My Look: Swan Lady

Snow in April in Switzerland, really? So back to sweater weather. I love playful animal prints and Stella McCartney‘s swan motif has been one of my favorites lately. In combination with a great pair of wide pants, it looks sophisticated and not too girly at all.

My look: Double breasted tweed coat by Saint Laurent, ruffle-trimmed intarsia wool sweater and matching iconFalabella swan embroidered faux leather bag, both by Stella McCartney, wide grey wool pants by Blumarine, Oxford-style ankle booties by Gucci, Horsebit blue topaz diamond white gold ringicon by Gucci Fine Jewellery, choker and matching earrings, both by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Ellery’s Mermaid Pants

Kym Ellery‘s namesake Australian label is a favorite amongst the fashion crowd. So beloved are her iconic bell sleeves and flares that we all have to thank her for the trend that has become so recognizable and so widely copied that it continues to take off.

Hysteria cropped high-rise flared jeans
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You should definitely not wait another day and get a pair of her signature mermaid pants. I am speaking of these to-die-for kick-flare trousers that billow out in a way that’s reminiscent of a mermaid tail.

Alejandro ruffled-panel cropped jeans
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One thing is for sure, for cult Ellery followers or newbies to the brand, the denim ones will definitely remind you that jeans don’t need to be boring. The mixture of both the silhouette and the finishings are both equally unique.

Jacuzzi stretch wool-blend flared pants

Happy Shopping, mermaids!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Ellery

Aluminium-Free Deodorants That Work

The issue of aluminium chlorides in deodorants has been discussed among manufacturers, scientists and consumers for a couple of years, now. There are different points of view in the interpretation of scientific research, some of them see potential health hazards caused by the regular use of aluminium salts in deodorants, such as breast cancer.

In order to be on the safe side, I had been looking for the best natural deodorant for quite some time, one that actually works and will leave you stink-free the whole day.

The new WELEDA 24h Deo Roll-on is one that I can truly recommend. I love the sensual scent and long-lasting protection. All three versions use essential oils and ingredients to neutralize odor-causing bacteria without aluminium salts that close the pores and disrupt the body’s innate detoxification. Like this the regulating skin functions are retained.

Weleda Citrus 24h Deo Roll-on
Natural essential oils of lemon and litsea cubeba have a refreshing effect and provide for a pleasant smell.

Weleda Pomegranate 24h Deo Roll-on
The exotic combination of orange and davana creates a sensual fragrance experience with balsamic vanilla notes.

Weleda Men 24h Deo Roll-on
The tart scent of vetiver combined with essential oils of the Litsea cubeba invigorates and provides a pleasant feeling of freshness.

Available now for CHF 9.50 each (50ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

My Look: Easter Sunday

There is no better time to seize the moment and officially welcome the spring wardrobe than Easter Sunday. But with the promise of good food, plenty of time to relax, and a speedy egg hunt, you’ll want to be comfortable as much as you like to stay stylish. This year, I went for leggings, feathers and this beautiful waterlily ’70s style print. This is what I call impeccably dressed for spring under the magnolia tree!

My look: Feather-trimmed denim jacket by Burberry, Nenúfar print top, Nenúfar print pants and Knife floral-print jersey sock bootsicon, all by Balenciaga, Sac de Jour in green by Saint Laurent, Possession 18-karat rose gold diamond ring and Possession 18-karat rose gold ring, both by Piaget, 18-karat white gold limited edition «Or Amour Et Trinity» band ring and yellow gold diamond ring, both by Cartier.
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Happy Easter!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dolce & Gabbana Takes Couture to Tokyo

Yesterday, Dolce & Gabbana showed their S/S 2017 haute couture «Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria» show at the Tokyo National Museum in Japan. It is cherry blossom, so-called sakura season at the moment and who has ever been during that time to Tokyo knows how beautiful it is to see this national icon of the Asian country. I have been there many years ago and love to indulge in those memories of pink petals plastering the streets.

Of course, there was an in-bloom cherry tree on the runway when the designer duo presented their almost 100 looks for both, men and women, to an audience of mostly local clients and other guests from all over the world.

