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
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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!