Sandra‘s Closet

Lollapalooza, the American music festival, is taking a luxury gloss for its Paris edition and invites you to a tailor-made event in collaboration with Balmain and Jean Imbert to celebrate together the essence of Lolla Paris: music, fashion and gastronomy, for a bucolic and musical picnic on Sunday July 19th on the lush green grounds of the beautiful Hippodrome ParisLongchamp (2 Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris), the popular horse-racing complex. In the wake of the corona pandemic, it is possible because France allows 5000 capacity events, but it is vastly downsized compared to previous years.

Balmain created a designer picnic blanket, while chef Jean Imbert took care of the gourmet nibbles and Veuve Cliquot to indulge completely.

Building upon Balmain and Lollapallooza’s long-term commitment to supporting the life-saving work of (RED), the ticket sales will be used to support The Global Fund COVID-19 response.
Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a catastrophic impact on the globe’s most vulnerable communities. To help raise awareness and funds for this initiative, Olivier Rousteing has customized five pairs of the house’s best-selling Balmain Sneakers, as well as several collector’s picnic blankets to be sold online on the day of the event—with all profits raised going to The Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response.

Balmain Music Festival in 2019 and the new sneaker model with straps

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

– Access will be at the main entrance to the Hippodrome, at the Grid of Honor.
– Doors will open from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
– End of the event at 4:00 p.m.
– Ticket received by e-mail to be printed in A4 format.
– Identity document of the purchaser of the valid ticket, which must be presented at the entrance.
– The ticket being valid for 2 people, you will be asked to come together at the entrance to access the event.
– According to the sanitary measures in force at the time of the event, please bring a mask.

TO GET YOUR TICKET, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Balmain

After Lion’s Run, I drove directly to Gstaad for an amazing birthday party with the motto «Wild West». Everybody got dressed in olde-Western-style and we partied until the early morning. I had a lot of things in my closet matching the fun theme, that was loved by both, men and women.

My look: Button-embellished fringed suede vest, cropped fringed sequined denim top, and fringed embellished mid-rise straight-leg jeans, all by Balmain, Paris metallic leather ankle boots by Saint Laurent, Tess small embossed two-tone leather shoulder bag by Chloé, earrings and Paris-Dallas western necklace, both by CHANEL, rodeo style belt by Ralph Lauren, fur tail by Dolce & Gabbana, and matte logo embossed cowboy hat by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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For Resort 2020, many designers got inspired by the wild west radiated through fringe, beading, and even paillettes. Getting into the trend is as simple as choosing a suede jacket from Altuzarra or Balmain. I am invited in one week in the mountains for a western-themed party and cannot wait to transform myself into a cowgirl. Yee-haw!

LoL, Sandra

Cumberland fringed suede jacket by Altuzarra

Oversized fringed suede jacket by Miu Miu

Fringed textured-leather jacket by R13

Russell fringed suede jacket by IRO

Button-embellished fringed suede vest by Balmain

Belted fringed suede cardigan by Alanui

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Capes appeared on the fashion radar last year in full force, when an array of designers put their high-fashion spin on this classic cover-up. Personally speaking, I have been a fan of capes since forever because they are the perfect pieces to wear over voluminous shoulders, big sleeves or embellishments. The trend is thankfully still going strong and giving us good incentive to go hands-free when we wrap up this season. My advice, opt for a statement piece that will make heads turn. It can be inspired by the current ’70s bourgeoisie trend, come with a military vibe, be vibrant or knitted. Here are my favorite ones available with the power to elevate even the plainest of outfits.

LoL, Sandra

Eureka double-breasted camel hair cape by Max Mara

Pleated cashmere cape by Loewe

Asymmetric leather cape by Saint Laurent

Two-tone wool-blend cape by Chloé

Button-embellished double-breasted wool and cashmere-blend cape by Balmain

Reversible wool and silk-blend cape by Gucci

Double-breasted scalloped houndstooth wool-blend bouclé cape by REDValentino

Long single-breasted wool cape by Prada

Leather-trimmed wool-blend cape by Burberry

Organza-trimmed wool and silk-blend crepe cape by Valentino

Wool-blend cape by Valentino

Embellished silk-crepe cape by Givenchy

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Last Friday, I arrived in my happy place which is my old hometown Munich. Before the official start of Oktoberfest on Saturday, I went out with friends on Friday night wearing this quite daring dress. Unfortunately, it is always hard to find someone who is not only willing to take some photos and but also capable of doing so. This time, it was obviously a difficult task:-) – men can be so uncooperative – but I hope that you still enjoy this post.

My look: One-shoulder satin-trimmed crepe mini dress and feather cape, both by Balmain, black calf leather lace up Janis pumps by Saint Laurent, Satin Touch 20 denier stay-up stockings by Wolford, black and white grained leather bag with gold-tone metal details and single earring, both by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Speaking of shoe fall trends, there is no way not to be mentioning Prada. The heavy-duty combat boots we saw on the Italian fashion label’s F/W 2019 runway above are already poised for huge success, and they’re joined by similarly utilitarian styles from Fendi and Balmain, which I predict fashionistas will wear with floaty dresses or tuck their trousers into.

If you’re wise enough to make an investment now, shop the boots that speak to you the most (before everyone else does)… don’t say I didn’t warn you!

