Sandra‘s Closet

This weekend I flew to London for my dear friend Lisa Tchenguiz’s birthday party that took place at the new jewel in London’s nightlife crown, Lío London. Being known for its Ibiza glamour, Lío is a global phenomenon that delivers high octane cabaret for the 21st Century.

With the lovely birthday girl Lisa Tchenguiz

The fully immersive experience combines a Mediterranean inspired menu with extraordinary acts and world class performers from dance, theatre, erotica, and acrobatics to create the pinnacle of theatrical dining.

Last year, Lío London opened its doors as the first permanent site in the capital for the Pacha Group. I can only recommend a visit as it is a spectacular, sassy and sexy modern show restaurant that brings pulsating performances to experience while you taste some delicious dishes. The food offering is an exquisite journey through Mediterranean cuisine crafted by Attila Kalanyos – former Executive Chef of Kensington Palace.

You enter the fantastic location on an original 1924 double-sided staircases. Mirrored ceilings, a moveable DJ booth, next to the restaurant section add to the ambiance of the room. After dinner on Fridays and Saturdays the main room transforms into a club for diners to continue the party hosted by big name DJs, London favourites and Lío owned nights.

Lisa’s birthday party had it all, stunning performances, yummy food, an excellent crowd of friends and some great music. Thank you for having me! London times are always good times.

Lío London, 3-4 Coventry St, London W1D 6BL
@liolondonofficial #loveliolondon
Phone number: +44 203 535 0000

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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I am on my way to London with my beloved belted padded hooded shell coat. When it arrived at my doorstep, I was pretty hesitant, but after waiting a few days, I knew this will be THE coat of the season.

Pieter Mulier‘s Alaïa collections are directional but wearable – there’s an art in that balance that only the most skilled designers can achieve. This shell coat has oversized lapels and is padded to enhance the powerful silhouette. The Maison always draws attention to the waist so I am sure to knot the belt.

It arrives in a pouch (how great is this for travelling) and can be folded into a small little piece. Its oversized hood as well as its water-repellent material make it the perfect companion in cold and wet weather. I have never taken an umbrella since then.

To shop the belted padded hooded shell coat, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

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

A dynamic design that exudes movement and agility, the Rush is the latest Louis Vuitton sneaker from Nicolas Ghesquière. Revealed as part of the Cruise collection that took place in Isola Bella, the LV Rush is a hybrid style that draws from vintage boxing boots and contemporary trail shoes.

The LV Rush is proposed as a sneaker boot that extends above the ankle as well as two sneakers – a higher version punctuated with bold red and a more monochromatic sneaker in white or black. With a bold upper in suede with rubberised and classic calf leather, the entire range is optimised for daily wear thanks to its lightweight inner construction and highly flexible sole. A metallic LV circle signals an elevated flourish in keeping with Louis Vuitton. The trail influence plays out on the main sneaker through details such as the lace stopper.

The graphic wave motif that undulates across the shoe contributes to its unique appearance, which corresponds to the collection’s overall inspiration: the modern mermaids of Lake Maggiore surrounding Isola Bella. Converging 18th-century rocaille ornamentation with an active attitude, the LV Rush is a standout sneaker that speaks to the Ghesquière’s unmatched vision.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Create space in your closet and give children a future

You might love the feeling of starting the new year tidied up. If yes, I might have an idea for you. Go ahead and sort out your wardrobe. Your well-preserved items could be a great addition to an upcoming fashion sale hosted by my dear friend Susanne Schroff for her SANNI Foundation.

The SANNI Foundation is a charitable trust that aims to provide people in need in India and Myanmar. The focus lays fighting against extreme poverty, the education of children and youth, healthcare and the empowerment of women. 100% of the donations reach those in need because SchroffInvest covers all administration costs and the foundation board members are volunteers.

What can I donate?

High-quality designer clothes, shoes, bags and accessories for women and children. The items must be clean and in good condition.

Where can I bring my clothing donations?

Drop off your clothes and accessories to Walde Immobilien AG at Zollikerstrasse 65 in Zollikon until February 20, 2024. The reception staff will assist you from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

When and where does the sale take place? 

The fashion sale starts with a VIP Sale on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4pm to 8pm and continues on Friday, March 22, 2024 from 10am to 6pm and Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 10am to 4pm.

Location:
Walde Immobilien, House of Real Estate, Zollikerstrasse 65 in 8702 Zollikon

What does your donation do?

100% of the proceeds from our exclusive fashion sale will go towards a project to support children and their families in the slums of Delhi.

See you there and please donate some of your items! By helping to prolong the life of garments and accessories through second-hand shopping, you also promote a circular economy, that reduces the cost of resources employed in supplying, washing and disposing of clothing. Don’t forget, sustainability is the sum of many contributing factors.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © SANNI Foundation
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STELLA McCARTNEY AND VEUVE CLICQUOT COLLABORATE ON NEXT-GEN LEATHER ALTERNATIVE AND WORLD-FIRST LUXURY ACCESSORIES CRAFTED FROM GRAPE WASTE

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot have collaborated on a pioneering grape-based alternative to animal leather – embodying both LVMH Maisons’ shared values and long-term commitments to sustainability, circularity and regenerative practices. The next-gen material is made from the by-products of Veuve Clicquot’s harvest and has been used to handcraft six Stella McCartney accessories, a selection of which debuted at the S/S 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week. Stella McCartney is additionally the guest of honour at Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman Award 2023 in Paris.

Both Maisons were founded by pioneering women who disrupted and drove change within their respective fields, with legacies rooted in craftsmanship, passion and innovations that created new, better possibilities. Stella McCartney is widely regarded as fashion’s conscience – inspiring others within the industry and beyond to pursue cruelty-free and sustainable alternatives, having never used leather or fur, whilst Madame Clicquot contributed to the shape of the modern champagne bottle and invented the riddling table, which is still in use today. Her innovations revolutionised the champagne industry, which additionally included the creation of vintage champagne and blended rosé champagne, and she has been recognised by her peers as ‘La Grande Dame de la Champagne’.

Continuing this legacy of innovation, Veuve Clicquot has been exploring next-generation materials for the past decade, with disruptive packaging made from vegetal waste since 2010 and now produces all its gift boxes from hemp, a soilregenerative and CO2-fixing plant. The by-product used in the new material consists of manually collected grape stems. These elements are sourced with full traceability from the environmentally certified Grand Cru vineyard of Bouzy in Champagne, which Madame Clicquot herself purchased 200 years ago.

«I AM SO THRILLED TO BE PART OF THIS FIRSTOF- ITS-KIND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A FASHION HOUSE AND A CHAMPAGNE MAISON – CONNECTED BY OUR SHARED PASSIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INNOVATION. THIS COLLABORATION IS THE PERFECT BLEND OF MY CRUELTY-FREE VISION WITH VEUVE CLICQUOT’S INCREDIBLE NATURAL INGREDIENTS, USING WASTE TO CIRCULARLY CREATE A LUXURIOUS ALTERNATIVE TO ANIMAL LEATHER THAT CAN BE EASILY SCALED AND CHANGE THE INDUSTRY. YOU TRULY CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE; THIS IS A BETTER WAY.» STELLA McCARTNEY, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF STELLA McCARTNEY

The grapes are grown using regenerative practices, helping to restore local biodiversity, soil health and sequester carbon, and are handpicked to ensure the highest quality of the material. Stella McCartney has also pioneered regenerative agriculture in fashion, having supported the SOKTAS regenerative cotton project in Turkey since 2019, in partnership with LVMH. The Maison also launched the world’s first regenerative cotton luxury garment at its S/S 2023 runway show. Stella McCartney will use the Veuve Clicquot grape-based alternative to craft three iconic Frayme bags, a bottle holder housing a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and two Elyse sandals, which additionally have a platform wedge made from recycled cork collected from Veuve Clicquot as a mix of pre- and post-consumer waste from its cellars in Reims.

The vegan accessories will be made available for pre-order soon, delivering in March 2024. The material solves for LVMH’s leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions, leather and winemaking, and was created in under 18 months – an incredible feat and speed in the innovation space. Multiple studies have shown that vegan alternatives can have less than half the carbon footprint of animal leather, which kills over 1 billion creatures annually (PETA) and is driving the destruction of key ecosystems like the Amazon (WWF). By creating a next-gen biobased material using waste, Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot are pioneering a better way that is kinder to animals, the environment and is both scalable and sustainable.

«THIS COLLABORATION WITH STELLA MCCARTNEY EMBODIES OUR COMMITMENT FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE FUTURE. FROM THE VINEYARDS TO OUR PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, OUR DRIVING FORCE IS ARTICULATED AROUND SHARED, OPENED AND COLLECTIVE PROGRESS. REINVENTING A NEW CIRCULAR MATERIAL REUSING THE RESOURCES OF OUR VINEYARDS GROWN IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IS ONE OF THE KEY PROJECTS THAT DEMONSTRATE OUR CLIMATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPIRIT.» –  JEAN-MARC GALLOT, CEO OF VEUVE CLICQUOT

Available for pre-order at Stella McCartney boutiques and Selfridges from December 2023, and for purchase in-store from March 2024.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Stella McCartney x Veuve Cliquot
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Chloé becomes the inaugural collaborator for Atelier Jolie with a ready-to-wear capsule collection celebrating femininity​ that you don’t want to miss. Minimalistic sustainable luxury at its best.

