Sandra‘s Closet

There are colors that carry emotion within them and burgundy is one of them. Deep, romantic, quietly powerful. When I wore this look during Paris Fashion Week, I felt wrapped in its warmth, unaware that life was about to shift again.

These photographs were captured in a moment of light, laughter, beauty, and that fleeting Parisian magic. I look at them now, from the stillness of a hospital room, sitting beside my father on the palliative ward, and they whisper something different. They remind me that happiness is delicate, that life can change in the time it takes to exhale, and yet, beauty remains.

Since losing my mother, I’ve learned that love and loss often live side by side. In caring for my father, in the quiet hours between worry and tenderness, I return to these images to edit, to write, to remember. It’s my way of breathing through the heaviness. This post isn’t just about fashion. It’s about the contrast, between fragility and strength, between what fades and what endures. Burgundy became a reflection of my heart: graceful, bruised, but still beating.

My look: Cropped cashmere-blend turtleneck sweater, pleated knitted cashmere-blend midi skirt, and Le Teckel small leather-trimmed suede shoulder bag, all by Alaïa, vintage sunglasses in burgundy with stingray leather by Louis Vuitton, lace tights by Calzedonia, Rossy 160 patent leather platform sandals, and hoop-drop clip earrings, both by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

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

At London Heathrow’s Terminal 2, right at the heart of the terminal in front of the Louis Vuitton store, sits a striking pavilion: the Louis Vuitton Café. If you find yourself passing through, I highly recommend skipping the lounge and stopping by for a coffee instead, taking a few photos, and soaking in the atmosphere of this stylish oasis. Designed by Mark Fornes / THEVERYMANY, the futuristic, open structure draws the eye with its fluid, honeycomb-like forms and feels more like an art installation than part of an airport.

Inside, the café offers a calm, elegant space where you can pause and watch the flow of travelers. The menu, created by French chef Cyril Lignac, features delicate pastries alongside coffee. I chose a cappuccino, served with perfect foam and a subtle LV motif on top – but you’ll also find madeleines and signature desserts worth trying.

A beautiful spot for a quiet break, surrounded by design and craft, before boarding your flight.

Le Café Cyril Lignac at Louis Vuitton,
Heathrow Airport, Terminal 2,
Hounslow, United Kingdom

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / First Collage: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Wanderlust meets high fashion in today’s look. I’m setting off in style with a bold mix of classic luxury and playful details – think statement patches, a travel-ready Louis Vuitton bag, and my new favorite: wide, offbeat Alaïa jeans that redefine the silhouette. Whether it’s the city streets or a faraway escape, this outfit is all about embracing the journey with confidence and character.

Worn in Episode 88 of MY STYLE ROCKS Season 2.

My look: Travel patch bomber jacket, and matching Side Trunk MM bag, both by Louis Vuitton, white tank top by Alexandre Vauthier, high-rise tapered jeans by Alaïa, Nama suede-trimmed leather platform sneakers by Chloé, hoop-drop clip earrings by Saint Laurent and round sunglasses in shiny pink by Loewe.

LoL, Sandra

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

Louis Vuitton and renowned contemporary artist Takashi Murakami celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their era-defining collaboration with the launch of an extensive re-edition collection.

Some of my own Louis Vuitton – Murakami pieces that I have collected over the years.

My avid readers know, that I have kept every single piece I have invested in for over 30 years. I have always believed that they will be back in style and predicted the era of re-editions and the sustainability movement. I still have the Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami items from 20 years ago and now it is time to unpack them again. For a long time, they seemed outdated as they had been copied too much. However keeping fashion items is a smart choice because trends often come full circle, with styles being reintroduced or reimagined over time. What may seem outdated today can become a statement piece tomorrow. By holding onto well-crafted items, you not only save money but also contribute to sustainability by reducing waste. Fashion reeditions give old favorites a new life, proving that timeless pieces never truly go out of style.

Takashi Murakami

Twenty years after Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami first came together for what became an era-defining collaboration, the House and the Japanese artist are proud to announce the arrival of Louis Vuitton × Murakami, a joyful and celebratory re-edition that reimagines and updates the original collection. Consisting of more than 200 uplifting creations, the project acts as a modern-day showcase for an enduring creative bond, defined by artistic vision, remarkable feats of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, and the timeless appeal of this seminal moment in early 21st-century pop and collector culture.

Actor and singer Zendaya stars in the campaign for Louis Vuitton x Murakami created by renowned Dutch photographers, Inez and Vinoodh.

For Louis Vuitton × Murakami, the playful, yet profound works that the artist created for the original collaboration, initiated by the House’s then Artistic Director, Marc Jacobs – including a kaleidoscopic reinterpretation of the iconic Louis Vuitton Monogram pattern, the first time in its history that it had been reworked – are now celebrated and featured across a wide-ranging assortment of the House’s most renowned and coveted women’s leather goods and accessories.
The renditions have their own respective label, which I love as it will distinguish the original from the reeditions.

The Louis Vuitton x Murakami reedition will be celebrated within a fully immersive visual landscape, ranging from window displays to pop-ups and pop-ins, as well as innovative in-store activations and a dedicated advertising campaign. Louis Vuitton × Murakami will be available to order worldwide from now. A second chapter will be launched in March 2025 and focus on the artist’s perfect-for-spring Cherry Blossom pattern.

I love when old things feel brand new and the original is always better than the re-edition!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton and © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Louis Vuitton’s passion for travel and daring creativity takes flight with the Montgolfière Aéro, a remarkable horological object that marks a new chapter for the Maison. Soaring to new heights, the Montgolfière Aéro is a precious fusion of the Maison’s distinct high jewelry and trunkmaking savoir-faire, combined to Swiss watchmaking.

The hot-air balloon – an imaginative, emblematic symbol of the Maison – now ascends into the world of Haute Horlogerie at Louis Vuitton, inspiring two incredible horological objects. Exploring a new way of telling the time, the piece’s creation began with a simple question: What is more precious than time ? As ever, the Maison looked to its dynamic, innovative founder. Before becoming a famed trunkmaker, Louis Vuitton himself cut his teeth as a packer, where he helped store and prepare his clients’ most cherished objects for travel, ensuring their safe and secure transport on their journeys.

A deep appreciation for adventure and discovery ensured that Louis Vuitton trunks were designed to be functional as well as elegant, innovative and expertly crafted. This led Louis Vuitton, in 1906, to create the Aéro Trunk, a state-of-the-art piece that attached to the basket of a hot air balloon. Light and durable, the trunk also featured a watertight seal, ensuring that in the event of a fall into the sea, the basket would float. Tapping into the fascination for hot air balloon flights, the Louis Vuitton Aéro Trunk captured the imagination of daring individuals keen to explore the world.

An invitation to dream
Two extraordinary Montgolfière Aéro horological objects now channel that very craft and creativity which enraptured Louis Vuitton over a century ago. A gorgeous balloon – in either traditional red and transparent glass, or another in precious wood – incorporates a Swiss mechanical clock. The balloon rests on a basket fashioned as a miniature Louis Vuitton trunk, which has been handcrafted using all the same centuries-old trunkmaking savoir-faire, completed with the Maison’s signature elements and design codes. The trunk also houses the movement’s winding mechanism. The clock embraces multiple codes of the Maison. A Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower indicates the hours and minutes, which are displayed on an upper and lower disc.

At the centre of the openwork balloon is a prominent Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower, while the underside of the trunk also features an Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower lever, which unfolds to wind the clock. An imaginative object that invites one to dream, the Montgolfière Aéro can be displayed in two ways. It’s either a table clock for a desk or shelf, or can be suspended from the ceiling. Floating in the air as the hot-air balloon intended. Designed by Louis Vuitton, the Montgolfière Aéro was manufactured with L’Épee 1839, the historic and award-winning Swiss clockmaker that this year celebrates its 185th anniversary.

A traditional balloon
With a playful transparent and white motif, the Montgolfière Aéro pays homage to a traditional object that has inspired Louis Vuitton campaigns and creations over the years. Each of the Montgolfière Aéro’s glass wings are fully handcrafted, meticulously and precisely made to fit the balloon’s structure. Like a watch or piece of jewelry, the structure incorporates different finishes, allowing for a wonderful play of light and reflections.

At the center of the balloon is a distinctive Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower, a dynamic motif that delightfully spins on its axis with a gentle push. Meanwhile, the remarkable Louis Vuitton trunk is among the smallest trunks ever created by the Maison. Though miniature in size, it retains all the codes of Louis Vuitton’s trunkmaking savoir-faire. Each trunk is entirely handmade from lozines embossing to nailing. The Maison’s emblematic Louis Vuitton Monogram canvas adorns the trunk.

A precious Montgolfière Aéro
Limited to only eight pieces, an exceptional Montgolfière Aéro creation pays homage to the beauty of precious wood. Complementing this craftsmanship, time and patience is Louis Vuitton’s high jewelry savoir-faire. Two exquisite gemstones were directly sourced by Louis Vuitton’s in-house stone department, which has been custom cutting Louis Vuitton Monogram-shape diamonds for over 15 years. A magnificent 9.06-carat citrine briolette adorns the Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower at the heart of the openwork balloon. With a fiery orange and brown hue that recalls the bursting flame of a hot air balloon, the citrine emanates a brilliant play of light and transparency from 80 custom-cut facets.

Perfectly matching this stone is another square-cut citrine that’s set on the Louis Vuitton Monogram Flower that indicates the time. Meanwhile, additional preciousness comes courtesy of 1,200 diamonds that embellish the balloon’s structure. Finally, the bespoke trunk is also crafted in precious wood. Miniature in size, the trunk incorporates all the historic codes of the Maison’s trunkmaking expertise: coins, nails, even tiny Louis Vuitton signatures on the lozines.

To complement the preciousness of the Montgolifère Aéro, the trunk comes studded with diamonds – a first ever for the Maison. To accompany this exclusive clock, a trunk was specifically handcrafted in Louis Vuitton’s historic workshops in Asnières. A new milestone for Louis Vuitton, the Montgolfière Aéro embodies a fusion of the finest savoir-faire, where Swiss watchmaking meets high jewelry, further imbued with Louis Vuitton’s singular trunkmaking know-how. Channeling Louis Vuitton’s daring spirit and passion for travel, the Montgolfière Aéro joyously welcomes a new way of telling the time – and an exciting new adventure for the Maison.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Louis Vuitton presents its new Art of Dining collections, testaments to the Maison’s creativity, heritage and savoir-faire. The Maison now offers complete sets of porcelain, cutlery, glasses and decanters, blending the unexpected with a touch of playfulness. These new collections reflect the creativity and expertise of a House that makes every moment a shared experience: the graphic spirit of Monogram flowers on fine porcelain, hand-blown glass, the Épi motif on sparkling silver or the LV initials illuminated in fine gold… Each piece fuses the heritage of the House with contemporaneity, celebrating the art of living in the Louis Vuitton way.

Constellation Collection
This Limoges porcelain collection christened Constellation was designed to bring a lively, artistic touch to every meal. Each porcelain piece is graced with a pointillism- inspired theme, seemingly hand-painted with an infinite number of dots, recalling the iconic Monogram flower.

Splendor Collection
The Splendor service is a tribute to grand dining moments, combining the refinement of Limoges porcelain with the incomparable gleam of fine gold. Each of the seventeen pieces, from the serving plate to the sauce boat and including the rice bowls, sugar bowl and salad bowl, is decorated with a series of dynamic motifs: the Maison’s initials, the letters L and V, endlessly intertwining, echoing and mirroring each other.

Rivet Collection
For the first time at Louis Vuitton, the offer includes a fourteen-piece cutlery line. The Rivet collection was developed around the timeless trunk nail, a tribute to the artisanal savoir-faire so esteemed by the Maison. This collection, both elegant and functional and available in two variations, gives the cutlery the nail’s tubular shape.

I am totally in love with these new additions to the Louis Vuitton offering for the home.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Created for and inspired by travel, Flight Mode returns as a women’s capsule that elevates lifestyle dressing from Louis Vuitton. Comprising ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessories, the collection presents a wardrobe for the journey as well as the destination. From the functionality of a bag to the feeling of a fabric, Flight Mode continues to build a complete silhouette adapted to contemporary voyage.

The Neverfull Inside Out offers a useful spin on the beloved Louis Vuitton bag. Fully reversible, it can be flipped so that the original inside becomes the outside. A GM size Neverfull Inside Out comes patterned with Flight Mode travel stamps; the MM size is available with three lining colour options; and for both the MM and BB sizes, smooth calf leather is offered in chic and neutral shades. The classic Neverfull will also come in vivid Epi leather – each one endlessly versatile for everyday use, at home or away.

Other iconic bags are revisited in animations that nod to the season, whether the Noé cinched bucket style or the iconic Twist in Fauve, a reddish-brown Epi leather. The Speedy in a supple Monogram canvas makes a statement as three pre-embellished styles: a darker version with black calf trim and a gothic silver chain; a classic option with a golden chain, colourful lining, precious ostrich leather trim and thematic charms; and a craft-focused version with a chain of natural pearls and a special address tag. Additionally, several key shapes showcase the Mahina Monogram as a greyish Brume base with a gradient blue and white effect reminiscent of the changing skies.

Transported to a modernist house within a forested setting, the ready-to-wear shifts between outdoor and indoor. Like the Neverfull Inside Out, wrap coats are reversible and offer a soft yet sophisticated look in wool and silk. For a subtle signature touch, a variety of pieces recall the tonal Mahina pattern, while an all-over print of travel stamps introduces a lively touch of colour to padded vests, fluid silk skirts and light shell pieces. Casual silhouettes are loose yet put-together and include a Monogram grey denim ensemble; velvet jersey sets with colour-block detailing; and tech jersey coordinated looks that are at once sporty and feminine. As layering is integral to travel, the Flight Mode collection also encompasses embossed Monogram, mohair and cashmere knits and sumptuous shearling that can be styled for comfort and relaxed elegance.

Flight Mode footwear spans low impact activity to higher intensity. Sneakers are accented with eye-catching details. The LV Rush is a technical sneaker with a wavy graphic around the upper and elastic laces for an easy fit. Exuding ‘80s cool, the LV Stadium is a mid-top, bi-colour leather style juxtaposing green, rose or blue and white debossed with the mini Monogram. Louis Vuitton Paris curves around the lightweight sole.

Accessories that assure warmth play with the Maison’s codes. And as the weather transitions from fall to winter, a signature Corduroy cap, a LV Fluffy bucket hat, or even sporty socks add up to a total look.

Always channelling the spirit of voyage, Louis Vuitton envisions Flight Mode as a multi-faceted approach to dressing that is dedicated to travel and the ways this is integrated with everyday life.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored. We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Louis Vuitton reveals the Neverfull Inside Out, a reversible spin on an iconic bag.

Neverfull is a bag that embodies the versatility and timeless design of Louis Vuitton, as stylish as it is sensible. An everyday icon for 17 years, Neverfull is the cabas with a memorably playful name. As a new spin, Louis Vuitton has taken this beloved bag and made it fully reversible, proving that Neverfull does not mean never change.

Launching September 20, the Neverfull Inside Out is at once recognisable and fresh. With this inspired interpretation, the bag can be flipped so that the original inside becomes the outside. What was once concealed is now visible: the inside pocket printed with the Maison’s signature stamp becomes a defining detail. A spontaneous sleight of hand, a different assertion of self-expression.

Functionality plays a key part in this latest version. With an adapted resistant lining, the Neverfull Inside Out is durable whichever way it is used. Additional hooks allow the larger MM size of the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.

The Neverfull Inside Out MM has a work-to-weekend feel and comes with a versatile strap for different carry options. Style extends across both sides, whether the outside classic Monogram or the inside grained leather in tones of black and brown. There is also a full textile version that combines coated canvas with fabric lining in three vibrant hues: Saffron, Red and Rose Pondichéry (deep pink). Meanwhile, a seasonal, upscaled GM size of Neverfull Inside Out with travel patches will debut as part of the next Flight Mode collection.

The smaller Neverfull Inside Out BB is defined by an interior zipped pouch that becomes a signature exterior detail. Compact and chic, it flips to leather in several colours including black, Dark Fango (khaki) and Rose Pondichéry. With a new Monogram removable strap, this size is ideal for a shoulder or cross-body carry.

The campaign will feature Sophie Turner, whose lively character pushes the possibilities of the bag’s function. Out and about, she takes her Neverfull Inside Out; sporting one side, then the other, with ease.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Since a few summer season, Louis Vuitton offers the «LV By the Pool» collection, that brings the desire for exotic travel into everyday lifestyle. Revealing airy silhouettes, it unveils a vibrant wardrobe to celebrate the serenity of summer. The past weeks in Switzerland felt so tropical. I loved wearing the pieces for a swim in Lake Zurich. The tote bag is a souvenir from Saint Tropez showcasing the location on one side.

My look: Monogram flower tile long shirt dress, Monogram flower tile bikini top, Monogram flower tile bikini bottoms, Starboard wedge sandals, Neverfull MM tote bag «Saint Tropez» with fan and pareo, Louise hoop earrings, My LV chain pilot sunglasses, and LV Nanogram whistle chain leaf pendant necklace, all by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

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

An exciting new collaboration, LV Art Silk Squares sees five artists bring their unique visions to the lustrous blank canvas of the Louis Vuitton silk square – or carré, in French. The creatives – German pixel-art collective, eBoy; Franco-Japanese-Spanish design duo, Icinori; Italian artist and illustrator, Lorenzo Mattotti; French graphic novelist and illustrator, Nicolas de Crécy, and Swiss artist, Thomas Ott – have all previously collaborated with Louis Vuitton, notably on the Maison’s illustrated «Travel Book» series. For LV Art Silk Square, each explores the theme of the flower within the context of Louis Vuitton. By inventively reinterpreting the four-petal bloom that graces the Louis Vuitton Monogram, the artists bring new perspectives to the Maison’s iconic codes and rich heritage.

The artists’ stunning works are then meticulously transferred onto Louis Vuitton silk squares in Como, Italy, a world centre of silk craft and home to centuries of silk-working expertise. Thanks to a continuous dialogue between the artists, the Louis Vuitton studio in Paris, and the Italian artisans with their remarkable mastery of both traditional and cutting-edge techniques, each stunning carré faithfully recreates the original artwork, a process that often requires multiple layers of colours to be printed onto the finest white silk. The squares are then washed and dried, before their edges are hand-sewn using a time-honoured technique known as roulottage. The rich, lustrous colours of the finished silk squares – designed to be worn in versatile ways or indeed framed – are alive with creative energy, and pay testament to Louis Vuitton’s longstanding commitment to blending art and savoir-faire.

Indeed, the silk square collection is the latest in a rich history of collaborative projects that have seen celebrated artists creating work for Louis Vuitton’s silk squares. Beginning in 1987, leading artists Arman, Sandro Chia, Arata Isozaki, Sol LeWitt, and James Rosenquist were invited to express their talent on a carré for a project entitled The Silk Road. Over the following years, silk squares were designed by, among others, Andrée Putman, César Baldaccini, and Philippe Starck. A new vision for Louis Vuitton silk squares was launched in 2013 with Foulards d’Artistes, two collections of work by famous names in street art, including Os Gemeos and Retna. Today, the full collection of artist-designed silk squares from across the decades is on show in LV Dream, the exhibition at Louis Vuitton’s headquarters in Paris.

Maze of Precious by eBoy
Founded in 1997 by Kai Vermehr, Steffen Sauerteig and Svend Smital, eBoy’s pixel-art aesthetic has become instantly recognizable thanks to its widely acclaimed Pixorama cityscape series. In «Maze of Precious», its Louis Vuitton carré, an LV logo is set in the centre of a labyrinth whose borders represent different fabric weaves, from twill to satin, and which is filled with elements from the Louis Vuitton Monogram pattern, including the rounded flower and quatrefoil, as well as brightly coloured pixellated vegetation, and playful, geometric insects.

Malles Monde by Icinori
The work of Icinori’s Mayumi Otero and Raphaël Urwiller, which blends traditional artistic techniques and modern storytelling, has been published in international newspapers, including Le Monde and the New York Times, and shown in galleries and museums such as the Pompidou Centre Metz. For Louis Vuitton, the duo’s intensely coloured and visually rich «Malles Monde» silk square celebrates the Maison’s trunkmaking heritage and its Art of Travel with malles that blossom with plant life and Monogram symbols to embody the perpetual renewal and ongoing journey of life.

Iris Spring by Lorenzo Mattotti
Artist Lorenzo Mattotti uses coloured pencils and pastels to create dreamlike visions for celebrated comic books, such as Fires and Murmur, and in illustrations published by, among others, the New Yorker and Süddeutsche Zeitung. «Iris Spring», his Louis Vuitton carré, is a tribute to a flower found in the beautiful Art Nouveaustained glass at the Vuitton family’s historic home, which sits within the Maison’s Asnières ateliers. Perfectly framed by multihued trees and a waterfall, the iris’s fluid forms become the centrepiece of a stunning, kaleidoscopic fantasy.

Parfums de Méditerranée by Nicolas de Crécy
For «Parfums de Méditerranée», French graphic novelist and illustrator Nicolas de Crécy – known for his pioneering and narratively surreal works Foligatto and Salvatore – travels to the olfactory paradise of Provence. Inspired by the gardens in Grasse where Louis Vuitton scents are born and blended, his Louis Vuitton carré is an enchanting panorama in his signature whimsical style that combines majestic mountains, intricate representations of scent-filled flowers, and playful inventions based upon the Monogram pattern.

Urban Flowers by Thomas Ott
In his dark and striking graphic novels, such as The Number 73304-23-4153-6-96-8, Swiss artist Thomas Ott uses scratchboards to fashion stark black-and-white, purely visual narratives. «Urban Flowers», his Louis Vuitton carré, employs this labour-intensive artistic method for a delicately surreal, chiaroscuro image that illustrates nature’s ability to transform our urban existences, transfiguring flowers into symbols of the unquenchable human spirit.

Each limited-edition design from the LV Art Silk Squares collection will be available in Louis Vuitton stores and online from 30 August 2024.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.