Sandra‘s Closet

«Coming of Age», in loving memory and honour of Virgil Abloh, is unveiled at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, France. An extension of the original global «Coming of Age» exhibition, the arrival in Paris will play out over a two-week period, from 13th April, at the Frank Gehry-designed space.

In 2019, Virgil Abloh curated a group exhibition titled «Coming of Age» in Los Angeles, California. Presented in creative partnership with Little Big Man Gallery, the exhibition centred around the concept, diversities and complexities of male youth and boyhood – traversing class, race, social economics, subcultures, isolation, and camaraderie. «Coming of Age» travelled to Paris, Beijing, Milan, New York, Munich, Tokyo and Seoul, allowing students, artists, and local communities access to a DIY «copy center», to build and create their own zines with their favourite artworks from the exhibition.

A physical embodiment and homage to Virgil Abloh’s world, «Coming of Age» in Paris regroups, reimagines and expands this original exhibition and its narrative story. A tribute to a hands-on creator, the exhibition encourages activities and participation, combining physical events with digital activations. Visitors become participants, alongside artists, photographers, musicians, directors, and animators. Diverse but united, the participants serve as an illustration of Virgil Abloh’s mission and achievement to democratise the dream embodied by Louis Vuitton, rendering it a domain open to the aspirations of people from all walks of life, all ages, all genders and all races.

The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, from 13th to 27th April 2022.

Address:
Fondation Louis Vuitton
8 Av. du Mahatma Gandhi
75116 Paris

Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday
12pm to 7pm

Registration for tickets: www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

What to buy now? A question I get often asked. Times have changed. It is not always about the newest trends. Brands are launching re-editions and the second hand market is booming. Shopping in a more conscious and sustainable way has become important to many of us instead of just spending on whatever just hit the shelves.

If you invest in great quality and some designer pieces, you will enjoy those for many years to come. Here you see me in New York City for the launch party of PIAGET‘s new POLO S watches. My look consists of vintage pieces like my CHANEL bag that I got for my 18th birthday along with the dress from Gucci’s S/S 2016 runway collection (Look 39).

My look: Multicolored lace embroidered dress, beaded necklace, and Molina turquoise lip pumps, all by Gucci, quilted lambskin mini vintage classic flap bag by CHANEL, Limelight Gala watch, rose diamond ring and rose diamond necklace, all by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Hello Boston – so happy to be back in this amazing city to celebrate my «Lieblingsmensch», my daughter, who turned 20 yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny day. Here you see us strolling around the Boston Harbor area.

My look: Wool jacket with fur detail, logo-print jersey sweatshirt, logo-print fleeceback-jersey track pants, and logo-print T-shirt, all by Rodarte, Trekkgirl snow boots by Valentino, Oyster Perpetual 36 with turquoise dial by Rolex, Luck Lady stola by Louis Vuitton, sunglasses by CHANEL, and medium shearling Bobby bag in grey by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

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

A new collection of Silver Lockit bracelets, designed by Virgil Abloh – Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director from 2018 to 2021 – launched within the LOUIS VUITTON for UNICEF partnership.

Following his initial collaboration in 2020, Virgil Abloh reimagined a second Silver Lockit bracelet collection, continuing to support children in need through the Maison’s partnership with UNICEF. Reinterpreted once again by Virgil Abloh, this new collection for 2022 echoes his first Silver Lockit collaboration– bearing the same Virgil Abloh signatures – but with new materials and colors: chain, padlock, and Louis Vuitton charm in natural or black titanium, with neon yellow, rainbow or black cord bracelets.

Launched in February 2020, Virgil Abloh’s original take on the Silver Lockit bracelet brought a breath of fresh air to the collection. The Men’s Artistic Director added his signature bold chain, linked to a thicker cord; the silver padlock and a Louis Vuitton charm in the back, giving a final touch to the design.

Since 2016, Louis Vuitton has raised over $18 million USD for UNICEF through the sale of its Silver Lockit bracelet and pendant collections. New versions of the Silver Lockit bracelet have been launched annually to continue to support UNICEF. For every Silver Lockit by Virgil Abloh sold, $100 is donated to UNICEF.

LoL, Sandra

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

The new month of April is here! This should mean warm weather, beautiful flowers and Easter! However, everything you love about April is not here yet. I was in Zurich for a quick stopover to repack my suitcases as I am off to Boston and it is snowing like crazy. I cannot stand it. Therefore I am posting a vibrant summery look that I cannot wait to wear soon again. Feathers are trending this summer, so get ready to adorn yourself with borrowed plumes.

My look: Ostrich feather embellished mini dress in blue, and ostrich feather pouch, both by The Attico, royal blue silk satin bow tie pumps by Aquazzura, crystal-embellished cuff and vintage blue sapphire earrings by CHANEL, and Tank Française 25.05mm medium 18-karat gold and stainless steel watch by Cartier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
The photos were taken at the Clinique La Prairie.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

A quick stop in Zurich before heading off to Boston to go to my hair dresser CHARLES AELLEN COMPANY who had just moved location. The new interior is even more breathtaking than its previous one. From a Parisian apartment style interior, it has now more an urban cool New York vibe with always the best floral decoration. I love the atmosphere, the location in the city center and the great music.

Charles Aellen Company
Sihlstrasse 37
CH – 8001 Zurich

+41 44 201 78 10

I only go to the hair dresser twice a year to get my ends cut and to do a deep nourishing SHU UEMURA or ORIBE treatment. Luckily, I don’t have grey hair yet and leave my hair color all natural.

My dream team: Charles to the left, Nathanael to the right.

However, I can recommend Charles and his team for every treatment or cut you can imagine. They are very advanced, always looking for the newest releases or hair trends. They have been working with celebrities worldwide and been constantly booked for photo shoots or during fashion weeks.

Now available at CHARLES AELLEN is the the famous K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask. K18Peptide™ is the patented molecular breakthrough clinically proven to reverse hair damage from: bleach + color, chemical services, and heat in just 4 minutes.

This mask doesn’t just make hair feel healthier, it actually reverses the damage with some pretty powerful bond-repairing science. How does it work? The K18 bioactive peptide is recognized as a natural building block by hair – the perfect, very welcome puzzle piece to reconnect broken keratin chains in the inner-most layers of hair, post heat and chemical services. When you use it, skip the conditioner, put this in towel-dried hair for four minutes, and watch miracles happen.

With my new hair cut I am off to Boston, hopefully leaving all this crazy snow behind…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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It’s not an April’s fool. I just got back from NYC to visit the Watches & Wonders fair in Geneva (so many incredible things to show you… if you have been following my Instastories, you know what I am talking about) and now I am packing again and will be off to Boston this weekend. I couldn’t be more excited as I am visiting my daughter for her birthday.

What to pack for Boston is always a challenge as the weather can be so unpredictable. You can have a beautiful sunny day followed by a snow storm 24 hours later. So layers are always a great way to be prepared for all possibilities. My teddy coat is one of my favorites to travel with. It is so light, yet so warm.

The photos were taken in several places, on the new pedestrian bridge that connects two ends of Northeastern university campus, on one of the most photographed streets in the city, Acorn Street, that is reminiscent of a colonial Boston, as well as in front of the famous bronze ducks located in the Public Garden.

My look: Teddy Bear Icon camel hair and silk-blend coat by Max Mara, Dioraura cashmere sweater by Dior, FF-jacquard shearling-lined ski headband by Fendi, fringed checked cashmere scarf by Burberry, Kurt high lace-Up boot by Celine, low-cut skinny jeans by Polo Ralph Lauren, Twilly Doll «La Folle Parade» by Hermès, and Multi Pochette Accessories in monogram canvas by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

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

Another great talent has left us. French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier (21 August 1943 – 31 March 2022) has died today. His imagery helped write the history of 1990s fashion.

Born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, Demarchelier spent his childhood in Le Havre, Normandy, with his mother and four brothers. His profession was self-taught. For his seventeenth birthday, his stepfather bought him his first camera. Demarchelier learned how to develop film, retouch negatives and began photographing friends and weddings.

Natalia Vodianova in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Vogue, October 2008

In 1975, Demarchelier left Paris for New York City, United States to follow his girlfriend. He discovered fashion photography by working as a freelance photographer learning from, and working with photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Terry King, and Jacque Guilbert. Since the late 1970s he shot the covers for nearly every major fashion magazine including American, British and Paris Vogue, as well as Harper’s Bazaar. He also shot international advertising campaigns for Dior, Louis Vuitton, Celine, TAG Heuer, CHANEL, Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Tommy Hilfiger, Carolina Herrera, Moschino, Vera Wang, Elizabeth Arden, H&M, Sam Edelman, Zara, Max Azria, Express, Longchamp, Blumarine, Lacoste, Ann Taylor, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.

Lady Diana photographed by Patrick Demarchelier in 1990

However, he is perhaps best known for his intimate portraits of Princess Diana that helped establish her popularity and accessible public image.

In 2007, Christine Albanel, French Minister of Culture, honoured Demarchelier as an Officer in l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature), the same year that he received the CFDA Founder’s Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert. Demarchelier also appeared in the film «The September Issue» and can be glimpsed in «The Sex & the City movie».

With his son Victor, who works also as a photographer.

Despite a rich and deep legacy, in 2018 amidst the #MeToo reckoning, Demarchelier was accused by seven models who worked with him of sexual harassment. In response to the allegations, Condé Nast announced: «We have informed Patrick we will not be working with him for the foreseeable future. Demarchelier denied the allegations.» However, he had never been charged and denied the allegations.

Demarchelier is survived by his wife Mia, his three sons, and three grandchildren.

LoL, Sandra

30 years later, still one of my favorite Vogue covers of all times, famous supermodels on the magazine’s 100th anniversary cover. Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Vogue US, April 1992

Christy Turlington in Azzedine Alaïa.
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Vogue US, May 1991

Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Harper’s Bazaar US, May 1998

Christy Turlington 
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Harper’s Bazaar US, July 1999

Photos: Via Vogue Harper’s Bazaar, Sothebys © Patrick Demarchelier

Iris Apfel doesn’t want you to dress like she does. At 100, she’s still embracing uniqueness, wearing what makes her happy and encouraging everyone else to do the same.

«I think part of the problem with the way people dress nowadays is that it’s too generic,» says Iris. «Everyone looks the same, they wear the same things. They wear what’s in fashion, what’s trendy, what they’re being told to wear. That’s terribly dull. I want to see personality.»

And what’s the best way to reveal your personal style, à la Iris? Be curious, have fun, explore yourself. Wear clothes because you love them, pick out accessories because they make you smile, slip on the shoes that give you joy. Your style is an ever-evolving expression of your truest self, and each piece you own holds the magic of your experiences, adventures and memories.

«It’s not about what or who you wear but how you feel when wearing something,» confirms Iris. «Style is about self-expression and, above all, attitude.»

The Iris Apfel x H&M collection enthusiastically embraces this joyful and individual approach to style. There’s delightful print clashing, fabulously baroque aesthetics and colour, colour and more colour. The pieces are playful, eclectic and vibrant, and everything is a little bit over the top — in the best possible way.

Channel Iris in a vivid aquamarine suit with delicate embroidery and pearl peas; a glossy acid green and purple jacquard coat with an oversized feather pattern; a flouncy tiered skirt and blouse set in a stunning iris flower print; or an eye-catchingly voluminous violet jacket made from theatrical tulle swirls. There are also relaxed lounge sets, chic kaftans, fringed trousers, ruffled shirts, and even a swimsuit.

The accessories are equally glamorous and extravagant, just the way Iris likes them. Load up on chunky orange, black and green chains; oversized detachable pendants that become bold brooches; satiny slippers adorned with bejewelled scarab beetles and sparkling frogs; vivid statement cuffs; and stylishly bulky rings depicting Iris’s iconic face.

Dip into the collection to create a dynamic, positive and empowering look that proudly showcases your true style. Congratulations, you’ve found your inner Iris.

The Iris Apfel x H&M collection is available on hm.com and in selected stores worldwide from 31 March 2022. Local vairations may occur.

I love Iris! She is such an inspiration…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © H&M

A product that dramatically repairs your hair (yes, even those pesky split ends!) to reveal a stronger, shinier and sleeker mane — all while you sleep? Well that sounds almost too good to be true! Luckily for us, with the Aveda Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Overnight Serum, that dream is about to become a reality.

Supercharged with the same bond-building prowess that Aveda’s Botanical Repair line has become so beloved for, expect big things from this lightweight hair serum.

Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Shampoo CHF 44
Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Conditioner CHF 45
Botanical Repair™ Intensive Strengthening Leave-In Treatment CHF 45
Botanical Repair™ Intensive Strengthening Masque Light CHF 54
Botanical Repair™ Intensive Strengthening Masque Rich CHF 72

Now there is a new addition: A leave-in treatment that works overnight, the Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Overnight Serum strengthens hair from the inside out, repairing damage and creating an invisible veil that prevents any future breakage in the process.

So how is it done? Well, this lightweight formula is absorbed deep into the cortex of the hair shaft, drenching strands in moisture and nourishment quickly and effectively. That hydration is delivered courtesy of a cocktail of reparative oils: avocado oil, sunflower seed oil and castor oil. It reduces the appearance of split ends by 84% powered by Nangai oil. With a more manageable, shiny and strong mane, prepare yourself for a good hair day, every day.

Apply to lengths and ends at bedtime, do not rinse. In morning style as usual. The texture is not sticky and it is an easy to use product. Use as often as desired. The Aveda Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Overnight Serum is available now for CHF 50. It is suitable for all hair types and textures, 99% naturally derived, 100% vegan and cruelty free.

LoL, Sandra

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