Sandra‘s Closet

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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There could hardly have been a more fitting moment for an evening dedicated to craftsmanship, heritage, and design. As Bvlgari celebrates 120 years of its St. Moritz boutique, Mary Katrantzou travelled to Switzerland for the occasion, beginning with a first stop in Zurich before heading to St. Moritz. During an evening in Zurich, the Maison once again demonstrated its remarkable ability to honour its history while expressing a confident and contemporary creative vision, with Mary’s presence adding a meaningful creative dimension to the celebration.

Against this backdrop, the unveiling of the Spring/Summer 2026 Leather Goods and Accessories collection, alongside the sculptural Icons Minaudière creations, carried particular weight. The evening was not simply about new designs; it was about continuity, evolution, and the discipline required to build icons that endure.

At the center of it all stood Mary Katrantzou, Creative Director of Leather Goods and Accessories, whose approach to design is guided by structure, clarity, and an uncompromising respect for craftsmanship. Mary does not create bags as seasonal statements, she constructs objects intended to last, pieces defined as much by their engineering as by their beauty.

Under her direction, High Craft is not a tagline. It is a methodology.

Seeing the Icons Minaudière collection in person made this immediately evident. Architectural and jewel-like, these pieces occupy a space somewhere between handbag and collectible design object. Metal frameworks are executed with remarkable precision, surfaces are resolved with near-jewelry attention, and every proportion feels deliberate.

The XS minaudières, notably smaller than a smartphone, express this philosophy with particular confidence. They are not designed around practicality but around presence, objects chosen for their expressive power rather than their capacity. It is a bold stance, and one that speaks to a house secure in its authority.

Running parallel to these sculptural forms was the emotional centerpiece of the evening: the newest iteration of the Serpenti Cuore 1968.

Following its successful debut, the heart-shaped silhouette returns for Spring/Summer 2026 in ultra-supple Light Amethyst calf leather. Defined by its emblematic form and the sinuous metallic snake handle inspired by the Serpenti Harlequin watch of 1968, the design captures the idea of love with surprising discipline, romantic, yet architecturally controlled.

Arriving just ahead of Valentine’s Day, the bag felt perfectly timed. Not sentimental, but symbolic.

The Cuore universe expands further with the introduction of the Serpenti Cuoricino, a jewel-like miniature that reinforces Mary’s nuanced exploration of scale. Retaining the padded curves of the original, it reads almost as wearable jewelry. Pavé crystal versions, meticulously hand-applied through a complex multi-step process involving more than 4,600 Swarovski crystals, leave no doubt about the level of craftsmanship at play.

For me, however, the evening carried an additional – deeply personal – dimension.

Mary and I have shared a friendship for many years, and seeing her present these collections with such quiet authority filled me with enormous pride. She is endlessly inspiring: intellectually rigorous, instinctively creative, and grounded in a warmth that makes her brilliance feel even more rare.

Over time, I have collected each of her own collections, pieces I continue to return to not only for their design but for what they represent. Wearing a look from her F/W 2018 Bauhaus collection that evening felt almost inevitable, a gesture of admiration, but also of continuity.

With heart-shaped bags subtly setting the tone, it felt as though Valentine’s Day had arrived early. Yet rather than romance, the atmosphere suggested something more modern, a refined kind of Galentine’s moment: women supporting women, celebrating creativity, and recognizing the work behind objects of lasting value.

After the presentation, we slipped away for dinner, just the two of us. Mary tried Zürcher Geschnetzeltes for the very first time – a proper Zurich classic – and the simplicity of that moment provided the perfect counterbalance to an evening defined by high craft.

What lingered afterward was not only the beauty of the objects, but the clarity of the message behind them.

One hundred and forty years after its founding, Bvlgari continues to prove that true icons are never static. They evolve, they adapt, and when guided by vision and craftsmanship, they remain unmistakably relevant. And some evenings remind you that the future of a historic house is safest in the hands of designers who understand exactly that.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of BVLGARI / Remy Steiner for Bvlgari
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Perfume – the scent-sational way to wear your signature style.

Why settle for spritzing it on when you can dress in it? This look is a fragrant fantasy come to life: a chic dress by Mary Katrantzou, whose iconic perfume bottle prints helped launch her career and put her on the fashion map. Paired with a clutch that’s literally a mini fragrance bottle and earrings that sparkle with the same olfactory obsession, it’s playful, polished, and perfectly extra.

Proof that fashion and fragrance make the ultimate power couple.

As worn in Episode 82 of MY STYLE ROCKS Season 2.

My Look: Perfume bottle print dress by Mary Katrantzou (F/W 2009), Gianni bow-detail satin pumps by Versace, perfume clutch bag, and matching perfume earrings, both by Balmain.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @yayhan
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Today’s episode of MY STYLE ROCKS is about «fairytale characters».
For the show I styled this outfit with pieces of my closet and became a fashion fairy, ready to put my magic spell on our lovely candidates. I love creating theme inspired outfits with normal pieces instead of going to a costume shop.

My look: Faylinn dress by Mary Katrantzou (Look 23, F/W 2017 collection inspired by Walt Disney’s Fantasia), puffin resin clutch by JW Anderson, Kiki embellished suede platform knee-high boots by Marc Jacobs, and velvet cone princess hat with veil by CHANEL (Look 66, Métiers d’Art Pre-Fall 2021 ‘Le Château des Dames’).

A big thank you to the team on set, @metindemirhair and @saimesaime for the gorgeous clip-in bangs. Do you think I should cut my hair like this? I am pretty much tempted …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht /  Beyza Babacan
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Congrats to my dear friend Mary Katrantzou, who announced today, that she will be the first ever Creative Director of BVLGARI Leather Goods and Accessories in the Roman high jeweller’s 140 year history. She will undertake the position alongside the continuing creative directorship of her eponymous brand.

With my dear Mary Katrantzou at the baptism of her son in Spetses.

«The rich cultural heritage and dual Greco-Roman roots of BVLGARI have played an integral part in my formation as a designer. I have always been inspired by the design codes and syncretism of BVLGARI, its mastery of colors and the depth of narrative. I’m deeply honored to be the first Creative Director of BVLGARI Leather Goods and Accessories, leading the creative vision for this new chapter and elevating everyday life into a form of art. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mireia Montoya for introducing me to the world of BVLGARI and to Jean-Christophe Babin for his trust in me and welcoming me to the family.» – Mary Katrantzou

With Mireia Montoya who is wearing one of Mary’s first designs for BVLGARI, and Nicholas Kirkwood.

Mary’s first couture show

The first time Mary collaborated with BVLGARI was for her first couture show at the Temple of Poseidon for the Elpida charity in 2019, when BVLGARI loaned her their incredible heritage high jewelry pieces.

BVLGARI x Mary Katrantzou – Part 1

Part 2

She launched two special bag collections afterwards in collaboration with the Roman house.

Personally speaking, I remember it so vividly when Mary launched her amazing initial bag collection and we presented it during the UBS Economy of Fashion in London in 2017.

Bauknecht or BVLGARI – the B is the most important and obviously I had a good feeling of what is coming up already in 2017. Mary and I had many years ago a long dinner conversation about which brand she would love to design for. I think she made a match made in heaven with BVLGARI! I cannot wait to see the outcome of Mary’s amazing creativity.

There is something about Mary, that we all love! So many friends came to her show at the Temple of Poseidon to celebrate her!

Mary’s debut collection for BVLGARI will be in stores globally in August 2024.
Mary, I am so proud of you!

LoL Sandra

Photos: © Bvlgari / Mary Katrantzou / Sandra Bauknecht
#Bvlgari #MaryKatrantzou #SerpentiMetamorphosis #MaryKatrantzouxBvlgari #NataliaVodianova #NakedHeartFoundation
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Drawing inspiration from her signature archival prints, Mary Katrantzou has created a series of mesmerizing rugs in collaboration with The Rug Company. Discover the full collection offering a distinctive fusion of bold patterns and timeless sophistication to enhance any interior space. I am literally obsessed and Sunray Pink is my favorite.

LoL, Sandra

Sunray Pink

Sunray Nude

Framis

Feather Marble Maroon

Feather Marble Midnight

Botanical Paradise

Bluebell Daydream

Photos: © Mary Katrantzou / The Rug Company
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Today is the birthday of my dear aquarius friend Mary Katrantzou. who launched a beautiful scent with BVLGARI, that reminds me of those warm, endless summer days.

Inspired by the joyful spirit, vibrant allure and unbridled exuberance of Omnia, fashion designer Mary Katrantzou created an exclusive new fragrance in collaboration with Master Perfumer Alberto Morillas.

«Growing up, we had gardenia trees in my home in Greece, Alberto Morillas realized my dream of capturing the scent of this living flower. For this collaboration, I imagined the Omnia bottle as a sculptural vase holding a bouquet of colorful flowers, creating this universe of optimism and sincerity.» – Fashion Designer Mary Katrantzou

Reminiscent of Mary’s childhood memories and conjuring Italy’s love affair with spectacular floral, Omnia by Mary Katrantzou is «a beautiful universe that awakens our olfactory and visual senses.»

This new fragrance, a colorful floral Eau de Parfum, is a caress to the soul and an infusion of optimism, exploding with the brightness of Mandarin and accords of Gardenia and Fig leaf. A celebration of life’s purest pleasures: an ultra-lush flower bouquet, the smell of an unforgettable bloom, the joy of colours.

Flashy Sparkling Top Notes
Mandarin Essence, Fig Leaf accord

Kaleidoscopic Floral Heart Notes
Gardenia accord, Orange Flower

Prismatic Dry Down Notes
Blond Woods accord, Musk accord

THE BVLGARI OMNIA COLLECTION
The three iconic fragrances of the collection are given a new look inspired the new fragrance Omnia by Mary Katrantzou. A specially designed collection, reimagining the Omnia universe with its spectacular colourful flower dresses.

The bottles and packaging are so beautiful, colorful, vibrant, full of life. An optimistic and uplifting scent – captivating the energy of nature’s wonders and the amazing spirit of my dear friend Mary!

Happy Birthday, Mary, may all your dreams come true!

Click here for yesterday’s post with all the details of my outfit.

LoL, Sandra

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

The best way to prolong the warm season is a great floral summery fragrance that will immediately transport you to your favorite holiday destination in your mind. A new level of style is when your look matches your scent … I am loving it!

My look: Ruffled broderie anglaise-trimmed cotton-voile blouse by Saint Laurent, belted floral-print cotton-blend poplin maxi skirt by Mary Katrantzou, Naomi buckled leather mules by The Attico, vintage ultraviolet Serpenti shoulder bag by Bvlgari, aviator sunglasses by CHANEL, Diorette ring by Dior, and long floral drop earrings by Dolce & Gabbana.

Scent: Bvlgari Omnia by Mary Katrantzou.

LoL, Sandra

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

Birkenstock’s partnership with London fashion institution Central Saint Martins is launching the result of a two-year project with the BA Fashion History & Theory and MA Fashion courses. Releasing four designs and Birkenstock’s first-ever Archive style. Initiated in 2018, the project saw the CSM BA Fashion History & Theory course research and enrich Birkenstock’s prolific archive. Enabling students to immerse into Birkenstock’s culture and legacy to finally extract and define the core elements of Birkenstock’s history spanning over 250 years. The result of this research translated into a second project with the MA Fashion course. Inviting students to give their interpretation of emblematic styles in their contemporary way, thus shaping the future of the iconic German brand.

The four winning students with Fabio Piras.

One year later a jury of 12 renowned industry leaders led by Birkenstock CEO Oliver Reichert, MA Fashion Course Director Fabio Piras and fashion critic Sarah Mower MBE, were invited by Birkenstock to review all student portfolios and selected a shortlist of 10 finalists awarded as the winning designs with a first bursary award.

My favorites: Moto Sandal by Alex Wolfe.

Over a year of product development, four of the student designs have qualified for serial production.  Each design has the student’s name embossed in the iconic Birkenstock footbed. Experiencing the challenge to realize the product innovation delivered by these students is a good challenge. «We are proud to have a proven impact on these early careers and are counting this as one of our most relevant projects», states CEO Oliver Reichert.

Bukarest style in white by Alecsander Rothschild

The release of the collection is supported by a short film, seeing the jury and the professors exchange their views on the final product with the students. The jury was headed by Sarah Mower MBE and included CSM alumni Mary Katrantzou and Roksanda discussing with Gert Jonkers, Claudia Croft, Mimma Viglezio, Osman Ahmed, and Nick Vinson.

THE COLLECTION

Moto Sandal by CSM graduate Alex Wolfe (1991*)
Using Birkenstock’s expertise in orthopaedic shoe design Wolfe’s take on the Rotterdam Moto sandal challenges us with urban graphic as well as a striking upper leg design. Relying on Birkenstock’s very own eudermic material Birko-Flor he creates a flexible shield, whereas the foot lining of Nappa leather and suede offers a soft and soothing bed.

Cosy style by CSM graduate Dingyun Zhang (1995*)
Zhang’s pillow like version of the Arizona sandal takes inspiration from futuristic outerwear and oversized puffers. As a homage to comfort Cosy transforms the Arizona into a supportive, timeless classic. Its monochrome, contrasting color choice of snow white straps and black sole (and vice versa) fortifies the long-lasting design approach.

Terra style by CSM graduate Saskia Lenaerts (1993*)
As a reference to the classic Milano sandal, Terra’s prominent stitches replicates footlines, while Suede, Nappa and Nubuk leather offer comfort. Using contrasting colours like black/white and black/ultra blue the designer recreates the shadow play of an engraved footprint in the sand.

Bukarest style by CSM student Alecsander Rothschild (1992*)
Inspired by Brancusi’s contrasting use of different materials and textures Rothschild works equally with three kinds of leather to express his version of Birkenstock: Rustic black oiled nubuck leather or innocent white debossed leather, Rothschild offers a third version in shiny Silver.

Tallahassee Archive Style
To complement the student designs, the iconic Birkenstock Tallahassee Style from the 1990s sees a rebirth in contrast color designs. Uniting an artistic touch with long practiced craftsmanship the Tallahassee ornaments the foot without compromising comfort. As a woven coat the debossed leather enrobes the wearer like a second skin.

The collection is available with select stores worldwide and on 1774.com from now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Birkenstock, © Walter Pfeiffer
#BIRKENSTOCKxCSM

When food meets fashion! Belonging to different luxury fields, Mary Katrantzou and Galateo & Friends have joined forces and created a limited-edition luxury gift box, containing a selection of excellent quality olive oils and vinegars to brighten up any table setting.

This four-piece gift set contains:
– Extra Virgin Olive Oil «Cultivar Taggiasca»
– Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
– «Flamingo» Rosé Wine Vinegar
– A gourmet condiment based on Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Fresh LemonMary Katrantzou «dressed» each bottle and the sustainable and elegant gift box with colourful stamp prints, inspired by her signature postage stamp print. The perfect addition to the home of any food and fashion lover, specifically designed to please you both visually and gustatorily.

TO SHOP THE GIFT SET, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mary Katrantzou
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. I am just loving it!