Co-designed by Chloé Creative Director Gabriela Hearst and Atelier Jolie founder Angelina Jolie, the capsule collection spotlights authentic women-to-women connections and honours both brands’ respective commitments to improving social and environmental sustainability with greater transparency and accountability. ​

Parts of the collection showcase the work of artisans from a Fair Trade enterprise while multiple looks make use of deadstock and lower-impact materials. Drawing on Chloé’s network of international makers and reinforced by its B Corp certification, coupled with Atelier Jolie’s comprehensive founding principles regarding ethical and sustainable practice, the capsule collection incorporates a higher percentage of lower-impact materials than any previous collection from the Maison. ​

Chloé x Atelier Jolie is defined by fluid silhouettes and tactile details. With an eveningwear focus, it has a timeless aesthetic inspired by perennial pieces from Angelina Jolie’s own well-loved wardrobe.​

TO SHOP CHLOÉ X ATELIER JOLIE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Chloé x Atelier Jolie
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Recently I got a wonderful surprise and received a bottle of «Portrait of a Lady», which is an icon of haute perfumery. The scent is a new breed of oriental rose, a baroque perfume. It is based on an accord of benzoin, cinnamon, sandalwood and, above all patchouli, musk and frankincense. It takes off with an excessive dosage of the best Turkish rose essence that Dominique Ropion linked to the rest of the formula, thanks to a red berries and spice accord.

Hundreds of trials were needed to balance such an excessive formula. Portrait of a Lady is undoubtedly the perfume containing the strongest dosage of rose essence and patchouli heart. It’s a rare symphonic perfume appeared: a new amber rose, a sensuous beauty that attracts people like a magnet, a modern classic: Portrait of a Lady. It is an olfactory masterpiece of pure elegance, baroque opulence, and splendor that people will ask you about.

Top note: Rose
Middle notes: Blackcurrant, raspberry, clove
Base notes: Patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense

Dominique Ropion trained at the legendary Roure Bertrand Dupont laboratory before going to work with Jean-Louis Sieuzac, one of the perfumery world’s great technicians. Today he’s a star perfumer at IFF. He is the nose behind bestellers such as Alien (2005 Thierry Mugler) and Lady Million (2010 Paco Rabanne) An adventurer who abandons himself to instinct, Ropion is on a quest to create new, harmonious accords by pairing ingredients which are extreme opposites. His work is special because of the tension between precision and freedom.

TO SHOP PORTRAIT OF A LADY, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Frederic Malle
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The color combination of green with purple might leave others green with envy. Personally speaking it is a match made in heaven and a beautiful alternative to the typical holiday colors, red and green. I wore this look for a night out in London.

My look: Feather-trimmed Lurex® cardigan, Locò small sequined shoulder bag in green and purple, and Tan-Go embellished leather platform pumps, all by Valentino, cutout crystal-embellished stretch-jersey mini dress by David Koma, green sunglasses by Bottega Veneta, purple tights by Calzedonia, Mitza ring by Dior Fine Jewellery, and large CC logo gold Goossens earrings by CHANEL (Cruise 2011).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @georgiashane
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Where selfcare meets diamonds…

Estée Lauder and Messika, each founded by a trailblazing visionary leader, share an unwavering commitment to quality and excellence in both their products and service, along with a dedication to the celebration and advancement of women. The remarkable journeys of Mrs. Estée Lauder and Valérie Messika, both entrepreneurial pioneers in their respective industries, serve as inspiration to women leaders everywhere. Both brands, fueled by a determination to serve and elevate women, lay the groundwork for a formidable collaboration.

Reveal your inner diamond

The Estée Lauder x Messika collaboration represents a modern expression of the elevated glamour for which Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv is known. The partnership is based on a shared inspiration with diamonds, a key symbol both in the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Collection, and Messika Paris’ unique craftsmanship. Diamonds symbolize great strength, power, and longevity – a flawless radiance personified by the two brands, invoking a sense of unparalleled luxury. Just as diamonds hold their value forever, Re-Nutriv’s patented technology empowers skin to look and act younger for longer, visibly reversing skin cell aging and delivering a radical blueprint for recapturing time.

A women diamond jewelry box just as precious

Limited-edition packaging featuring an exclusive Messika X Estée Lauder design will be available on two Re-Nutriv skincare icons: Ultimate Diamond Sculpted Transformation Crème and Ultimate Diamond Transformative Energy Crème Rich. A special edition women luxury gift box that doubles up as a jewelry case for diamond jewelry, housing a selection of the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond collection products.

Channel your luck, win a diamond

As part of this collaboration, Swiss consumers can go on a Diamond Quest for this unique prize: Spread over 500 limited edition Messika x Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Sculpted Transformation Creams there will be a radiant 1-carat Messika diamond worth worth CHF 15,000. The winner winner will have the chance to meet Valérie Messika in person at the Messika Atelier in Paris to receive the diamond diamond, mounted on a necklace from the iconic Messika Emotion collection.

Available in Switzerland from January 15th, 2024 exclusively at all Estée Lauder counters at Globus and on globus.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Estée Lauder / Messina
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At Louis Vuitton it’s all about the bigger the better with those oversized proportions and details, such as the big belt buckles. Have fun to explore your femininity in a larger-than-life way.

My look: Oversized detail long cardigan, oversized belt calfskin utility dress, Pochette Clés XL giant key pouch Monogram, LV Link square sunglasses, and vintage pearl choker, all by Louis Vuitton, and VLogo Chain 130mm platform sandals by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

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