Sandra‘s Closet

LOUIS VUITTON‘S CITY GUIDES COLLECTION IS EXPANDING WITH 4 NEW CITIES TO DISCOVER AND THE LAUNCH OF A MOBILE APP

Since 1998, Louis Vuitton has been sharing its unique take on the world through its City Guides, offering a careful selection of addresses chosen with originality and just a touch of bias. November 2015 sees four completely new cities added to the collection: Bangkok, Chicago, Prague and Rome. Fully updated, the Paris volume is packed with new addresses, as are London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Beijing, Saö Paulo, Sydney, Tokyo and Venice.

This year, for the first time, a mobile App will be available (as of November 2015) to complement the collection of City Guides. Easy to use, in one click you’ll be as well- informed as any local! Special guest contributors, secret addresses, city walks, cultural events: it’s the full City Guide perspective. Fluent, intuitive… Your route to the best possible travel experience.

25 cities available for iPhone and iPad, selected contents free to download, €9.99 (US$9.99) per city from the App Store.

Great news: the Paris City Guide will be downloadable for free on the App Store from November 5th until December 31st, 2015.

A NEW ACCESSORY FOR THE ELEGANT TRAVELLER

To complement the new Louis Vuitton City Guide App, the French Maison has produced a small leather case with the Monogram pattern, designed to protect your iPad and iPhone.
Available for “iPhone 6” and “iPhone 6 Plus“, the new cases come in four extra colors inspired by the city collection: blue for Paris, yellow for Rome, red for Beijing and pink for Tokyo.
An essential fashion accessory, not only elegant but also the perfect way to personalize your iPhone when you are travelling.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton Malletier

Alexa Chung has announced her first venture into tech by launching social style app ‘VILLOID’, inspired by the computerized wardrobe in the 90s movie Clueless.

VILLOID is a new social style app set to revolutionize the way you get dressed in the morning. Similar to Instagram but specifically for fashion and with a buy button, it’s a virtual dressing room on the user’s phone.

“I suppose that scene in Clueless where the computer puts an outfit together from Cher’s wardrobe really stayed with me.“ says Alexa Chung. “Clothes are fun, making mistakes is fun, being inspired is fun. VILLOID celebrates the process of getting dressed and showing your friends.”

VILLOID offers users a platform where they can share their style by uploading products and photographs onto a mood board, follow friends and fellow style mavericks, love boards and individual items. For anything they can’t live without – there is the option to click the handy buy button and purchase the item. Consider this the paper dolls for the modern age.

It’s the British style guru’s first delve into the world of technology, an area she didn’t know a vast amount about when she teamed up with tech entrepreneur Jeanette Dyhre Kvisvik and her team who had been working with a similar idea.

“Alexa and I immediately bonded, merging our ideas and utilizing her style genius, we have managed to make the best dressed app on the market.” says Dyhre Kvisvik.

“I wanted to get to learn something about a field I knew nothing about and I felt I could offer the tech field something I knew a lot about….clothes. Most decisions I make when it comes to new projects are based on whether it could further my education. The tech world was something I was incredibly curious about. Silicone Valley sounds like a bouncy castle I want to play on.” says Alexa.

Think of window shopping as a social game, only this this time it exists in the palm of your hand. VILLOID offers an opportunity to view a curated feed of style choices chosen by you, the user. Take yourself on a journey into the VILLOID world, discover people, endless brands and ways of pairing items together that until now, only ever existed in your mind.

Early adopters of VILLOID include model and singer Pixie Geldof who has already crowned VILLOID as “the most addictive app in life.” The app is now available in App store globally. The Android version is in planning, set to launch late 2015/early 2016.

Needless to say that when I read about this new app this morning, I had to sign up immediately to know what they are talking about. I have to admit that it seems quite fun but I am not sure if I will get completely into it…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Alexa Chung, Villoid and © Sandra Bauknecht
Instagram: @Villoid

Great news and another reason why I had been so busy during the last weeks. Last Saturday, «Spotlight», the new lifestyle magazine on TeleZüri, presented its first show from “Zermatt Unplugged“ in Valais, the well-known music festival, with top artists, like James Blunt and Patricia Kaas. The focus of the new format is to cover the most important events and personalities from the fields of food, travel, beauty, fashion, kids and business, a well as impressive success stories and shopping, cultural and party tips.

Together with Zoe Torinesi and Dilan Anja Gropengiesser, I am one of the presenters and will take you with me on the most dazzling journeys around the globe, featuring the best stories about fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Tonight at 7.45 pm (CEST) you can see me for the first time in action (two hourly repeat). In my first show, you will get to know some of my favorite spots in the fashion capital of Paris and explore the newest fashion trends for S/S 2015. Here are some behind the scene photos for you to get an idea of what to expect…

The programs extensive background information and selected highlights such as live concert broadcasts are also available online at Spotlight.vison.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Johannes Diboky and © Sandra Bauknecht and via Schweizer Illustrierte

Last week, I flew to Abu Dhabi to greet the winner of the amazing contest with Etihad Airways, L’Officiel Switzerland and Sandra’s Closet. Nadya Toncheva from Hamburg won a shopping spree at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island and we truly had a great time.

Abu Dhabi’s premier lifestyle destination offers a world-class shopping experience while absorbing panoramic views of the city’s skyline. Enjoy some impressions of our shopping spree in the Middle East below.

Having fun at Dior

Nadya looking all fabulous in this Ralph Lauren look.

A happy Sandra in shopping heaven who just adores her job!

A must-have for a well equipped closet: a cotton-gabardine trench coat by Burberry London. Nadya fell immediately in love with it!

While shopping at Burberry, I spotted myself on the big screen front row at the S/S 2015 runway show in London.

We browsed almost every store in The Galleria and put many things aside. Then we had a drink and decided which pieces would be the best. Needless to say we had to get the fabulous cotton-gabardine trench coat by Burberry London first.

Nadya was looking for great pieces she could wear during the day for work that would translate easily into evening wear. This tunic blouse by Tory Burch offered both in perfection.

Mission accomplished!

Filming a little behind the scenes video for The Galleria with lovely Maria Bosenko.

Thank you Journey Feng and Maria Bosenko of the hospitality team at The Galleria for accompanying us and taking all the pictures. We had a lot of fun with you, guys!

Our lovely day ended with a yummy dinner at Cipriani and another round of drinks at Iris. Nadya, it was lovely meeting you!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht – thank you Maria Bosenko for taking them!

On Monday morning, I boarded Etihad Airways flight EY47 to Abu Dhabi. When I left, I enjoyed a spectacular view over Zurich. The time flew, due to strong winds, we arrived one hour ahead of time. The service on board was great and I can absolutely recommend this luxurious airline.

As my avid readers know, the reason why I am here is the amazing contest that all of you were able to enter in the beginning of February (for the previous post click here please).

I would like to thank everyone who participated. It was really tough for the Etihad team to choose the winner.

Here she is, congrats to Nadya Toncheva from Hamburg, who posted this beautiful entry. I am looking forward to meeting you today and to taking you for a serious shopping spree!

We are staying at the Yas Viceroy hotel that I can absolutely recommend. The rooms are big, the interior of the hotel is stylish and its seven restaurants offer everything a gourmet’s heart would ask for.

Yesterday, I met my friend Catherine Sarr who lives between London and Abu Dhabi. She has just launched her jewelry collection Almasika Fine Jewellery (the golden bangles at my wrist) that can be found already at Colette and soon in Zurich at Meister.

Catherine took me to the Saddiyat Beach Club, a great place to chill when you are in the area.

I am wishing you a lovely day! I am off shopping at the Galleria at Mariyah Island in Abu Dhabi… Nadya, get ready to get a new closet with Sandra’s Closet! It will also be featured in L’Officiel Switzerland.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Etihad Airways, Nadya Toncheva

When I go to bed, I really enjoy being relaxed, especially after a tough day at work or some intense traveling. Sometimes my mind just drifts away and my head is filled with thoughts or things I need to do. Then, I love to use some of the L’Occitane Aromacholgie products that truly work their magic when it comes to relaxation. It’s like having a spa treatment at home.

Relaxing Pillow Mist
Made with essential oils, this mist can be sprayed in your bedroom or on your pillow to create a calming atmosphere that promotes relaxation and well-being. 100% natural scent with proven soothing effectiveness.
CHF 25.00 (100ml)

Relaxing Massage Body Oil
This rich massage oil helps to relax the senses and ease away tensions. Made with sweet almond oil from Provence, it leaves skin supple and satiny.
CHF 36.00 (100ml)

Relaxing Perfumed Sachets
Filled with dried lavender and beads scented with essential oils, these sachets release a relaxing fragrance, making them ideal for bedtime.
CHF 20.00 (2 x 25g)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of L’Occitane

Recently, I received a bouquet of flowers that took my breath away. The packaging, a turquoise box was just perfect, to store the hand-tied blooming roses that were full of scent. Delivered to my door step, the surprise was perfect. It is impressive how the impact of flowers on our life is just magical. PANAMY is a Swiss online shop that offers this exclusive service.

The mastermind behind this idea is 32 year-old Martin Schgaguler who never expected to work as a florist but a passion for great floral design and a frustration with the lack of innovation and design skills when he bought flowers for his girlfriend, led him to build PANAMY.

TO VISIT THE PANAMY HOMEPAGE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Panamy.ch and Susanne Brand

Combining performance with diamond dazzle, de GRISOGONO celebrates the winter season with a unique opportunity to hit the slopes in style with these exclusive skis produced by the Rossignol Racing Department. For all who love the thrill of high speed and the most luxurious things in the world, the Geneva-based luxury brand offers this limited- edition of 50 pieces only sold in de GRISOGONO boutiques.

Entirely hand-crafted by Rossignols’ specialized workers in the Moirans competition workshop in Isère, France, the skis’ construction is directly derived from the competition skis used by Rossignol champions. The only difference from the World Cup edition ones is a lighter construction in order to facilitate its use, while nonetheless maintaining exceptional steering, unparalleled precision and enormous grip.

de GRISOGONO Winter Boutiques (Switzerland)
Courchevel
Palace Hotel in Gstaad
Badrutt’s Palace in St Moritz

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of de Grisogono

Notecards by Lanvin

My dear readers, Happy Holidays, everyone! May all the sweet magic of Christmas conspire to gladden your heart and fill every desire. As you relish the goodies, decorate every nook and corner of your home and enjoy the get-togethers… may the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.

LoL, Sandra

Boost your autumn weekend with a last-minute treat from this edit. After four weeks of fashion craziness, I finally slept in in my beloved satin-crepe pajama set by Donna Karan Sleepwear. Today, I will enjoy to the fullest in this cozy bleached out slub jersey jumpsuit by Eberjey.

While the amazing smell of a scented candle by Fornasetti starts already filling my living room, I snuggle on the couch with this hardcover book ‘The World According to Karl‘ published by Thames & Hudson and listen to the 53 Sound by Visionaire. Later I will treat myself with my beloved jasmine and lily healing mask by Chantecaille and prepare some posts for next week. Pure heaven! And no photos today….

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands