Gucci Valigeria

Origins, travel, experience. And the certainty that a suitcase is not just a container. From the culture of travel that forms the history of the brand comes the new Gucci Valigeria campaign, featuring actor, screenwriter, director, and musician Ryan Gosling.

Creative Director Alessandro Michele, through the lens of photographer Glen Luchford, upends a typical sense of narrative and sets the campaign in a dreamlike dimension that goes beyond the boundaries that separate it from reality to recount a present built on the possibilities of the imagination and of an encounter.

The Gucci Savoy collection is the narrative result of a story that takes flight from the typical splendors of travel to confer the value of memory to the origins of a brand that was created from an intuition and from the observation of potentialities, precisely thanks to travel, developing discoveries of worlds and of diverse cultural manners.

«Travel for Gucci was never purely physical. Gucci is the brand that accompanied the artists, writers, actors, and directors of Hollywood on their journeys… This is why I wanted the advertising campaign to recount a situationist dimension where the protagonist traverses a “non-place” that is first and foremost a mental place, the same as those who, in the past and present, choose Gucci because they grasp the significance of creativity used to build imaginary places. And it is for this reason that a Gucci suitcase appears as a magical suitcase,» says Creative Director Alessandro Michele.

It is precisely in travel that the heritage of Gucci finds its origins. Founded in Florence in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, who more than twenty years prior when he was just 17, emigrates to Paris and then to London. The young Florentine works first as a porter at The Savoy in London, the go-to destination for international travelers. The very young Guccio Gucci comes into contact with the magic of travel that, at the time, was synonymous with discovery, discussion, study, and a bridge between diverse cultures. It was a time in which traveling signified experience, displacing the certainties of one’s social environment, a pursuit of the unexpected, of a will to encounter and to know. The return to Florence can’t but remember that observed and studied reality, assimilated and ready to be transferred into the practice of work. Guccio Gucci will do it with his first suitcases, trunks, bags, hat boxes. All the containers required to bring with oneself, on a journey, those necessities to represent oneself and one’s culture in an unknown and often foreign place.

In a narrative inversion that fills a stretch of space-time, the same containers appear as protagonists in the campaign, which presents the Gucci Savoy collection
including trolleys, hard and soft suitcases, duffle bags, trunks, hat boxes, and beauty cases. Objects that encapsulate experiences and desires that, in the images and video of the campaign, fill the bed of a polished pick-up truck in which the new collection lives side by side with historical pieces and that, in this plausible story of possibilities, are also repositories of dreams.

And it is this reality-adjacent dream that Ryan Gosling is living. At the end of a journey studded with arrivals and departures, he is introduced to surprising places through a trunk that becomes a gateway to fantastical worlds, which will turn out to be more real than any imagination could conceive. Because it leads to that reality of discovery that has always had the ability to build unexpected worlds.

The Gucci Savoy collection, which is part of the House’s wider Gucci Valigeria travel selection, is distinguished by a combination of heritage-infused design elements including the GG monogram and/or the Web stripe, offered in both soft and hard-sided iterations. The collection comprises items for every travel need, designed to be used now and for many years to come as classic and contemporary elements come together within a timeless aesthetic.

I will be going to Florence with Gucci in the beginning of October and cannot wait to explore everything where it all had started…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci #GucciValigeria
Creative Director: Alessandro Michele – Art Director: Christopher Simmonds – Photographer & Director: Glen Luchford – Make up: Thomas De Kluyver – Hair: Paul Hanlon / DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Ticket to Paradise

The Ocean’s Eleven alums, Julia Roberts and George Clooney, are reunited and are embarking on a new cinematic adventure together. In a 2000s-style rom-com called «Ticket to Paradise», the two of Hollywood sweethearts are playing a divorced couple at odds. The movie is directed by Oliver Parker, who is known for previously writing and directing «Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again».

The film follows Wren Butler, a recent University of Chicago graduate who accompanies her best friend Lily to a post-graduation jaunt to Bali. Lily’s abrupt decision to marry a Balinese local triggers her parents, played by Julia Roberts and George Clooney, to try and stop her from repeating the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago. And to do that, the couple must work together and hatch a plan to disrupt the wedding and probably get it canceled, except, things don’t go as they planned. «Ticket to Paradise» is not one story, but several stories overlapping each other. Wren stays in Bali for the engagement/wedding festivities and, in the process, finds her also own love with a local doctor. To watch the trailer, click here please.

I will be attending the Swiss premiere on Tuesday evening and received a wonderful surprise kit. Follow my Instastories to hear all about it. I am really excited about this movie. The cast is great and the plot sounds so much fun. The film will show in Swiss cinemas starting from September 15, 2022.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Universal
This post is sponsored.  @universalpicturesCH #TicketToParadise #UniversalPicturesCH

Barely There But Everywhere

«Barely there» creations are having a huge moment with celebrities flaunting those daring looks with great pleasure. French fashion brand Mugler features some great styles with one eye-popping dress that is in my opinion a must (at least I couldn’t resist). The statement look comes with a cleavage-framing, spliced halterneck and shoulder straps, a baring front, exposed back, and contouring low-slung ruched tulle mesh skirt.

It is available in different colors. However turquoise and pink are limited editions, only available at Mytheresa.

Late fashion designer (Manfred) Thierry Mugler first debuted this kind of look on the spring couture runway in the heady pre-Insta days of 1998. With the Y2K revival still being a major fashion trend, it seems obvious, that designer Casey Cadwallader, working for a revived house of Mugler, has made these ultra-revealing cutout creations a brand signature over the past seasons. The brand describes them as «trompe l’oeil fabrications that accentuate anatomical curves and erogenous zones with unprecedented ease». Inspired by Mugler’s couture pieces of the ’90s, the label’s dresses have proven particularly popular with celebrities like Megan Fox, Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, and Irina Shayk among many others.

It is barely there — but everywhere. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. As Mugler himself said in the 1994 fashion satire film Prêt-à-Porter: «It’s all about looking good, helping the silhouette. And it’s all about getting a great f**k, honey.»

Stay tuned for the detailed outfit post coming up shortly.

LoL, Sandra

Photos of me: @mykonos_alexandr / © Sandra Bauknecht, Others: Courtesy of Mugler
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Visiting Mykonos Town

Mykonos is known for its dry, windy climate, sandy beaches and world famous nightlife! While being on the island, you should definitely visit Chora, also called «Mykonos Town.» Located in the middle of the western shore, the walkable town is home to some of the island’s best attractions, including the former fishing village of Little Venice, iconic whitewashed windmills, the archaeological museum, and the Church of Panagia Paraportiani. The neighborhood is best explored on foot; considering the small streets and slippery stone-paved alleys, I recommend flats or wedges.

From our hotel, the Santa Marina, the driver took us to the Belvedere Hotel, from there, we walked down the hill to the marble quays of the Old Harbour, where we started our exploration tour. The sunset started and the scenery was breathtaking. On the east side are the arcades of the Town Hall dating to the 1700s, in front of which is the tiny church of Agios Nikolaos, crowned with a blue dome.

There’s a string of bars and restaurants hugging the curve of the harbour, among them Jackie O’ – a must-visit bar. It is located just below Paraportiani church and is an ideal location for sunset cocktails and dancing all night long. Drag shows also take place, adding a spicy and fun note.

Leave your phone in your hand as around every corner, you will find another instagrammable spot. The most unique area in Mykonos Town is known as Little Venice. Small picturesque waterfront Cycladic houses with colorful, wooden balconies are kissed by the waves of Aegean, creating a photogenic seascape with a romantic atmosphere. Some of the restaurants and bars including Negrita have ideal locations in front of the sea which makes them the perfect spots to enjoy the sunset with a glass of champagne or a fancy cocktail. From this area you also get a great view of one of the most iconic spots of Mykonos, the famous windmills. They are considered the signature landmark of the island and are a truly wonderful sight.

After our sunset drinks in Little Venice, we went for a stroll through the heart of town, which is known by locals and tourists to be Matoyianni Street, the main street of a complex of pebbled streets in Chora. It is dominated by designer stores (you will find all big names here, from Hublot, Dior to Off-White and all sorts of concept stores), souvenir shops, and handmade jewelry designers.

During the summer months, most of Matoyianni’s shops and markets are open until 2 am, and you’ll never be short of things to do throughout the evening hours. If you investigate the side streets you’ll come across so many amazing little shops, shoulder to shoulder with quaint little churches like Agia Eleni and Agios Kirykos.

Dinner we had booked at La Maison de Katrin Restaurant, which instantly has become one of my favorite spots in Mykonos! The intense color of the bougainvillea above it is really mesmerizing and makes it a wonderful photo opportunity (best in the morning, when the restaurant is closed). Since 1971 until today, Katrin marries traditional Greek recipes with French gourmet cooking, warm hospitality with elegant surroundings. The moussaka is absolutely divine!

I ran into German-Greek singer Vicky Leandros that night, who is very famous in my home country Germany.

After dinner, we went for drinks to another fun place in the city, Interni Restaurant & Bar. Set in a secret garden in Matoyiannia, it is the synonym of the modern night culture à la Mykonos. A fun place where you can dance and enjoy great music outdoors.

Mykonos Town or Chora is definitely the heart of this majestic island – and with its fairytale environment not to be missed!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Balenciaga’s Cult Sunglasses

Fashionistas watch out! Balenciaga’s futuristic range of sunglasses is hot as hell and probably Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Chiara Ferragni‘s favorite styles this season. Creative director Demna Gvasalia‘s collections continue to uphold the vision, influence and radical style of the House and even the eyewear makes a serious statement.

Elevate you summer look with the BB0157S sunglasses preferably in silver (they are also available in black). Featuring an oversized acetate frame with a tinted finish to the lenses and the classic Balenciaga logo at the side, they might not be suitable for all face shapes, but who cares?!

Balenciaga makes some dope sunglasses, and if Kim Kardashian knows it, we can rock it too!
TO SHOP BALENCIAGA’S CULT SUNGLASSES, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and via Instagram @kimkardashian, @chiaraferragni, @balenciaga
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A Feel Fucking Fantastic Morning

Right now I am enjoying my holidays in Saint Tropez to the fullest. After a very long night at Les Caves du Roy, and only 3 hours of sleep, I pulled myself together and joined my dear Barbara Sturm and Ayda Field Williams at Dr. Sturm’s new St. Tropez Spa, located at 6 Traverse de la Gendarmerie, for an anti-inflammatory morning with cold pressed juices and mini express facials.

Inside the new Dr. Barbara Sturm spa in St. Tropez

On display was also the absolutely amazing new luxury activewear line AYDA launched by Robbie Williams‘s wife Ayda, who is as sweet as she looks. Designed with the most buttery fabrics, high-performance details, and athlete-tested functionality, those pieces will help you reach peak joy. Her motto is «Fucking Fantastic», life is too short for camel toes and visible panty lines! For sweats that make you feel sloppy or sports bras that feel like jail. Say bye bye to muffin tops and hello to odor-eating, sweat-wicking, equal pay promoting, always-has-your-back performance gear that never lets you down… and always holds the girls up!

Ayda is luxury activewear dedicated to bringing JOY into the everyday motions of life.

The idea for AYDA has bounced around founder Ayda Field Williams’s brain for years. After being stuck at home and in athleisure 24/7 during quarantine made her realize that she could work with a team to improve on what was out there. The voice that said «Yes!! You can!!» finally grew louder than the voice that said «No, you can’t.»

Team Ayda set out to create clothes that could seriously perform but didn’t sacrifice on the playfulness. Bright, bold colors. Inventive details. Undeniable comfort. Clothes that brought joy. Clothes that make you wanna skip. Clothes that feel like rainbow sprinkles!!

Having fun with Ayda Field Williams and Barbara Sturm.

There’s so much to love about every piece in the collection. Everything from the power mesh panels that elevate while providing support and stretch, to the adjustable velcro straps that are both comfortable and forgiving for those days when you need a little more. Team Ayda scoured the universe for Goldilocks of fabrics: soft, sculpting, with great recovery to last and last. You will surely love the collection as much as I do!

It was a fucking fantastic morning with many amazing women… thank you, Barbara and Ayda for having me!

LoL, Sandra

With amazing Kinga Lampert, who is the co-Chair @bcrfcure the highest rated breast cancer organization in the US and largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide.

Swimwear designer Melissa Odabash also enjoyed the morning.

Presenter and model Sylvie Meis 

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © ShopAyda
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Versace F/W 2022 Campaign with Lily James

«When Lily got in front of the camera she transformed! Wearing the collection unlocked her own personal attitude and she took on a new energy and power. That’s exactly how you should feel when wearing Versace!» – Donatella Versace

The Versace F/W 2022 campaign sees Lily James with the new Greca Goddess bag; the actress interpreting a Versace goddess in images from well-renowned photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

As in her films, where she has played roles from headstrong princesses to sex-symbols, Lily James’s impulsive and daring attitude is the epitome of Versace confidence. Lily is seen as equal parts mythological deity and contemporary rebel as she wears new season latex ready-to-wear in a campaign that clashes classical culture with empowered seduction.

Versace Men’s proposal of a modern opulence is visually clear, with the ornate flourishes of the classical surrounding contrasted with the collection’s contemporary content.

The Greca Goddess line of bags is introduced for F/W 2022. Very Versace contrasts within the campaign imagery fully reflect the new bag and its juxtaposition of rich craft and elegance with a totally contemporary and new energy. The new bag harnesses Versace’s culture of myth and luxury, finished with the brand’s Greca insignia.

I absolutely love Versace’s new collection for F/W 2022 and cannot wait to get my hands on it! The footwear is so divine…

LoL, Sandra


Photos: © Versace – CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Donatella Versace | CAMPAIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Ferdinando Verderi PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott | STARRING: Lily James, Sofiane Belaasri, Yilan Hua, Avanti Nagrath, Reece Nelson, Parker Van Noord, Lulu Wood, | CASTING DIRECTOR: Piergiorgio Del Moro | STYLIST: Jacob K | HAIR STYLIST: Karim Belghiran | MAKEUP ARTIST: Porsche Poon
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Acqua di Parma x forte_forte in Forte dei Marmi

Acqua di Parma and forte_forte partner to showcase the forte_forte loves Acqua di Parma Collection in Forte dei Marmi, at the Bocelli family’s Alpemare Beach Club. An all-Italian love story inspired by the partnership between the Maison representing the most sophisticated Italian style and a fashion house offering dreamlike charm, featuring timeless designs that resonate with emotions.

Set in the charming seaside town of Forte dei Marmi, the historic Alpemare Beach Club has hosted artists, poets, and actors from all over Europe since the last century. Today it is owned by the Bocelli family, which has preserved its legendary charm, turning it into a marvellous oasis filled with timeless elegance.


The joyous atmosphere of the Italian Mediterranean, the protagonist of forte_forte loves Acqua di Parma, is conveyed naturally and spontaneously in this sparkling setting. The graceful fluttering of butterflies and dragonflies that characterises the collection adorns beach towels and soft cushions that decorate the beach tents, treating Alpemare guests to a magical experience.

The enchanting and dreamlike motif created by forte_forte for Acqua di Parma appears again in the scented candles strategically placed in the lounge areas, in the garden and in Alpemare’s restaurant. The bright notes of mirto di Panarea waft all around, resulting in an exhilarating sense of awakening and harmony.

The magnificent view of the Apuan Alps, the scents of the Mediterranean pine forest at one of the most picturesque stretches of beach, together with the contemporary works of art that embellish the areas, make Alpemare a veritable treasure trove of beauty and wellbeing. Here, Andrea Bocelli himself, the world- famous Italian tenor and singer, often performs a concert or indulges in a rare moment of relaxation.

