Sandra‘s Closet

Munich has always been my happy place. I absolutely adore this city in which I had lived for eight years before moving to Chicago and then Zurich. Therefore I was so happy to be back to see my friends, to enjoy Bavarian food and to walk around the famous Maximilianstrasse for some serious shopping damage.

My look: Aliane patchwork floral-print linen midi dress by Zimmermann, Bougainvillea 105mm sandals by Aquazzura, gold-tone necklace by Saint Laurent, yellow beaded earrings by Oscar de la Renta, and denim tie dye cannage small Caro bag by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

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

The Met Gala is typically held on the first Monday in May, but this year, the event was postponed due to COVID-19 and falls right in the middle of fashion month. As Iris Apfel once said: «When we were small children, we all played dress-up and everybody had a good time, so why stop?». This is how Met Gala is for me, a huge party for everyone who loves to dress up and has never stop to indulge in fashion.

Ensemble, Christopher John Rogers (American, born 1993), F/W 2020; Courtesy Christopher John Rogers. Photo: HAPPYMONDAY / Courtesy of the Costume Institute

Also referred to as «fashion’s biggest night out,» the Met Gala is a fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year, the Costume Institute will host its first two-part exhibition, on the theme of American fashion, during 2021 and 2022. Part one, «In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,» will open in the Anna Wintour Costume Center on September 18, 2021, and will remain on display when «In America: An Anthology of Fashion,» opens on May 5, 2022 in the period rooms of the American Wing. Both shows will run through September 5, 2022.

Below, you will find my personal selection of outfits, that I loved or didn’t like and hope you will enjoy it.

LoL, Sandra

Fashion that makes us dream – my favorite look of the gala: Iman in Harris Reed

Cracking the codes: Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga

Rihanna in Balenciaga Couture and Maria Tash jewelry and A$AP Rocky in ERL

Wild West: Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren

Fitting the American theme of the upcoming exhibitions perfectly: Helen Lasichanh and Pharrell Williams in CHANEL

Sporting the American flag: Debbie Harry in and with Zac Posen

Trio infernal with an American «Statue of Liberty» touch: Sienna Miller in Gucci, Hamish Bowles in Thom Browne, and Emily Blunt in Miu Miu

Feathers were also a trending theme: Serena Williams in Gucci

One of my favorites last night: Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent

And another one of my favorite looks: Kendall Jenner in Givenchy

Julia Garner in Stella McCartney

Hailee Steinfeld in Iris Van Herpen

Donatella Versace in Versace

Whoopi Goldberg, Pierpaolo Piccioli and Carey Mulligan in Valentino

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello in Michael Kors Collection

Literally eye-catching: Hunter Schafer in Prada

Gigi Hadid in Prada

A great look, but somehow not for her: Diane Kruger in Prabal Gurung and Jimmy Choo shoes

Beautiful: Emily Ratajkowski in Vera Wang

Mmh… definitely not my favorite look: Vera Wang in Vera Wang

Playing dress-up: Erykah Badu in Thom Browne

Making a statement: Cara Delevingne in Christian Dior

Flowers were a huge theme: Lili Reinhart in Christian Siriano

LOVE: Irina Shayk in Moschino

YouTuber Nikkie Tutorials (Nikkie de Jager), who came out as transgender last year, paid homage to activist and drag queen Marsha P. Johnson with this «pay it no mind» sash.

Anna Wintour wore a floral Oscar de la Renta gown.

Stunning in Oscar de la Renta: Karlie Kloss and designer Wes Gordon

Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta. Her bombshell gown symbolizes her activism for animal rights. According to The New York Times, she agreed to work with Oscar de la Renta on the condition that the designers would no longer use fur in their pieces.

Dan Levy in Loewe

Designer Virgil Abloh in Off-White

And here comes the golden king in his amazing outfit that revealed different layers: Lil Nas X in Versace

Photos: via Vogue.com

Challenging my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder… Driving with the MASERATI Ghibli Hybrid through the Swiss countryside in my Liberty floral print maxi dress, I remembered the American Western television series «Little House on the Prairie», that I loved to watch when I was a child. It is the perfect outfit for a picnic in the meadow.

My look: Liberty floral print maxi dress by Gucci, Lapee metallic-toecap leather ankle boots by Isabel Marant, Sunshine logo-embroidered woven tote bag, and raffia and stainless-steel bottle holder, both by Fendi, cat-eye acetate and metal sunglasses by Bottega Veneta, and Woody canvas-trimmed raffia sunhat by Chloé.

LoL, Sandra

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

Today, I would like to introduce you to a wonderful charily raffle by Glasswing International on THE FLOORR to win a pair of earrings worth $14,250 donated by Loree Rodkin.

The exquisite open pavé leaf earrings feature shield tops and are made in 18k white gold with a black rhodium finish; the pavé contains 2.30 ct multi-coloured diamonds and .40 ct brown diamonds. They truly are a joy to behold and a beautiful statement piece to add to your jewelry collection.

The raffle tickets start at $100 (£73/86€) and the money will be used to transform the lives of children and youth born into cycles of poverty and violence throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and in New York City.
Over the past fourteen years, Glasswing’s work has impacted the lives of over 1.5 million people, transformed over 100 schools into safe and stimulating environments, and engaged over 20,000 students a week with after-school programs.

The Seventh Annual Glasswing International Benefit Gala honors their dear friend and champion Carmen Busquets.

«I learnt a lot from the courage and gratitude of the children and youth we spent time with, and from their honest and fearless way of expressing how they feel. Raising money for them is incredibly rewarding but it doesn’t come close to spending time with these kids!» – Carmen Busquets

You can learn more about Glasswing and how to enter in the raffle here.

THE FLOORR Charity Raffle closes at 11.59am on September 23rd, 2021.
THE FLOORR will email the winner directly by September 25th, 2021. All non-winners will be notified via RallyUp. The winner will be randomly selected by RallyUp, using a certified algorithm to draw the winner from all entries purchased via the RallyUp platform. 100% of the proceeds of THE FLOORR Charity Raffle will benefit Glasswing International.

I already entered the raffle and hope you will, too.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Glasswing International, Loree Rodkin and THE FLOOR
This raffle «THE FLOORR Charity Raffle, Supporting Glasswing International» is organised by Glasswing International of 199 Water Street, 34th Floor, New York, NY 11038; and conducted by RallyUp of Tucson, Arizona. THE FLOORR Ltd and Sandra’s Closet have no role in and accepts no responsibility for the same.

I absolutely love cars. Being German, I also adore driving fast. Due to the recent hail storm, my beloved car got pretty destroyed and therefore I am looking for a new one. What is important to me? I love luxury and racing – two things MASERATI is synonymous with. My focus is on power: the experience should be unforgettable on a daily basis, with driving pleasure and performance at the heart. However, thinking about the environment and future, electric power should also be considered.

Let’s get started. A drive is worth a thousand words so I was very curious to test drive the MASERATI Ghibli L4 MHEV 2WD in Grigio Maratea, a petrol mild-hybrid version, that is the very first MASERATI in history to include an electric power source of any kind.

My journey was a fascinating one and I will be given you a personal insight how I felt limitless among expansive landscapes at the wheel of the MASERATI. This car is designed to deliver an awe-inspiring driving experience. Sculpted forms and fluid volumes are connected by clean lines to form a unique style that is unmistakably for the Italian car manufacturer.

For starters, the MASERATI Ghibli was launched in 2013 and got a minor refresh for 2021, mostly on the inside, with a new centre dash. The Hybrid identifiers on the outside are restricted to a discreet, blue line on the badging and a revised front grille. The brakes are also painted blue.

That «small size» (compared to other MASERATIS) offers more nimble handling and easy parking in the streets of Switzerland.

Inside, the Ghibli gives you a wealth of premium features such as power-adjustable front seats that can be both heated and ventilated. Hand-stitched details, premium leather upholstery, and shiny inlays come together to give you a true sense of opulence, and the four-door setup offers comfortable seating for four when you want to bring a few friends along for the ride.

Sporty, sophisticated and dynamic. I truly enjoyed the driving experience and I will definitely consider this high-end Italian luxury sports car for my next set of wheels.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Maserati | Rian Davidson 
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.
#Maserati #MaseratiGhibliHybrid #PerformanceCharged

This knitwear piece should definitely be on your fall shopping list: the half-zip sweater. I promise, it will add instant cozy to your wardrobe.

Half-zip sweaters are simultaneously effortless and polished, and the best part is they come in a range of colors and textures across all budgets. I love eye-catching details like oversized collars or ribbed waists. Ahead, my favorites of half-zip sweaters to shop now. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Ribbed wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Alaïa

Risoul cropped layered ribbed merino wool sweater by Jacquemus (my favorite)

Mouline wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Alexa Chung

Hester ribbed cashmere sweater by Nili Lotan

Bowee ribbed wool-blend sweater by Equipment

Giana knitted sweater by REMAIN Birger Christensen

Tiphaine ribbed merino wool sweater by Officine Générale

Rane cotton-blend sweater by Isabel Marant

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

«Style is about self-expression and, above all, attitude.»

She is my muse, my idol – Iris Apfel is a true inspirational fashion icon and she just turned 100. Reason enough for H&M to collaborate with the birthday girl, who belongs to the world’s 50 best-dressed women. What better way to make a memorable celebration than creating a collection filled with eclectic garments and loud accessories?!

The upcoming collection, which will hit the shelves in the beginning of 2022, got a head start this week as the Swedish fashion giant celebrated and hosted her 100th birthday during New York Fashion Week 2021, cementing her status as a long-time fashion muse.

Imagine that you enter a room filled with eternal flair and a century’s worth of moments: you hear laughter, and chandeliers glitter; you see magnificent shapes and colors as if lifted from an artist’s palette — the smell of summer flowers and citrus fruits gives you goose bumps. That’s how I believe it feels entering Iris Apfel’s wardrobe.

A little preview of the upcoming Iris Apfel x H&M collection.

Iris was born in 1921 in the concrete jungle of New York. She studied art and fashion at prominent universities in the US, and her career is as inspirational as her style. She is a self-made businesswoman, style icon, fashion designer, and interior decorator. She has always succeeded on her different career paths with her oh-so-famous «why be boring?» attitude. If you happen to visit the Big Apple, you will quickly recognize «the Big Apfel.» Her esthetic of bright clothing, layers and layers of fun accessories, and thick, round, oversized glasses are just Iris dressing for herself and herself only. This has inspired people worldwide to create and celebrate their own style that they feel good in.

«Style is not about spending a lot of money. It’s not about what or who you wear, but how you feel when wearing something. Style is about self-expression and, above all, attitude,» says Iris Apfel.

Iris represents the notion that style and inspiration can come from anywhere and anyone, regardless of the price. «I think that H&M is a fabulous outfit worldwide and absolute pioneers in their field — which I love! I love doing high style at affordable prices, which H&M has mastered!» says Iris.

«With this collaboration, we are celebrating a unique and extraordinary woman and her creative and audacious style,» says Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M. «She shows that style is ageless and keeps encouraging people to show who they are with fashion — and to have fun at the same time.»

The Iris Apfel x H&M collection will include an assortment of clothing and accessories created with Iris’ bold sense of style, designed for all ages and sizes.

«The collection is playful, opulent and rich with vibrant colors, vivid prints and opulent fabric choices. The look is indulgent with a more-is-more attitude and crowned by over-the-top jewelry, which is very much a signum for Iris,» says an excited Ann-Sofie Johansson.

The collection launches at the beginning of 2022.
I hope that you will enjoy all of my favorite Iris Apfel quotes…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © H&M / Iris Apfel

Louis Vuitton invites six new artists to join its Artycapucines collection.

The 2021 Artycapucines Collection sees six more leading contemporary artists bring their unique visions to Louis Vuitton’s timeless and feminine classic: the Capucines bag. The third chapter of Louis Vuitton’s limited-edition, artist-designed Artycapucines Collection is further proof of the bag’s ability to inspire unbridled creativity.

For this latest collection, six internationally acclaimed artists – Gregor Hildebrandt, Donna Huanca, Huang Yuxing, Vik Muniz, Paola Pivi, and Zeng Fanzhi – have transformed the blank canvas of the iconic bag named after Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Parisian street on which Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854.

After the first two Artycapucines chapters, the six new bags attest to the collection’s ability to blend the beauty and creativity of the artists’ talent with the ingenuity and absolute craftmanship of the House’s skilled artisans: Gregor Hildebrandt’s stunning black-and-white design with its screen-printed leather and LV signature inlaid with vinyl records; Donna Huanca’s precise, powerful and tactile bag with its hand-painted embroidery and piercing rings; the beautifully embroidered and brilliantly coloured fantasy landscape of Huang Yuxing’s Capucines; Vik Muniz’s characteristically joyful design with its effervescent trompe l’oeil effects and playful aesthetic; the complex leather marquetry and rich gold-leaf gilding of Paola Pivi’s creation; and Zeng Fanzhi’s reinterpretation of a Van Gogh self-portrait brought to life with over 700,000 remarkably worked embroidery stitches.

The Artycapucines Collection, which now contains 18 distinctive designs from celebrated artists including Henry Taylor, Beatriz Milhazes, Urs Fischer, Zhao Zhao, Jean-Michel Othoniel, and Tschabalala Self, once again reveals the House’s long-running desire to use its innovative spirit and artisanal expertise to help creative minds bring their ideas to life.

Each bag embodies the House’s unending commitment to savoir-faire and craft, while affirming the Capucines as the ultimate expression of Louis Vuitton’s timeless elegance.

Each bag in the the Artycapucines collection will be available for CHF 7900 in a limited edition of 200 and released in stores worldwide at the end of October 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: This post is NOT sponsored. I am absolutely in love with this collaboration.

In a year of great resilience, two Italian Maisons, Emilio Pucci and Acqua di Parma, brighten up the holiday season with a new collection that celebrates life, love and joy. United by the common values of traditional workmanship, a joyous spirit and a passion for beauty, they come together to support the Rewrite the Future campaign from Save the Children, the international organisation which has been working for 100 years to save children at risk and guarantee their future, against a background of challenging social conditions and a lack of educational facilities.

Holiday 2021 Magnolia Nobile Gift Set – CHF 247.00

Emilio Pucci is a company that specialises in combining essential design with the joy of colour. The company founder created a rich universe of prints and an unmistakeable style, for which he was awarded the accolade of The Prince of Prints. This collaboration between the two companies expresses the perfect harmony between this joyful style of the fashion house and the radiance of Acqua di Parma.

Holiday 2021 Barbiere The Daily Ritual – CHF 134.00

The Vortici print, inspired by an Emilio Pucci archive theme, is presented in Parma yellow for the Holiday Season, and reinterpreted in a harmonious movement of light and colour. It’s a swirl of positivity and the joy of living which takes us on a journey into the universes of Italian beauty, from sophisticated urban architecture to splendid floral gardens and the Mediterranean coast, bring a sensation of freedom and confidence in its wake.

My favorite: The Holiday 2021 Advent Calendar will be available for CHF 595.00.

The Emilio Pucci x Acqua di Parma Collection will be available from October in the Boutiques and e commerce outlets of both companies, as well as through the retail and wholesale channels.

LoL, Sandra

Holiday 2021 Fico di Amalfi Gift Set – CHF 122.00

Holiday 2021 Essenza Gift Set – CHF 187.00

Holiday 2021 Notte di Stelle Diffusor – CHF 121.00 (180ml) and CHF 249.00 (500ml)

Photos: © Emilio Pucci / Acqua di Parma
DISCLOSURE: This post is NOT sponsored.

Gabrielle Chanel was seduced by the camellia. With no fragrance or thorns, it is a flower of simplicity and purity, much akin to the ethos of Coco Chanel. Compared to the opulence of a rose, she preferred the camellia’s sobriety and geometric roundedness, with classic and consistent ordering of the petals, intelligible yet beautiful, like the woman that she was.

It is also a flower of duality, for dandies and courtesans. Androgynous and ambiguous, the camellia has an image of a forbidden flower that resonates with Mademoiselle Chanel’s taste for provocation and seduction. I am a huge fan of the CHANEL Camélia jewelry collection, that is the promise of a unique look for all the women who wear it.

This fall, CHANEL offers new interpretations of the camellia flower on rings, brooches, chokers, bracelets and more, that are available in store from this month. The emblematic flower is reinterpreted through a selection that opens access to the fascinating universe of the Maison’s symbols. Please enjoy your exclusive preview of dream pieces… I already put some on my wish list.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL