santo domingo

February 2026
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28

There are moments when fashion, history, and place align in the most effortless way, and my time in Santo Domingo was exactly that.

Invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Oscar de la Renta in the Dominican Republic, I found myself exploring the heart of the city in a beautiful Oscar look, wandering through the Colonial Zone with fresh eyes and a full heart. The streets felt alive with color, pastel façades, sun-warmed stone, and centuries-old buildings restored with such care that history doesn’t feel distant, but present.

Santo Domingo holds a special place in the story of the Americas. Often considered the oldest European-founded city in the New World, it stands as a living reminder of the moment when worlds first met in the Caribbean. Walking these streets, you feel that weight of history, softened by tropical light, music in the air, and the quiet elegance of tradition preserved.

To experience this city through the lens of fashion, heritage, and celebration made the journey unforgettable, a reminder that beauty lives not only in what we wear, but in the stories woven into the places we walk.

My look: Snake-effect cotton-blend poplin gown, letter gold-plated crystal necklace, and gold-tone, faux raffia and bead earrings, all by Oscar de la Renta, Dellena 100 raffia wedge sandals by Jimmy Choo, camera bag in white by CHANEL, bracelet Click H Hermès Factory in gold and lumière, and bracelet Click H in rose gold and marron glacé, both by Hermès, and white butterfly tinted sunglasses by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

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

Print this post

«Fashion is about optimism,» Oscar de la Renta once said. On the last day of the year, those words feel especially present. This year brought profound loss and many difficult moments, marked by the passing of my parents. Ending it with a beautiful memory feels meaningful.

Earlier this month, I travelled to Santo Domingo for the Oscar de la Renta fashion show celebrating the house’s 60th anniversary, an experience I will share more of very soon. For now, this is a first glimpse of the look I wore.

Head to toe in Oscar de la Renta, the orchid print reflected the Caribbean Gala dress code for the night and matched perfect the beautiful background at my hotel, the Kimpton Las Mercedes.

My look: Maxi dress with orchid print, Tro crystal-embellished mini bag, and Impatiens silver-tone crystal clip earrings, all by Oscar de la Renta, crystal embellished sunglasses by CHANEL, diamond rose ring by Piaget , and Double Bow crystal-embellished glittered leather point-toe pumps by Mach & Mach.