Sandra‘s Closet

The skin around the eyes is the most hard-working part of the face – we blink up to 28,000 times a day – but it can also be fragile and under-nourished. Here are the best eye creams and treatments to strengthen this sensitive area.

THE EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL
The Eye Concentrate by La Mer
This light, deeply conditioning cream comes with an applicator that doubles as a massager. Use the cool metal tip from the inner corner of the eyes outwards to get rid of puffiness.

THE DAILY ANTI-AGER
Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix by Estée Lauder
This lightweight eye serum tackles all the major problems that we have around the eyes: puffiness, dark circles, dry and crepey skin. The skin around the eye doesn’t produce natural oils, so the high dosage of hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates before applying your eye cream – and don’t be fooled by the name, you can use it in the mornings, too.

THE MASK
Eye Contour Mask by Sisley Paris
One of my favorites as you’ll see instant results from the first use! Apply a thick layer of this transparent gel and gently tissue off 10 minutes later to look refreshed, rested and rejuvenated. 

MASK ON THE GO
All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask by KNC Beauty
I always have them in my pocket and take them on my trips. Playfully shaped like shooting stars, they’re infused with retinol to improve texture and stimulate blood flow. The plumping collagen, soothing aloe and moisturizing hyaluronic acid help reduce swelling and diminish dark circles in no time.THE DE-PUFFER
Eye Express Radiance Ice Cubes by Anne Semonin
Perfect ahead of a big event or to counter the effects of jetlag, these clever cubes use cryotherapy to refresh tired eyes. Keep them in the freezer for at least three hours before use, remove the cube and gently run along the contours of your eyes. The freezing temperature firms the skin and helps to eliminate toxins and lessen the effects of eating too much salt or a night of drinking a few too many mojitos.

THE GADGET
SpectraLite EyeCare Pro by Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
Fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet are reduced by 72 LED lights penetrating the skin to stimulate collagen production. Use for two weeks, three minutes per day, for noticeable results.

THE COVER UP
The Cure Sheer Eye Cream & Concealer by Natura Bissé
This multitasker, infused with water lily and caffeine, acts as an anti-aging eye cream and a concealer. The perfect mix of skincare and coverage, it goes on like a lightweight foundation while the added serum brightens and hydrates.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Those past weeks have been so hot… it has been such a fantastic summer but my bedroom feels like a sauna. Therefore I was eager to get  the DYSON PURE COOL to finally get some fresh air for a better sleep. But important to know is that it is not an air conditioner, it is an air cleaner (great for someone who suffers from allergies) with a fan that circulates clean air throughout the entire room, no matter where you put it. DYSON was founded in 1993 and the company has traditionally put a big emphasis on the design and engineering of their products, being well known for its cordless vacuum cleaners and hair dryers.

Love to turn it on and off with the app while checking the pollution levels.

The DYSON PURE COOL features 10 different speed settings and an auto mode to adjust the speed of the airflow. In addition, it comes with a night mode, which reacts to pollution levels the unit detects. In general, the tower oscillates so that purified air is circulated in the room quickly and to achieve the best cooling effect. I love to use it while working out or posting from the comfort of my bed. With the Dyson app, I can also easily set up the timer.

Important! The Dyson Pure Cool is not a stretching device even that it is quite tempting:-)!

My look: Shooting Star point d’esprit tulle jacket by Anna Sui, gold-tone crystal earrings and gold-tone crystal cuff, both by Etro, Janis suede platform pumps by Saint Laurent and Jeff Koons Masters Collection «Da Vinci» laptop case by Louis Vuitton.

Leopard print bedding by Ralph Lauren Home and black age delay pillow by Nurse Jamie.

I hope you like my sense of humor to make this sponsored post a little fun…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

For the Hermès’ theme of the year «Lets’ Play» celebration in Paris, I took the «overdressed with a sense of humor» dress code literally and went for this Dolce & Gabbana look. The designer duo takes their inspirations seriously, so it’s no surprise that my gown is stacked with Queen of Hearts-prints. The playing card figure appears also bedazzled on my headpiece while little cars on my earrings finish of the fun ensemble.

My look: Queen of Hearts gown (Look 16 from the S/S 2018 runway), clip earrings with cars and flowers, matching headpiece with veil, and Dolce Box embellished croc-effect and textured-leather clutch, all by Dolce & Gabbana, and red Janis pumps by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Breaking news! CHANEL launches its first men’s make-up line, BOY DE CHANEL.
First available in Korea on September 1, 2018, it will be available in the rest of the world from November 2018 online, and from January 2019 in CHANEL stores.

By creating BOY DE CHANEL, CHANEL reaffirms the ever-changing codes of an unchanging vision: beauty is not a matter of gender; it’s a matter of style.
With its sleek blue night packs, the BOY DE CHANEL line consists of three essential products: a foundation, a lip balm and an eyebrow pen. Three make-up enhancers, to erase imperfections with accuracy, undetectably. Each offers textures for instinctive use, imperceptible formulas and a long, infallible hold for a natural result.Why shouldn’t men start to do the same efforts we take every morning! To more gender equality – be only you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chanel
#BOYDECHANEL #BEONLYYOU #CREATEYOURSELF

Let’s Play!

Yes, play! Because playing means being together, because it’s a way of learning about ourselves and others, a way of letting chance have its say, of both controlling and letting go. Because it is joyous, jubilant even. Because play reshuffles the pack. Because play is movement, freedom, imagination, fantasy, seduction, lightness. Where there’s play, there’s hope! But yes! After all, don’t players form a kind of alternative society? Doesn’t play itself form the outline of an utopia? Could we create, could we invent, could we even just imagine if we didn’t play? Certainly not at Hermès in any case, where our first comrade in play was the horse. Who knows, maybe that is the secret of our longevity. For a hundred and eighty years, this house has never stopped playing.

Pierre-Alexis Dumas
Artistic Director of Hermès

Mid June, I flew to Paris as guest of HERMÈS (those who have been following me on Instagram have already seen many photos and impressions), to celebrate the Maison’s theme for 2018 which is «Let’s Play», evoking emotions of whimsicality and playfulness. Each year has a theme that celebrates the French iconic brand’s vision and creative direction. As Pierre-Alexis Dumas said: «This year, Hermès is inviting you to play. It is meant to encourage people to break down barriers, let loose and have fun.»

With Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermès. Under his direction, the firm has seen its biggest growth in decades, with sales of 4 billion euros in 2014.

The story of HERMÈS’ year themes started in 1987 with the «Year of the Fireworks» to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary and was conceived by the late chairman and chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas. Since then, it has been a consistent feature of the brand and each year, new amazing themes take place.

Past Year Themes:
2012: The Gift of Time
2013: The Sporting Life
2014: Metamorphosis, an Hermès Story
2015: Flâneur Forever
2016: Nature at Full Gallop
2017: Le Sens de l’Objet

The concierge was announcing my arrival at the festivities.

When I was in Paris, HERMÈS turned the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild into a «Play House» and  interpreted the game in all its forms: board games, optical illusions, televised games, charade games, casino, and a musical quiz, just to name a few things that played with our senses that night.

When I arrived, I was greeted by my name by the concierge in the courtyard. Two sphynx-inspired ladies portraying the famous woman-headed lions of greek mythology were guiding us through the hallway up to the playrooms.

The dress code said «overdressed with a sense of humor» and everyone came up with the most amazing, hyper-elegant, extravagant, quirky looks.
It was definitely worth putting some effort in your outfit as the French brand spared no expense in showing its company theme «Let’s Play» by transforming the location into an immersive fun fair. Games were everywhere besides champagne and yummy food, both in the living rooms on the ground floor and the first floor. At each game, there were actors to explain the rules, to bring them to life, to hand out little nuts…

This Hermès Fantasy was equipped with all of the elements you could possibly imagine: from a wheel of fortune to roulette, from an area where you could play «sit and run» to skittle dog.

«We are a traditional company of craftsmanship and a creative company of today,» noted Hermès CEO Axel Dumas. Even he – a sixth-generation scion of Hermès founder Thierry Hermès – isn’t immune to the brand’s playfulness.

With Axel Dumas, CEO Hermès

Stay tuned for the detailed outfit post to follow about my playing cards-inspired look and enjoy more impressions of this fantastic night below.

LoL, Sandra

Time to play…

Get lucky or die trying

Skittle Dog!

Spin the wheel!

So much fun to play musical quiz.

Closet life: posting live from the event.

A huge thank you to Françoise Garnier, Hermès Switzerland, for inviting me and for taking all the photos! We had such a great time together.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Hermès

Remember the iconic puka shell necklace – when it was absolutely so cool to come back from your tropical vacation with a plastic flower in your hair and a shell choker around your neck? I am talking about this ubiquitous beachy accessory of the late ‘90s, that was loved by tween girls and surfer guys alike.

Puka shell necklace of the ’90s

You are lucky if you kept one in your jewellery box like I did. If not, it is time to get one. Only this time you can opt for a luxier, infinitely more grown up vibe.

Prada F/W 2017

Seen already at the Prada’s F/W 2017 show – as usual Miuccia knows how to set a trend – the chunky shell necklaces made an appearance layered over hefty coats and sweaters. So ladies, this piece can be taken to the winter season.

Shells are back but they’re literally cooler than ever before. Here some amazing pieces available now:

Large Puka natural shell necklace by Tohum

Eloise shell-embellished necklace by Heimat Atlantica

Sybile shell choker necklace by Heimat Atlantica

Cauri 9-karat rose gold, diamond and porcelain necklace by Pascale Monvoisin

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, via Instagram Gilda Ambrosio

Bucket bags are perfect for vacation but can still be used back in the city, too. The perfect pieces to take a little summer feeling to fall. With each model, you can pull the drawstring top tight to keep your cell phone and sunglasses secure.

1 Cleo woven leather bucket bag by Loeffler Randall
2 Lunchpail leather-trimmed woven sisal bucket bag by Cesta Collective
3 Linea Cestino leather-trimmed wicker bucket bag by Gucci (my favorite)
4 Seau straw and striped cotton-canvas bucket bag by Muuñ
5 Colada leather-trimmed wicker tote by Kayu

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands, Collage: © Sandra Bauknecht

On Saturday, the Street Parade took place in Zurich. The sun was shining and I enjoyed a great afternoon at the Baur au Lac hotel. The Boom-Boom au Lac party is the best way to have a front row seat at the iconic music parade while enjoying the serenity and space of the hotel’s beautiful park. Dancing with my little sister and my friends to the techno beats in a fun outfit was just amazing!

My look: Plunging neck metallic bodysuit and Candy embellished suede and leather platform sandals, both by Saint Laurent, lace flared pants by Givenchy, GG Marmont leather belt bag by Gucci, feather, crystal and bead earrings by Oscar de la Renta, Linda sunglasses by Tom Ford, Diorette daisy necklace and Rose des Vents bracelets in turquoise, pink, green and orange, all by Dior Joaillerie, and Amulette necklace by Cartier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Those shoes are dope. Finally I feel like hiking gets more fun with GUCCI‘s new FLASHTREK SNEAKER.

Sparkling crystals are embroidered onto a removable elastic strap, wrapping around the sneakers and resulting in an amazing effect. Inspired by the hiking world, this shoe line combines an oversize design with dream-like details.

Featuring a vibrant mix of leathers in different colors, the accessory is defined by the Gucci patch with the graphic font of SEGA – a fixture in the colorful arcades and coin-op game rooms of the ’80s.

TO SHOP THE NEW GUCCI FLASHTREK SNEAKERS ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Keep your eyes open, those shoes will be all around town…
Also available for men HERE (with less sparkle see photo below).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci

SUSANNE KAUFMANN comes from Austria‘s beautiful Alpine valley, the Bregenz Forest, where knowledge of the healing powers of nature is passed down from generation to generation. From an early age, she was fascinated by the idea of creating a holistic skincare range inspired by the intensive and effective properties of the Alpine plant world. She began fulfilling her dream at a very special place: the Susanne Kaufmann Spa at the Hotel Post Bezau. Together with a team of pharmacists and dermatologists she developed result-driven products for spa treatments followed by the launch of SUSANNE KAUFMANN ORGANIC TREATS which now encompasses more than 60 functional products, in Switzerland available at Spitzenhaus in Zurich. Today, she gives us some amazing travel tips for her home country AUSTRIA.

Your favourite city / region?
The BREGENZERWALD (Bregenz Forest)- it is very traditionel but the local people are very open-minded. Besides that the air smells like perfume.

Your favourite hotel?
In Austria I really like the RITZ-CARLTON in Vienna. Within the four 19th-century palaces the hotel now calls home, you get a very authentic feel of the city known for its beauty and culture.
Schubertring 5-7, 1010 Vienna, Phone: +43 1 31188

Your favourite spa?
Definitely our SUSANNE KAUFMANN SPA in Bezau. It stands for everything I love, a place of beauty, relaxation, and holistic well-being.
Brugg 35, 6870 Bezau, Phone: +43 5514 22070

Your favourite restaurant?
STEIERECK in Vienna – they have an exquisite cuisine and a concept that reflects my belief in high quality ingredientes and local products.
Am Heumarkt 2A, 1030 Vienna, Phone: +43 1 7133168

Your favorite local dish?
WIENER SCHNITZEL with POTATO SALAD.

Your favourite sightseeing spot?
It‘s definitely the WERKHAUSRAUM in Andelsbuch, designed by architect Peter Zumthor, is a distinctive mark in the Bregenzerwald and highlights the culture of craftsmanship and artisanal work.

Your favourite park?
The whole BREGENZERWALD (Bregenz Forest) is like a huge park with wild animals and a beautiful fauna and flora.

Your favourite shop?
ROOM SERVICE CONCEPT STORE and SAGMEISTER.
I really like these two shops for their exclusive selection and personal touch.

Your must-have accessory?
Besides a good skin condition, my SMYTHSON CALENDAR.

The best soundtrack for this destination?
I’ve been passionate about music since childhood. Luckily my husband, Alfred Vogel, is Jazz musician and brings year by year wonderful artists to BEZAU BEATS in Austria.

The best book to read while being on vacation there?
OSKAR LEO KAUFMANN: 69 PROJEKTE 2012–1996 – my brother recently gave me his book. You can see how the architecture in the Bregenzerwald has shaped the landscape.

TO SHOP SUSANNE KAUFMANN ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Thank you, Susanne, for sharing your insider scoop on Austria with us!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Susanne Kaufmann, the different locations and Voralberg Tourismus