Sandra‘s Closet

Unlocking the secrets behind French women’s style, the effortlessness, the attitude, the enigmatic and ever-so-coveted «je ne sais quoi». Simplicity is, apparently, key, as French women are never overdone or overdressed. It’s all about hyper-engineered minimalism, and by the way who said men’s shirts are only for men? Combine classic pieces in your wardrobe with something edgy, like breton stripes, a great pair of jeans with a cool sailor cap and you will feel like a true Parisian!

My look: Striped cardigan jacket with leather details, flared jeans in dark union wash twill, cropped boyfriend shirt in blue chambray, and Triomphe wool sailor cap, all by Celine, Mini Dauphine bag by Louis Vuitton, Le Loafer leather penny loafers by Saint Laurent, and polarized pilot sunglasses by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Anouk Bauknecht / Sandra Bauknecht
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This post is for all watch lovers. Are you looking for a great and fun model for the summer? I spotted one you might like … I couldn’t resist myself.

The MADEMOISELLE and J12 story continues with a limited-edition version inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s Mediterranean villa. An exclusive creation that evokes the carefree, easygoing and relaxed spirit of the French Riviera.

Dressed in a marinière and sailor’s trousers, Mademoiselle’s silhouette adorns the dial and indicates the time on this 38 mm steel watch. Available in highly resistant black or white ceramic, a material which is highly resistant and color-proof. The watch is equipped with the self-winding mechanical Caliber 12.1 movement and is water-resistant up to 200m. Available for CHF 9700.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL, © Sandra Bauknecht / Rian Davidson 
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Since the collaboration between Fendi and Tiffany & Co. hit the runway for Resort 2023, fashionistas around the globe have been craving for those exclusive re-editions of the iconic Baguette bag in the signature Tiffany Blue™, that is embellished with a Return to Tiffany™ circular bag pendant and a sterling silver label engraved with «The Tiffany Baguette».

However no need to cry if you missed out on the opportunity to order one. There are plenty of stunning turquoise bags on the market to accompany you through the summer and the next years to come.

LoL, Sandra

Turquoise logo embossed medium Baguette bag by Fendi

Small Lola crossbody bag by Burberry

Small First clutch bag by Fendi

Goya small puffer bag by Loewe

Nano Speedy by Louis Vuitton

Cassette small intrecciato leather shoulder bag by Bottega Veneta

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
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Today’s look was photographed inside my beautiful suite at Maison des Champs-Elysées. What I love about this combination is that it is extremely comfortable, yet super stylish. I hope you will like it as much as I do.

My look: Cropped top with crystal logos, and matching wide knitted pants (both Pre-Collection S/S 2023), black satin pochette (Métiers d’Art 2023 Collection Paris – Dakar), crystal embellished mesh shoes with bows (S/S 2023), head band with bow, leather bracelet, J12 Mademoiselle La Pausa watch, pearl necklace, long necklace with blue stones and matching earrings, all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Paris Couture Week is always amazing, especially in the summer, when the weather is nice. One of my favorite places to stay and a true insider tip is the hotel Maison des Champs-Elysées. Located in the heart of Paris’ «Golden Triangle», parallel to the prestigious Avenue Montaigne, this very special non-conformist 5-star hotel teases your expectations, with theatrical elements in a relaxed atmosphere.

Celebrating an elegant marriage of contemporary lines and unobtrusive luxury, the impressive decoration of the hotel can be seen in every detail. It is the result of the collaboration with iconic fashion designer Martin Margiela. Each corner is full of surprises and creates a magnificent setting for your stay in Paris. Offering a peaceful atmosphere and all the facilities of modern luxury comfort for good value of money, the hotel has 57 tastefully furnished rooms and suites. There is also a smoker’s lounge called the «Blind Bar» across from the lobby area that is dressed all in white, and even an outdoor terrace where you can relax and meet from morning to night in the midst of the city.

This month, I stayed at the Gilded Lounge Suite, in which artistic pretence is given perfect expression, whose walls are covered with wallpaper made from black and white photographs of the gilded lounge on the second floor. The perspectives and ornamental richness of the Napoleon III style are thereby reproduced in trompe-l’œil fashion throughout the suite. In the bedroom, a large bookcase filled with books covers the wall above the bed.

Last time, I booked the White Cover Suite. The lower part of the classic Haussmann walls with picture rails, surrounds and plinths breaks with the upper part which consists of large panels of stretched white cotton. The pictures, objects and furnishings are delicately covered with white cotton. A series of Ural alabaster lights on the bedroom ceiling become visible in the evening and frame a broad mirror, creating a magical setting.

