Sandra‘s Closet

A Weekend at Portrait Firenze: My Five Star Nest Above the Ponte Vecchio

Florence in celebration mode is a beautiful thing. I travelled to the city for my dear friend Petra’s birthday weekend, and while the festivities took me to some of the most magical corners of Tuscany, my home for two nights was a place I have to tell you about: Portrait Firenze, right on the Arno, with my suite overlooking the Ponte Vecchio.

The interiors are the work of Florentine architect Michele Bönan, who designed every house of the Lungarno Collection and drew his inspiration here from local craftsmanship and the birth of Italian haute couture in the 1950s, which explains the mid-century lines, the handmade furniture and that warm, quietly glamorous palette throughout my suite as you can see in the photos below.

Let me start with the feeling, because that is what sets this hotel apart. Portrait Firenze, which is part of Leading Hotels of the World, does not feel like a hotel at all. It feels like your own elegant Florentine residence. Even the check in happens as if you were sitting in a friend’s living room, relaxed, personal, without a classic reception counter in sight. You arrive, you sink into a beautiful chair, and from that moment on, you simply live there.

The service deserves its own love letter. On a Saturday, of all days, I ran into a little crisis: I could not download my photographer’s pictures from the birthday celebrations because I was missing a memory card reader. The team went above and beyond to track one down for me, on a weekend, in the middle of Florence. This is the kind of effort that turns a lovely stay into an unforgettable one.

And then, the food. Breakfast here is truly next level. You all know I am a devoted room service girl, and enjoying my morning coffee in the suite with the Ponte Vecchio glittering right outside the window was pure bliss. One more detail every woman will appreciate: my suite had mirrors in every single corner, even inside the shower.

Caffè dell’Oro, the bar directly in front of the hotel, also facing the bridge, is the perfect spot for a glass of Champagne (I am sorry, Bella Italia … I am not into Prosecco) while watching the Florentines and visitors stroll by. People watching at its most glamorous, I promise.

In the adjacent building, part of the neighbouring sister property, the 4-star Gallery Art Hotel, you will also find the fabulous 701 Rooftop Bar, and great art exhibitions. Portrait Firenze is currently being expanded even further, so there is more to come.

Now for the detail that will make every fashion lover’s heart beat faster: Portrait Firenze belongs to the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection. At check in, you receive a card with lovely privileges, including 10 percent off at Ferragamo and special benefits at the restaurants belonging to the group.

The bathroom amenities are all by Ferragamo, and the suite is filled with wonderful books, many of them dedicated to fashion. Flipping through beautiful fashion volumes with that view? My idea of the perfect day in.

Portrait Firenze is special in the truest sense of the word. Discreet, warm, impeccably run, and steeped in Florentine style and fashion heritage. My weekend there felt like nesting in the most luxurious way possible, a true five star nest experience in the heart of Florence.

Until my next Florentine adventure!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Oliver Rauh / Courtesy of Portrait Firenze
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

It is always a pleasure to be invited by Montblanc to one of their special events. This summer, it was Florence calling for the launch of the new 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection which takes its inspiration from safari travel and exploration.

With this beautiful vegetable-tanned leather collection that is finished with vintage gold hardware for the modern adventurer, Montblanc continues their story of innovation.
So gentlemen, whether you plan an excursion to the sandy dunes of Sahara or a safari to the plains of East Africa, this line is for you.

If you are rather an urban nomad, you will love those 1926 Montblanc Heritage piece as well as they offer an extremely chic and stylish way to carry personal items or technology around the city.

Ladies adventurers: Divine Bonga, PR Montblanc, and my humble self, exploring the launch event.

I am absolutely convinced that many ladies will fall for its vintage feel and the earthy, easy to combine desert hues, too. At the latest, when they spot the bright red printed lining that is inspired by the vibrant fabrics worn by the regal Maasai tribe.

Dubbed the Heritage 1926 collection in recognition of the year Montblanc added leather goods to its business with a small collection of pen cases, the new range features backpacks of different sizes, portfolios, document holders and brief cases, as well as a mid-size weekender and some fine stationery.

Hugh Jackman with me

The launch party took place at Europe’s largest private garden. Italian hospitality at its best with great music, fine food, beautiful displays to create a whole world around the new collection and a special guest that is a true adventurer: Montblanc ambassador Hugh Jackman who had flown in for this special occasion.

An Italian worker explaining how the tanning process of the leather works.

Montblanc’s Creative Director, Zaim Kamal explained to me that for the first time, Montblanc has been using traditional Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather that will take on a patina with age. An early trend for next summer has been spotted at Pitti Uomo, the biannual menswear and accessories trade fair in Florence: Seventies-style bohemianism that plays exactly with that vintage feel that makes the products genuinely personal.

At Montblanc’s manufacture in Tuscany where the leather goods are produced.

The morning after the launch party, I visited the Montblanc manufacture in Tuscany and saw with my own eyes the leather craftsmanship that goes into each of those pieces. I was extremely impressed by the different steps that have to be applied in order to achieve the antique gold color finishing of the metal fittings or the bridge and clasp closing systems.

I am sure that the new 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection will be a full success among all gentlemen and ladies adventurers. Below you can enjoy some more of my impressions of this fantastic event in Florence …

LoL, Sandra

At the launch event in Florence dressed in Gucci.

The evening started with a cocktail reception in the largest private garden in Europe.

Every little detail was perfect.

Mr Hugh Jackman had fun as we did!

On our way inside the tent where dinner was served, we felt like adventurers on a safari.

You could feel the mood behind the collection perfectly.

Seated dinner

Beautiful ambiance

Pieces from the 1926 Montblanc Heritage Collection on display.

Photos in Collage/Still: © Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Montblanc
All other photos from the event: © Sandra Bauknecht

One month ago, I went to Siena, one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, Italy, with a historic centre that has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. The Duomo, the Siena Cathedral (photo below), is a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture and definitely worth the visit. The Piazza del Campo (see photo above), the shell-shaped principal public space that is regarded as one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, is filled with nice restaurants and bars. I loved strolling through the tiny medieval streets in my comfy flats. Sometimes, it feels great just to wear a little bit of mascara and be casual.

My look: Multi-coloured printed cotton dress and  green ‘Miss Sicily’ bag, both by Dolce & Gabbana, studded sandals by Alaïa, sunglasses by Céline, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond necklace, both by Piaget and diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

Funnily enough, this look seems like being part of Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 2016 collection that is inspired by the most famous landmarks of Italy. Don’t forget, the trunkshow ends today!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

GABRIELLA SCARPA

The CEO and President of Acqua di Parma, Country General Manager for LVMH Italy Perfumes and Cosmetics and Dior Couture lives in Milan and travels a lot. Her favourite destination, of course, her home country: Bella Italia
“Wherever you are, the lifestyle is there.”

Your favourite region: TUSCANY
It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There you have everything you want: The wonderful panorama with stunning hills, flowers and colours. You breathe good air and have fantastic restaurants, trattorias and nice people.

Your favourite restaurant: DA CAINO, Via della Chiesa, 4, Montemerano, 58050 Manciano (GR), + 39 3273594882
I love to go to Da Caino in South Tuscany, which is close to the Hotel Terme di Saturnia. It is rated two Michelin stars and very famous. It is in Montemerano, a pictoresque old little town where you can also find fantastic family-managed trattorias.

Your favourite place to stay in Italy: RELAIS TENUTA PALAZZACCIO, Asciano, +39 0577 718600
It is an old, recently restored tower of the fifteenth century, managed by a family with only few rooms that offer all the modern comforts without missing the charm and magic of its secular history. The panorama is to die for with the unique contour of the Crete Senesi embracing you. The best is to go there with friends and to take all the place. Moreover you have fantastic places to eat being in the midst of the Chianti and Montalcino area, the home the best red vines.

Your favourite souvenir: LOCAL PRODUCTS like red vine, prosciutto and olive oil

Your must-see in Italy: CAPRI
It is very fascinating.When you visit this small, beautiful island, you are going to live an experience. It’s different from other places, there is no mass tourism.

Your favourite hotel in Capri: HOTEL QUISISANA CAPRI SPA RESORT, Via Camerelle, 2, Capri, +39 081 837 0788

Your favourite city in Italy: ROME
It has so much culture and an inspiring atmosphere.

Your favourite travel accessory: An ACQUA DI PARMA BAG, of course!
Those luggages are so easy to use, very practical, of great quality while being very elegant.

Thank you, Gabriella, for sharing your insider scoop on Italy with us!

LoL, Sandra

Welcome to Tuscany, where the Gucci headquarters are based in a little town called Casellina, at the gates of Florence. Here Frida Giannini’s beautiful designs come also to life.

Please follow me on an exclusive tour through the bag manufacture:

The first stop is the leather department where the research of fabrics is taking place. When the doors opened, I thought that I had arrived in paradise. Two tables full of the most luxurious materials, from matte crocodile to suede ostrich and colourful python leather. Gucci only uses exotic skins that have a certification to make sure all the guidelines are met.

Crocodile and alligator skins

Matte, rubberized crocodile leather

One of my favourites: The matte suede-effect ostrich leather to the left.

Among the beautiful python samples,…

…I spotted the emerald-coloured one used for my 1973 bag.

The famous interlocking GG started 10-15 years ago with Frida Giannini. Before that time the signature fabric was the one to the right. Frida lives and works in Rome.

One of the most expensive fabrics is still handmade on a wooden loom in a procedure dating back to the 18th century.
It takes the Gucci’s craftsmen one hour to create a maximum of 15cm.

It is truly impressive to see how much work, time and dedication is going into the creation of the right fabrics for a Gucci bag. And all made in Italy!

Next stop is the cutting department where all the important skin materials, such as anaconda, python and lizard, are cut. The artisans have to spend many years working with standard leathers before being allowed to cut noble skins.

The reason is clear: You need lots of skins for an excotic leather bag as the craftsmen have to match the colour and pattern of the skin to achieve maximum beauty. And when it comes to these fine materials, you want to limit the wastage to a minimum.

Third stop: The prototype room. We were not allowed to take photos in there as the Gucci team works one year ahead. My eyes spotted prototypes for 2013 (how exciting!). But I am very sorry, my lips have to be sealed!

90% of the work is done manually in this department. Everything starts with a design. From the paper pattern, the artisans develop a product which after the designer’s, in this case Frida Giannini, final approval will become a sample.

In the prototype room, we were also introduced to the amazing travel trunk which is exclusively done here. Two craftsmen work one entire month on this piece. Design by Tom Ford.

In 2011, ten pieces were done. Among the lucky owners are  John Travolta and Jennifer Lopez.
The price for the travel trunk in fabric as seen here is € 30.000 (special order).

Here are the photos of the crocodile version made out of 23 skins for € 240.000. Divine!

Paulo (in front), who has been with Gucci for 38 years, and Marco are the two artisans producing the travel trunks.

Final stop: The room where the iconic Bamboo handles and accessories are produced.

Gucci uses exclusively Chinese bamboo because of its quality. There is still a lot of wastage as it is very important that the bamboos have a fairly regular diameter and that distance between the noses is equal.
Please enjoy the procedure:

1. Choose the right bamboo and smooth it.

2. Bend it with heat.

3. Give it the burnished colour.

4. Cut and finish it.

5. Apply the sealing wax by hand.

6. The protection will help to maintain its shape.

7. Prepare the wholes for the metal parts to be attached.

Once you see all the work going into a bag, you appreciate it even more. The Gucci people are truly dedicated to their work and you can feel their passion for the product which comes with a very high level of perfection.

No, I didn’t need a doctor even that I went into raptures over the Gucci manufacture. Similiar to a science lab: Some of the workers wear white coats embroidered with the Gucci logo.

Thank you, Gucci, for letting me be part of this amazing experience!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht