Sandra‘s Closet

Yesterday, I had a crazy and fun night out in Shanghai. After all those meetings during the day, I was starving and couldn’t wait to go for dinner. The weather here is boiling hot and very humid, day and night. So, I went back to my hotel for a quick change and to refresh myself a little before hitting the road on the famous Bund.

My look: Denim vest by Forever 21, white crochet top by Guess, pants by Blumarine, sequined clutch by Victoria’s Secret, scarf by Maison Scotch, Jezebel fluo coral pumps (love them!) by Minna Parikka and gold lace cuff by Bonnie Star.

For dinner, I went to Mr & Mrs Bund by Shanghai-famous chef Paul Pairet, a place that I can absolutely recommend. Great food in a stylish ambiance. Afterwards, I just had to walk up the stairs to the next floor, home to Bar Rouge, one of the best nightclubs and lounges in the Chinese metropole. Being outside, with stunning views of Pudong, it is the place to see and be seen. The bartenders literally set the bar on fire.

I am off now to Xian and hope that I will still have internet connection to keep you posted…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Once more, Miuccia Prada and her team has come up with something unexpected and tasteful for the latest Miu Miu F/W 2013 ad campaign. The models have been photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin against a flat cardboard-like background. Those surreal shots show the amazing runway collection in perfection.

MODELS: Katlin Aas, Emily DiDonato, Daphne Groeneveld, Georgia May Jagger, Adriana Lima, Marina Nery, Hind Sahli, Anne Verhallen, Lindsey Wixson
LOCATION: New York, May 1st – 4th 2013

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

Yesterday, I had a day filled with interesting meetings. In between, I found the time to visit the iconic Bund, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. The waterfront area, which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, refers to the buildings and wharves on this section of the road, as well as some adjacent areas. Facing Pudong, I was overwhelmed by the stunning views of the skyline. The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, the city’s distinctive landmark, is just breathtaking.

My look: Eyespy cut out printed dress by Tibi,coral Pashli medium leather bag by 3.1 Phillip Lim, criss-cross ankle strap sandals by Miu Miu, Apophis cuff by Saint Laurent and floral sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana.

Happy 4th of July to my American readers. I still remember how much fun I had last year in Maui celebrating that special day…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I took the train from Beijing to Shanghai which was a very fun adventure. First of all, getting all my luggage down to the platform was an even bigger challenge than finding my way around. In contrast to our stations, only travellers with a valid ticket are allowed there.

You might be wondering what I was wearing. Karl Lagerfeld once said: “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.” Mr Lagerfeld, I think that you have never been on a Chinese train. But I have to admit that it feels a little like you have lost control over your life… especially after a 5 hours ride. However the first class looks amazing, more like being on a plane.

My look: Pink cashmere hooded top, matching track pants (both 50% off) and tee, all three by Juicy Couture, GOrun ride 2 running shoes by Skechers.

I am staying at the brand-new extremely beautiful Mandarin Oriental Pudong Shanghai. More photos coming up soon…

LoL, Sandra

Beijing main station

My ticket, my Victorinox luggage and my Rodtnes bag (great for travelling).

The high-speed train

First class interior

Lunch box in the train

First impression of Shanghai, I love it!

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Throw out your razor and forget about tweezing to get rid of your unwanted hair. Those products below offer professional hair removal at home and it works!

VEET – Easywax™ Electrical Roll-On and Refills

This innovative self-heating wax system comes with a roll-on applicator for salon wax results at home. Formulated with the same ingredients as the waxes used in beauty salons, it removes hair from the root at first application, and is effective on hair as short as 2mm. It works well for all skin types including sensitive. Skin remains impeccably smooth for up to 4 weeks.

The application is extremely easy, the wax rolls smoothly over the skin in an even layer and you can take off the hair easily with the strips. Afterwards my legs feel really soft. It’s definitely better than shaving, legs stay smoother for longer and you don’t have to keep worrying about it. The only disadvantage is that you need to let the hair grow in a little bit to be able to remove it.

Veet Easywax™ Electrical Roll-On – CHF 29.90
Veet Easywax™  Sensitive Refill – Legs & Arms – CHF 15.90
Veet Easywax™ Refill – Bikini & Underam – CHF 15.90

BRAUN – Silk-épil 7 SkinSpa Epilation & Sonic Exfoliation System

I love this product: A wet & dry epilator that comes with an innovative exfoliation brush. You get two beauty treatments in one device for touchably smoother and visibly more radiant skin. The epilator removes shortest, finest hairs for up to 4 weeks of smooth skin. That’s longlastingness shaving can’t match. The exfoliation brush removes dead skin cells with massaging micro-vibrations to bring out your natural skin glow. For results comparable to professional exfoliation. You will thank me forever!

Available for CHF 245.00.

DECLEOR – Aroma Epil Expert Post-Wax Double Action Gel

A great addition to your hair removal routine is this new product. The post-wax cream is specifically designed to soothe sensitive areas (eyebrows, lips, bikini line and underarms) after hair removal to ensure the skin stays smooth and soft, without irritation. Applied daily the nourishing cream works to slow down hair regrowth, with a 92% reduction in hair re-growth after 6 days, optimising your removal sessions whilst maintaining silky skin for longer. Suitable for all skin types.

Available for CHF 22.00.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The Great Wall and the Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty are both considered as having outstanding universal value by UNESCO and are therefore on the World Heritage List. I visited them today and truly enjoyed this sightseeing. The only negative aspect was the weather. However, after a bit of pouring rain and dense fog in the beginning of my tour that made it difficult to see anything at all, I was lucky that the sky opened up a little bit so that I could snap some photos of the beautiful scenery. But it felt like being in a steam bath…

My look: Homiés cotton T-shirt by Brian Lichtenberg, black stretch pants by Tommy Hilfiger, bangles by Sal y Limon and GOrun ride 2 running shoes by Skechers.

The impressive Great Wall is the world’s largest military structure and stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total.

After my visit to the Great Wall, I went to see the Ming Tombs in Changling and the Shendao (God Street) of 13 mausoleums. The architectures are absolutely magnificent. My favourite were the stone statue groups delicately carved and beautifully shaped that looked in the dence fog absolutely mystically.

Today, I am off to Shanghai… more coming up soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Strong, powerful and so Versace, the Italian house’s new F/W 2013 ad campaign shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott has been released.

“The Versace campaign for Autumn/Winter 2013 is stripped back to the raw power of the clothes and models. There’s no set, no distraction, just the provocation, glamour and attitude of our fashion. Mert & Marcus genius transformed Kate and Saskia into these strong Versace characters.” – Donatella Versace

Photographers: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Art Direction: Giovanni Bianco
Female Models: Kate Moss – Saskia de Brauw
Women’s Stylist: Melanie Ward
Male Models: Travis Smith – Dominik Bauer – Matt Trethe
Men’s Stylist: David Bradshaw
Hair: Garren
Makeup: Lucia Pieroni
Location: Studio in London

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Versace

Beijing, the heart of China, is definitely worth a visit. After having been the host city of the 2008 Olympic Games and compared to 1994 when I had been here the last time, it has completely changed. But some things always remain the same and today’s sightseeing tour around the metropole’s most traditional must-sees was proof of that.

My look: We T by Boss Orange (Such a fun initiative, join to find your T-shirts Buddy here), printed pants with side stripe (very similar to Louis Vuitton’s Stephen Sprouse print) by Zara, flats by H&M, bangles by Sal y Limon and sunglasses by Katie Grand ♥ HOGAN. The cap is a souvenir from Beijing.

I started my tour with a visit to the famous Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors paid homage to the glory of heaven, is the largest group of structures in the country dedicated to rituals. Therefore its name is a little misleading because it is definitely more than just a temple, it is a huge park as well. Many local people have yearly tickets to access the area and they enjoy outdoor activities such as dancing or playing games, especially like today on a Sunday morning.

This sign freaked me out a little. Do you remember exactly when I survived the hail storm in Wyoming exactly one year ago? I am still a little traumatized…

A Chinese lunch with an interesting view…

The very impressive and respectful Tiananmen Square is the largest central city square in the world. This immense courtyard is surrounded by a variety of significant edifices such as the Tiananmen Tower, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Monument to the People’s Heroes and National Museum. For security reason, Tiananmen Square is fenced and you have to pass a security check before entering.

The magnificent Forbidden City is the largest and the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative center of the country. Such an impressive treasure to visit.

I had a day filled with amazing impressions. As you see in the pictures, the smog is pretty bad but it also keeps the sun away which might not be the worst. The humidity is high and you really have to get used to the oppressive weather. Next stop, the Great Wall!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Early morning, I arrived in Beijing. A city that I had last seen in 1994 and that has completely changed. Being the capital of China, it is one of the largest cities in the world with over 20 million habitants. Today, it is very modern and offers everything you can imagine. I was extremely tired and to keep myself awake, I went for a little shopping tour close to the Peninsula Beijing, where all luxury boutiques are located.

Today, I am off to see again the Forbidden City, the Tiananmen Square and more. For live updates, you can follow me on instagram (@sandrascloset). In the meantime, please enjoy some of my first impressions.

LoL, Sandra

After I had arrived in my hotel room, I put on my new ultra-comfy GOrun ride 2 running shoes by Skechers with an integrated cushion to explore the city.

Tradition and modernity, Beijing offers both, gigantic shopping malls and little stores.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Sophistication and raw sensuality come together in Prada’s F/W 2013 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel in New York.

A stellar ensemble of fresh new faces such as Amanda Murphy and Kristine Froseth star alongside iconic, era-defining stars like Christy Turlington and Freja Beha. They inhabit seductively stark scenes, the pivotal characters in an enigmatic portrait of femininity.

Photographer: Steven Meisel

Models: Amanda Murphy, Catherine McNeil, Kristine Froseth, Christy Turlington, Caroline De Maigret, Cameron Russell, Fei Fei Sun, Rachel Williams, Malaika Firth, Freja Beha, Sophia Ahrens

Location: New York, studio, April 15th-20th 2013

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada