Sandra‘s Closet

London has always felt like the perfect backdrop for a little fashion rebellion, so it only made sense to channel my inner eighties icon Madonna, while wandering through the city streets.

This look is my love letter to the quintessential «Material Girl» era: a punk-meets-pop moment where nothing is too much and individuality is everything. Key elements include a dress with net layer, fingerless gloves, a cap and one of my favorite details, the garter belt, worn visibly at the leg. It is a little bold, a little rebellious, and very much in the spirit of eighties styling.

What I love most about this aesthetic is its fearless approach to self-expression. It’s not about dressing neatly, it’s about telling a story, breaking a few rules, and having fun while doing it. Walking through London dressed like this felt powerful, nostalgic, and completely free.

Sometimes fashion is at its best when it doesn’t whisper – it sings.

My look: Double-breasted raw-edge bouclé jacket by Balmain, layered dress in white jersey dress and black logo net (Look 23 – Cruise 2022), tweed cap, 2019 fingerless studded gloves, logo belt, garter thigh micro flap bag, (Look 31 – Cruise 2022), 80’s inspired chain earrings, 21K black nylon and patent leather interlocking CC knee high sock boots (F/W 2021/22 Act II), and 19A all about chains waist bag (2019 Métiers d’Art collection (Paris-Egypt)), all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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The spontaneous plan was a romantic countryside escape, the kind you picture in soft focus. The reality? Saturated fields, silver skies, and a chill that lingered in the air. Atmospheric, yes. Forgiving, absolutely not.

Which is precisely why the look had to deliver. I chose bold, insulating layers with real fashion authority, engineered for shifting temperatures yet unapologetically polished. A waterproof layer disappeared seamlessly into the styling, proving that practicality can – and should – look luxurious. Wellington boots, cut so elegantly they read more riding boot than rubber, grounded the outfit with quiet confidence.

Because true style does not rely on perfect conditions; it creates them. The weather may have challenged the romance, but arriving impeccably dressed restored the magic. Consider this your reminder: book the spontaneous countryside weekend, bring the statement layers, and treat every muddy path like your runway.

My look: Patch fox fur vest (2009) by Miu Miu, brown waxed cotton coat (2008) by Gucci, rib wool-cashmere funnel neck sweater, and black skinny jeans, both by Polo Ralph Lauren, eyelet-embellished wool, silk and cashmere-blend scarf by Chloé, Harlowe wool-felt fedora by Eugenia Kim, mini Pocket tote bag by Burberry, and black rubber Wellington boots by Givenchy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos:© Sandra Bauknecht /  Sinbad Phgura @sinbadphgura
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I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect birthday last Friday. Surrounded by incredible, stylish women in Zürich – some of whom even traveled to celebrate with me – my heart is still so full. From 12:30 PM until 12:30 AM we laughed, talked, celebrated, and created the most beautiful memories at Club zum Rennweg. I feel beyond grateful and honestly so spoiled.

Thank you to everyone who made this day so special. I love birthdays, but even more, I love the people who make them unforgettable.

My look: Hypnotic lace trim mini dress by Zimmermann, small Heritage shoulder bag by Chloé, Rossy 160 patent leather platform sandals by Saint Laurent, floral lace tights in burgundy by Calzedonia, and crystal-embellished clip-on earrings in gold by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Anastasia Diadio @diadio.anastasia
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It’s my birthday. Wrapped in polka dots, I celebrate another year of becoming, lighter in laughter, sharper in vision. Not chasing time, but wearing it well. Elegance isn’t about age, it’s about presence. And today, I’m fully here turning 51.

My look: Bow-embellished ruffled polka-dot silk-crepe mini dress, earrings with pearls, and crystal-embellished fringed-edge necklace, all by Alessandra Rich, puff-sleeve leather jacket in black by Chloé, Brides de Gala Bandana a Pois scarf 70 by Hermès, wallet on chain by CHANEL, fishnet tights with rhinestones by Calzedonia, and studded Tan-Go platform pumps by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Rome is not just the Eternal City. For some of us, it is a place where life folds in on itself, past and present, joy and loss, beauty and farewell. This Valentino look was photographed here, in a city that meant more to Valentino Garavani than mythology or monument. Rome was never a backdrop for him; it was a language he spoke fluently, of restraint, confidence, and quiet power.

Yesterday, as the world said goodbye, this image took on another meaning for me. Rome was also the destination of my last journey with my father. A place where time slowed, where moments became memories without announcing themselves as such. Perhaps that is what true elegance does. It holds space, for love, for legacy, for absence. Valentino understood that. And Rome, as always, remembers.

My look: Polka-dot flocked wool-blend tweed jacket, and matching layered polka-dot wool-blend tweed shorts, VLogo bow shirt in white, and Roman Stud quilted leather shoulder bag, all by Valentino, St. Sulpice black pumps by Saint Laurent, Maillon de Cartier 16mm 18-karat white gold diamond watch, and Clash de Cartier bracelet MM in white gold, both by Cartier, chain creole earrings by CHANEL, and EverDior oversized square metal sunglasses by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Daydream Studio
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A typical morning in my Mayfair apartment, wrapped in a comfy Balmain tracksuit, I had one of those quiet moments that remind me how much I love being at home. There’s something about starting the day in comfort while still feeling put together, effortless, but intentional.

