Sandra‘s Closet

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
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NEW OPENING: THE VÖLKERS HOUSE
Richard Meier Designs an Extraordinary Country Estate in the Southeast of Mallorca

Between the rolling hills of Campos and the artist-filled lanes of Santanyí, a new kind of refuge has arrived in the southeast of Mallorca. THE VÖLKERS HOUSE, set on a 28-hectare estate, is the realised vision of Christian Völkers, founder of the global real estate company Engel & Völkers, and his wife Ninon Völkers: a modern country estate that brings architecture, nature and Argentine savoir-vivre into an extraordinary dialogue.

Shaped by the designs of Pritzker Prize laureate Richard Meier, the estate unites visionary architecture with the authentic beauty of Mallorca. Light, space and landscape merge into an atmosphere of remarkable lightness. Instead of a conventional hotel experience, guests discover a sanctuary that celebrates calm, privacy and the art of conscious travel.

With just 15 generous suites with oasis-like gardens, spread across four houses, THE VÖLKERS HOUSE remains deliberately exclusive. Days begin with views over the island’s fields, unfold into long lunches al fresco and end in the warm glow of the Mediterranean evening sun. The culinary heart of the estate is its restaurant LA CANCHA, where Mediterranean traditions meet Latin American influences, following a farm-to-table philosophy with regional produce and herbs and vegetables from the estate’s own garden.

Argentine equestrian culture defines the identity of the property and forms the heart of the grounds. With its elegant Equestrian Centre, a grandstand overlooking the polo field and nearly 100 horses, THE VÖLKERS HOUSE continues the tradition of the great country estates and gives it a contemporary interpretation.

Wellbeing comes courtesy of the in-house spa, curated by Celia Forner Venturi, founder of the international skincare brand ALLEVEN. The first spa of its kind, it offers a luxurious menu of treatments for skin and body, complemented by sports and individually curated island experiences, always far from standard programmes and entirely in tune with each guest’s own rhythm.

THE VÖLKERS HOUSE translates the spirit of Mallorca into a contemporary idea of luxury: pared back yet generous in its architecture, close to nature and consistently personal in every experience.

To book or for more in formation, please visit www.thevoelkershouse.com / @thevoelkershouse.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: James McDonald, Harry Weber, Ana Adriana and The Völkers House
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Two iconic maisons. One shared savoir-faire. Repetto and Birkenstock come together to create an exclusive collection where elegance meets comfort. Repetto’s signature codes reinterpret three iconic Birkenstock silhouettes, the Arizona, the Scala, and the Opéra, in a subtle dialogue between the two Maisons.

ARIZONA SANDALS

This style is one of Birkenstock’s iconics, this time appearing with oversized round buckles, lending a sculptural touch to the classic design. The Arizona is available in Repetto’s signature colors; Flame Red, Icon Pink and Black and has the footbed lining with Vichy-check.

OPERA CLOGS

Inspired by Birkenstock’s iconic Boston style, it is reinterpreted with long, fluid laces that wrap around the ankle like a dancer’s ribbon. A delicate textile trim finishes the edges, while a subtle bow detail adorns the front, enhancing its elegance. The ribbons accentuate the ballet-inspired aesthetic, yet they can also be removed for a more casual look. This style is available in Icon pink and black to enhance the elegance of the shoe.

SCALA MULES

This style takes shape with a round toe, two delicate top straps and a graceful laced bow. The slender straps enhance the overall elegance, bringing a soft and feminine touch to the design. This style is available in both Icon pink and black to enhance the femininity of the shoe.

YOU CAN SHOP THE COLLECTION HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Birkenstock x Repetto
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Loro Piana just answered a grey sky in the only way it knows how: with cashmere. The house has released an umbrella made entirely from 100% cashmere, water sealed with its signature Storm System® membrane so the fabric stays soft to the eye while doing serious work against the rain.

The details read like everything else Loro Piana touches. A smooth maple wood handle. A generous 65 cm radius, wide enough to actually shelter a coat worth protecting. Manual opening, no branding shouting for attention, and a matching pouch it folds neatly into once the clouds pass. Made in Italy, available in two colorways Navy Blue/Kummel or Chestnut/Kummel, priced at CHF 1420 / $1,750, and worth every cent for what it represents rather than what it says.

