Sandra‘s Closet

Victoire de Castellane’s creations continue the sparkling story started by Christian Dior himself: a story of femininity, elegance and refinement, adorned with delicately rendered boldness.

«Yes… A word whispered in your ear, a muffled cry that lies upon your neck… The Oui collection reveals a selfish pleasure, a precious gift or a commitment to life.»
Victoire de Castellane

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Now, the jewelry designer expanded the Dior «oui» collection, which means «yes» in English, featurings rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces that spell out romantic French phrases.

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

There’s for example a pink gold double ring that says «je t’aime» (I love you), dotted with diamonds; a pair of yellow gold earrings that feature the word «toi» (you) on one side, «moi» (me) on the other; and a diamond-embellished «oui» bracelet and necklace, which come in 18k gold in pink gold.

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

And don’t be shy. The cursive font used in the collection also lets you wear several pieces together,  make a statement by stringing together different rings, one on each finger.

Oui bracelet in pink gold with diamond, € 1000

Oui collier in pink gold with diamond, € 1200

I truly hope that my better half reads my blog 🙂 …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

You can’t go wrong with a classic red lipstick — especially when it’s in Dior’s emblematic #999, a hue that is suitable for most skin tones. To celebrate Valentine’s Day and love, the iconic Dior lipstick is adorned with the word «Love».

This flamboyant Rouge Dior, available in two highly desireable shades, is presented in an elegant metal couture box. This limited-edition version of the sensual Dior signature lipstick is a true fashion and beauty essential.

999 – iconic red, satiny finish
520 Feel Good – vibrant pink, satiny finish

In stores now for € 40.00.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

Screen kisses may be loving, life affirming, adorable, darkly romantic, hotly anticipatory and even melancholic. Miu Miu Kisses is a capsule collection of T-shirts printed with film stills of some of cinema history’s most celebrated embraces.

Choose between the sweet – Prince Charming’s life-giving kiss in Walt Disney’s Snow White & The Seven Dwarves – or the sweetly spooky – the ghostly embrace in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. More emotionally charged is Bogart and Bergman’s parting kiss in Casablanca and Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh’s passionate embrace in Gone With The Wind. Finally, if light-hearted and big-haired is the order of the day, the tangle between Jennifer Beale and Michael Nouri in the 1980s classic, Flashdance, more than fits the bill.

Miu Miu Kisses runs the gamut from mischievous to playful and from nostalgic to tender.
Produced in black and finished with the Miu Miu Kisses logo, T-shirts are available in Miu Miu stores worldwide. Such a great gift for Valentine’s Day!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Miu Miu

Prada is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special selection of gold and white gold fine jewellery for both men and women.
In an exquisite, highly original style, precious materials are handcrafted in sophisticated designs that reinvent Prada iconic symbols and the themes of the new collections.

Vibrant hearts, baroque pearls, rock guitars, romantic roses, playful robots but also keys, rabbits, bananas, and the brand’s triangular logo – in gold and diamonds – relive Prada’s history through
contemporary and timeless earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces with an unmistakable hint of irony.

Prada’s fine jewellery is made using 18-carat gold and diamonds from suppliers with Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) certification.
The RJC is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2015 to promote responsible practices from an ethical, social and environmental point of view and respect for human rights in the handling of metals and precious stones, from their extraction right through to their sale.

Now on sale at selected Prada boutiques worldwide as well as on prada.com, exclusively for USA, Japan and UAE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada

«Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.»
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

On February 14, we celebrate the life of Saint Valentine of Rome, who was actually incredibly unlucky and ended up being beheaded. Today it is a celebration of all things romantic, mostly for lovers. But why not thank a dear friend for their friendship or their trust in you. Actions speak louder than words. Personally speaking, I love the written word and the act of taking a beautiful pen to actually write a heartfelt message, is a meaningful sign, something that stays. If you add a spritz of fragrance, it will evoke all senses.

This amazing fragrance by SHALINI «Amorem Rose» is guaranteed to add a serious dose of sex appeal to your Valentine’s Day. Inspired by love, it is the most opulent rose perfume, although different by adding an element of smoke. Besides, it centers around Bulgarian Damask rose, Saffron flowers, Baltic amber and Mahogany wood.

Created by Maurice Roucel, who designed one of my favorite scents Musk Ravageur, SHALINI says in her own words, «it’s a perfumed poem dedicated to the greatest love stories. The Rose has the highest love energy of all the flowers, often referred to as the Queen of Flowers, the symbol of the divine feminine love. The smoke brings a sense of mystery and intrigue reminiscent of a great love… the love that touches your soul deeply and alters your very being.»

Amorem Rose by SHALINI is available at Spitzenhaus in Zurich.

My personal note to SHALINI KUMAR, a former Indian actress, was written with CARAN D’ACHE‘s Ecridor Doré Rose ballpoint pen that is adorned with a new brilliant rose-gilded finish.

Happy Galentine’s Day – to all my girlfriends around the world!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Louis Vuitton extends its New Wave collection in February. Whether tender, passionate or more classic, three shades champion the colours of love. Perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day!

The Heart bag embraces the universal heart shape as a versatile symbol to make your own. A removable shoulder strap, leather handle and a loop on the back allow it to be carried in three different ways: over the shoulder, clutch-style in the hand, or on a belt.

The LV Love locks accent the quilted leather of the Louis Vuitton New Wave line. A host of fun symbols – metallic padlocks, keys and locks – punctuate the small and large – Chain bag, the Heart bag and even the wallets.

The Heart bag comes in blush pink and scarlet with the LV Love locks, while its black version simply sports the LV signature. The blush pink Heart bag with the LV signature is exclusively available online.

Enlivened with LV Love locks, the small Chain bag in scarlet and the large Chain bags in blush pink and black bring their colourful energy to this festival of love.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

I love Valentine’s Day and always enjoy prepping the ultimate outfit. While classic reds and pinks are a quintessential choice, I’m loving the subtle hearts and little pops of color. The unexpected message on the Dolce box bag will definitely steal your heart!

My look: Perfecto leather biker jacket and Janis leather platform pumps with chains, both by Saint Laurent, vintage heart print chiffon dress by Moschino Cheap & Chic, printed metallic leather box clutch by Dolce & Gabbana, heart shaped earrings by Chanel and rose diamond ring by Piaget.

Don’t forget to enter the Valentine’s Day contest with Dyson!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Dress up for date night, unwrap luxury or gift someone gorgeous this Valentine’s Day with this beautiful selection of gifts and outfit inspirations. I have even thrown in an idea «for him»…
The heart wants what the heart wants…

LoL, Sandra

1 Confetti Heart knitted sweater by Chinti and Parker
2 Heart cut-out babydoll dress by Chloé (60% off)
3 Embellished merino wool sweater by Oscar de la Renta
4 Sequined silk bustier top by Oscar de la Renta
5 Carry Secrets heart clutch by Valentino
6 Sicily leather shoulder bag by Dolce & Gabbana

1 Gabby lace-trimmed embroidered tulle underwired bra and matching thong, both by Agent Provocateur
2 Heart-print button-down dress by Alexander McQueen
3 Love letter print T-shirt by Gucci (FOR HIM)
4 New Wave 196 Loulou heart-shaped silver-tone sunglasses by Saint Laurent
5 Pierced-heart straw hat by Gucci
6 Crystal-embellished clutch by Gucci

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, via Harper’s Bazaar, © Sandra Bauknecht

Attention lovers! Also in 2017, MIU MIU introduces a capsule collection especially for Valentine’s Day. Pink and red, sparkling details, the offering draws on the playful juxtaposition of different elements. This quintessentially feminine collection will make the perfect gift!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

Looking for new and creative ways to show your loved one how much you care? You don’t have to save romance just for February 14, why not make every day Valentine’s Day! Saying «I love you» has never been easier, especially for those finding it hard to express their feelings directly. Gentlemen, here we go, I have the perfect gift.

Dolce & Gabbana‘s printed metallic leather box clutch is crafted from laser-cut metallic leather and printed with a playful message designed to look like lipstick. This Italian-made accessory has a handy internal mirror and the label’s signature flower-embellished padlock. Attach the strap to carry it over your shoulder.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana