Sandra‘s Closet

Candy colors I love – we look cute together. Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette would surely agree with me as they are best known for favoring hues such as baby blue and pale pink in particular. Those soft and sweet feminine shades represent a dramatic break with the dark and moody colors often favored in wintertime, which has long given pastels a strong affiliation with the spring and summer months. For me at the moment, they represent a new beginning and the association with holidays and escapism after those quarantine days.

My look: Stagno coat in light blue by Max Mara, single-breasted floral-lace jacket, partial-lined flared lace trousers, and crystal-embellished sunglasses, all by Gucci, white knitted polo shirt by CHANEL, Love 100 pumps by Jimmy Choo, crystal-embellished leather phone case by Prada, GG Running 18-karat white gold diamond ring and GG Running 18-karat white gold diamond double ring, both by Gucci Fine Jewellery.

Follow my rule: «Better wear candy than eat it… !»

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Inspired by California’s unique sunsets, intense colors like Bleu Egée or Jaune Soleil adorn the wrists this summer at Hermès.

Collier de Chien bracelets in Bleu Eagle and Jaune Soleil

This year is all about innovation. Therefore, the French Maison has developed a progressive material and created the iconic Collier de Chien and Evelyn bracelets from anodized aluminum. The surface of these ultra-light bangles is treated using a special oxidation process, so that the color melts with the metal and is particularly resistant to dirt and scratches.

Evelyn bracelets in five colors

The Collier de Chien and Evelyn bracelets are available in five colors each at a price of CHF 710.- and CHF 470.- respectively.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès and © Sandra Bauknecht

What an extraordinary Easter weekend! The sun shining is from above, nature is blossoming at its best and I am at home with my loved ones. Stay home, stay chic – that’s the spirit and so I have dressed up to play a little Easter princess under my Magnolia tree.

My look: Super Eight ruffled floral-print cotton and silk-blend voile top and Super Eight belted floral-print cotton and silk-blend voile maxi skirt, both by Zimmermann, Knightsbridge oversized satin-cloqué bow and Knightsbridge bow crepe-cloqué hair clip, both by Emilia Wickstead, floral cuff and earrings, both by Dolce & Gabbana, small messenger flap bag in Tiffany blue by CHANEL and platform sandals by Alaïa.

Happy Easter weekend to all of you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Today on Easter Saturday, I would love to spoil you to the fullest with the newest fragrance launches. From fruity florals to white musks, there’s a perfume pick for everyone. Forget chocolate, this year it’s all about beauty surprises for Easter. You can order all of these goodies online, spoil yourself during quarantine. Cheers to that!

LoL, Sandra

ELIE SAAB Le Parfum Essentiel
Eau de Parfum

Elie Saab welcomes a new interpretation of its signature perfume, Le Parfum, for the woman who truly values what’s essential. The white floral chypre fragrance comes with a dazzling effervescence of Mandarin combined with an enveloping Gardenia Accord and a sophisticated Cedary Note.

CHF 78.00 (30ml), CHF 115.00 (50ml), CHF 153.00 (100ml)

Love CHOPARD 
Eau de Parfum

This red carpet signature fragrance is crafted around a whirl of the most precious rose essences and natural ingredients, responsibly sourced all over the world. An ode to the rose, queen of love, queen of flowers and queen of perfumery – composed around six exceptional varieties of roses, among which some of the most extraordinary roses, such as Bulgarian rose oil, Turkish rose absolute and Centifolia rose absolute.

CHF 68.00 (30ml), CHF 102.00 (50ml), CHF 137.00 (100ml)

DIOR HYPNOTIC POISON
Roller-Pearl

Enjoy this new fragrance gesture by Dior – a glass bottle topped with a delicate pearl for discreet and sensorial fragrance application. The magnetic, sensual Vanilla of Hypnotic Poison accompanies you anywhere, anytime.

CHF 55.00 (20ml)

DIOR HYPNOTIC POISON
Hair Mist

Perfuming the hair is a sensual, seductive gesture for mysterious and elusive femininity. This mist pays tribute to this fragrance ritual with an Almond-enriched formula, enveloping hair in a  veil of beauty. Generoulsy perfumed, hair unleashes the full intensity of Hypnotic Poison’s legendary Almond, Jasmine Sambac and Vanilla accords for a captivating and magnetic trail.

CHF 62.00 (40ml)

Gabrielle CHANEL Essence
Eau de Parfum

Inspired by the free and passionate woman who became Coco Chanel, this new essence is a more voluptuous, intensely feminine interpretation of the luminous floral fragrance. The striking square glass bottle is reimagined with bolder golden accents on the cap and label. Composed by In-House Perfumer Creator Olivier Polge, this deep and enveloping scent is an imaginary flower, faceted with Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Orange Blossom and the most captivating flower of all, Grasse Tuberose. Solar and voluptuous, the scent of a radiant woman.

CHF 95.00 (35ml), CHF 207.00 (150ml)

Fleur Musc NARCISO RODRIGUEZ for her
Eau de Toilette Florale

This new flanker of the iconic for her fragrance comes with the signature heart of Musc that bursts into a vibrant floralbouquet of spices and wood to create a sparkling scent. It reinterprets a woman’s sensuality with supreme confidence and passion. I really like its pink matte bottle.

CHF 102.60 (50ml)

Straight to Heaven BY KILIAN Extrême
Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray

To mark its tenth year anniversary, Kilian pushes two of its heritage scents to their olfactive extremes. Get an overdose of Vanilla and Rum in this very sophisticated scent. Addictive personalities, beware. Like any liquor taken straight, it hits fast, hard and leaves you wanting more. Skipping purgatory altogether, it heads straight to heaven as notes of Martinique Rum hit climax in high dose. The scent of burning rum gently rounds off into a smouldering sensuality of nutmeg essence. A woody amber trail remains, grounded by dark Patchouli and Dry Cedar Wood essence. Inciting the passions comes a lift of vanilla absolute from Madagascar. A beautiful unisex fragrance and definitely the Rolls-Royce among these perfumes.

CHF 335.00 (50ml)

MOËT & CHANDON Rosé Impérial brut
Champagne

And last but not least cheers to Easter! Taste and smell go hand in hand and champagne is always a good idea! Rosé Imperial displays a pink color with amber highlights. Lively and intense, the bouquet exudes red fruits (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with floral nuances of rose and a slight hint of pepper. On the palate, the wine shows a juicy intensity of berries (strawberry, raspberry, red currant) rounded out by the fleshiness and firmness of peach and the freshness of a subtle note of mint.

CHF 57.50 (75cl)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Sandra Bauknecht
#LoveChopard #ChopardLuxuryNaturalsPerfumery #RedCarpetForever
#MoetMoments #Apero #Easter 

Having a spa day at home can be just as relaxing and beautifying as a day spent somewhere expensive. Pick a day when you won’t have any interruptions, turn off your mobile phone, and light some candles to set the scene. Use a body scrub to completely exfoliate your arms, legs, and torso. Your skin will feel soft, smooth and healthy when you get out of the shower. Follow with deep nourishing and a self tanner to achieve a glow as if you just came back from a beach holiday. Enjoy those new and innovative products below that have just been launched this spring.

LoL, Sandra

LA MER The Renewal Body Oil Balm
One of my favorite new products! A lightly scented hydrating body balm that melts into a silken body oil on contact to create hydrated glowing skin all over.

LIERAC Body-Hydra Micropeeling
This innovative micropeeling scrub hydrates and plumps the skin while providing it with a gentle exfoliating action. Infused with two forms of hyaluronic acid, as well as repairing silicium, it re-firms and re-plumps the skin, leaving it radiant and renewed. I personally love its smell.

HAIR RITUEL BY SISLEY Color Perfecting Shampoo
I don’t have grey hair yet and don’t colour my hair but I have many girlfriends who truly suffer that they cannot go to the hair dresser at the moment. Therefore I recommend this shampoo that is designed to gently cleanse and care for colored and highlighted hair. The color is prolonged and doesn’t fade after repeated washes.

SISLEY Self Tanning Hydrating Body Skin Care
SISLEY Self Tanning Hydrating Facial Skin Care
Get a summer glow while enjoying your home office. Those two new self-tanners come with a fresh and pleasant fragrance, and are enriched with moisturizing active ingredients, to give the skin a lasting golden glow. From the very first application, they provide a natural-looking tan (even on light skin). To achieve optimum results on your body, use the velvet tan applicator mitt provided with the product.

CLARINS Extra-Firming Neck & Décolleté
Inspired by the movement of the sunflower’s stem, Clarins Laboratories combined sunflower extracts – unsaponifiables obtained from the seed and auxins obtained from the stem – to visibly improve the elasticity and firmness of the flexible neck and décolleté area, boosting the skin’s resistance to daily bending and rotating while protecting against premature signs of aging.

VALMONT Primary Pomade
Created to provide intense nourishment for even the driest skin, this next-generation balm plunges deep into the epidermis to replenish and soften dry or flaky skin. The skin is smooth, soft, feels comfortable, and heals faster after an aggression. You can use it on the face – I personally love putting it on my elbows, feet and knees.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

I love being active and try to do lots of workouts at home during quarantine to stay fit. I truly miss my weekly pilates class with Karolina Schmid and cannot wait until her studio opens again. Great news for my Zurich based readers: she will be opening another studio in Höngg with PILATESwiss wall boards and classes in June.

Whatever your favorite workout might be, the right activewear makes it even more fun. Hit the gym in Versace’s Greek key-infused pieces that elevate your casual look.

My look: Zip-up tech-jersey hooded sweatshirt, logo-jacquard low-impact sports bra, and logo-jacquard technical jersey leggings, all by Versace, Portugaba tote by Christian Louboutin, Run away sneaker in blue by Louis Vuitton, Love bracelets by Cartier, Royal Oak 37mm 18-karat frosted rose gold watch by Audemars Piguet and FF-print round acetate sunglasses by Fendi.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Over the last three years, Christian Louboutin has created the Africaba, the Mexicaba and the Manilacaba, all bags inspired by and created with people from the places they were named after. Continuing his pursuit to find the best artisans from all across the globe, he has created the PORTUGABA as a tribute to Portugal that immediately has become a favorite among celebrities.

 Amber Heard, Cindy Bruna, Monica Bellucci and Nieves Alvarez all carry the Portugaba.

Launched last year, this new version of the tote is highlighting the Portuguese craftsmanship and their meticulous savoir-faire for precious details. Handmade, crafted in white or black canvas, it features woolen fringes, multicolored embroidery, traditional ceramic beads and a CL coat of arms.

All is inspired by traditional costumes and typical Portuguese arts, and all is laid out on the wide U-shape. Practical and functional, its removable shoulder strap allows shoulder wear or, with its two handles, carried by hand.

The model is lined with a linen canvas inspired by azulejos reminiscent of Portuguese ceramic tiles. The handles for carrying are embellished with signature spikes and it also has a removable shoulder strap.

The beautiful colors always put me in a good mood. I loved to carry it to my pilates class (post coming up soon…) and hopefully will be able to sport it this summer at the beach.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE PORTUGABA BAG IN WHITE or HERE IN BLACK.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: Courtesy of Christian Louboutin
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

After the announcement of Sergio Rossi’s death, another creative mastermind has left us. This morning, I received the announcement that «it is with great emotion and sadness that the House of Hermès learned on the 4th of April 2020 the passing of Leïla Menchari, the Queen of Enchantment as Michel Tournier called her.»

The book in English entitled «Leïla Menchari, the Queen of Enchantment» can be ordered online on the Hermès website and shows most of her works for the French Maison.

Born in 1927 in Tunis, Leïla was a trained painter at the Beaux Arts School of fine arts in Tunis, then the Beaux Arts School of fine arts in Paris, she was a model for Guy Laroche for a while, before entering the Annie Beaumel‘s decoration team at Hermès in 1961.

Window display S/S 1995 with a sculpture by Christian Renonciat

An outstanding dreamer and storyteller, she was the Artistic Director of the windows of 24 Faubourg, the Hermès flagship store in Paris. Her visual concepts never ceased to arouse curiosity, astonishment and surprise to the amazement of passers-by, creating windows that opened to another realm. «Thanks to Leïla, exoticism found a home, happily and permanently, in Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré», says Axel Dumas.

The glass green grotto from 1992 was among of Leïla’s highlights.

In 2017, Hermès à tire-d’aile, les Mondes de Leïla Menchari, an exhibition which celebrated her vision at the Grand Palais, allowed a wider audience discover her unique and poetic universe.
Leïla Menchari has long been the driving force behind the House’s Colours Committee, leaving a legacy through her elegance and her extraordinary sense of nuance evident in the Women’s Silk collection.

Sandy dreams from the land of the pharaohs in 2005.

«Many of us at Hermès have learned a lot from Leïla. She taught us to look at the world through the prism of color. She was a storyteller without equal that enchanted the world. We are infinitely grateful to her for all that she has done for us, that she passed on to us», adds Pierre-Alexis Dumas.

Primary colors in 1982.

An open, generous, resolutely modern woman, she was a woman of freedom. Her passing leaves to all those who had the joy of knowing and working with her, on both sides of the Mediterranean, the memory of a perpetual quest for beauty, a boundless passion for creation and craftsmanship.

Rest in Peace, Leïla Menchari! Below you can enjoy more of her amazing creations that might inspire you to redecorate your home …

LoL, Sandra

Leïla working in the windows on a display.

Photos: © Hermès

The first famous victim in the fashion world has died at the age 84 from complications of the novel coronavirus: Italian shoe designer Sergio Rossi. Prior to his passing, he was hospitalized for a few days in Cesena, Italy, one of the nations hit hardest by the pandemic.

«Everyone at Sergio Rossi joins me in remembering our dear Sergio, the inspiring founder of our dream,» Sergio Rossi Group chief executive Riccardo Sciutto wrote in a statement.  «Sergio Rossi was a master, and it is my great honor to have met him and gotten to present him the archive earlier this year. His vision and approach will remain our guide in the growth of the brand and the business. He loved women and was able to capture a woman’s femininity in a unique way, creating the perfect extension of a woman’s leg through his shoes. Our long and glorious history started from his incredible vision and we’ll remember his creativity forever.»

Don’t miss Sergi Rossi’s exclusive capsule at Net-à-Porter, featuring timeless crystal-embellished pumps, sandals and flats.

Sergio Rossi founded his eponymous footwear label in 1951, and quality craftsmanship has remained central to the brand’s identity ever since. Expertly handmade in the founder’s native San Mauro Pascoli, each pair of shoes is the product of a 120-step process and more than 14 hours of meticulous attention to detail. It was a family business: Rossi’s father was a shoemaker, and his son, Gianvito Rossi, went on to start his own successful accessories brand.

Gianvito said that his father put up a noble fight against the coronavirus. »He has always stood out for his class and his strong, charismatic, generous, courageous character: a natural leader, loved and respected at the same time by his collaborators, with whom, in the long journey of his life, he created one big family,« Gianvito Rossi wrote. «The family offers, with love, their last goodbye: With the unquenchable fire of your passion, you taught us that there are no limits for those who love what they do. Goodbye, maestro.»

Grazie Sergio!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Sergio Rossi, Net-à-Porter and © Sandra Bauknecht
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Today is a very special day and this is probably my most private, most emotional and intimate post ever, my baby girl is all grown up. Eighteen years old! Where did the time go? You’ve blossomed into an astounding person, I am so proud of you and cannot wait to watch you continue to grow.

Anouk’s birth announcement – I made it a Marie Claire cover as I was workin there as a fashion editor at that time. Anouk’s birthday has a beautiful numerology: 04/04/2002 at 12:34pm.

Screaming, yelling, and hollering HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little doll – my Meusel. I love you so much. You have brought me so much joy over the years. You have taught me so much about life, about myself, and about being patient. You have taught me how to love unconditionally. You deserve the best, and I promise to do everything in my power to give you just that!

Whenever I could, I took Anouk with me to work.

My daughter is the mastermind behind most of my photos and we love to travel together. Like here where she shot me in the DMZ zone between North and South Korea in 2018.

As you turn eighteen in those troubled times I just want to say one thing to you – always cherish your friendships and never betray love that is true. I wish you the courage to grab all the opportunities that will come by you and I wish you the perseverance to live your life to the fullest.

Before you will move away for your studies to the US and I will become an empty nester, I promise we will do a big party for you! I will not only miss my daughter, but my best friend, my sport buddy, my best travel companion and my photographer :-). Not to speak of our hours of laughter and your delicious cheese cake. In love, your mummy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht