Sandra‘s Closet

London is having a moment. Galleries are unveiling new exhibitions, restaurant terraces are buzzing with an international crowd, and the city’s royal parks are drawing the global it-set like nowhere else this season. At the centre of it all sits The Lanesborough Summer Picnic, a collaboration with Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé that turns an afternoon in Hyde Park into a masterclass in effortless luxury.

Forget the beach. The most stylish escape this summer comes in a picnic basket from one of London’s most storied addresses. Perched at the edge of Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, The Lanesborough has long been synonymous with Regency grandeur and impeccable service. Its 93 rooms, 48 suites, and signature butler service set the tone before you even step outside.

Executive Chef Shay Cooper has designed a menu that feels as considered as a couture look: smoked London Cure salmon with blinis and capers, burrata with Marinda tomatoes and pomegranate, wild mushroom and truffle filo parcels, and a Sutton Hoo chicken terrine. Scones with clotted cream and fresh English strawberries with vanilla Chantilly cream bring things to a deliciously classic close. Every course finds its match in a perfectly chilled bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé.

Available daily until 6 September 2026, priced at £295 for two with champagne included. Summer in London, done right.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of The Lanesborough
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Yesterday in London was one of those days that remind me why I love this city so much.

TABAYER

Two invitations, both about jewelry, both in the hands of houses that understand beauty as something more than surface. First, lunch at Hide in Mayfair with Tabayer hosted by The Floorr.

With the loveliest hosts Lupe Puerta (The Floorr) and Nyree Tanielian

Founded in 2021 by Nigora Tokhtabayeva, it is one of the most quietly compelling jewelry brands to emerge in recent years. Each piece is rooted in the ancient symbolism of protection, reinterpreted through a modernist, sculptural lens and crafted in Italy using Fairmined certified gold and ethically sourced diamonds. The signature Oera collection draws on Inanna’s Knot, a Mesopotamian symbol of fertility and guardianship, distilled into forms that feel both elemental and entirely of the moment. Jewelry that carries weight, in the most beautiful sense of the word.

With my dear friend Lupe Puerta, founder of The Floorr.

With my dear friend Anouschka who flew in from Frankfurt for the occasion.

BVLGARI

Lupe and I on the steps of the Bvlgari store on New Bond Street.

Later in the evening, I headed to Bvlgari for a truly special night filled with champagne, whisky tasting, and inspiring conversations. The event celebrated the latest creations presented during Watches and Wonders, including the stunning new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo timepiece, which once again showcased the brand’s incredible innovation and elegance.

With Catherine Eberle-Devaux, Bvlgari Watch Communication Director, and Dr. Bill Lumsden, who heads up Glenmorangie’s innovations and has been with the company for more than 25 years. I had met him before at an event in Zurich and it was lovely to see him again.

But beyond the jewelry and watches, evenings like these are always about something even more meaningful to me,  reconnecting with friends in London, sharing conversations, exchanging ideas, and simply enjoying the atmosphere of being surrounded by beautiful things and inspiring people.

With lovely Akram from the Bvlgari London team. We have been knowing each other from Valentino.

It was one of those rare days that felt effortless from beginning to end, and I went to bed feeling genuinely grateful.

LoL, Sandra

With fashion designer Olga Vilshenko.

Beautiful Bvlgari handbags designed by Mary Katrantzou.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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London has a way of making you feel anything is possible. Standing in front of the Corinthia Hotel, one of the city’s most iconic addresses, I chose to show up in full bloom: a floral dress, an oversized studded denim jacket, and zero apologies.

Yes, it is a young look. And why ever not? Age is not a dress code. The only rule that matters is whether you feel alive in what you wear. Wear the dress. Add the jacket. Own it completely.

My look: Grizzo oversized studded denim jacket by Khaite, floral dress with white collar by Miu Miu, Cherry leather platform ankle boots, and Niki mini studded quilted textured-leather shoulder bag, both by Saint Laurent, Aquanaut Luce in khaki green by Patek Philippe, and My Monogram square sunglasses by Louis Vuitton.

Stay wild. Stay free.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @georgiashane
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Where Wine Meets Performance: L’oscar London Launches Cabaret & Cabernet

Some evenings are simply dinner. This is not one of them.
L’oscar London, the discreet five-star boutique hotel housed in a former Baptist church off Holborn, has created something genuinely hard to categorise. Cabaret & Cabernet is a monthly experience series launching this summer, held on the first Friday of each month in the hotel’s extraordinary Committee Room. Just 25 guests per evening, no exceptions.

The premise is seductive: each wine is not merely poured but performed. Working with Crowd Pleaser Events, a collective with over two decades of theatre production experience, L’oscar has choreographed bespoke cabaret performances for every pour. Movements mirror tannins, rhythm follows acidity, gesture tells the story of origin and vintage. The table becomes a stage. The glass becomes a prop. The sommelier, armed with expertise and a flair for dramaturgy, guides the room through it all.

Executive Chef Arturas Kondratjevas completes the picture with a multi-course menu designed not to accompany the wines but to meet them as equals. Textures, temperatures and flavours are calibrated with precision, always leaving space for the real conversation happening between glass and stage.

The setting feels almost inevitable for this format. Teal walls, peacock motifs, bespoke chairs and a sweeping 19-foot table create a room that sits beautifully between opulence and intimacy. Jacques Garcia’s baroque reinvention of the original church interior is the kind of backdrop that makes everything feel slightly theatrical already.

Cabaret & Cabernet runs on the following Fridays in 2026: 5 June, 3 July, 7 August, 4 September, 2 October and 6 November. More at loscarlondon.com.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

L’oscar London, 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA
+44 20 7405 5555

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © L’oscar London
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I’m not feeling blue, I’m wearing blue. Some shades don’t reflect the mood, they define it.

A fur-print dream on denim illusion by Area, paired with the perfect step forward, a collaboration with Sergio Rossi. London feels a little softer when you dress with intention. Grosvenor Square, but make it fashion.

My look: Valette denim jacket by Isabel Marant, fur-print denim sleeveless godet mini dress by Area, matching denim pumps by Area x Sergio Rossi, 2024 mini flap bag in turquoise blue by CHANEL, fishnet tights with Swarovski stones by Calzedonia, and silver-tone crystal clip earrings by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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London has always felt like the perfect backdrop for a little fashion rebellion, so it only made sense to channel my inner eighties icon Madonna, while wandering through the city streets.

This look is my love letter to the quintessential «Material Girl» era: a punk-meets-pop moment where nothing is too much and individuality is everything. Key elements include a dress with net layer, fingerless gloves, a cap and one of my favorite details, the garter belt, worn visibly at the leg. It is a little bold, a little rebellious, and very much in the spirit of eighties styling.

What I love most about this aesthetic is its fearless approach to self-expression. It’s not about dressing neatly, it’s about telling a story, breaking a few rules, and having fun while doing it. Walking through London dressed like this felt powerful, nostalgic, and completely free.

Sometimes fashion is at its best when it doesn’t whisper – it sings.

My look: Double-breasted raw-edge bouclé jacket by Balmain, layered dress in white jersey dress and black logo net (Look 23 – Cruise 2022), tweed cap, 2019 fingerless studded gloves, logo belt, garter thigh micro flap bag, (Look 31 – Cruise 2022), 80’s inspired chain earrings, 21K black nylon and patent leather interlocking CC knee high sock boots (F/W 2021/22 Act II), and 19A all about chains waist bag (2019 Métiers d’Art collection (Paris-Egypt)), all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Vienna, Served in London

This spring, The Lanesborough offers a refined taste of Viennese tradition with an exclusive dessert pop-up in the Withdrawing Room. Created in collaboration with the iconic, family-owned Hotel Sacher Wien, the experience celebrates two timeless classics: the Original Sacher Torte and the traditional Apple Strudel.

Meticulously handcrafted and steeped in history, these legendary desserts are served daily from 10 February until the end of May – paired with Sacher-style coffee or elevated by a perfectly balanced Negroni. A quietly decadent afternoon ritual, where Old World elegance meets London polish.

Menu & Prices
• Original Sacher Torte – £16 per slice
• Apple Strudel – £18 per slice
• Sacher Cube – £8 per cube

Dessert & Coffee
• Coffee with Original Sacher Torte – £25 per person
• Coffee with Apple Strudel – £27 per person

For Two
• Two coffees with one Original Sacher Torte and one Apple Strudel – £52
• Two Negronis with one Original Sacher Torte and one Apple Strudel – £98

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of The Lanesborough
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A typical morning in my Mayfair apartment, wrapped in a comfy Balmain tracksuit, I had one of those quiet moments that remind me how much I love being at home. There’s something about starting the day in comfort while still feeling put together, effortless, but intentional.

Fun fact about me: I can give up almost anything. Alcohol? Easy. Sugar? No problem. But coffee? That’s my guilty pleasure, and I own it. Coffee is non-negotiable. It’s the very first thing I need in the morning, before conversations, before plans, before the world starts asking questions. Until that first sip, I’m on pause. Coffee isn’t just a drink for me, it’s a ritual, a mood, and honestly… my favorite part of the day.

My look: Button-embellished quilted jersey sweatshirt, and matching button-embellished cotton-jersey track pants, both by Balmain, logo-embellished leather biker boots by Fendi, hand belt in black and antique gold by Khaite, Anagram embroidered ribbed-knit tank by Loewe, Kelly Cut clutch in black Swift leather with gold hardware by Hermès, Coco Crush bracelet in yellow gold, Coco Crush necklace in beige gold with diamonds, and Pétales de Camélia ring in yellow gold with diamond, all by CHANEL, bracelets by Cartier, and gold necklace with charms by Foundrae.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Saturdays in London are well spent. My neighborhood in Mayfair is just beautiful. I love strolling around, getting a coffee or meeting a friend for lunch. This outfit is chic, yet ultra comfortable. Exactly what I like to wear on weekends.

My look: Ribbed-knit cardigan, and ribbed-knit flared pants, both by Stella McCartney, gold beige cropped top by Jacquemus, chain pouch bag in clay gold by Bottega Veneta, dark blue 105 suede pumps by Gianvito Rossi, Jungle Love Forever Scarf 90 by Hermès, Clash de Cartier ring in 18K rose gold with amazonite by Cartier, grooved cabochon clip earrings by Saint Laurent, and dark blue buckle sunglasses by Salvatore Ferragamo.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Back in London in my hood… my apartment is located in the center of Mayfair, everything I love, from my favorite restaurants to the best shops, is in walking distance. I love strolling through the streets, running errands in style and having a quick coffee. As you can see in my smile, London is my absolute happy place.

My look: Cropped embellished cotton-blend tweed jacket, and Vichy button-embellished cotton-blend tweed mini skirt, both by Balmain, leather wrap bra top by Alaïa, Aevitas pointy stud leather platform pumps by Versace, Coco Crush necklace in beige gold with diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewelry, necklace and charms by Foundrae, metal glass pearls leather earrings, leather bracelet, and mini rectangle flap bag in pearly lambskin with black-tone metal, all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

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