutes from the centre of Florence, along the old road to Volterra in the hills above Scandicci. Arriving felt like stepping straight into a dream. A long approach lined with cypress trees standing like sentinels, and then the villa itself, rising on its hilltop terrace, majestic and serene against the Tuscan sky.

This is no ordinary house. Villa I Collazzi is one of the most celebrated Renaissance residences in all of Tuscany, its design long attributed by local legend to Michelangelo himself and later carried to completion by Santi di Tito. Built for the Dini family in the sixteenth century and lovingly cared for by the Marchi family since 1933, it holds centuries of history in its stone loggias and Italian gardens. From the terrace, on a clear evening, you can even glimpse Brunelleschi’s dome shimmering in the distance.

As the sun softened over the vineyards, the guests began to gather, and the effect was pure enchantment. Everyone in white, glasses of chilled wine catching the last of the golden light, laughter drifting across the gardens. The dress code did something quite wonderful: it turned a party into a living tableau, elegant and timeless, as though we had all wandered into the same beautiful painting.

Dinner unfolded beneath the stars, the villa glowing softly behind us, the warm Tuscan air carrying music long into the night. Petra, radiant as ever, had set the tone for the whole weekend, the kind of evening that reminds you why these gatherings of dear friends matter so very much.

And this was only the beginning. The White Starry Night was the opening chapter of a birthday weekend I will treasure for a long time to come. More on that very soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Once a year, Zurich turns into the world’s biggest techno party, and I celebrate it my way: in the garden of the Baur au Lac, champagne in hand, close to the beat, yet beautifully removed from the crowds.

I wore a Pucci catsuit. Its psychedelic print is perfect for a day like this, plus a bow hair clip fastened to my belt. Practical for putting my hair up, pretty as an accessory.

Saturday also marked the first anniversary of my beloved Mama’s passing, so I did the only thing that felt right: I danced my heart out. For her, with her. Love, tolerance and the freedom to be exactly who you are. That is the message of the Street Parade. And it was hers too.

My look: Catsuit in pastel colors by Pucci, Tribute woven leather espadrille wedge sandals by Saint Laurent, GG Marmont belt bag by Gucci, satin bow barrette by Jennifer Behr, Impatiens cream white earrings by Oscar de la Renta, necklace with heart charms, and chain belt with yellow rose, both by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Sanjeev Velmurugan
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Switzerland turns 735 today. For a country this composed, that is a remarkable run, and the 1st of August still feels less like a parade and more like a quiet family celebration that happens to involve an entire nation.

I was not born here. I am German, and I came to Switzerland for what was meant to be a short chapter. The chapter turned into a life. Years later I received my Swiss passport, and I still count that among the proudest days I have had. A country you are given by birth is a fact. A country you choose, and that eventually chooses you back, is closer to a love story. Wahlheimat, we say in German. Chosen home. It makes today rather personal.

What I love most is how much this small country manages to hold. Water so clear you can count the stones under six metres of it. Mountains that look computer generated until you are standing in front of them.

In winter those same mountains become the best skiing on earth, from the first cable car up in Zermatt with the Matterhorn watching over your shoulder to a long, sunny lunch on a terrace in St. Moritz before the last run down.

Vineyards above Lake Geneva, palm trees in Ticino, glaciers in Valais, and all of it reachable by a train that arrives at the minute it promised. World class cities you can cross on foot, with a hiking trail and total silence thirty minutes away. Grand hotels holding a century of stories in the lobby, and lakeside bathhouses where people swim before work. Very few places offer both.

Then comes the part the rest of the world knows us for. Art Basel, the most important fair in the international art market since 1970, which this June brought 290 galleries from 43 countries into a single city.

Watches and Wonders in Geneva, the biggest watch fair in the world, with 66 maisons at Palexpo in April and Audemars Piguet finally back among them. The cheese, the chocolate, the wheels of Gruyère and the boxes of pralinés that make every Swiss suitcase heavier on the way out than on the way in.

And next Saturday, the 8th of August, Zurich becomes the world’s largest techno party when the Street Parade takes over the lake basin with close to a million people dancing along the water. Bankers by day, ravers by night. Nowhere else do discretion and hedonism share a postcode quite so happily.

Fashion has noticed all of it, usually with a perfectly straight face. Prada once sent out a pale yellow openwork knit that the internet immediately and correctly identified as a slice of Emmentaler, priced at just over 900 pounds.

Jeremy Scott mined the same seam for years at Moschino, with melting chocolate handbags that looked good enough to lick, a whole Moschino Farms season of cows and barnyard prints, and, in fall 2021, a wool jacket trimmed with real cowbells.

Burberry has put cow print on silk dresses and mini skirts, which any farmer in Appenzell could have confirmed was a classic several decades ago. Alpine kitsch, it turns out, is the one Swiss export the runway simply cannot leave alone.

A few things worth knowing about the date itself. It goes back to the Federal Charter of 1291, when Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden swore to stand by one another, legend says on the Rütli meadow above Lake Lucerne. The document only specifies early August, which is charmingly vague for a nation famous for precision. It was rediscovered in an archive in Schwyz in 1758 and can still be seen there. The first great celebration came in 1891 for the 600th anniversary, and it became annual from 1899. What surprises most people is how recent the holiday is.

Until 1993 the 1st of August was an ordinary working day in most cantons. That September, 86.3 percent of voters said yes to a nationwide public holiday, and the first official day off followed in 1994. Very Swiss, that. Nothing happens until everybody has voted on it.

Traditionally the day belongs to bonfires on the hills, lanterns carried through the streets by children, church bells at eight and an alphorn making everyone go quiet for a moment. This year the celebrations are more restrained in many places, which suits the occasion better than you might think. The Swiss have never needed spectacle to know exactly who they are.

Happy Birthday, Switzerland. Danke für alles.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Rian Davidson / David Biedert Photography and @kazmva0
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Ballon Rouge by Gassmann holds a special place in my heart. I used to shop there for my daughter Anouk when she was little, and it is still the most beautiful children’s store in Zurich. Before the summer break, AERIN invited me to an afternoon on the boutique’s hidden terrace, beautifully decorated and the perfect setting to dive into the world of AERIN fragrances.

My favorite is Amber Musk. On its own, it feels like being wrapped in the softest cashmere, more of a winter scent really, but layered with Mediterranean Honeysuckle it turns into a wonderful summer fragrance. The highlight: we had our bottles engraved and painted the scents in watercolors, which I enjoyed far too much.

The dress code called for pastels, so I wore Simone Rocha, paired with shoes that made quite the splash: a mix of kawaii and 90s goth girl. Ballet-inspired shoes are everywhere right now, but Simone Rocha was pioneering the look years ago.

My look: Layered tulle dress, egg leather-trimmed clutch, embellished platform track sole ballerina sneakers in nude, and silver-tone, faux pearl and crystal earrings, all by Simone Rocha, and logo-plaque cat-eye sunglasses by Fendi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Simon Ohneiser
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!