Sandra‘s Closet

It was an amazing trip to the 2014 edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, as Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda served up with perfect conditions to experience days filled with sun, sports, fun and beautiful boats. First launched in 2008, this is the regatta that opens the Mediterranean superyacht calendar. Being on sea and watching the breathtaking fleet of sailing yachts crossing the emerald waters of Porto Cervo, I have immediately become a huge fan of this sport and the Loro Piana brand. Combining fashion, lifestyle and sailing, the core value they share is the search for technical perfection in harmony with nature.

Like every year, the race provides a great opportunity for Loro Piana to test the new line of clothing especially designed for this competitive sport. The Italian brand stands for uncompromised quality and is extremely strong with 6 generations of know-how in the high-end fabrics production, a field in which it continues to be market leader. With textures ranging from linens, cottons to cashmere, vicuña and wools, it offers everything for the distinguished costumer. In December 2013, the Loro Piana family sold a majority stake (80 percent) of their family business to the LVMH Group for over 2 billion euros.

The beautiful Costa Smeralda from above

My Song is Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s 25-metre yacht that also participated in the race and won on the final day. Below are some impressions of what I was able to watch and experience during the last days. I hope that I can transport you the beauty of this sport.

Saturday evening, the prize giving ceremony took place followed by a private dinner party hosted by Loro Piana. I ran into many friends from all over the world.

My friends from Zurich, Marco Vögele and Franziska Rickenbach (here with Pier Luigi Loro Piana in the middle), owners of the most flamboyant yacht that participated in the race, Inouï, also won a prize. I love the eye-catching green color of their sailing boat mixed with the pink cushions and the elegant interior design.

Thanks to Loro Piana, I have beome totally hooked to sailing and cannot wait to be back to experience another regatta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Loro Piana and © Sandra Bauknecht

Of all the special joys in life, the big ones and the small,
a mother’s love and tenderness is the greatest of them all.

Happy Mother’s Day 2014 to all the caring and courageous mums out there! While appreciation for any parent should be every day of the year, I still love to extra appreciate my mom on this special occasion. Dear Mama, I feel blessed to have you in my life, a true inspiration, my best friend, you’re my mother, I would have no other! I love you!

Touch your mum’s heart with a sentimental poem or gift her with a little surprise (If you have forgotten about Mother’s Day, get her a little gift online and hand her a voucher). Your mother will surely appreciate the heartfelt emotions and treasure them forever.

From left to right:
Heart-intarsia cashmere sweater by Chinti and Parker
Heart-print cotton-voile shirt by Chinti and Parker
Heart-print cutout-back bandeau swimsuit by Stella McCartney
Rose, geranium and jasmine pebble soap set by Bamford

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: net-à-porter

Today, I would like to introduce you to my friend Anna who had a fantastic business idea. Catering to all animal lovers, she opens today her first shop in Stuttgart dedicated to our furry friends: LIEBESTIER (Unter dem Birkenkopf 13-15, 70197 Stuttgart, Germany).

Anna Frahm of LIEBESTIER

Similar to Pet Kingdom at Harrods, the store offers everything a canine or feline heart wishes for, but in much more contemporary way, not completely aloof.

Anna showcases the very best pet products in her cute little store reminiscent of a kennel, from dog beds, toys, bowls to the most exclusive and healthy delicacies for cats and dogs. With a permanent gourmet food frontage within the shop, she even sells the finest truffles for dogs.

Speaking of fashion, you can match the collar of your dog to your new leather bracelet. How cool is that? I couldn’t resist and filled my Dorset leather tote by Mulberry with the cutest treats for my parent’s dog.

In the future, Anna is planning to open more stores in other cities. So let’s hope, she will also come to Switzerland one day!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Liebestier and © Sandra Bauknecht

“Your best look and a great photograph can be life changing…”, this is Adriana Tripa‘s mission. Based in Zurich, she pursues her passion to make people look more beautiful. Her photo studio LOOX that she founded in 2007 is the place to go if you would like to have a fun photo shoot with great pictures to take home. The charming blonde does your make-up and explains you which facial features you should emphasize. Afterwards, she photographs you in different ways. My photos below are not photoshopped! Adriana does it all with make-up and light.

If you are looking for a self-esteem boost, visit Adriana who will capture your best image!

LOOX Photo Studio by Adriana Tripa – Rämistrasse, 8001 Zürich/Switzerland
Phone: +41 79 354 3053 – E-mail:

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Adriana Tripa

Today, I would like to wish you with all my heart a wonderful Christmas Eve. Despite all different traditions, some of you might not be celebrating this Christian celebration, others might unwrap their gifts tomorrow, some of us, like me, tonight. Nevertheless, what we all have in common is love and this is what I am wishing you, a night surrounded by the ones you love.

