Sandra‘s Closet

This week, Hermès celebrated its theme of the year «Vive la Légèreté» in Zurich in an intimate celebration at Kunsthaus. The motto was translated in multiple ways into a breathtaking setup, from the airy clouds decorating the swings where you could take a photo to the dreamlike pegasus installations at the open ceiling. Yvonne Leuthard, Press & Influence Manager Hermès Switzerland, explained to me that those pieces were used at another event in Paris before. Sustainable luxury is something very dear to the French Maison.

Ease became a subject of inspiration to which creatives and craftsmen were invited to respond. Hermès has always been a house dedicated to the quality and sensuality of materials and textures. Known for its precision and artistic complicities, a plethora of its offerings feature silk, soft and light as air.

Thierry Outin, General Director Hermès Switzerland, Sara Mathivet, Store Manager Hermès Zurich, and Florian Craen, Executive Vice-President Sales & Distribution, who had flown in from Paris for the night, welcomed the guests. Dancers dressed in floral costumes performed at the cocktail reception as well at the dinner and made the celebratory event a success.

The food was vegetarian with several outstanding courses prepared by Franzoli, from a fresh herb consommé to a «fir branch» to an amazing pavlova that was presented in a shape of a mountain. The titles of the courses were very pictorial, «the lake», «the undergrowth», «the meadow», «the glacier», «the forest», and «the summit», all inspired by Swiss landscaping.

The culmination of the night was a «golden rain» from above that gave this feeling of lightness and hope. Lightness is when the everyday becomes miraculous, it is in the gentleness of a smile, the tenderness of a touch, the gracefulness of a gesture and the beauty of a night like this.

Thank you, Hermès, for having me!

LoL, Sandra

My outfit was perfectly matching the theme with my winged heels and the cloudy skirt.

The Hermès crocodile gang.

With Kim Dang from NZZ

Photos:  © Sandra Bauknecht
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He is heroic and solitary, midway between comic book character and Greek divinity. With Super H, Hermès opens up a new playful and creative interlude of Time as a new object from the House.

Slim d’Hermès Minuit au Faubourg plays on the worlds of pop art and Paris to create a light, offbeat horological miniature, produced in two series of 24 timepieces each. Its theme is derived from a silk scarf designed in 2014 by Dimitri Rybaltchenko.

The Eiffel Tower stands out against a sky streaked with clouds and studded with aventurine stars, majestically overlooking the legendary sloping zinc Parisian roofs that reflect the bluish gleam of the moon and the rosy glow of the setting sun. The dome of the Invalides can be seen in the distance, along with its neighbouring obelisk on Place de la Concorde. A few streets away, the wings of the Moulin Rouge spin in the summer wind. But the essential element lies elsewhere.

Where? 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. This is where «Hermès Sellier» – as mentioned on the wall sign – took up residence in 1880.
On the top floor sits a secret garden surrounded by a column-lined terrace. At the call of his name, beamed as an H from the top of the Eiffel Tower, Super H is ready to take flight. His cape flutters in the wind, revealing his initial: an orange-brown «H». A superbly proud and majestic comic-strip Pegasus, he stirs the imagination: what will happen? Why was he called? Where will he fly to?

One thing is for sure: Super H will fly off draped in a soft luminescence, thanks to the artisans at Hermès Horloger. A beam of light made of Super-LumiNova is projected from the Eiffel Tower. At night, it sparkles near the dial surface, tracing the outlines of the Super H banner. All around it, the Parisian scene is hand-drawn in micro-painting. Its multiple layers – particularly the thicker one in Super-LumiNova – give the dial a slightly grainy texture, like a canvas.

Entirely hand-crafted and resulting from more than 50 hours of work, each dial will be unique, framed by a 39.5 mm white gold case and powered by the Manufacture Hermès H1950 self-winding movement. Numbered limited edition of 24.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès / David Marchon
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Firmly embedded in the masculine universe of the House, the Hermès H08 watch combines tension and fluidity, robustness and delicacy. This recent signature with its assertive style flaunts its pluralistic nature in an intense shade of blue.
Created in 2021 by Philippe Delhotal, Creative Director, Hermès Horloger, the Hermès H08 watch combines rigorous discipline with high standards. As sporty as it is elegant, it features a strong aesthetic dimension and plays with shapes and materials.

The Hermès H08 watch is a finely balanced object embodying the harmonious interaction of opposites and contrasts. Shaped by attention to detail and accurate skills, it is distinguished by a graphic connection between all its components that represents a true style signature. Its geometric lines reveal a bold style involving a circular dial with singular typography, framed by a case with softened edges.

Its deep blue titanium case is topped by a black ceramic bezel and screw-down crown. A play of textures and finishes highlights the blue PVD-treated dial, punctuated by white Arabic numerals and orange accents. The black hands indicating the hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the date between 4 and 5 o’clock, are driven by the Manufacture Hermès H1837 mechanical self-winding movement.

A blue rubber strap with a black DLC titanium buckle underscores its sporty spirit and creates an urban and contemporary look echoing the world of Hermès men’s ready- to-wear.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès
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It’s not an April’s fool. I just got back from NYC to visit the Watches & Wonders fair in Geneva (so many incredible things to show you… if you have been following my Instastories, you know what I am talking about) and now I am packing again and will be off to Boston this weekend. I couldn’t be more excited as I am visiting my daughter for her birthday.

What to pack for Boston is always a challenge as the weather can be so unpredictable. You can have a beautiful sunny day followed by a snow storm 24 hours later. So layers are always a great way to be prepared for all possibilities. My teddy coat is one of my favorites to travel with. It is so light, yet so warm.

The photos were taken in several places, on the new pedestrian bridge that connects two ends of Northeastern university campus, on one of the most photographed streets in the city, Acorn Street, that is reminiscent of a colonial Boston, as well as in front of the famous bronze ducks located in the Public Garden.

My look: Teddy Bear Icon camel hair and silk-blend coat by Max Mara, Dioraura cashmere sweater by Dior, FF-jacquard shearling-lined ski headband by Fendi, fringed checked cashmere scarf by Burberry, Kurt high lace-Up boot by Celine, low-cut skinny jeans by Polo Ralph Lauren, Twilly Doll «La Folle Parade» by Hermès, and Multi Pochette Accessories in monogram canvas by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Over the past fortnight, the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag has become a familiar sight of solidarity. By wearing this color combination to the Bold Woman Dinner with Veuve Clicquot, I wanted to send one straight and bold message: spread love not war. The world could be so beautiful if we learnt to live with each other in a peaceful way no matter our skin color or nationality.

I wish we had more female leaders – I am convinced, the world would be a better place.

My look: Blue puff-sleeve flared faille midi dress by Alexander McQueen, royal blue silk satin bow tie pumps by Aquazzura, necklace by Alessandra Rich, Constance 24 in Evercolor Lime with palladium hardware by Hermès, Maillon de Cartier 16mm 18-karat white gold diamond watch, and Clash de Cartier bracelet MM in white gold, both by Cartier, and vintage blue sapphire earrings by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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In times of quarantine and lockdowns, during holiday season or just for fun, board games  are always a welcome distraction of the day. If you have a fellow fashionista friend, this could be a great gift idea. Board games have been rendered in a variety of shapes and materials by several fashion houses, from luxe crystal-embellishments to sturdy wood. I have gathered some of the most beautifully designed chess sets and game boards that are sure to delight everyone from game novices to Kasparov-level players.

LoL, Sandra

Lambskin, resin and silver metal, black and ecru checkers set by CHANEL (Métiers d’Art 2021 Le Château des Dames) (FYI, the Zurich store has one set left)

Chess set by Prada

Acrylic chess set by Jonathan Adler

Horsecut chest game by Hermès

Crystal-embellished Dominoes game by Rosantica

K/Ikonik monogram card game by Karl Lagerfeld

Barocco Medusa puzzle game by Versace

Decorative backgammon set by L’Objet

Nudes tournament size backgammon set by Alexandra Llewellyn

Helios mahjong set by Hermès

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands and © Sandra Bauknecht
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Centuries after Marie Antoinette met her fate at the guillotine, her influence remains unshakeable. The French Queen serves as a constant source of inspiration for many fashion designers. When Jeremy Scott needed a gimmick for his Moschino F/W 2020 show, Marie Antoinette was there at the ready. Here you see me wearing one of the looks with a beautiful toile de jouy print on denim. I think this is something that Marie Antoinette would wear today.

My look: Graphic-print denim coat, jabot-collar blouse, cropped pants in printed denim, all by Moschino, Mage metallic embroidered velvet ankle boots by Manolo Blahnik, Constance 18 Mini noir black alligator mat with lizard buckle by Hermès, and  gold-plated glass pearl cameo clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken at the beautiful Baur’s Zurich.
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This was my outfit that I wore to the wonderful evening at the Dolder Grand with Glenmorangie. I am such a big Zimmermann fan. The creations are so feminine and easy to wear. Combined with muted colors or black, the dresses also work their magic during winter time.

My look: Concert embroidered floral linen-blend lawn dress by Zimmermann, Kronobotte 85 leather knee boots by Christian Louboutin, Kelly So Black in box leather by Hermès, and clip earrings by CHANEL (Métiers d’Art 2012 Paris – Bombay).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Andrea Monica Hug (Instagram @andreamonicahug)
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Part of my series of self-shot outfit posts with a timer, please find today the uninhibited good girl gone bad who finds herself in a luscious floral whirlwind in the garden of good and evil. Joking aside, this is what I love about fashion, you can dress up or down and invent yourself every day new. You might wear a floral gown but in the right combination you are half-innocent and half-seductive. The choice is all yours…

My look: Winnifred belted tiered floral-print cotton-blend dress by Ulla Johnson, ruffled embroidered wool cardigan by Miu Miu, Mini Dauphine bag by Louis Vuitton, Birkin 30 in gold Epsom leather by Hermès, lace-up booties with logo buckle by CHANEL (F/W 2021), and Royal Oak 37mm 18-karat frosted rose gold watch by Audemars Piguet.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Once the preserve of hippies and ravers, tie-dye has moved into the mainstream. Psychedelic and colorful, the trend prominent in the ‘60s and ’70s has returned to the runways, giving 21st-century fashion a playful twist. With its uplifting mood, the trend gathered steam during the pandemic and has remained popular ever since. I love my Gabriela Hearst tie-dye pieces that transport a little bit of summer into fall.

My look: Massey tie-dyed cashmere maxi shirt dress, Severino frayed tie-dyed cashmere scarf, and Vettel striped cashmere cardigan, all by Gabriela Hearst, Marble Silk Constance bag by Hermès, neutral Amber Ghost suede and PVC sandals by Alexandre Vauthier, Windsor round acetate sunglasses by Isabel Marant, Maillon de Cartier 16mm 18-karat white gold diamond watch, and Clash de Cartier bracelet MM in white gold, both by Cartier.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rian Davidson 
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