Fun fact about me: I can give up almost anything. Alcohol? Easy. Sugar? No problem. But coffee? That’s my guilty pleasure, and I own it. Coffee is non-negotiable. It’s the very first thing I need in the morning, before conversations, before plans, before the world starts asking questions. Until that first sip, I’m on pause. Coffee isn’t just a drink for me, it’s a ritual, a mood, and honestly… my favorite part of the day.

My look: Button-embellished quilted jersey sweatshirt, and matching button-embellished cotton-jersey track pants, both by Balmain, logo-embellished leather biker boots by Fendi, hand belt in black and antique gold by Khaite, Anagram embroidered ribbed-knit tank by Loewe, Kelly Cut clutch in black Swift leather with gold hardware by Hermès, Coco Crush bracelet in yellow gold, Coco Crush necklace in beige gold with diamonds, and Pétales de Camélia ring in yellow gold with diamond, all by CHANEL, bracelets by Cartier, and gold necklace with charms by Foundrae.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Last week, on a sunlit day in Henley-on-Thames, I wore this knitted ensemble by Loewe for the first time. The 13th century market town is considered one of the most beautiful towns in England, and I couldn’t agree more, the river, the light, the ambiance are special. Henley is known for the Henley Royal Regatta, when style becomes bold, competitive, and visually charged. Even outside of that spectacle, the town carries a sense of quiet elegance, a perfect counterpoint to a look that commands attention.

And speaking of which, the Loewe knit was anything but understated. Heavy, sculptural, and unapologetically luxurious, the kind of craftsmanship that doesn’t blend in, it asserts itself. I wore this ensemble straight through the day and onto my flight to Boston. A reminder that true luxury doesn’t need to be toned down to travel, it carries its presence wherever it goes.

My look: Ribbed wool-blend cardigan in green, and ribbed wool wide-leg pants in green, both by Loewe, Nama suede-trimmed leather platform sneakers by Chloé, Multi Pochette Accessories in monogram canvas by Louis Vuitton, pearl necklace by CHANEL, Couvertures et Tenues de Jour Forever Scarf 90 in Crème / Rouge H / Bleu / Multicolore, and scarf ring 90 Régate, both by Hermès, Aquanaut Luce in khaki green by Patek Philippe, and oval frame burgundy sunglasses by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Following the recent Instagram trend, I decided to dive back into 2016, when fashion went full volume. Before quiet luxury, before restraint became aspirational, 2016 was about impact.

This was the era of Vetements energy, Balenciaga proportions, and Gucci maximalism. Oversized silhouettes pushed to excess, hoodies and bombers worn like armor, chokers framing the neck with intention, distressed denim taken to extremes, thigh-high boots paired without hesitation. Logos weren’t whispered, they were declared.

Streetwear and high fashion didn’t just meet. They collided.

The current return to 2016 isn’t accidental. It follows a widely discussed ten-year cultural cycle, a moment when fashion and internet culture begin to reject hyper-curation and visual restraint. As the polished, controlled aesthetics of the early 2020s lose momentum, there is a renewed appetite for excess, imperfection, and emotional immediacy. What resurfaces isn’t a replica of the past, but the attitude of it: fashion that allows scale, provocation, and unapologetic presence.

For me, 2016 wasn’t a reinvention. It was a moment of alignment, when the dominant fashion language finally mirrored an intensity I had always embraced. Gucci’s eclectic maximalism, Vetements’ provocation, Balenciaga’s scale: the visual vocabulary of that year allowed fashion to be excessive, expressive, and unapologetically styled.

What followed didn’t soften. It intensified.

My style didn’t pivot after 2016, it escalated. Proportions became sharper, contrasts more extreme, statements more deliberate. Not in response to trends, but through a long-standing instinct to push silhouettes further rather than edit them down.

This post is a curated edit of my favorite looks from 2016, a year defined by volume, attitude, and fashion without restraint. If you like to see all the details of the respective looks, I invite you to visit the previous post MY FAVORITE OUTFITS OF 2016.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Massachusetts Avenue was photographed at a train stop in a Bostonian neighborhood that isn’t known for being safe or beautiful in a conventional way. It’s rough, tense, and unsettling, and exactly that contrast is what drew me in. I combined different vintage pieces with more recent ones, letting time layers collide. The mix of black and pink reflects this tension: darkness and vulnerability, danger and softness existing side by side. This post isn’t about romanticizing the place, but about capturing the uneasy beauty that can appear where you least expect it.

My look: Reversible hot pink fake fur vest, wool hat in black and pink with ties, and long sleeve logo shirt, (all from Coco Neige 2023/24 collection) and shearling bag (from F/W 2014 supermarket collection), all by CHANEL, checked mini skirt (S/S 1998) by D&G, and platform fake fur boots by Prada Sport.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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On my way to La Padrona, inside the new Raffles Boston.
Boston feels crisp, elegant, quietly confident, exactly my kind of energy.

Setting the mood before the first course: my guitar-shaped bag by Balmain. Sculptural, playful, and just the right amount of attitude. Some evenings start long before dinner.

My look: Two-tone silk-satin blouse, and asymmetric ruffled silk-chiffon wide-leg pants, both by Valentino, Torchon gold-tone crystal clip earrings by Alessandra Rich, Anthem leather belt, and guitar shoulder bag, both by Balmain, and Jeanne embellished glossed-leather slingback pumps by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.