Sandra‘s Closet

The past four weeks have been extremely intense for me. I would say it was probably the most intense time of my life so far. I moved out of the house I had lived in for 16 years and I didn’t do anything else for one month than packing boxes. Everybody in my friendship circle knows that I love doing everything by myself, especially when it comes to my beloved closet. So I wrapped every single piece in acid-free silk paper which is the least harmful for clothing.

During the past months, I had a severe moth and fur beetle problem in my old home which was built in 1896. Those insects hide very well in the old wood floors and moldings – it is almost impossible to fight them. The terminator treated the rooms, I had planted ichneumon wasps for over 10 weeks. Yet, they didn’t go away. Therefore, I had to check every item in order not to pack them.

During this one month, I had the moving company (I can absolutely recommend Hobi Transporte) come every week for two days to load parts. My new house is unfortunately not ready yet. The construction and refurbishment take much longer than expected.

My fiancé lives out of Switzerland which doesn’t make it any easier. However, I managed to get everything done and I am very proud of myself, even that I have to be now in an interim solution next door. Packing means venturing on a trip down memory lane. You find so many things that you might have forgotten about. I indulged in this ride, it made me cry sometimes or laugh. However, it was intense, yet very satisfying.

I am overly excited over the beginning of this new phase in my life. I am looking forward to the new home that we create by ourselves and that will be even more beautiful than my previous one. Every room will be dedicated to a designer.

I have never shown my home in all those years I have had my blog. Now that I moved out, I thought it is time for you to explore parts of it… The closet is missing. This I still keep for myself… one day, I will reveal it as well. Promised!

To new and beautiful ventures, quoting Paulo Coehlo: «If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.»

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography

During the festive season, the Maison Cartier unveils an innovative pop-up store in Zurich: The «Cartier Winter House». Located on Rennweg 22, a few steps from their boutique, Cartier Winter House is a 150 m2 space spread over three floors, much like a «Chocolaterie». A warm and welcoming venue set to open its doors today this year. From Tuesday to Saturday up to 24th December, visitors will be able to discover chocolate creations with unique flavours.

On the ground floor: Workshops and tastings, a hot chocolate bar and customisable chocolate bars, to enjoy in the boutique or to take away!

Then venture upstairs to the first floor of this pop-up boutique to discover the brand’s iconic creations or the exclusive services on offer. Bespoke engraving, touch and try and a cord bar. A perfect opportunity for visitors to find the ideal presents for their loved ones or to just enjoy themselves, whilst sipping on a hot chocolate in a special gourmet tea room.

Finally, the third floor of this venue will be dedicated to more private events, such as digital conversations with friends of the Maison, digital presentations on the Haute Joaillerie collection, and also chocolate-themed dinners skilfully orchestrated by a reknown Swiss chef.

Cartier has held the city of Zurich close to its heart since the opening of its first boutique in 1978, as Laurence Bourgeois, Managing Director of Cartier Switzerland attests, «Zurich is an avant-garde city in terms of architecture, art and design. Cartier naturally found its place there.» The Maison also opened its new boutique at Bahnhofstrasse in 2018.

Practical information:
From 5th to 24th December (open on Sunday 6th and Sunday 20th December)
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm – Tuesday to Friday
Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Thursday Dec 24th from 10 am to 5 pm
Address: Cartier Winter House, Rennweg 22, 8001 Zurich

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Drawings: © Cartier

On December 2nd, I was invited by Net-à-Porter to join a live event hosted by Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER and Natacha Ramsay-Levi, Creative Director of Chloé to discuss the S/S 2021 collection. I was so keen on it and hoped to make it on time as the moving company was still unloading my boxes. However, all of a sudden I received a message in the morning of the 2nd that due to Natacha Ramsay-Levi being unwell, Net-à-Porter was regrettably cancelling the event with Chloé. Today, I found out why Natacha was not feeling well.

She is stepping down from her role at the Parisian luxury leather goods and apparel brand owned by Richemont after only 4 years. A new creative director was not named yet.

«Over the last months of health, social and economic turmoil, I have thought about the changes I want to see in our industry and how to better align them with my own creative, intellectual and emotional values,» Ms. Ramsay-Levi said in her statement. «It is this reflection that makes me consider my future differently and desire to pursue new opportunities.»

Me wearing some of Natacha’s key looks for Chloé

Personally speaking, I truly liked Natacha’s vision, who worked as a key deputy of Nicolas Ghesquière during his time at Balenciaga and during his early seasons at Louis Vuitton, as it was a less commercial take on the house’s bohemian and very feminine codes. However, what had been driving the most sales at Chloé previously, were all the It-bags under previous designers like Clare Waight Keller and Hannah MacGibbon, that have been lacking recently. Even that the collections were broadly well received by fashion lovers, they were ultimately lacking in strong-selling items unfortunately. Sometimes, it drives me nuts that people don’t understand the greatness of some pieces and that they opt for mainstream.

TO SHOP THE CHLOÉ F/W 2020 COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Chloé F/W 2020 finale

Photos: © Chloé and © Sandra Bauknecht
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Dear Santa, if I asked you for an instrument for Christmas this year, it would be the Piano of 24 Colors by Hermès. Indulging in a gifting extravaganza, the set is filled with 24 Rouge Hermès lipsticks designed by Pierre Hardy. The 24 number is in reference to the Hermès address in Paris, 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorè, which means it could also work perfectly as an advent calendar.

The gift box that houses the lipstick collection is as long as a piano, spanning 88.3 cm. Beautifully packaged in the label’s signature orange bag in addition to the box, the collection includes all of the signature shades such as «Beige Naturel,» «Rouge Orange» and «Rose Lipstick.»

As Hermès Beauty’s creative director Jérôme Touron explains: «The 24 colors of our lipsticks resonate together like piano keys. Having them all to hand allows you to play endlessly.»

Limited to 440 boxes, the Piano of 24 Colors is available for example at Selfrigdes to order for £1400 here. A lipstick a day keeps the sorrow away!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès

Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic, CHANEL cannot present its Cruise 2021 Métiers d’Art collection as planned on Tuesday December 1st, 2020 at the Château de Chenonceau (France), also known as the «Château des Dames» in the presence of guests. However, there will be screenings all around the globe for the brand’s fashion-loving clientele and everybody else who wants to tune in on December 3rd at 7pm Paris time. I am excited to attend the event at the CHANEL boutique in Zurich on Thursday evening to watch the show from there.

Since 2002, the Métiers d’Art collection, a Ready-to-Wear collection unique to CHANEL, has been paying tribute to the exceptional savoir-faire of the Maisons d’art and the fashion manufactories, CHANEL’s privileged partners. Uniting the creativity of the House and the virtuosity of the artisans – embroiderers, feathermakers, paruriers, pleaters, shoemakers, milliners and even glovemakers -, the CHANEL Métiers d’art collection contributes to the promoting of French fashion and luxury around the world.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL / Jürgen Teller and © Sandra Bauknecht
#CHANELMetiersdArt

Dropping on 3rd of December at 14:00 GMT: Stella McCartney‘s first three exclusive artist tees, all individually numbered, limited-edition pieces featuring the artworks of George Condo, Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman and supporting causes of their choosing. Inspired by the McCartney A to Z Manifesto, only 30 of each will be made globally.

Stella’s A to Z Manifesto originated during lockdown; a moment of pause that allowed the community to reflect and return to the world more mindful. A guiding alphabet, each of the 26 letters is a conversation about our values, brought to life through the visions of global artists – ranging from next-gen talents to friends of Stella like Olafur Eliasson, Jeff Koons, Sam Taylor-Johnson and more.

Blending fashion, art and sustainability, this is what Stella does best!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Stella McCartney

On December 3rd, 2020 the monthly Prada Timecapsule drop will be launched on prada.com – at 3pm CET – for 24 hours only. It is an exclusive product drop of 50 items, occurring once a month, each first Thursday.

This series of drops offer a classic boxy shirt, one of Prada’s wardrobe essentials, presented as unisex in an original printed version. The print’s motif is inspired by a theme related to the month of launch and includes a specific limited edition number 1/50, 2/50….

For this release, scheduled December 3rd, Prada offers a cotton popeline shirt for both women and men, characterized by an original print inspired by film posters of the 1960s. Available in XS, S, M, L, XL for €790,00 here for only 24h.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada 

As a proud ambassador for the Oetker Collection, I am more than happy to announce that spring 2021 will see the addition of The Woodward, a new hotel in the heart of Geneva, to its exclusive portfolio of masterpiece hotels. It will be the tenth hotel in the outstanding collection.

A historic transformation creates Geneva’s first all-suite hotel designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, with restaurants by Michelin-Starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and vegetable driven Le Jardinier by Alain Verzeroli as well as a 1,200 sq metre Spa by Maison Guerlain.

Rooted in classic French techniques, Chef Verzeroli, who has maintained for 11 consecutive years seven stars in the Michelin guide for Joël Robuchon’s three restaurants in Tokyo, is renowned for creating innovative dishes where vegetables play a starring role, many of which are vegan, and dairy and gluten-free.

Owned by Bastion Holdings, the hotel sits directly on the shores of Lake Geneva, offering panoramic views of Mont Blanc. Originally built in 1901 by French architect François Durel, in a post-Haussmann style, the hotel is located on Quai Wilson. Bastion Holdings and Bastion Management are part of The Bastion Collection group which owns 15 unique restaurant & food concepts globally and the masterpiece water-front hotel in Geneva – The Woodward.

Each of the 26-suites have been carefully curated to possess their own distinct character and individual design details with signature flourishes including marble fireplaces and bookcases. 21 of the suites have a full lake view. The jewels in the crown are the Presidential Suite, designed in elegant ivory tones and offering panoramic lake views from every room with a private dining room and loggia, and the Royal Suite, reached by private lift and designed to resemble a chic Parisian apartment.

The Woodward will offer two bars and a tea-room, as well as a private digestif lounge, which takes the buildings history as a bank into the modern-day through the transformation of a former vault. In keeping with Oetker Collection’s commitment to wellbeing, a 21-metre indoor swimming pool invites guests to indulge and relax. It will be the longest swimming pool in Geneva. There will be a state-of-the-art gym, two saunas, two steam-rooms, two Swedish baths and a jacuzzi. Guests will be able to enjoy exclusive treatments by Guerlain across six wellness suites, including one for couples and a corner dedicated to men.

I am so excited for this beautiful addition to Geneva!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of The Oetker Collection

My kind of Black Friday! Due to the current pandemic, I have a phobia of long lines, and too many people. I am a big fan of online shopping anyway which also avoids pressured decisions. Don’t be tempted too much just because it is marked down. Invest in classic pieces that you will treasure forever like this outfit I am wearing in today’s post.

My favorite offer today so far? MYTHERESA offers 30% off already marked down pieces. Click here to browse through the large selection.

My look: Satin-trimmed crepe and lace blazer, ruffled lace-trimmed wool-blend mini skirt, cotton-blend lace bustier top, and leather waist belt, all by Alexander McQueen, Bond Street 105 chain-embellished suede and mesh pumps by Aquazzura, Monogramme glittered canvas shoulder bag by Saint Laurent, and Glomesh bandana necklace by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

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

Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the Arceau round watch lends its singular design to a new stylistic expression. Its round case with stirrup-inspired asymmetrical lugs, along with its sloping numerals evoking a galloping horse, secure its place in a timeless and playful universe.
Season after season, this discreetly elegant model, offering a quintessential expression of Hermès style showcases the full extent of artistic crafts cultivated by the Maison.

The result of Hermès’s saddlery and leathermaking expertise, 395 mini studs – individually placed on the leather dial of the new Arceau Horse – compose an equestrian motif. The meticulous studding is complemented by the delicate crafting of the black or white leather, both miniaturised to the scale of the dial. The spirited horse comes to life framed by a steel case set with 100 diamonds and secured to the wrist by a calfskin strap matching the dial colour – all produced in the Hermès Horloger workshops. In a fascinating blend of understatement, brilliance and careful attention to every demanding detail, the Arceau Horse boldly flaunts its singularity both by day and by night.

I am loving it and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès