Sandra‘s Closet

Today, I have spent a great day in Vienna. Shopping, sightseeing and a surprise, the only thing missing was the sun.

First, I went to Liska, a fabulous high fashion store, located in the heart of the Austrian city. Established in 2002, the shop carries brands such as Saint Laurent, Dior, Fendi and Valentino, as well as their own label, Liska by Thomas Kirchgrabner, the boutique’s USP is its range of furs. Your premier destination if you are on the hunt for that perfect mink coat or sable stole.
TO SHOP LISKA ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Then, I did some sightseeing and visited the famous Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule)…

… and Vienna’s landmark, the St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom).

The best moment of today was when I saw Dave Gahan again. I have always been a huge fan of Depeche Mode and had met him in Frankfurt a few years ago. If you are interested in seeing the previous post, please click here.

My look: Coat with fur details by Blumarine, cashmere sweater by J.Crew, scarf and stretch-leather skinny pants, both by Gucci, ankle boots by Prada and leather tote by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Isabel Marant‘s Dreamy studded stretch-leather mini dress for S/S 2013 is a must for every fashion lover. Obiviously the Parisian-based designer loves a bit of Americana and took inspiration from Elvis and his passion for rhinestones and leather.

It was already seen on Blake Lively who combined it with cage sandals by Christian Louboutin.
TO SHOP THE DRESS PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

As I promised you, here is the exclusive video I was talking about earlier today. Renowned actress and OMEGA ambassador Nicole Kidman stars in the brand’s elegant new Ladymatic campaign launched at the glamorous event in Vienna, Austria “La Nuit Enchantée” tonight. It was truly amazing and I was able to meet Nicole in person. This exclusive video takes you behind-the-scenes of Nicole Kidman’s photo shoot with world-famous fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh. Stay tuned for more…

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht – Video: Courtesy of Omega

When I heard the news that Akris Creative Director Albert Kriemler dresses Alicia Keys for her “Set The World On Fire” tour, I was completely excited. And when I saw the looks, I was over the moon. For the American pop singer and songwriter it was important that the outfits are not more important than her performance. And as her stylist, Laura Jones, told style.com, her performances are all about the singing, rather than fancy costumes. “Alicia doesn’t like to do a lot of costume changes. We’re not trying to build up some big embellished look [and] we didn’t want her to be hidden by the clothes,” says Jones, who’s been dressing Keys for a year.

Personally speaking, I couldn’t think of a better choice for Alicia Keys. The famous singer recently appeared in the Swiss brand at several high-profile events and always looked gorgeous: During her set at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Keys performed in a black pebblestone-embroidery dress. I completely understand Alicia’s love for Akris. The F/W 2013 collection was a dream, stay tuned for a detailed post coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Akris

Sometimes you have to be lucky… and in this case it was me. Coming pack from Los Angeles to repack for Paris Fashion Week, I had the chance to attend the opening party of the new Diesel Black Gold shop-in-shop at Jelmoli which is the biggest one in Europe. Especially for the night, Andreas Melbostad, Creative Director Womenswear, had flown in from New York. I was very honoured to be among the guests invited to an intimate dinner at Clouds afterwards where I got the chance to talk to the designer of Norwegian origin who had worked for the likes of Calvin Klein, Nina Ricci and Yves Saint Laurent before.

Andreas Melbostad with me

The new shop-in shop at Jelmoli

Dinner at Clouds

One day after I got back from Paris Fashion Week, just one week after the amazing dinner party, Diesel celebrated its recently opened shop on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse.
And some famous guests came …

Two great parties in one week! Thank you, Diesel!

LoL, Sandra

For the outfit post, please click here.

Actor Adrien Brody with me

Joseph Fiennes, framed by his wife Maria Dolores Diéguez to the left and me to the right

Photos: © David Biedert, © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Diesel

Sunday night, I had a blast in Paris at the Purple x Bulgari dinner at the famous Café de Flore, followed by the after party at Le Montana. The room was filled with the “Who’s Who in High Fashion” and of course many celebrities such as Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody.

Enjoy some of the impressions! It doesn’t get more “in” than here…

Caroline Gaimari (Purple) with me

Famous crowd: Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, Betony Vernon, Sandro Kopp, Waris Ahluwalia, and founder/owner of Purple Olivier Zahm

Arriving from the Givenchy F/W 2013 runway show with an extravagant hairdo: Models Magdalena Frackowiak and…

…Isabeli Fontana, here with Olivier Zahm

Patrick Liotard-Vogt (Chairman A Small World) and Olivier Zahm

Olivier Zahm and designer Haider Ackermann

Patrick Liotard-Vogt with me

Charlotte Stockdale, Derek Blasberg, Samantha Traina, and Gaia Repossi

One of my favourite designers: Olivier Theyskens with me

At the after party at Le Montana

Waris Ahluwalia

I truly had a blast and went to bed far too late. But when I got to my hotel room, I had a meltdown when spotting the fag burns in my beloved strapless lace and tulle dress by Dolce & Gabbana.

I truly hope that Dolce & Gabbana can save this amazing piece!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Purple © Stéphane Feugère, © Sandra Bauknecht

I loved Hilary Swank‘s look that she wore to the pre-Oscar charity brunch to celebrate the Montblanc and UNICEF Signature For Good 2013 initiative. The Hollywood actress looked stunning in this off-white outfit combined with metallic accessories.

