Sandra‘s Closet

Some artworks fill a space. Others transform it. With New York Apple, Claude Lalanne achieves exactly that, a poetic, monumental gesture now on view at Le Bristol Paris. Presented by Christie’s, the sculpture has already emerged as a standout highlight of the upcoming 20/21 Century Art Evening Sale.

Standing nearly 2.5 meters tall, New York Apple is Lalanne’s most ambitious interpretation of a motif she has explored since the 1960s. What began as an intimate study evolves here into a striking balance of surreal transformation and organic elegance. This edition (7/8, 2008), estimated at €5–7 million, embodies the unique blend of imagination and formal precision that defines her work.

Its placement at Le Bristol is more than curatorial, it’s cultural. Set within the hotel’s refined salons and iconic garden, the sculpture engages in a dialogue with a space synonymous with Parisian art de vivre.

No stranger to prestigious stages, New York Apple has appeared from Park Avenue in New York to the gardens of Versailles. Its current presentation in Paris marks yet another sophisticated chapter in its journey.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Le Bristol Paris / Anna Buklovska © Christie’s Images Limited 2026 
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As summer settles over New York City, one of the Upper East Side’s most refined addresses, The Mark Hotel, reintroduces its quietly iconic ritual: an evening at sea aboard its elegant 70-foot Herreshoff sailboat.

Beginning May 30, 2026, guests are invited to step seamlessly from the polished calm of Madison Avenue life into something altogether more cinematic. Departing from Chelsea Piers, the two-hour voyage glides across the Hudson at golden hour, offering uninterrupted views of Manhattan’s skyline and landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, as timeless as the vessel itself.

On board, the experience unfolds with studied discretion. A curated selection of gourmet bites arrives courtesy of The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges or the storied Caviar Kaspia, paired with wines chosen by the hotel’s head sommelier. The mood is less excursion, more floating salon, intimate, indulgent, and unmistakably New York.

Sailings run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM throughout the season (with the exception of a special Father’s Day cruise on June 21). Tickets are priced at $640 per guest and may be arranged through the hotel.

For those seeking something more private, bespoke charters for up to 25 guests offer a heightened level of exclusivity, with tailored menus and minimum spends beginning at $15,000.

It is, in essence, summer in New York at its most rarefied, where the city’s energy softens into something slower, quieter, and infinitely more decadent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Mark Hotel
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Wishing you a beautiful Easter weekend from Boston. I’m in full 2-in-1 mode, quietly preparing for my daughter’s birthday as she turns 24 tomorrow. Time really does fly.

Last night, I slipped into one of those perfect Boston evenings with friends, ending up at My Girl, a hidden speakeasy-style gem with live music and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and electric. Effortless, a little decadent, and exactly the kind of place you hope to stumble upon but rarely do.

The interior design is really beautiful. Inspired by the warmth and ease of old Havana, the space balances elegance with intimacy, textured woods, soft light, and a rhythm that lingers long after the glass is empty. Each drink and detail is considered, each moment meant to be felt.

A truly special night and a spot I can only recommend.

My Girl Boston
10 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109

LoL, Sandra

So in love with my friend’s beautiful caviar clutch by Judith Leiber Couture.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and via My Girl
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With a meticulous renovation and a quietly confident sense of arrival, Oetker Collection Hotels unveils its first U.S. «Masterpiece Hotel»: THE VINETA HOTEL.

Set behind its historic Mediterranean Revival façade, the 41-room property has been reimagined by Tino Zervudachi, whose signature balance of restraint and refinement brings a distinctly European sensibility to Palm Beach. Soft whites and ocean blues meet terrazzo, Venetian plaster, and subtle 1930s references, creating an atmosphere that feels both timeless and gently playful.

At the heart of the hotel, Coco’s restaurant blends indoor-outdoor living with a warm, terracotta-toned palette. The menu, led by Executive Chef Brian Rodriguez and shaped in collaboration with Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, draws from the South of France, think Eden Roc sea bass, steak Diane, and delicately composed crudo, while the botanical cocktail concept adds a light, distinctly Palm Beach ease.

The pool scene leans into retro glamour with a modern lightness: mosaic details, lush greenery, and an atmosphere designed less for spectacle and more for effortless living. From yoga by the water to discreet, personalized service, everything feels considered without ever becoming overworked.

More than a reopening, the Vineta marks a return, reviving a storied Palm Beach address with a new, quietly luxurious rhythm. Intimate, sunlit, and unmistakably refined, it captures the destination at its most elegant.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Oetker Collection
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La Petite Maison arrives on Marbella’s Golden Mile with a new beachfront outpost at Puente Romano Marbella, bringing its unmistakable Riviera spirit to the Costa del Sol.

There are places that feel instantly familiar, no matter where in the world you encounter them. For me, La Petite Maison has always been one of them, whether in Cannes, where it has long been a favorite, or in moments that carry a more personal resonance. Hosting my wedding welcome dinner here in Marbella at the Puente Romano many years ago made it more than just a place; it became part of a memory I return to often, before the celebrations continued at the Marbella Club Hotel.

The new seaside setting feels like a natural extension of the house’s philosophy: light-filled, effortless, and quietly refined. Under the direction of chef Yiannis Kioroglou, the menu remains true to its essence, ingredient-led, generous, and unmistakably Mediterranean. Signature dishes, from delicate yellowtail carpaccio to the iconic sea bass «à la Nicole,» speak in the same clear, elegant language that defines the brand.

From long, sunlit lunches to evenings that unfold into something more vibrant, the rhythm of the day is seamless, guided by music, atmosphere, and that particular art de vivre La Petite Maison embodies so well.

A new address, perhaps, but one that, for me, feels deeply, beautifully familiar.

And, as I’m writing this from Boston, it feels especially fitting that La Petite Maison is also set to open here in summer 2026 at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street in Back Bay, its first address in the Northeast, bringing a touch of the Riviera to the city.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © LPM
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The Mark Hotel serves the 90s cocktail everyone wants right now.

As New York slips deeper into a 90s state of mind, much of the current mood can be traced back to Love Story, which follows the magnetic, much-mythologized relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Their understated elegance, their quiet confidence, their distinctly New York kind of romance, it’s all back, and it’s shaping everything from fashion to the way the city feels right now.

Naturally, The Mark Hotel understands the moment. With its Cucumber Martini, the hotel offers a drink that feels almost like a continuation of that narrative, crisp, refined, and effortlessly composed.

Fresh, clean, with just a whisper of nostalgia, the cocktail captures exactly what defines this revival: a return to simplicity that doesn’t try too hard. Much like Carolyn’s pared-back silhouettes or JFK Jr.’s innate polish, it’s about precision rather than excess. The influence of the series is unmistakable, what we see on screen translates almost instantly into a renewed appetite for a certain kind of East Coast minimalism, where restraint becomes the ultimate luxury.

The Cucumber Martini fits seamlessly into this world. It doesn’t announce itself; it lingers. It belongs to a time when elegance was instinctive, when style was something lived rather than performed.

And truly, where better than The Mark? If there were ever a place where their paths might have crossed, amid quiet glamour, soft lighting, and that unmistakable Upper East Side ease, it would be here. The mood hasn’t been recreated. It was simply waiting.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Mark Hotel
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A few days at the newly reimagined Hotel Koenigshof in Munich last week and honestly, I didn’t want to leave. It’s one of those places that simply gets everything right. I’ll share more soon.

For now, this look: luminous violet, almost glowing against the warm, golden tones of Greta Oto. Perched above the city, the hotel’s restaurant brings a refined Latin American cuisine to Munich, weaving together Peruvian, Brazilian and Amazonian influences with modern finesse.

My outfit? All Dries Van Noten, except the shoes. I’ve always loved how the brand approaches color and texture. Building the look in layers and picking up the tone of the top again in the clutch, it pulls everything together without feeling too deliberate. The textures add depth, the color does the rest, distinctive, almost like art, but still completely wearable.

My look: Casia oversized silk-satin shirt, and matching silk-blend satin straight-leg pants, twisted patchwork voile and velvet halterneck top, and embellished striped wool-blend clutch, all by Dries Van Noten, Kate 100 leopard-print pony hair pumps by Christian Louboutin, Mitza ring by Dior Fine Jewellery, and royal crab Corsica earrings by Begüm Khan.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Diana Buenger @bydianabuenger
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Easter as Edible Art: Luxury Hotels Present Their 2026 Chocolate Creations

Every spring, some of Europe’s most prestigious grand hotels transform Easter into a celebration of craftsmanship and creativity. In 2026, renowned pastry chefs once again unveil limited-edition chocolate creations that blur the line between fine pâtisserie and edible sculpture. From Paris to Zurich and Brussels, these exclusive Easter pieces combine tradition, artistry, and exceptional ingredients.

At Le Bristol Paris, pastry chef Maxence Barbot and chocolate chef Johan Giacchetti reinterpret the classic French Saint-Honoré dessert as a sculptural chocolate egg. The elegant design features flowing Chantilly-like waves crafted in dark Venezuelan chocolate. Inside, layers of caramel infused with tonka bean, Piedmont hazelnuts, and cocoa praline create a rich flavor profile, balanced with a touch of fleur de sel. The limited creation is available from March 18 to April 5.

In Zurich, the legendary Baur au Lac presents a delicate chocolate egg created by head pâtissier David Potier. Limited to just 25 pieces, the piece stands out with its intricate lattice shell made of dark chocolate. Inside sits a white chocolate egg filled with pistachio ganache, while pecan ganache at the base adds an unexpected final layer of flavor. Crafted with fine Ecuadorian Arriba chocolate and Madagascar vanilla, the creation reflects the hotel’s long-standing chocolate tradition under the «1844 Chocolat Baur au Lac» label.

Back in Paris, La Réserve Paris introduces an elegant Easter creation inspired by the classic Paris-Brest pastry. Chef pâtissier Jordan Talbot crafts a sculptural egg made from dark Peruvian chocolate, filled with vanilla marshmallows, almond praline, caramelized cocoa nibs, and salted caramel. Available exclusively by pre-order in March, the creation reflects the hotel’s refined and understated approach to gastronomy.

Meanwhile in Brussels, Hotel Amigo hosts the fourth edition of Bel’Œuf, an exhibition celebrating the creativity of Belgian chocolatiers. From April 2 to 8, around 40 chocolatiers present imaginative chocolate eggs inspired by this year’s theme, Pleasure in Motion. The exhibition, organized with chocolatier Marc Ducobu, showcases elaborate chocolate artworks, some of which are available for purchase, while proceeds from the event support cancer research.

Together, these limited Easter creations show how luxury hospitality continues to elevate seasonal traditions, turning chocolate into a form of culinary art.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the respective hotels
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Paris feels especially precise from the Prince de Galles, the Art Déco symmetry, the golden calm of the Suite d’Or, the sense that elegance here is simply part of the architecture.

Yesterday’s CHANEL show was, as always, a reminder that the house never stands still. And yet, I notice how naturally I return to the earlier language of the Maison, that quiet, impeccably composed kind of elegance that first defined its allure.

Perhaps the newest chapter simply hasn’t found me yet. But that, too, feels very CHANEL: a house vast enough for different rhythms of taste, different moments of recognition. And in a place like this, surrounded by Paris at its most timeless, the classics tend to speak the clearest.

My look: Black long vest with bow details (Look 62 – S/S 2021), knitted jumpsuit with arm warmers (Look 8 – S/S 2021), logo choker, long pearl necklace and matching wide pearl bracelet, small logo chain waist belt, large waist belt with logo letters, pearl metal hairband with CC logo, and rhinestone Coco handle gunmetal bag, all by CHANEL, and Kate 100 suede pumps by Christian Louboutin.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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To mark International Women’s Day, Villa Igiea in Palermo presents «We Are All Whatever Singularities,» an exhibition by the conceptual feminist artist collective Claire Fontaine, on view from 7 March to 10 May 2026.

Inspired by philosopher Giorgio Agamben’s idea of the «singularity,» the exhibition reflects on the human condition and our potential to become many different things. Claire Fontaine presents three silkscreens referencing Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn Monroe portraits, reinterpreted with varying colours and overlaid phrases that question identity, authorship, and the ways digital networks connect and divide us. The exhibition also includes the sculpture Brickbat, transforming a book on Selinunte into a solid stone block, and the luminous installation Luminous Fountain, symbolizing the continuous cycle of life and memory.

Alongside the exhibition, Villa Igiea introduces the cultural program «Sicilian Matriarchy,» curated by Rocco Forte Hotels. Inspired by the legendary Sicilian icon Donna Franca Florio, the program invites guests to explore Palermo through experiences led by remarkable women.

These encounters include a visit to Claire Fontaine’s studio, a guided exploration of the Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina through the stories of four historical queens named Constance, a meeting with artisan Carolina Guthman dedicated to preserving traditional Sicilian embroidery, and an intimate chamber concert performed by young female musicians in a Liberty-style palazzo.

Through art, history, and craftsmanship, Villa Igiea continues to position itself as a cultural meeting point where contemporary creativity and the spirit of Sicily come together.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels
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