The team is so lovely and always very happy to help with anything. I can absolutely recommend the hotel. By the way, I pay my stays and this post is not sponsored, but fully authentic.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Anouk Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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Help! «Everybody’s talking about inflation,» Jeremy Scott said backstage to Vogue when he presented his S/S 2023 Moschino collection. «The cost of everything’s going up: housing, food, life. So I took inflation into the collection.» So are you ready for some inflatable fun fashion to take a dip in the newest trend?! Imbuing joy in the vein of lifesavers and inflatable accessories, this outfit was my favorite to wear on board of Christina O.

If you ever feel like you’re drowning, hold on to fashion! That’s my advice!

My look: Life vest cropped jacket, stripe-detail high-waisted skirt, lifesaver hat, 105mm pointed-toe pumps, inflatable heart-charm earrings, all by Moschino, logo sunglasses, and J12 Mademoiselle La Pausa watch, both by CHANEL, tattoo tights by Calzedonia, and black bustier top by Versace.

LoL, Sandra

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

Belmond unveils a partnership with Dior for a new wellness experience in the legendary gardens of Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina, in celebration of the iconic property’s 150 year anniversary. From now to October 2023, the hotel’s storied gardens will welcome two Dior treehouse treatment cabins perched in the majestic cypress trees, offering guests and visitors exclusive skincare treatments in a verdant oasis, overlooking the sea.

In Timeo’s six-acre gardens, designed by English gardener and pioneering wildlife conservationist Florence Trevelyan at the end of XIX century, many artists and writers have found meditative peace and inspiration over the last 150 years. Today Grand Hotel Timeo and Dior Spa are fostering the same spirit, inviting guests to enjoy a moment of wellbeing in the hotel’s lush enclave.

LUXURIOUS WELLNESS COCOONS AMONGST THE CYPRESS TREES
Guests are invited to climb a few steps up a wooden staircase to access two highly sophisticated treatment cabins, one double and one single, perched in the cypress trees. These vibrant green wooden treehouses are elevated with the famous Toile de Jouy curtains, in a matching shade.
The decor takes inspiration from the fragrant flora and fauna which envelopes the pop-up spa. Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior, has reimagined the iconic Dior fabric decorating the cabins in a bold leaf-green to blend seamlessly with the lush surroundings. The Dior Toile de Jouy wallpaper, the bamboo seating and the modern design lamps with brushed brass finishes, create an intimate and refined atmosphere.

Each cabin, designed by Thirtyone Design + Management, has its own individual terrace with sea views complete with a parasol in matching fabric, rattan furniture and plants, offering guests the privacy to extend this moment of well-being in absolute serenity.

ICONIC TREATMENTS TAKEN TO NEW HEIGHTS
The menu of signature face and body treatments draws on the skills and expertise of Dior skincare, created to help the skin and the senses blossom during the summer. The signature Dolce Vita Solar Glow, a one-hour face and body treatment ensures a perfectly enhanced and extended sun tan. Depending on the time of the treatment, it concludes with either a head-to-toe application of protective sun cream, lotion or oil before sun exposure, or with a soothing after-sun balm or shimmering oil, at the end of the day.

Beauty-enhancing treatments, all characterised by iconic Dior techniques that combine the best of traditional Eastern and Western methods with powerful, targeted movements, include: Dior Prestige Haute Précision, a major holistic face treatment using the Dior Prestige product line and combining the regenerative power of the Granville Rose with enveloping massage techniques to blend pleasure with visible correction of the signs of age; and Constellation, a deeply relaxing holistic body massage, for perfect harmony between body and mind.

To see the spa menu and prices, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Pierre Mouton for Parfums Christian Dior
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I still have so much to show you from my amazing trip on the Christina O yacht. So let’s get started. The beauty of being on a boat is that you can wake up each morning somewhere else. One of my favorite parts of our route was Corsica and this cute little place at the beach.

Tucked away on Aaron Beach, known for its pristine white sand and sparkling turquoise waters, Café de la Plage is a beautiful beachfront restaurant that offers a relaxed atmosphere and French, Mediterranean and European cuisine, if you are in Corsica, don’t miss it.

My look: Zamia bead-embellished embroidered tulle-paneled printed halterneck swimsuit, and Zamia fringed crochet-trimmed printed chiffon pareo, both by PatBO, Rockstud PVC jelly sandals by Valentino, Scarab Mustique 24kt gold-plated choker by Begüm Khan, butterfly sunglasses with rainbow letters, long necklace with coin charms, earrings with coin charms, and logo brooch, all by CHANEL, triangle-logo claw hair clip by Prada, and vertical Dior book tote by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

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

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its iconic Twingo, Renault has partnered with internationally renowned designer and contemporary artist Sabine Marcelis to reimagine this iconic model, unveiling an artistic vision of the original Twingo launched in 1993.

Sabine Marcelis, the latest winner of the ELLE DECO International Designer of the Year Award, has established her as one of the world’s most influential designers. Her impressive art installations have captivated international audiences, from design and art lovers at Art Basel to visitors to museums around the world.

Renault has commissioned Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, that is known for her work with pure, elegant forms, her particular affinity with light, and her mastery of technologies that push the limits of what’s possible when it comes to making better use of materials, to revisit the iconic Twingo. The project began with a detailed exploration of the Twingo, returning to its most recognizable features: its iconic single-volume silhouette, its characteristic headlights, its modular interior with its incredible sense of space and luminosity.

This was followed by meticulous work on the play of transparency and the interplay between color and materials. The result is striking: a Twingo like no other, yet faithful to the very essence of the iconic model, 30 years after its creation.

«The collaboration with Renault began with an invitation to rethink Twingo as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. It was a fantastic opportunity, and a new field of exploration for me, as I’d never designed a car before. Working on such an iconic and popular car was a real challenge, especially given the scale of the project. It was an opportunity to create something truly innovative and memorable,» says Sabine Marcelis.

This collaboration between Renault and Sabine Marcelis is a true testimony to the values of artistic and creative freedom. Renault’s commitment to electric cars – the concept has been retrofitted with an electric motor – and Sabine Marcelis’ innovative approach to materials and design create the perfect synergy to celebrate the anniversary of the iconic Twingo, revealing the car in a whole new light. Unique and unexpected, this concept is the meeting of the emblematic Twingo and the designer’s artistic vision, offering a refined reinterpretation of the vehicle.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Renault
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Barbie’s Malibu Dream Home is real and you can rent it on Airbnb! Located by El Pescador State Beach in Western Malibu, a beach community known for wealthy residents and high-end homes, and with less than a month go until the release on July 21 of Greta Gerwig’s BARBIE movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the team at Airbnb has taken over a Malibu mansion and revamped it as the Barbie Dreamhouse of your, well, dreams, or let’s say Ken’s dreams.

The story line is that while Barbie is away, she has handed over the keys to her Malibu Dream House this summer and Ken’s room could be yours for the night. To bring some much-needed Kenergy to the newly renovated and iconic Malibu DreamHouse, the place is decked out with some of Ken’s cowboy stuff as well, icluding horses,  guitars, games and more. And of course, rollerblades, because Ken literally goes nowhere without them.

Now, you can live it up Ken-style for a neon night in picture-plastic-perfect Barbie Land in this sunny surfer’s sanctuary. Placed perfectly above the beach with panoramic views, this life-size toy pink mansion is a dream come true! Welcome to the Kendom!

Booking opens at Airbnb at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, July 17 for two, one-night stays for up to two guests on July 21 and July 22, 2023.

– During your stay, you will have the opportunity to live in technicolor.
– Taking a spin through Ken’s awesome wardrobe to find your best beach fit. Look out Barbie, Ken has got quite the closet too!
– Channeling your inner cowboy and learning a line dance or two on Ken’s outdoor disco dance floor or performing a sunset serenade on his guitar.
– Challenging your fellow guests to a «beach off» with plenty of sunbathing and chillaxing by the infinity pool.
– Taking home a piece of Kendom with your very own set of yellow-and-pink Impala skates and surfboard.

Once you arrive and check-in, a concierge will ensure a comfortable stay for you and your guest — including showing you around and setting out and arranging meals. These one-night stays are not a contest. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Malibu. This home is privately owned and operated.

In celebration of BARBIE hitting theaters on July 21, and to honor girls’ empowerment, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Save the Children. Save the Children provides learning resources and support to children, families, and communities in 100+ countries to build girls’ confidence and help them excel in school – ensuring everyone has equal opportunity to achieve success.

However, a little side note, Ken’s six-pack is not included, you will have to bring it yourself! Or you just hit Ken’s gym!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Airbnb
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