Here are all the details to get her look (To shop, just click on the highlighted text):
Gazar-silk ruffled dress coat, Razmir shell top and skirt, all three by Giambattista Valli, silver pumps by Miu Miu, Belle de Jour metallic leather clutch by Saint Laurent, Princesse Grace de Monaco Collection earrings and bracelet  in pink gold and diamonds, both by Montblanc and bow belt by Asos.

LoL, Sandra

Hilary Swank with me
Photos: © Pascal Le Segretain and © Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montbanc

As promised, here are some impressions of the Montblanc ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 charity brunch at the iconic Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles that was truly outstanding. Each year Montblanc presents on the day before the Oscars their charity initiative of the year and this time the German house supports UNICEF educational projects, which benefit children around the globe giving them access to education and aims to raise at least $1.5 million dollars.

Here you see me arriving at the Hotel Bel-Air which is nestled in an exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by stunning homes and mansions.

Me on the red carpet (I could totally get used to that feeling.)

Two of the official photos (© Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc)

Guests from the world of entertainment, young Hollywood and the worldʼs best producers including Hilary Swank (Actress), Rosario Dawson (Actress), Christopher Lambert (Actor), Patricia Arquette (Actress), Peter Fonda (Actor), Joel Madden (Singer – UNICEF Ambassador), Alyssa Milano (Actress – UNICEF Ambassador), Michael York (Actor), Olga Kurylenko (Actress), Martin Landau (Actor), Petra Nemcova (Model), Jesse Metcalfe (Actor), Billy Zane (Actor), Mimi Rogers (Actress), Emmy Rossum (Actress), Jane Seymour (Actress), Clemens Schick (Actor), Alexander Ludwig (Actor), Tom Hooper (Director), Natasha Henstridge (Actress), Lydia Hearst (Socialite) and Tippi Hedren (Actress) joined Lutz Bethge (CEO Montblanc International) and Caryl M. Stern (CEO and President U.S. Fund for UNICEF) to support a very special cause.

Academy Award winner Hilary Swank

Emily Rossum

Cas Anvar who plays Dodi Al-Fayed in the new Diana movie with Naomi Watts.

Alexander Ludwig (Hunger Games)

Natasha Henstridge

Christopher Lambert

Rosario Dawson

Martin Landau

Jane Seymour

Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

DJ Bob Sinclair

German actor Wayne Carpendale

Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (Spago)

German actor Clemens Schick

Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc, and Ingrid Roosen-Trinks, Director of Montblanc Cultural Foundation

During the brunch, Lutz Bethge gave a very emotional introductory speech regarding Montblanc’s new charity initiative, Signature for Good, and his field trip with actress Hilary Swank to Ethiopia last October, where he was able to witness the incredible work of UNICEF. “I will never forget the pride in the eyes of those children to go to school. Something that I haven’t seen in my own children.” He was very impressed by the so-called “gender clubs” where the children have a chance to talk about issues such as domestic abuse or child labour, “because school helps them make a change.”. Since 2004, Montblanc has raised over $5 million dollars.

Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, brought tears to the eyes of the audience. “You are not only helping children to learn and to write, you give them a brighter future, you unlock doors that would have been shut. We do whatever it takes to save a child all over the world.” It gave me shivers when she stated that “19.000 kids will die today and the same amount tomorrow and so on of causes we could already save.” UNICEF lowered that number by 40%. Caryl M.Stern went on: “No matter where we go, we all want the same for our children, we want them to be safe, healthy, educated, to survive and to fulfill their dreams. Our own children get a great seat at the table, but there are some who don’t get a seat at all. An investment in our children is the most important investment we can make.”

The very moving moment culminated when Hilary Swank went on stage to share her personal experience from her field visit to Ethiopia with Montblanc and UNICEF. The actress had tears in her eyes when she gushed about “the smile on the children’s faces when they go to school and their determination to learn.”

As a performing surprise, young opera star and Montblanc brand ambassador Shenyang delighted guests with a dazzling performance of two songs.

Symbolic of Montblancʼs commitment to giving children access to better education, guests were invited to pledge their support for the Signature For Good 2013 initiative by signing bricks of a school specially recreated inside the Hotel Bel-Air.

I have been deeply impressed by UNICEFʼs life-changing work in Africa and the impact of Montblanc’s contribution over the recent years in funding education programs. If you like to support the good cause, have a look at the new ‘ֹSignature for Good’ 2013 collection which is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

All Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Photos (Red Carpet):  © Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montblanc

Karl Lagerfeld has chosen Tilda Swinton to be his heroine in the advertising campaign for the Pre-fall 2013 Métiers d’Art Paris-Edimbourg collection. Her unique personality, charisma and allure have charmed the House of CHANEL: “Tilda perfectly embodies the Paris-Edimbourg collection. She is of course Scottish, but more than that she is a modern woman, a timeless icon of elegance,” declared Karl Lagerfeld. Discover the campaign in May 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Olivier Saillant – Courtesy of Chanel

Isn’t that photo just beautiful? What looks like a vintage ad from the house of Dior was just an embarrassing moment for Jennifer Lawrence, when she went on stage to accept her Oscar for Best Actress. She fell in her gorgeous Dior Couture gown but handled the situation so lovely: “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell and that’s really embarrassing but thank you,” she stated when she finally made it to the podium.

How witty and funny she is, can you see in this little video when she is asked about her unfortunate stumbling:

A fall that makes us fall in love with her even more.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Getty Images, EPA/PAUL BUCK