Sandra‘s Closet

Dress up for date night, unwrap luxury or gift someone gorgeous this Valentine’s Day with this beautiful selection of gifts and outfit inspirations. I have even thrown in an idea «for him»…
The heart wants what the heart wants…

LoL, Sandra

1 Confetti Heart knitted sweater by Chinti and Parker
2 Heart cut-out babydoll dress by Chloé (60% off)
3 Embellished merino wool sweater by Oscar de la Renta
4 Sequined silk bustier top by Oscar de la Renta
5 Carry Secrets heart clutch by Valentino
6 Sicily leather shoulder bag by Dolce & Gabbana

1 Gabby lace-trimmed embroidered tulle underwired bra and matching thong, both by Agent Provocateur
2 Heart-print button-down dress by Alexander McQueen
3 Love letter print T-shirt by Gucci (FOR HIM)
4 New Wave 196 Loulou heart-shaped silver-tone sunglasses by Saint Laurent
5 Pierced-heart straw hat by Gucci
6 Crystal-embellished clutch by Gucci

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, via Harper’s Bazaar, © Sandra Bauknecht

Greetings from beautiful and very cold Vienna where I spent the last days and attended the famous opera ball. More coming up soon… here you see me strolling through the city in some of my favorite pieces since many seasons on my way to the Sacher hotel for some culinary Austrian treats such as Viennese Schnitzel and the famous Sacher cake.

My look: Belted shearling coat, floral-appliqué striped wool-blend cardigan, and scarf, all by Gucci, dress with leather and lace appliqué by Saint Laurent, Rockstud leather-trimmed knee boots by Valentino, «Paris Cosmopolite» Pré-fall 2017 Métiers d’Art Gabrielle bag by Chanel, T Wire Narrow 18-karat rose gold bracelet by Tiffany & Co, and Tonda 1950 Galaxy by Parmigiani Fleurier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Presented at SIHH 2018, the new Révélation d’une Panthère watch is a true piece of art and deserves its own post. The iconic Cartier panther is revealed in an instant in a feat of watchmaking magic that conjures the hourglass, an eternal allegory of the passage of time.

Distort time. Disrupt it. Give it a form, trace its outline, and make it appear and disappear at leisure.
At a flick of the wrist, tiny gold beads map a meticulous trajectory across the surface of the dial, gradually revealing a powerful presence.

The magnificent head of a panther emerges, her golden outline illuminating the dial, her stark, stylised motif arresting the gaze. An ephemeral work of art for art’s sake, this timepiece offers the rare spectacle of light, luminous hours which promise their return.

Available in three versions with a choice of a black, green or red dial, the 37mm watch features a pink gold case, a bezel paved with diamonds, and a winding crown set with a diamond, an emerald or a ruby. The two colored versions in green and red are both limited editions of 100 individually numbered pieces each.

LoL,Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Cartier

Who would have thought that the ugly shoe trend will be so successful over several seasons that it will be reaching its peak for S/S 2018. While Christopher Kane was the first designer to collaborate with Crocs for S/S 2017 – Balenciaga is taking the ubiquitous gardening shoe to new heights this season.

Christopher Kane S/S 2018

If you have kids, you have been there and surely decorated the iconic rubber shoes with princesses or or other little gadgets. For S/S 2018, Christopher Kane wants to prove his love for Crocs again and re-upped his own commitment by making shoes out of the rubbery material and adorning them with Swarovski crystal embellishments.

Balenciaga S/S 2018

For Balenciaga, Demna Gvasalia made a Croc version definitely a standout one with a 10 cm foam platform that is branded with Demna’s newly redesigned Balenciaga logo. But will this design change the world’s problem with Crocs? As he said at Vogue’s Forces of Fashion conference, “I think it’s very interesting, the definition of ugly. I think it’s also very interesting to find this line where ugly becomes beautiful or where beautiful becomes ugly. That’s a challenge I like. I think that’s a part of what fashion stands for and I like that people think my clothes are ugly; I think it’s a compliment.”

Balenciaga S/S 2018 Runway

Do both designers, Kane and Gvasalia, just hate feet? Or did they legit think that glitter and a gigantic platform take the prize. I mean, all of these shoes are probably comfortable to wear, but when it comes to looks, you have to admit they hardly have the refined elegance of a pair of high heels. Anyway, I am sure that I will go for them in the end… or not, we’ll see! If I buy them, I will definitely get a nasty bashing from my daughter who had to convince me over months many years ago to get her a pair of Crocs… haha, and now Mummy is considering them. How twisted it this?

Crystal embellished Crocs by Christopher Kane
New customers get 10% off with this CODE: 10FF18. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga and Christopher Kane

I love this holographic shine with iridescent pearls and the mirage of megawatt colour that both come alive on your lips with Grand Illusion Glossy Liquid Lipcolour. It’s magnetic, it’s hypnotic! Swipe on the futuristic sheen and be transfixed by the refreshing cooling sensation that makes lips feel instantly fuller. For a magical look so real, it’s surreal.

Broken Halo – Silver with multi-color iridescence. 
Electric Rainbow – Opalescent pink and multi gold pearl.
Florescence – Electric yellow with pink iridescence.
Gilded Age – Illuminiscent bronze gold. 
Let’s Rock – Coppered orange with green and yellow iridescence. 
Lunar Module – Pale Blue iridescent pearl.
Peace, Love, Unity, Respect – Green with iridescent pearl. 
Pearly Girl – Cool pink with red and gold iridescence. 
Pink Trip – Bright pink with blue iridescence. 
Queen’s Violet – Royal purple with blue and pink iridecense. 
Rave Bunny – Bubblegum pink with electric blue iridescence. 
Sensory Overload – Blackened deep purple with shimmering iridescence.
Space Bubble – Blackberry Red with red iridescence. 
Twinkle Twink – Coral with gold pearl. 

Available from February 2018 for CHF 32.00 each at all MAC locations, MAC stores and online.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

It’s the current pièce de résistance for all cool girls, à la Françoise Hardy and Diane Kruger. Whether you refer to it as the newsboy, baker boy, cabbie, or page boy – there’s no denying this topper is taking over. It-girls and supermodels alike have adopted this staple of the early 20th century ‘working class’ and news boys, and turned it into the ultimate cool-girl must have on or off the red carpet.

LoL, Sandra

Elyse marine cap by Eugenia Kim

Evie cotton-canvas cap by Isabel Marant

Plaid baker boy hat by Isabel Marant Étoile

Velvet baker boy hat by Manohki

Shearling baker boy cap by Miu Miu

Wool and glass bead baker boy cap by Ruslan Baginskiy Hats

Photos: J.R. Duran for Bazaar, October 1992, via Zimbio, via Vogue
Courtesy of the Brands

Last week was my birthday and I was so happy to be surrounded by my close girlfriends for a lunch break full of laughter, fun and great conversations. Time flew so fast… My girls surprised me with amazing gifts (they read my birthday wish list :-)) and I feel blessed to have such amazing women in my life. Thank you to everyone who made my day so special!

My look: Wool coat with web and ruffle trim long sleeve dress, both by Gucci, glitter boots and large classic flap bag in caviar leather by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Olympia Le-Tan

Olympia Le-Tan‘s novel-themed felt clutch bags managed to make book lovers out of even non-literary types. Now the Paris-based designer returns with a new series of classics for Pre-fall 2018 to covet: the Monopoly collection.

In collaboration with the iconic board game, everything from the luxe «blue» properties to the «Go to Jail» square (and the requisite «Get out of Jail Free» card) have been transformed into chic, limited edition handbags (each is numbered). Note the update to her 7” square top handle, now with suede edging.

I am in love…

TO PRE-ORDER THE MONOPOLY COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Get Out Of Jail Dizzie Bag

Paris Game Board Box Bag

Train Box Bag

Fanfare Book Clutch With Strap

Photos: Courtesy of Olympia Le-Tan

The next Chinese New Year begins on 16th February 2018, and Gucci will celebrate the year of the dog with a dedicated collection of special items.

Gucci’s dog motifs for this collection were inspired by a pillow that the artist Helen Downie, AKA Unskilled Worker, gave as a gift to Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele, which featured an illustration of his two Boston terriers, Bosco and Orso.

Unskilled Worker’s dogs adorn a wide range of pieces that have been developed for the collection, including items of clothing (women’s and men’s ready-to-wear), shoes, handbags, luggage, small leather goods and accessories.  Women’s brightly coloured knitted sweaters, and denim shorts, feature the images, as do men’s hoodies and bomber jackets. The animals appear large on backpacks and tote bags in the Gucci Supreme material, and on colourful leather clutch bags and wallets. Scarves, trainers and jewellery are also embellished with pictures of these two dogs, while watches display the dog ‘faces’ on their faces.

There are 63 items in total in the collection, and it will be promoted across Gucci’s digital channels (notably on its newly-launched e-commerce channel in China) and in store, with special packaging.

Store windows will also be dedicated to the collection, with tartan walls, floor and matching tartan upholstered mini-bench seats for displaying products, with a giant image of each dog on the rear wall.

For iPhone X users, special interactive content will be available on the Gucci App. One will be bale to bring to life Orso and Bosco with one’s expressions, through special face recognition technology, and record a video that can be shared from the app.

The collection is now available in all markets, both in stores and online.
TO SHOP GUCCI’S CHINESE YEAR COLLECTION ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Gucci / Photos by Petra Collins

This is a must for every fashionista who loves to cook or at least eat. Dolce & Gabbana has signed the new look of Di Martino pasta. A special edition celebrating the Italian excellence through the colours, symbols and monuments identifying their home country the designer duo is so proud of.

The new packs designed by Dolce & Gabbana have become real postcards from Italy, that are going to enliven and scent tables worldwide thanks to their lively Mediterranean design. But the designers haven’t turned chefs for the project, the pasta itself is made by its aforementioned collaborator.

SPAGHETTI
– al dente in 8 minutes
Long circular shape whose appearance evokes a twine. They immediately bond with everybody tasting them: impossible to resist them, especially when paired to simple and genuine seasonings.

PENNE MEZZANI RIGATE
– al dente in 10 minutes
Short shape, featuring the same section of mezzani, a striped surface and an oblique cut. They are perfect with meat or cheese sauces.

MISTA CORTA
– al dente in 9 minutes
This mixture of small shapes comes from the old families habit to keep various pasta shapes left-overs and put them altogether into a single soup, usually legumes or vegetable-based.

PACCHERI
– al dente in 13 minutes
Great classic of the Neapolitan tradition, they are believed to be so-called because, when blended with their sauce, they recall the sound of a slap, a “pacchero” indeed. Their strong point? Versatility! Put them in the oven, sauté them in a pan or make a sweet seasoning and serve them as a dessert.

AVVOLTI A MANO
– al dente in 8 minutes
In the past, in Gragnano, pasta was used to be sold hand-wrapped into blue sugar paper called “macaroni paper”.

THE GIFT BOX
All the shapes leading the special edition and an apron designed by the stylists, together into a lively tin box. The most exclusive present for the Italian taste lovers.

The box contains:
N. 2 Spaghetti 500g, N. 2 Penne Mezzani Rigate 500g, N. 1 Paccheri 500g
N. 1 Apron designed by Dolce&Gabbana

TO SHOP, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana