Sandra‘s Closet

This week was crazy … so much has happened and I am so far behind posting. My iPhone crashed and it took me one day to get it fully back. In those moments, you realize how much we all rely on those devices. However, I am happy that I have got it back and made it safely to my home country Germany to celebrate my mum’s birthday. Here you see me walking in front of the famous Brandenburger Tor in Berlin, one of the most iconic spots to see in the German capital, wearing the trendiest color of the season: green.

My Look: Sailor-collar knitted wool polo shirt, and Ken Scott floral-print cotton-blend skirt, both by Gucci, Point small leather tote in seagrass, green cat eye sunglasses, and Lagoon bubble-insole leather sandals in green, all by Bottega Veneta, FF acetate earrings by Fendi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos by Streetstyleshooters / Getty Images
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

GUCCI‘s Creative Director Alessandro Michele will present his new collection, the second one in the centenary year of the House, live in a momentous show along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Watch the live stream on November 2nd at 8pm PST. Click here to join the livestreaming.

Later this year, Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated «House of Gucci» will be released starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Jared Leto. The film is not directly affiliated with the house but still tied to its legacy nonetheless as it tells the real-life Gucci family with a focus on the murder of Maurizio Gucci (Driver).

Two events that I am very much looking forward to…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci

One jacket, two looks. Power shoulders have always made a strong statement in fashion and they work with pants and skirts. The strong shoulder is most associated with the 80s, but it first had a heyday in the 30s and 40s, as a sign of women’s liberation, when the female suit was primarily birthed. I love this versatile Balenciaga jacket that comes with a built-in skirt. One piece, many options and styles … statement fashion for the woman of the new 20s.

My look: Oversized plaid wool jacket with built-in skirt detail (2017) by Balenciaga, cropped high-rise wide-leg jeans by Stella McCartney, cashmere circles appliqué scarf and logo striped oversized silk shirt, both by Prada, New Abby tweed sailor cap by Maison Michel, JW-charm gold-plated choker by JW Anderson, bean embellished leather tote by Simone Rocha, Vita suede platform sandals by Amina Muaddi, Lady Excalibur watch by Roger Dubuis, and leopard face mask by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

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

Celebrate the 2021 holiday season with this indulgent 24-day advent calendar, full of full and mini-sized Shiseido treats, from skincare products and makeup to fragrances. I received one and I am so happy about it as I love to open those little doors before X-mas. The small sized products are also great for traveling.

Inspired by breathtaking visions of festive fireworks, the iconic Hanabi Show in Tokyo, the magical collection is housed in decadent packaging.

The price for this super luxury gift is CHF 140.00, available now and allowing you to immerse yourself in the essence of Japanese beauty.

Scroll down to see what’s inside… spoiler alert!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Shiseido
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored.

If you are living in Switzerland, you will definitely know AVANZAR, the brainchild of Margarita Heredia Forster. The dual Ecuadorian-Swiss citizen established the Swiss-based foundation in 1999 to enable disadvantaged women in her home country Ecuador and their families to lead a self-determined life in economic independence by teaching them skills and know-how. The foundation is financed entirely by charitable donations from private individuals and institutions; numerous volunteers also support AVANZAR in its administration and daily work in the programs it offers.

Teamwork: Flo und Margarita

AVANZAR develops its own programs to meet the social and economic needs of underprivileged women who fall outside the scope of what the government and private sector offer. For example, Atelier Avanzar has been very successful in producing fashionable knitted bags. The designs are created in collaboration with the well-known Zurich accessory designer Florence Bachofen-Székely, and the bags are sold in the Atelier’s online store as well as at private sales and fairs.

This F/W 2021 season, the bags are extremely beautiful and I absolutely love the mood of the campaign.

GIORGIA
This yarn and leather crossbody bag with its sober design has the perfect size so you really want to carry it with you every day. The adjustable leather handle is attached to the bag with pretty brass-colored rings and rivets. The bag closes securely with a zipper that has a leather tassel detail. Inside there is a zippered compartment and two open pockets.

ADA FRINGES
This soft bag with its snap closure and eye-catching leather fringe detail is the perfect accessory to complement the trendy boho look. Thanks to its volume it is a practical and fashionable companion, always and everywhere. The easiest way is to squeeze it casually under your arm or carry it in your hand. In the spacious interior there is a zippered compartment in which valuables can be safely stored.

SELVA
This medium-sized handbag in leo pattern spices up any outfit! It can be worn comfortably with the adjustable nylon handle over the shoulder or as a crossbody. The short handles made from the softest leather make it pleasant to carry the bag by hand or in the crook of the arm. A zipper closes the bag securely, and inside it has a zippered compartment and two open pockets.

WUAPA VINTAGE
The embossed leather details on the side of this bag create this coveted vintage look. It has plenty of space and soft leather handles lie comfortably on the shoulder or over the arm. On the sides, this bag has decorative elements created from leather and hook closures, and it is lined with water-repellent nylon fabric. It closes with a magnetic closure. Inside it has a zippered compartment for valuables and a leather strap with a hook for your keychain.

LAURA
This bag is the perfect companion through everyday life. It impresses with subtle details and accents: Rivets and knitwear make it an easy statement piece. The shape reminiscent of a saddle bag offers generous space. Valuables are safely stowed in the zippered interior compartment, and thanks to two additional interior compartments, even small items will not get lost.My Swiss based readers can explore the collection live during the Atelier Days in the first week of November at Erlengut in Erlenbach / Lake Zurich, Erlengutstrasse 1a, where 20 labels will present their collections.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 10 am – 7 pm
Thursday, November 4, 2021 from 9 am – 6 pm

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Avanzar / Atelier Avanzar
#DoGood #BuyGood

Maximum moisture plus powerful repair, that is what BOBBI BROWN‘s cult-favorite EXTRA Skincare Collection is all about. Now, the Extra Repair Complex is boosted with 5x more Argireline Peptide than the original formula which helps to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

It boosts moisture and replenishes the skin with amino acids and peptides, the building blocks of the skin to support skin’s natural collagen.

The best is yet to come. The EXTRA Skincare collection is not only skin loving, but also planet conscious from now on. You can refill and reuse your packaging with a replacement pod of this deeply moisturizing new formula, available for the EXTRA EYE REPAIR CREAM (CHF 109.00) and the EXTRA REPAIR MOISTURE CREAM INTENSE (CHF 159.00).

Refill. Reuse. Repeat. Available from October 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Bobbi Brown
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. However, I received the products to test them.

The fall and its breathtaking colors are always the perfect backdrop for a photo shoot.
For this outfit, I loved to experiment with colors and shapes. The result has become one of my fall favorites and I hope you will like it too.

My look: Long sleeve checked blouse, sleeveless knit top with sequins, ruffled skirt with built-in shorts, and floral brooch, all by Louis Vuitton, Billy vinyl-trimmed houndstooth tweed beret by Maison Michel, Rockstud leopard-print calf hair trapeze bag (2014) by Valentino, and green platform suede boots by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

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

Contrary to popular belief, rubber boots can be fashionable and are ultra trending this F/W 2021 season. Waterproof and stylish, these pairs of boots below are the ultimate investments to stay chic in the rain. Forget the traditional Wellington boots (named in honor of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington), and update your wardrobe with one or two of those stylish options.

LoL, Sandra

Chain metallic-rubber boots by JW Anderson

Puddle glittered rubber ankle boots by Bottega Veneta (my choice)

Julian matelassé and rubber boots by Cecilie Bahnsen x Diemme

Betty knitted-cuff rubber ankle boots by Chloé

Atelier Shoes 03 Rose Edition 3D rubber knee boots by Valentino (my choice)

Horsebit rubber boots by Gucci

Tess rubber boots by Balmain

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and via Net-à-Porter
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

In photography, the golden hour is the period of daytime shortly after sunrise or before sunset, during which daylight is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky. This is the time, when your complexion looks best. This week, I introduced you to the YSL Or Rouge prestige skincare collection, which is like golden hour for your skin. The outfit I wore in the photos is also inspired by this magic light. The crinkled fabric of the skirt was sparkling beautifully in the last sunrays of the day.

My look: Satin piped cotton-velvet coat in black, embellished ribbed silk top, metallic plissé midi skirt in gold, Sac De Jour Nano leather shoulder bag, hoop-drop clip earrings, embellished patent-leather pumps, and braided sequined stretch-crepe and lamé turban in black, all by Saint Laurent, Audrey wayfarer sunglasses by Celine.

LoL, Sandra

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

On 12 and 13 of November, Prada will present the sixth iteration of Prada Mode at the Levenson Mansion in Moscow featuring an installation by artist Damien Hirst. A traveling social club with a focus on contemporary culture, Prada Mode provides members with a unique art experience along with music, dining, and conversations.

Pharmacy exterior © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2012

For Prada Mode Moscow, Damien Hirst will transform the historic building with his installation, Pharmacy. Hirst created Pharmacy restaurant in Notting Hill, London in 1998, six years after the inaugural installation of the same name at the Cohen Gallery New York.

Pharmacy was conceived as a fully functioning restaurant and bar in an installation of Hirst’s floor-to-ceiling medicine cabinets, and specially made butterfly paintings. Hirst designed furniture, architectural details such as a huge molecular model in its window, light boxes, and a wallpaper design taken from a catalogue of prescription medicine.

© Tate, London 2012 © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2012

In Moscow, Hirst will present the third iteration of Pharmacy restaurant, the second being installed at his Newport Street Gallery, London. It is fitting for this to be made especially for Prada Mode: the artist’s long-time friend Miuccia Prada designed the staff uniforms for the original restaurant.

«I’m so excited to be invited by Miuccia to recreate Pharmacy for Prada Mode in Moscow,» said the artist. «I’m pulling out all of the stops to make this amazing, and the four floors of the historic Levenson building will provide the perfect place for it. I can’t wait to get going! I’ve always thought great restaurants can be art, and Pharmacy is a living breathing artwork, best filled with people and art as one.»

One of the most extravagant houses in Moscow… Levenson Mansion.

The Levenson Mansion is a private residence on Moscow’s Patriarch Ponds. The Art Nouveau landmark was designed by architect Fyodor Shechtel in 1900 for the A.A. Levenson Skoroprinting Company, an official purveyor of his majesty Emperor Nicholas II’s Imperial Court.

Last year, Fondazione Prada and Damien Hirst came together in aid of Save The Children.

Prada Mode Moscow will welcome members to access the club at any time over the course of the two-day project to participate in morning and afternoon panels and discussions as well as nightly events featuring exhilarating performances and live music, sampling specialty cocktails and dining throughout. Pharmacy installation will then open to the public from November 14th to 20th 2021.

LEVENSON MANSION
9, TRYOKHPRUDNY LANE
MOSCOW
NOV 12–13 2021

Update on October 21, 2021: Due to today’s news, please be informed that the Prada Mode Moscow event is now postponed. The new dates will be announced soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada and © Damian First if not stated otherwise