LoL, Sandra

Laser-cut leather and suede ankle boots by Alaïa

Ranger logo-debossed leather ankle boots by Balmain

Ceonene 40 leather ankle boots by Gianvito Rossi

Cruz studded textured-leather ankle boots by Jimmy Choo

Army lace-up leather ankle boots by Saint Laurent

Lace-up leather ankle boots by Prada

Freedom leather ankle boots by Fendi

Leather boots by Miu Miu

Rope-trimmed lace-up leather ankle boots by Balenciaga (50% off)

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

In July, I travelled with TOM FORD to Gordes in France for the launch of the brand’s newest unisex fragrance, LAVENDER EXTRÊME. An extremely beautiful scent that I fell in love with from the first encounter, different from everything I had smelled before. The iconic lilac flower is upended, translated from its storied origin in Provence and into a fresh subversion of itself. Different types of lavender are mixed together, developing diverse facets, from an adrenaline-pumping freshness to an amber-like facets and layered with Italian bergamot and citrus. For the base note, the relaxing scent of lavender gets a shot of electricity with a spicy, warm oriental tonka, and benzoin drydown. Extremely sexy, seductive and long-lasting – exactly what TOM FORD stands for.

For the social media campaign, I was honored to be part of this amazing shoot in the lavender fields close to Gordes, wearing this stunning outfit by TOM FORD.

My look: Light jersey mock neck cape dress, leather pumps with padlocks, vintage purple «punk»-style fur bag, silk-chiffon headscarf, and Linda sunglasses, all by Tom Ford, leather and suede waist belt by Balmain.

Housed in an all-silver, sleek bottle, LAVENDER EXTRÊME is the epitome of understated glamour. In Switzerland available now at Jelmoli, Globus Zurich and Globus Geneva for CHF 340.00 (50 ml).

Enjoy more photos below and stay tuned for the make-up look coming up soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Virgile Guinard for Tom Ford / © Sandra Bauknecht

Balmain‘s Pre-Fall 2019 or David Koma‘s F/W 2019 collection are both boasting the animalistic trend with beaded ornates that curve from the hip up towards a single padded shoulder. Dragons or serpents, both are stunning examples of an opulent yet unfussy approach to design. Wear them with smoky eyes and your hair pinned into a bun to highlight the shoulder cutout or opt for the skirt with a turtleneck during the day.

One-sleeve crystal-embellished stretch-jersey mini dress by Balmain

Embellished cutout stretch-cotton velvet mini dress by David Koma

Embellished cutout stretch-cotton velvet mini skirt by David Koma

And as usual, here is a little tip to channel the season’s dramatic sense of glamour on sale:

Left: Snake-embroidered beaded velvet mini dress by Valentino (60% off)
Right: Snake-embellished tulle gown by Valentino (60% off)

Time to unleash your inner snake in the Garden of Eden and to transform into a fierce, yet seductive woman.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht

You snooze, you lose… I don’t let my readers miss out on hundreds of items by Tom Ford, Givenchy, Jimmy Choo and more – all now in final sale.

Shop up to 80% off at NET-A-PORTER – plus enjoy 20% off all ‘Sale Must-Haves’! Here are the 10 pieces on sale you shouldn’t miss:

Silk-chiffon headscarf by Tom Ford
A piece that will elevate every look to new heights and will be your friend on a bad hair day!

Asymmetric gathered stretch-crepe gown by Givenchy
A runway piece that moved like a flowing waterfall as it made its way down the S/S 2019 runway. An investment piece for a great piece that works for all seasons.

Dolce Box crystal-embellished acrylic clutch by Dolce & Gabbana
A clutch decorated with glistening crystals in a striking leopard pattern will never come out of fashion.

Maureen 85 leather-trimmed zebra-print satin mules by Malone Souliers
Zebra print is THE trend among animal prints for the F/W 2019 season. This is your chance to get ahead of the fashion tribe!

Love 100 glittered checked leather pumps by Jimmy Choo
Another great transition piece. A must for winter!

Belted marbled intarsia-knit jacket by Balmain
A wonderful cardigan for cold summer nights and a daily companion for winter.

Gold-tone clip earrings by Kenneth Jay Lane
Would you have guessed that those earrings are now Marked down to less than €30?

Fringed jacquard-knit wrap by Etro
This wool-blend jacquard wrap is exactly what you want to reach for on chilly days.

Loulou medium leather and jute-trimmed quilted printed cotton shoulder bag by Saint Laurent
A seasonal but fun piece you shouldn’t miss! Bohemian luxe at its best.

Printed silk-twill scarf by Versace
A classic that makes a great gift as well.

Happy Weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Today is Independence Day (colloquial: the Fourth of July), a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. So here is my round-up of patriotic but fashionable pieces to wear to all those Fourth of July parties or of course all year around. Luckily, designers have found plenty of ways to transmute the classic stars and stripes motif into something fun, and dare I say elegant.

1 Embroidered apliquéd leather bomber jacket by AMIRI (50% off)
2 Chuck Taylor All Star 70 logo-print canvas high-top sneakers by Converse + JW Anderson
3 Storm rubber and ribbed-knit thigh sock boots by Givenchy (40% off)
4 American flag-intarsia wool-blend sweater by Saint Laurent (40% off)
5 American flag-appliqué cotton baseball cap by Vetements (50% off)

6 American Flag T-shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren
7 Flag print dress by Polo Ralph Lauren
8 Eagle print iPhone X cover by Palm Angels
9 U.S.A. print T-shirt by Balmain (50% off)
10 Flag print hoodie by Calvin Klein Jeans

Happy Fourth of July!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands,
Runway Photo in Collage: Viktor & Rolf F/W 2000