Sandra‘s Closet

«Fashion is about optimism,» Oscar de la Renta once said. On the last day of the year, those words feel especially present. This year brought profound loss and many difficult moments, marked by the passing of my parents. Ending it with a beautiful memory feels meaningful.

Earlier this month, I travelled to Santo Domingo for the Oscar de la Renta fashion show celebrating the house’s 60th anniversary, an experience I will share more of very soon. For now, this is a first glimpse of the look I wore.

Head to toe in Oscar de la Renta, the orchid print reflected the Caribbean Gala dress code for the night and matched perfect the beautiful background at my hotel, the Kimpton Las Mercedes.

My look: Maxi dress with orchid print, Tro crystal-embellished mini bag, and Impatiens silver-tone crystal clip earrings, all by Oscar de la Renta, crystal embellished sunglasses by CHANEL, diamond rose ring by Piaget , and Double Bow crystal-embellished glittered leather point-toe pumps by Mach & Mach.

Wishing you all a bright, joyful, and great start to the new year! I am convinced that 2026 will be a good one!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Hosting a Burberry event in Zurich was a tue pleasure, a day shaped by conversations, style, and a shared appreciation for the house. Friends of mine and clients of the House came together to experience the F/W 2025 collection, alongside my styling insights and a closer look at the season’s defining themes.

What I wore felt like a natural extension of that dialogue. Dressed head to toe in Burberry, my look combined current pieces with elements that have long been part of my wardrobe. A reminder that true style isn’t about moments, but continuity and that Burberry’s strength lies in its ability to remain timeless while constantly evolving.

My look: Oversized silk-habotai shirt, shearling-collar trim scarf, asymmetric printed plissé-twill skirt, leather-trimmed cashmere and cotton-gabardine bag charm, mini Pocket tote bag, and buckled leather knee boots, all by Burberry.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Sanjeev Velmurugan
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Some pieces are simply too special to be worn only once. This Oscar de la Renta dress is one of them. I first wore it four years ago during Paris Fashion Week, for a special occasion hosted by Dr. Barbara Sturm.

With Dr. Barbara Sturm at Kaviar Caspia in Paris in 2021 wearing the dress for the first time.

Last week, I was wearing it again in a very different setting in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree at the National Palace in Santo Domingo on the occasion of Oscar de la Renta’s 60th anniversary.

Christmas tree camouflaging.
So perfectly decorated that I almost disappear into it.

The dress remains the same. I only changed the shoes and the earrings. And yet, it feels completely new.

My look in Paris: Open-back appliquéd tulle mini dress by Oscar de la Renta, vintage dark green stingray leather clutch, and platform sandals, both by Alaïa, oversized gold-tone, leather, crystal and faux pearl clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana.

My look in Santo Domingo: Open-back appliquéd tulle mini dress and dark green long beaded tassel earrings, both by Oscar de la Renta, vintage dark green stingray leather clutch by Alaïa, and Jodie rose-embellished white leather platform sandals by Saint Laurent.

With its iconic three-dimensional floral appliqués, a design made iconic by Taylor Swift, this gown is an absolute dream piece. And when you are lucky enough to own something this special, you should wear it again and again. Because every time you do, it feels like a Christmas gift all over again: familiar, yet still magical.

These images below were taken in Paris, but over the coming days I’ll also be sharing what I experienced with Oscar de la Renta in Santo Domingo. This is just the beginning. Merry Christmas and stay tuned!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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Last night’s Christmas cocktail at Valentino in Zurich felt like a beautiful pause in time, a celebration not only of the season, but of friendship, creativity, and the unmistakable warmth of the Valentino family. Surrounded by shades of deep red, festive, sensual, and powerful, it was a joy to finally gather again, laugh together, and share a moment that felt both intimate and elevated.

With Gianfranca, Albena and Wei.

As a fashion observer at heart, my eye inevitably wandered to the clothes. Under Alessandro Michele’s creative direction, Valentino is entering a fascinating chapter. Michele once said, «Clothes are a form of self-definition, a way of declaring who you are without having to speak.» That philosophy is clearly present, rich, expressive, unapologetically emotional. And yet, one cannot help but feel that his signature is so strong, so personal, that it almost longs for a universe entirely of its own. Alessandro Michele doesn’t just design collections; he builds worlds.

I fell in love with the hat from the F/W 2025 collection.

That said, Valentino currently offers truly beautiful pieces to discover, highlights from the F/W 2025 collection can be found with up to 40% off, and the new Resort collection has arrived with fresh, desirable silhouettes that feel both joyful and timeless.

Valentino Resort 2026

The evening itself was filled with lightness: exquisite catering, endless conversations, and a room full of women clearly enjoying themselves. The photos capture it perfectly, elegance without stiffness, glamour without effort, and the simple pleasure of being together again.

Tanja, Thea, Wei and me.

Fashion, after all, is never just about clothes. It’s about moments like these.

LoL, Sandra

Fashion is calling…

… and my favorite dinner is served.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Valentino
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I’m very proud to have contributed once again to the Weltwoche Gift Guide, a beautifully curated selection where a variety of well-known personalities share their personal recommendations. And because I certainly don’t want to keep my tips from you, I’m sharing an English summary of my favorites here as well. Enjoy a little sparkle, a little travel dreaming, and a touch of everyday luxury.

A Touch of Luxury for Your Hair

Le Parfum by Hair Rituel by Sisley is like an invisible silk scarf that gently wraps around your hair. It smells as if you’ve just conquered the world—not the kitchen. One spritz and any trace of cooking, smoke, or daily hustle simply disappears.

What remains is shine, lightness, and that subtle, confident scent that quietly says: I’m not in a rush, I just smell fabulous.

Available at sisley-paris.ch, CHF 101.00 (100ml)

Infinity Collection by ONTOO – Luxury That Truly Adds Up

Who says bespoke craftsmanship is only for couture? At ONTOO, you can create jewelry that suits your life and your budget. Rose, white, or yellow gold? Prefer sapphire instead of diamond? Everything is possible.

The pieces by Swiss designer Martina Baeriswyl Holzach are light enough for sports yet elegant enough for an evening out. Jewelry that adapts to its wearer, not the other way around.

Prices upon request: ontoo.ch

London Calling – A Gift With the Curtain Up

For those who love collecting experiences rather than things: the legendary Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair now offers three new Forte Suites, each inspired by a personality who shaped the neighborhood, composer Muzio Clementi, soprano Clara Dow, and Dame Vera Lynn.

Imagine this: after an evening at the theatre, returning to the Brown’s Hotel for a glass of bubbly in an Emperador marble bathroom, the night drifting into the melody of «A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.» A gift that feels like a movie scene.

The new Forte Suites start at £3,500 per night.
More information here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promised.

Last week, we gathered to say goodbye to my father, in the same forest, beside the same tree, where we stood only two months ago to say goodbye to my mother. The same place, the same quiet air, the same sacred ground that holds both of them now. And although it breaks my heart, it also fills me with peace. They are together again where they always belonged.

We came dressed in black with a touch of green, his favorite color, as he wished, and in the way he always loved me to express my emotions through what I wear: a hat with a Gamsbart, traditional touches he would have smiled at, and the CHANEL bag he gave me as a young girl, the very first one, carried close to my heart today.

And as if the sky wanted to honor him too, the day was bright and cold, a true Kaiserwetter: icy air, but sunlight pouring through the trees, warming us from above. It felt as though he were sending us one last golden greeting.

There was so much love around us. So many memories. My childhood friends came, a gesture that touched me deeply and helped carry me through this day. And all around, I felt kindness, warmth, and support from every side.

At one moment, I leaned toward the tree, the same tree where we stood for my mother, and kissed its bark. And in that brief second, it felt as if I was holding her again. As if the tree had become a bridge between worlds, carrying both of them in its roots and branches. A quiet embrace that wrapped itself around my heart.

My father was the most loyal, honest, and authentic man I have ever known. A true good soul, gentle, humorous, sociable, always ready to help, always seeing the best in others. He loved nature, he loved traveling, he loved wandering through the world with curiosity in his eyes. And he loved deeply especially my mother. Their bond was one of the great loves of a lifetime.

He gave love, and he received love. He lived with kindness, and he left with kindness. And now, after 83 years in this world, he has returned home back into a greater light, back to the woman he loved with all his heart.

It moves me to think that their journeys began and ended in such harmony: Two months apart. One final path leading them back to each other. A circle completed with grace. It was a day of farewell but also a day of gratitude. Gratitude for the memories, for the laughter, for the stories, for the quiet moments, for the love that will stay with us forever.

And as the sunlight shone through the trees, I felt something else too:
A gentle reassurance.
A whisper from above.

We are together again.
We are at peace.
We are watching over you.

Papa, I love you.
Thank you for everything you were, everything you gave, everything you taught me.
You will stay in my heart, always.

And now you are with Mama again.
That thought brings me comfort, and maybe even a little bit of joy.

Rest in peace, Papa.
You are home.

With love, Sandra

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