Sandra‘s Closet

London is having a moment. Galleries are unveiling new exhibitions, restaurant terraces are buzzing with an international crowd, and the city’s royal parks are drawing the global it-set like nowhere else this season. At the centre of it all sits The Lanesborough Summer Picnic, a collaboration with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé that turns an afternoon in Hyde Park into a masterclass in effortless luxury.

Forget the beach. The most stylish escape this summer comes in a picnic basket from one of London’s most storied addresses. Perched at the edge of Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, The Lanesborough has long been synonymous with Regency grandeur and impeccable service. Its 93 rooms, 48 suites, and signature butler service set the tone before you even step outside.

Executive Chef Shay Cooper has designed a menu that feels as considered as a couture look: smoked London Cure salmon with blinis and capers, burrata with Marinda tomatoes and pomegranate, wild mushroom and truffle filo parcels, and a Sutton Hoo chicken terrine. Scones with clotted cream and fresh English strawberries with vanilla Chantilly cream bring things to a deliciously classic close. Every course finds its match in a perfectly chilled bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé.

Available daily until 6 September 2026, priced at £295 for two with champagne included. Summer in London, done right.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of The Lanesborough
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Yesterday in London was one of those days that remind me why I love this city so much.

TABAYER

Two invitations, both about jewelry, both in the hands of houses that understand beauty as something more than surface. First, lunch at Hide in Mayfair with Tabayer hosted by The Floorr.

With the loveliest hosts Lupe Puerta (The Floorr) and Nyree Tanielian

Founded in 2021 by Nigora Tokhtabayeva, it is one of the most quietly compelling jewelry brands to emerge in recent years. Each piece is rooted in the ancient symbolism of protection, reinterpreted through a modernist, sculptural lens and crafted in Italy using Fairmined certified gold and ethically sourced diamonds. The signature Oera collection draws on Inanna’s Knot, a Mesopotamian symbol of fertility and guardianship, distilled into forms that feel both elemental and entirely of the moment. Jewelry that carries weight, in the most beautiful sense of the word.

With my dear friend Lupe Puerta, founder of The Floorr.

With my dear friend Anouschka who flew in from Frankfurt for the occasion.

BVLGARI

Lupe and I on the steps of the Bvlgari store on New Bond Street.

Later in the evening, I headed to Bvlgari for a truly special night filled with champagne, whisky tasting, and inspiring conversations. The event celebrated the latest creations presented during Watches and Wonders, including the stunning new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo timepiece, which once again showcased the brand’s incredible innovation and elegance.

With Catherine Eberle-Devaux, Bvlgari Watch Communication Director, and Dr. Bill Lumsden, who heads up Glenmorangie’s innovations and has been with the company for more than 25 years. I had met him before at an event in Zurich and it was lovely to see him again.

But beyond the jewelry and watches, evenings like these are always about something even more meaningful to me,  reconnecting with friends in London, sharing conversations, exchanging ideas, and simply enjoying the atmosphere of being surrounded by beautiful things and inspiring people.

With lovely Akram from the Bvlgari London team. We have been knowing each other from Valentino.

It was one of those rare days that felt effortless from beginning to end, and I went to bed feeling genuinely grateful.

LoL, Sandra

With fashion designer Olga Vilshenko.

Beautiful Bvlgari handbags designed by Mary Katrantzou.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Between Parisian effortless elegance and Brazilian ease, Isabel Marant and Havaianas unveil their first limited-edition collaboration, imagined as the must-have of the summer.

The collection introduces two distinct silhouettes: a reinterpretation of Havaianas’ classic styles through Isabel Marant’s signature prints and textured finishes, bringing a refined yet directional edge to the brand’s iconic designs; alongside the new Havaianas Puffed, adding bold volume and a contemporary edge while preserving the comfort and lightness that define the brand.

Designed to move seamlessly between beach destinations and city streets, the collection captures a relaxed yet elevated vision of summer dressing, where ease, personality, and style naturally converge.

Here is your exclusive early access to discover and shop the collection online ahead of its official in-store and online launch on May 22.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Isabel Marant and Havaianas
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Gabriela Hearst and Paul Smith release a limited edition collection, developed organically from a mutual passion for craftsmanship and tailoring.

The collection came to fruition from their longstanding friendship, stemming from a shared inspiration of family with archival images of Paul’s father serving as the narrative thread, reflecting their personal histories and the values that connect them.

Reflecting on the essence of the Gabriela Hearst woman, Paul Smith instinctively returned to two photographs taken in the British countryside by his father – a textile professional and amateur lensman – during the 1950s and 1960s. One captures the quiet majesty of a mountain; the other, the fluid movement of a waterfall. Nature has influenced Hearst’s work since the beginning, in both spirit and practice. A long-time admirer of Paul Smith’s work, she grew up on a ranch in Uruguay where objects were made to last and every piece had a purpose.

Across fourteen men’s and women’s pieces, traditional tailoring becomes a canvas for exploration. Silk satin trench coats and bias-cut slip dresses evoke shifting horizons. Virgin wool barré suiting carries all-over landscape prints. And soft cashmere crewnecks in spaced-dyed Welfat yarn are hand-knit by Manos del Uruguay, a nonprofit cooperative supporting economic independence for women in rural communities.

The limited-edition collection is now available at Gabriela Hearst flagship stores in Beverly Hills, New York,and London, and at gabrielahearst.com as well at Paul Smith boutiques and paulsmith.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst / Paul Smith
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London has a way of making you feel anything is possible. Standing in front of the Corinthia Hotel, one of the city’s most iconic addresses, I chose to show up in full bloom: a floral dress, an oversized studded denim jacket, and zero apologies.

Yes, it is a young look. And why ever not? Age is not a dress code. The only rule that matters is whether you feel alive in what you wear. Wear the dress. Add the jacket. Own it completely.

My look: Grizzo oversized studded denim jacket by Khaite, floral dress with white collar by Miu Miu, Cherry leather platform ankle boots, and Niki mini studded quilted textured-leather shoulder bag, both by Saint Laurent, Aquanaut Luce in khaki green by Patek Philippe, and My Monogram square sunglasses by Louis Vuitton.

Stay wild. Stay free.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @georgiashane
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The New Frontier of Ageless Eyes: Genaissance de la Mer™ The Eye & Expression Ampoule

There are few skincare houses I hold closer to my heart than La Mer. As a long-standing ambassador and devoted fan, I have followed the brand’s evolution with genuine fascination over the years. So when the new Genaissance de la Mer™ The Eye & Expression Ampoule arrived, my excitement was immediate and personal.

Full disclosure: the eye area has always been my personal Achilles heel. Fine lines, expression zones, the inevitable traces of a life well lived and well loved. This is precisely where this extraordinary new ampoule steps in, and it could not feel more perfectly timed.

What sets this formulation apart is its intelligent precision. Rather than simply targeting the eye contour, it addresses the full landscape of expression: crow’s feet, the glabella, the forehead, nasolabial folds and the cheek area. The fact that it goes after zones so many treatments routinely ignore makes this a true expression treatment in the most elevated sense.

At its core is Crystal Miracle Broth™, La Mer’s most rarified ingredient, born from the accidental discovery of crystals forming in a beaker of the legendary Miracle Broth™. Encapsulated in a micro-melting delivery technology, it penetrates skin with remarkable speed, visibly plumping lines and working to reverse the appearance of deeper wrinkles over time. The clinical results are equally compelling: a measurable reduction in crow’s feet after 12 weeks and an immediate visible smoothing effect after just a single application.

Genaissance de la Mer™ The Eye & Expression Ampoule is available for CHF 700 (20ml).
TO SHOP IT ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

I cannot wait to put this to the test. If La Mer’s past is any indication of its future, the skin around my eyes is in very good hands.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © LA MER
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Tbilisi, the city that stole my heart, calls for colour, so I showed up in a full rainbow. I rode the funicular up to the Mother of Georgia statue, lost myself in the colourful Old Town, and walked every inch of Rustaveli Avenue where Georgian fashion proves it belongs on the global stage. The Bridge of Peace over the Kura River is simply spectacular, the sulphur baths of Abanotubani utterly iconic, and a sunset boat ride along the Kura sealed the deal.
Tbilisi is non-negotiable. Put it on the list!

My look: Cardigan in GG multicolor, Ultrapace mid-top sneaker, GG Marmont Multicolour small shoulder bag, and aviator-style metal sunglasses, all by Gucci, Felix sweatpants in storm grey by Alice + Olivia,  Oyster Perpetual 36 Celebration by Rolex, and «Look at Me» tank top by JW Anderson.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Between covering the new Art in the Park edition and the beautiful Assouline book dedicated to this iconic house, I found myself feeling wonderfully nostalgic. So consider this post a small homage, one that has been quietly waiting to be written for some time.

My Look: Must-Have

The Baur au Lac is not simply a hotel to me. Having had the privilege of knowing the Kracht family over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary care, vision and quiet dedication that goes into everything this house represents. That connection makes every visit feel personal in a way that is difficult to put into words.

My Look: Magic Weekend

Over the years, some of my most memorable moments on the Zurich social calendar have unfolded here. Art in the Park is one of them. The Kispi Ball, that most glamorous of charitable evenings, was another, along with the annual Rive Gauche Summer Party. And then there is Street Parade, when Zurich transforms into something wonderfully wild and the Baur au Lac somehow remains the most elegant spot in the city.

My Look: Kispi

The garden terrace holds a particularly special place in my heart. There is nowhere quite like it on a warm Zurich days, and I have spent many of those evenings there, dressed up and grateful to be exactly where I am.