As I adore the magic of this time of the year, I attached some photos of different designer installations to get you in the right mood. Enjoy!

London’s famous hotel Claridge’s annual Christmas tree has been designed by long time guests and friends, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
(Do you remember the trees in 2009 and 2010 by John Galliano?!)

This amazing installation depicts iconic elements from a traditional Christmas tree reinterpreted with Sicilian elements that draw on the Italian heritage of the designers: hand-crafted Sicilian puppets known as ‘pupi’, hand-painted Italian festive glass baubles and a bespoke multi-coloured ‘luminarie’ framework created in southern Italy.

This Christmas in London, on the streets of Old Bond Street and Sloane Square, Tiffany & Co. has been going back in time with horse-drawn carriages, loaded with small blue Tiffany boxes, which reiterates its message that “The Perfect Christmas Comes Wrapped in Blue.”

And of course, this message is spread around the world with the house’s global shopping window displays.

In Paris, Prada gave French department store Printemps holiday windows with a high-fashion touch. The display, entitled “A Joyful Obsession,” is a colorful creation that is classically Christmas with visual elements inspired by the Italian brand. As part of the collaboration, Prada designed an exclusive collection with apparel, handbags, accessories and footwear.

Here comes my favorite tree installation that can be found in front of the Palace of Arts in Budapest. Made out of 365 wooden sleighs, the 11-meter-tall tree is a sustainable design endeavor which channels the true spirit of Christmas.

After the end of the holiday season, it will be dismantled and the sleighs will be donated to kids living in the SOS Children’s Village homes in Hungary.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, Claridge’s, Inhabitant

My dear colleague Thorleif Griess-Nega, Editor for German InStyle MEN, had a fun idea and launched his own sparkling wine brand recently. The intention to create Chímpanskí was to design a drink for people who have enough of show-off drinks from France but don’t want to compromise in terms of quality and style. Find out more and enjoy the interview he gave me.

Thorleif Griess-Nega

Since when exists Chímpanskí?

I founded Chímpanskí in 2013 after more than one year of research for the right wine cellar. This sparkling wine now comes from Lower Austria and is a mixture of Grüner-Veltliner and Welschriesling. It also took quite a long time to finish the label for the bottle since I had a very definite idea of it’s visual appearance in my mind. After all I´m very happy about the result!

Why did you do it?

The idea was to create a sparkling wine with an image that people can identify with who take themselves not too serious. I worked in German Nightlife business for a long time before, owned and worked for clubs in Hamburg, Bonn and Munich. And I always loved to travel a lot, met colleagues at their bars and clubs all over the world. Throughout all these years I saw a lot. But one thing always seemed to stay the same: Countless people who were buying expensive sparkling wines from France. Somehow I never got used to it but recognized more and more how much that showing-off bothered me.

Isn’t a bit of showing-off quite appropriate for nightlife?

It is but has to come from your inside not from the cost for your drink. I don’t like that thought and people behaving like that! Why should one drink expensive stuff just to separate from others who don’t? When I am out partying I don’t measure my fun at the price of a drink. A drink must stand for simplicity, fun, character. Beside the history and quality of a product I believe in the idea behind as its true value. So I decided to create a drink of good quality and a cool image!

Where comes the name Chímpanskí from?

My friends and me used to call ourselves: „chimpanzees“. I think it was because these animals are so sympathic, funny and free (at least they are intended to be)!  Thats why I invented the label Chímpanskí and the slogan: „Support your inner monkey“. I think nightlife shall be all fun, relaxation and letting yourself go!

You say „at least they are intended to be“. What do you mean by that?

I hate reading about how much humanity and economy harm chimpanzees and their haunt. Many of these animals are treated badly for so-called human interests. So I started a little cooporation with the „Pro Wildlife Foundation“ and first linked the Chímpanskí website to theirs to share some publicity and awareness. Beside that I have my own sponsoring via PWF for chimpanzees.

Drink for less, we love! To order, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Chímpanskí

Hermès has unveiled two ultra-lightweight carbon fiber bicycles, a unisex leisure version and a sporty city one. Le Flâneur d’Hermès (available in charcoal, red and white) and le Flâneur sportif d’Hermès (available in charcoal and white) combine elegant lines with cutting-edge technology and the expertise one would expect of a master saddler.

The new bicycles feature bull calf leather on the saddles, handlebar grips, and carry handles and will be sold in Hermès stores worldwide from November 2013.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hermès

Yesterday evening, I was invited by IWC Schaffhausen to celebrate at Zurich’s Dolder Grand Hotel the legend of the famous Silver Arrow. The slogan “IWC. Engineered for Men.” got a whole new meaning when I entered the room as I was one of the only women there. But as I love cars, watches and speed, I felt very much at ease.

The star attraction of the event was a vehicle that has gone down in the annals of motorsport and laid the foundations for that legend: the Mercedes-Benz W 25. It set up the course record in 1934 and came in for a pit stop in Zurich on its journey back to the course in central Switzerland this upcoming weekend at the 11th International Klausen Hill Climb 2013.

The W 25 on display with the characteristic silver aluminium bodywork that earned this vehicle and its successors the nickname “Silver Arrow” is the last roadworthy model in the series and at the same time the jewel in the crown of the Mercedes-Benz Classic collection.

Having fun with my colleagues, Dörte Welti and Jeroen van Rooijen.

Black-and white photographs and film footage transported us back to the world of the 1920s and 1930s – the era of the original Klausen Hill Climb races.

In the foyer, we had the opportunity to peek over the shoulder of a watchmaker at work. All very fitting, because the designer engineers at IWC Schaffhausen took some of their inspiration from the W 25, and, as part of the relaunch of the Ingenieur watch collection in 2013.

The best was yet to come, I won the main prize that was presented to me by Linus Fuchs, IWC Managing Director Switzerland. See you this weekend at the Klausen Hill Climb!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of IWC and © Sandra Bauknecht

As promised in my previous post last week, here are all the details concerning the amazing collaboration between Dom Pérignon and Jeff Koons, which was launched during New York Fashion Week.

Personally speaking, I am crazy for this project as it involves three things I adore: champagne, the colour pink and one of my favourite artists! The limited edition ‘Balloon Venus’ is based on Jeff Koons’ work that was inspired by the Venus of Willendorf, a tiny paleolithic figurine discovered in Austria and dated to around 23 000 BC.

The Balloon Venus is part of Jeff Koons’ Antiquity series that begun in 2008, playfully exploring motifs from the History of Art with his trademark creative verve. The artist adapted the Balloon Venus sculpture for Dom Pérignon, by transforming the original statue in a smaller version which when opened, reveals a bottle of Rosé Vintage 2003. 650 will be produced, of which 20 will be sold in Switzerland for CHF 18’500.00 each.

Jeff Koons also designed better priced limited-edition gift boxes for the Dom Pérignon Rosé 2003 (CHF 449.00) and the Dom Pérignon Brut 2004 (CHF 199.00), available exclusively at Globus in Switzerland.

The launch event in NYC was held at the Stephan Weiss Studio in Greenwich Village. The berry-coloured ambiance was truly amazing, with different installations to explore the ‘Balloon Venus’ by Jeff Koons.

Born in 1955, Jeff Koons is one of the most recognised and solicited of all contemporary artists. He currently resides and works in the city of New York. Earning worldwide acclaim with his large-scale sculptures he has received numerous awards and honours in recognition of his cultural achievements. For him, “the real power behind art is to put us in contact with feelings”.

Throwing a bottle of Dom Pérignon with his wife.

Today, Dom Pierre Pérignon’s visionary mind and exceptional boldness to declare, at the end of the 17th century, to make “the best wine in the world” is in the hands of Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy who creates each vintage of Dom Pérignon with pure excellence.

Champagne is my guilty pleasure and when it comes in a package like the ‘Balloon Venus’, I feel like a kid in the candy store, being on cloud nine!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dom Pérignon, all event photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

In Frankfurt am Main in Germany, the 65th International Motor Show IAA has opened its doors and a fashionable collaboration on wheels between two companies that are linked by history, tradition and exclusiveness has been unveiled:
The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna.

Featuring an unique new look in colour scheme, materials and finish, the car, presented as a limited edition concept, is intended for development into a production version in 2014 and will maintain the same personality and quality of the current Quattroporte range.

The exterior comes with a special effect paint finish that simulates the fluidity and purity of metal, by using ultra-fine aluminium pigments. A gloss black primer amplifies the brilliance of the aluminium pigments and creates a sensation of depth. The platinum metal colour effect finish is warmly nuanced to express the car’s classic and sophisticated yet technically advanced character. The material and chromatic research behind the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is based on a play between the classical and the contemporary.

A leading role is played by its interior. Classical warm hues like mocha and greige are re-interpreted in a modern key to emulate Zegna’s latest men’s S/S 2014 fashion collection, conveying a formal, sophisticated character.

Interior components such as seats, door panels and roof lining are finished in genuine soft leather, in addition to a velvet-smooth, bright fabric that, due to Zegna’s vast experience and know-how, guarantees the level of performance needed for automotive applications.

I am loving it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Ermenegildo Zegna and Maserati