Contrary to other shows that Dolce & Gabbana hosted, the models came mostly from Japan, a way of showing respect, which is the backbone of this Asian culture. After the show, the designers shook hands with their guests, another important gesture as for the Japanese, every person has a role to play towards the collective. It is always about «we», never about «me».

The collection was of course very much inspired by Japan, beautifully embellished and embroidered, something Dolce & Gabbana stands for. There were headpieces designed as branches of a cherry blossom tree or hand-painted floral motifs on lace. Just beautiful – have a look at the video below where you can get a great impression of this Italian artwork in Japan!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana, © Luke Leitch / Vogue

The Most Beautiful Easter Decorations

Are you still in preparation setting your Easter decoration? The hunt is over! These charming centerpieces and table settings will get your celebration hopping.

From blooming hydrangeas to delicate porcelain plates in cheery colors, all call for equally decorative ear-candy. And while the little ones run around hunting for treasures in the lawn, you may as well relish in the juvenile delight, too, by sitting back and enjoying the touch of spring you have brought to the table.

LoL, Sandra

Straight from the Garden
If your lilacs are still blooming, combine them with some pastel-coloured easter eggs.

Vintage Tea Tins
Using old tea tins can give your decoration such an interesting vintage twist. Make an eclectic group of bouquets to decorate your holiday table.

Twine Vase
Upgrade your empty glass vases or just a plain jar with twine to add a romantic touch to your Easter table.

Photo Vase
The secret to this stunning arrangement? A vase hidden within a vase. Give your clear vases a personal touch by attaching photos of your loved ones with clothespins.

Simple Bud Vases
My favorite flowers in my favorite vases. A simple thing that does the trick, just arrange some single peonies in bud vases down the length of the table.

Easy Easter Centerpiece
For the easiest DIY centerpiece of all time, use twine to wrap a doily around a Mason jar, and fill with tulips. Add some lemons for the ultimate color kick.

Daffodils and Easter Eggs
The low budget version that will leave your guests amazed. A single daffodil on the napkin for each guest adds a beautiful touch to hosting an Easter brunch.

Carrot Centerpiece
Full of vitamins and energy, those carrot centerpieces are absolutely adorable and easy to achieve.

Egg Crate Centerpiece
Hollowed out egg shells become tiny bud vases in this crafty centerpiece.

Photos: Via Country Living, Vogue, © Sandra Bauknecht

My Look: Tennis for a Good Cause

This Monday, I had the great honor as guest of Lindt to watch two world-class tennis players, Andy Murray and Roger Federer, competing against each other in the charity Match for Africa 3 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, raising CHF 1.4 million for the Roger Federer Foundation.

Roger Federer with me before the match last Monday.

“I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands,” said Roger Federer, who will play a fourth Match for Africa against John Isner on April 29 in Seattle, WA. “With my foundation, we want to provide one million children with the opportunity for a quality education by the end of 2018.”

Donations can be made online at match-for-africa.com.

My tennis-inspired look: Twill bomber jacketicon, matching jersey-trimmed pleated twill mini dress and silk twill scarf with pendant, all by Gucci, suede overknee boots by Roberto Cavalli, Betty Medium Chain leather shoulder bagicon by Saint Laurent and mirrored sunglasses by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Rihanna Takes Marie Antoinette to the Gym

For her S/S 2017 Fenty x Puma collection, Rihanna imagined what Marie Antoinette would wear to the gym. I mean it is bad news for the late queen that it took 223 years until someone finally made her a collection of sport clothes. Good news is that the collection is so stunning that it was definitely worth the wait and that we are happy to enjoy it now!

Last fall, Bad Gal Riri made her Paris Fashion Week debut with satin corsets, lace fans, sweatshirts and pearls, lace do-rags and just about everything else you could imagine the infamous Marie Antoinette wearing while working out. Royal athleisure it was!

Olive-hued, satin-bow slides

Her absolute know-how can be seen in the footwear that still manages to sell out at every drop as those olive-hued, satin-bow slides that debuted earlier this month.

Satin sneaker

Now, more Marie Antoinette-inspired Fenty x Puma will be coming soon afterwards, with more arrivals expected to drop on a monthly basis until June, starting on April 15, 2017.