«It gives me great pleasure to work with Acqua di Parma again for the third summer. This year’s forte_forte loves Acqua di Parma Collection immediately won us over with its glowing sensation of lightness, harmony and freedom. The dreamy, bright tones of forte_forte’s motifs, the joyful notes of mirto di Panarea: all perfectly complement the atmosphere of the Alpemare Beach Club, designed by us as a genuine oasis of wellbeing where every detail is taken care of. Together with forte_forte and Acqua di Parma, we have succeeded in enhancing the various areas with aesthetic and sensory features that create a unique experience for our guests», emphasised Veronica Berti Bocelli, wife of Andrea Bocelli.

Energy resonates everywhere while the fragrances of Acqua di Parma’s Home Collection featuring Blu Mediterraneo candles and diffusers waft through the air. The beach cabins, which Alpemare has left in their traditional style, are fitted with the Arancia di Capri amenities from the hotel line of Acqua di Parma in special recycled plastic (RPET) produced in Italy from recycled PET plastic bottles. The comfortable bathrooms are complemented with the Arancia di Capri Hand Soap and Hand Cream ranges.

A fragrant dream for an Italian holiday full of emotions. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Acqua di Parma
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YSL Beauty Celebrates Dua Lipa in Zurich

Before heading to the Dua Lipa show in Zurich as guest of YSL Beauty, I was invited to an intimate cocktail reception by the French Maison on the rooftop of the Kameha Grand Hotel. The dress code said black and gold. Every corner of the terrace offered another fun experience, from photo booth to make-up application, from specially created drinks to a fun claw machine. DJ Rebekah Abdeen warmed up the crowd for the upcoming concert taking place at Hallenstadion.

There is no doubt that Dua Lipa has become a worldwide phenomenon with a million of fans and several collaborations. She is one of the most streamed and celebrated artists in recent memory. Free, powerful and elegant! Three words that suit the British artist well, who had been chosen by Yves Saint Laurent to be the face of the brand’s bestselling fragrance Libre. A scent that evolves around masculine lavender and the feminine sensual, burning notes of orange blossom. It also comes with a good dose of florals and musks.

The concert in Zurich marks a big milestone in Dua’s career as it was her 50th concert.

 Thank you YSL Beauty for having me! Enjoy all my impressions below…

LoL, Sandra

Thank you Dijana Vasiljevic from the L’Oréal Luxe team for the lovely invitation.

DJ Libre 🙂

My plus one was my friend Cat.

With lovely Erica Coimbra from the L’Oréal Luxe team.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht #IamLibre
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Dua Lipa – The Future Nostalgia Tour Outfits

«I’m so thrilled to tour again and see my angels in person! How amazing that we all get to dance and celebrate together once again. When I was writing Future Nostalgia, I imagined the songs being played in clubs on nights out with your mates. I’m so excited that this fantasy is finally coming true. I can’t wait to experience these songs with you together live!» — Dua Lipa on her excitement for the tour.

Finally after having been postponed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, English singer Dua Lipa is touring around the world with her «Future Nostalgia» show. It began on February 9, 2022 in Miami and will conclude on November 16, 2022 of that year in Perth, with several shows throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Oceania.

I loved Dua Lipa’s show in Zurich, especially because Dua Lipa’s «Future Nostalgia Tour» is filled with designer catsuits. You know how much I adore these kind of clothes. I showed up in one by Saint Laurent myself for the concert (outfit post coming up soon).

The mood masterminded by her stylist, Lorenzo Posocco, for the tour is definitely body-con. The singer first captivated fans in Zurich’s Hallenstadion in a daringbright custom neon pink Balenciaga catsuit, which featured a lingerie-inspired corseted bodice, built-in heels (part of the famous pantaleggings look), a textured floral pattern and matching opera gloves.

Of course, one catsuit is never enough, and for her another major look of the show, Dua Lipa and her stylist collaborated with Casey Cadwallader of Mugler on a couture paneled catsuit. The bodysuit features the sheer and opaque body-defining panels Cadwallader has become known for, though this time the entire piece was rhinestoned, meaning even those in the back of the stadium could see Lipa glisten.

Those were my two favorite looks of the show. If you would love to experience Dua Lipa on stage yourself, check out the remaining European tour dates.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and @dualipa
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