Because that is the point. Nobody needs a cashmere umbrella. That is exactly why it exists. No logo, no fuss, no attempt to convince anyone of anything. Just the quiet certainty that the person holding it knows precisely what they are holding.

This is quiet luxury at its best. Not a trend, not a marketing line, just a very good umbrella that happens to be made of cashmere.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Loro Piana
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Greetings from Greece! Whitewashed houses, blue domes and the Aegean below: Santorini is the most beautiful backdrop I can imagine. For my walk through Oia I chose a colourful look that stands out against all that white and blue.

The wind turned my hair into a style of its own, so I simply let it fly. A little movement makes every picture better. If you travel to Santorini, pack colour. The island rewards every bold piece you bring.

My look: Open-back puff-sleeve cropped blouse in pink by Isabel Marant, paisley print midi length skirt by Dior, tassel necklace by Etro, Chanel 19 bag in rose leather by CHANEL, Oyster Perpetual 36 with a turquoise blue dial by Rolex, GG0597S cat eye sunglasses by Gucci, and woven leather sandals in brown by Fendi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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You Cannot Be Serious! The Mark Serves Up a $500,000 US Open Weekend
(Aug 30 – Sept 13, 2026)

Imagine trading forehands with John McEnroe in the morning, spooning Caviar Kaspia above the rooftops of Manhattan in the afternoon and sailing past the Statue of Liberty on a private yacht as the sun goes down. The legendary The Mark Hotel in New York has bundled all of this into one spectacular package: the Grand Slam Extravaganza.

For $500,000, up to six guests check into the largest hotel penthouse in North America for four nights during the US Open. The itinerary reads like a tennis lover’s fever dream: exclusive tickets to the semifinals and the men’s final, menus by Jean-Georges, a private chauffeur, a sail through New York Harbor on one of the last original Herreshoff yachts in the world and a terrace with sweeping views over Central Park, all wrapped in the iconic design by Jacques Grange.

The true highlight happens on court though. John McEnroe himself gives guests a private lesson at his tennis academy. Whether a legendary «You cannot be serious!» is part of the deal remains, sadly, not guaranteed.

Between matches, there is plenty of time to recover in the private Technogym, take a cold plunge with skyline views or sip Champagne on deck. And because even the most extravagant luxury can do good, part of the proceeds goes to the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, which supports young talent.

Game, set and match to The Mark.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of THE MARK
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Patou Partout. The French Maison, founded in 1914, has form when it comes to short skirts. Jean Patou dressed Suzanne Lenglen for the courts in the 1920s and is credited with inventing the tennis skirt, the pleated one that scandalised the crowds and set women free in the same move. LVMH woke the house up again in 2018 and that lightness is still there.

I truly love the combination with the iconic volume top in turquoise stripes, a color you cannot go wrong with. Aqua colors ran straight through the Cruise 2027 collections.

Which brings me to the bags. My Fendi Baguette in Tiffany Blue, the 2022 limited edition created for the 25th anniversary of Silvia Venturini Fendi’s 1997 icon, along with the miniature version in silk, belong to my special items in my closet.

My look: Iconic volume top, and bloomer mini skirt, both by Patou, Loubi Bee Alta 130 leather platform sandals by Christian Louboutin, Impatiens drop earrings in turquoise by Oscar de la Renta, crystal-embellished cat-eye acetate sunglasses by Fendi, limited edition 2022 «Tiffany Blue» leather Baguette shoulder bag with strap, and limited edition 2022 nano Baguette charm bag in «Tiffany Blue» silk with sterling silver hardware, both by Fendi x Tiffany & Co.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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The Mark Hotel and Alessi turn a daily ritual into a limited edition. The black and white stripe is one of the most recognisable patterns in New York hospitality. This fall it arrives somewhere unexpected: on the body of a corkscrew.