TO SHOP FENTY X PUMA BY RIHANNA ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Get ’em while they’re hot (and in stock)!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Fenty x Puma by Rihanna

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection

This morning while I was working on another post, I got an e-mail from Louis Vuitton that made my heart leap with joy and that I wanted to share with you immediately. The French Maison is collaborating with Jeff Koons for a collection called «Masters» for which the famous American pop artist remixes the iconic artworks of the old masters and presents them in a way that encourages new interpretations.

Balloon Dog (Orange) © Jeff Koons
signed and dated ‘Jeff Koons 1994-2000’ (on the underside) , mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating , 121 x 143 x 45 in. (307.3 x 363.2 x 114.3 cm)
Executed in 1994-2000. This work is one of five unique versions (Blue, Magenta, Orange, Red, Yellow).

With Jeff Koons in New York City in 2013 for the Balloon Venus launch event with Dom Pérignon.

Since Marc Jacobs enlisted Stephen Sprouse to create the now-iconic graffiti range in 2001, Louis Vuitton has led the way in the fashion/art collaboration stakes. Koons, whose Balloon Dog (Orange) holds the record for the most expensive art work by a living artist after it sold for $58.4 million at Christie’s New York in November 2013, follows in the footsteps of Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Daniel Buren and Damien Hirst by partnering with Louis Vuitton.

Gazing Ball (Ariadne), 2013, Plaster and Glass
112.6 x 238.4 x 93cm, Edition no. 3/3
Monsoon Art Collection, © Jeff Koons

For his collaboration with Louis Vuitton, Koons seeked inspiration from his Gazing Ball series that he started in 2013 as a series of plaster reproductions of famous ancient sculptures, each one set with a blue mirrored sphere. It’s these hand-painted Old Master reproductions that appear on the limited-edition Masters range of iconic Louis Vuitton handbags as well, from Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Titian’s Mars, Venus and Cupid, Fragonard’s Girl with a Dog, Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields and Cypresses to Rubens’ Tiger Hunt.

The beautiful interior of the Rubens Palm Springs backpack (more photos below…)

The name of each original artist is emblazoned across the front, and their biography and portrait are featured inside. Absolutely new for Louis Vuitton is that a collaborator features his own initials on the bags. A sign for the importance of his status.

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Fragonard Speedy 30

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Titian Neverfull MM

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Da Vinci Speedy 30 in Poppy

Fans of Koons’ Inflatables series get their money’s worth; each piece is finished with a leather tag in the shape of the inflatable rabbit that Koons famously cast in polished stainless steel in 1986.

My personal three favorites are:

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Rubens Palm Springs Backpack

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Rubens Keepall 50

Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters Collection
Van Gogh Montaigne MM

The Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons Masters collection will be available from April 28 in stores and at louisvuitton.com. Below you can enjoy the beautiful teaser.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton, © Jeff Koons, © Sandra Bauknecht, Louis Vuitton Malletier/Melanie & Ramon

H&M Conscious Exclusive Collection 2017

Last week, I had the chance to preview the upcoming H&M Conscious Exclusive Collection 2017 at the new showroom in Zurich which is a dream by the way. The Swedish fashion house knows how to amaze us when it comes to affordable fashion, but it’s the work the brand is doing with its latest sustainable line that will blow you away.

Natalia Vodianova is the face of the campaign and looks absolutely divine in my favorite dress of the collection: a dreamy, blush-pink gown that seems to float on air, made of the new material BIONIC® – a recycled polyester made from recovered plastic from shorelines, waterways and coastal communities.

It is the very same plastic that is constantly polluting our beach ecosystems that is used throughout the newest Conscious lineup. Have a look at the video at the end of this post explaining the new material further.

Launching in stores and online April 20, you can enjoy here the mind-blowing preview of the future of fashion.

The full assortment will also include of men’s and kids’ clothes and accessories as well for the first time a fragrance.

LoL, Sandra

My favorite dress on display in the Zurich showroom…

… along with more beautiful pieces from the collection.

Those tulle dresses are also absolutely beautiful.

Photos: Courtesy of © H&M and © Sandra Bauknecht