My Look: Beauty Sleep

And yes, I have stayed the night more than once. Because sometimes the only right thing to do is not to leave.

My Look: Roman Studs

Come winter, the magic shifts indoors and into the park in an entirely different way. The Chalet au Lac, a charming rustic retreat tucked into the hotel grounds, is one of Zurich’s most enchanting seasonal secrets, perfect for an unhurried fondue evening when the city slows down and candlelight feels like the only appropriate light source.

My Look: Denim & Brocade

And then there is Baur’s, one of my absolute favourite restaurants in the city. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Martin Brudnizki , the same visionary behind Annabel’s in London – where I am part of the membership committee – , the interior is simply a dream. That particular alchemy of warmth, glamour and timeless elegance that Brudnizki conjures so effortlessly feels entirely at home here.

My Look: Modern Marie Antoinette

What you will find in this post is a collection of outfits photographed at the Baur au Lac across all of these occasions and all of these years. Fashion and place are inseparable for me, and this hotel has been one of the most beautiful backdrops my wardrobe has ever known. Consider this a love letter in looks.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

LoL, Sandra

My Look: Chill

My Look: Girls’ Night

My Look: My Funny Valentine

My Look: Kispi 2018

My Look: Rive Gauche Summer Party 2016

My Look: New Style

My Look: Art in the Park

My Look: Street Parade

My Look: Street Parade 2024

My Look: Baby It’s Cold Outside

My Look: Lesage

My Look: Fab

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography and André Hengst
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Now in its 24th edition, Art in the Park returns to the iconic grounds of Baur au Lac this summer with a compelling solo presentation by Norwegian artist Ida Ekblad. Initiated and curated by sixth-generation owner Gigi Kracht, the annual sculpture exhibition has long been a fixture of the Zurich cultural calendar and a highly anticipated prelude to Art Basel.

Having attended many editions over the years, this is one of those Zurich summer highlights I return to time and again, and if you have been following Sandra’s Closet for a while, you will no doubt have seen my coverage before. What Gigi Kracht creates here each year is simply remarkable.

With Gigi Kracht at a previous Art in the Park event.

Running from June 15 to July 21, 2026, and opening in parallel with Zurich Art Weekend, this year’s edition is realised in collaboration with Zurich gallery Karma International. Ekblad, whose work is held in collections including the Kunsthaus Zürich, Centre Pompidou and MOCA Los Angeles, brings a new body of work that extends her sculptural and painterly practice into both the park and the hotel’s interior salons.

Book of Boredom by Ida Ekblad

Two monumental bronze sculptures, THE JINXED PORTRAIT (2026) and BOOK OF BOREDOM (2022), will anchor the outdoor presentation, their hand-painted surfaces entering into dialogue with the park’s remarkable tree canopy.

Joining them is the white bronze bench NATTSYN FOR DAGSYN (2022), adorned with a rose motif and previously shown at the Kunsthaus Zürich. A particular highlight is the world premiere of Ekblad’s Kraken Möbel series, a group of wooden objects that blur the boundary between sculpture and design, inviting visitors to interact with the space in entirely new ways.

Ida Ekblad

Indoors, a new series of paintings and works on paper continues Ekblad’s signature language of gestural abstraction, layered colour and poetic text. The exhibition is free for everyone to visit.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Baur au Lac and Kistefos-Museum, © Sandra Bauknecht
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Few hotels carry a story quite like the Baur au Lac. Since opening its doors in 1844, Zurich’s most legendary address has been shaped by seven generations of the same family, a thread of continuity rare in the world of luxury hospitality. Now, that story has been immortalised in A Legacy by the Lake, a new coffee table book published by Assouline as part of its Hospitality Collection.

Andrea Kracht and his daughter, Marguita «Muki» Kracht, are the 6th and 7th-generation owners and operators of the legendary five-star luxury hotel.

Written by James Reginato, Writer-at-Large at Vanity Fair, contributor to Sotheby’s Magazine, and the author behind The Carlyle, the book traces the vision of founder Johannes Baur through to the family Kracht, who own and run the hotel to this day. What began as one man’s idea has grown into one of Europe’s most revered hotel addresses, without ever losing the spirit of deeply personal service and attention to detail that defined it from the start.

Set within a private park at the heart of historic Zurich, with the Swiss Alps and the lake as a backdrop, Baur au Lac has long been a discreet refuge for the world’s most notable guests, from Empress Elisabeth of Austria to Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Elton John. Its culinary landmarks, Brasserie Baur’s and the Mediterranean inspired Marguita, and the beloved outdoor sculpture exhibition Art in the Park, complete a picture of a house where culture and hospitality have always been inseparable.

The book brings all of this to life through archival and contemporary imagery, with the people at its heart, guests, staff and the Kracht family, as its true protagonists.

A Legacy by the Lake is available from May 2026, priced at CHF 135 / EUR 120.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Baur au Lac
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.