The Mark and Alessi have produced a capsule collection, and its centrepiece is a limited edition of the Alessandro M., reinterpreted exclusively for the hotel in its signature stripe. Alessandro Mendini designed the original, one of the Italian design house’s most loved objects, built on the argument that even the most practical things deserve character. Dressed in the codes of The Mark, that argument gains a new setting.

The rest of the capsule follows the same logic. A picnic basket set by Marcel Wanders, a sculptural tray by Nika Zupanc, and Ron Arad‘s Babyboop hors d’oeuvre set, each carrying the hotel’s signature M and each available at Le Shop at The Mark and nowhere else.

Consider it the most elegant answer to the question of what to bring your host, or what to keep for yourself.

THE DETAILS

Alessandro M. corkscrew in black and white thermoplastic resin
Height 8.27 in, diameter 2.36 in
$120
Exclusively at Le Shop, The Mark Hotel, New York

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Mark Hotel
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Son Net, Mallorca stages the most spectacular sunset of the year. On 12 August 2026, the sky above Mallorca will darken for a few minutes, and the island will fall into a silence that no one has rehearsed. At Grand Hotel Son Net, set into the foothills of the Tramuntana and surrounded by gardens that have been growing for centuries, that silence has been given a soundtrack. A concert composed for one evening only, for one celestial event, for a moment that will not repeat itself.

Percussionists from the Symphony Orchestra and the Conservatory of the Balearic Islands will perform a program of newly written works in which symphonic textures meet oriental instruments. The compositions take their cue from the eclipse itself: the slow drain of light, the strange chill, the return. This is not background music for an astronomical event. It is an interpretation of one, which is a rather more ambitious proposition.

As the sky shifts through its colours, the landscape becomes part of the staging. Stone, citrus grove and mountain ridge all take on the light that is left. Nature writes the dramaturgy, the musicians supply the reading, and for a few minutes astronomy, sound and terrain occupy the same frame.

The setting could hardly be better cast. Twenty minutes from Palma, on a private seventeenth century estate within the UNESCO listed Tramuntana range, Son Net holds just 31 rooms and suites. Lorenzo Castillo designed the interiors, and the house has kept what matters: rustic beams, stone floors and vaulting, carved wooden ceilings, antique fireplaces, an original seventeenth century courtyard, a spring fed fountain and a private family chapel. A curated private art collection hangs throughout. Outside, 57,000 square metres of grounds hold several pools with shaded cabanas, an organic vegetable and herb garden, a small farm and a private vineyard.

Those who miss it have one further chance, and it is worth marking now. Sister property Finca Cortesin in Andalusia will see a partial eclipse this summer, but on 2 August 2027 the region moves into the path of totality, which will make the south of Spain the address of the moment.

A cosmic event. A concert written for it. An evening that exists exactly once.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Cortesin Hotels
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Explore desire. Figue Érotique captures the arc of the fig, beginning with exhilarating green freshness and rising to the exquisite moment before a fig bursts, flooding the senses with the exclusive Kadota fig accord’s resinous nectar.

FIGUE ÉROTIQUE EAU DE PARFUM

This color collection was inspired by this amazing fragrance that expresses the trajectory of sensuality depicted by the fig. The burgundy and crocodile style design creates a sensual luxury. The collection includes:

FIGUE ÉROTIQUE COLLECTION EYE COLOR QUAD
A palette of ethereal, multi-finish shadows – a timeless TOM FORD classic.

Eye Color Quad in Disco Dust

FIGUE ÉROTIQUE COLLECTION LIP COLOR SATIN MATTE
A collection of vivid red, brick and rosy lipstick shades evoking the nectar-filled hues of the Private Blend Audacious Fruits.

16BG Scarlet Rouge – limited edition
50BG Adore – existing color
52BG Naked Rose – existing color

FIGUE ÉROTIQUE COLLECTION GILDED GLOSS
Gilded Gloss debuts in a limited-edition lip gloss case. The pearlescent, ultra-gilded formula changes shades to reveal a new rosy effect.

Gilded Gloss – gold, soft rose peach with shimmer

FIGUE ÉROTIQUE CANDLE
The Figue Érotique candle fills the room with the scent of fig and looks absolutely beautiful on display.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford and © Sandra Bauknecht
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