Sandra‘s Closet

Greetings from Montreux where fashion meets art at the lake. Ken Price (1935 – 2012) was a Californian artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, whose esoteric style defied categorization. Calling on eclectic influences from Mexican folk art to erotica and surf culture, his output included vibrant landscapes that have become the focus of Loewe’s capsule collection – a selection of limited edition ready-to-wear, iconic bags and accessories.

When Price died in 2012, his obituaries universally acknowledged the scale of his impact on modern and contemporary art. The New York Times described him as «one of the outstanding artists of postwar America», while the Washington Post noted his role in «expanding orthodox definitions of American and European sculpture.»

My look: Cropped asymmetric denim jacket, and Tread Slick canvas and rubber exaggerated-sole ankle boots, both by Alexander McQueen, printed cotton hoodie, and matching small La Palme Heel bag, both by Loewe x Ken Price, track pants in salmon by Moschino, wide bow hair clip by Jennifer Behr, and crystal-embellished sunglasses by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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 The latest creation from HUBLOT and celebrated Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is finally here – and it may well be the duo’s most eye-catching and exceptional creation to date. Introducing the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire Rainbow, reimagining the artist’s iconic smiling flower as a sapphire sculpture set with colorful gemstones and fitted with HUBLOT’s first central tourbillon movement.

Takashi Murakami in front of the Hublot Ginza Boutique with Julien Tornare, Hublot CEO

Transcending the preconceived notions of contemporary art, Takashi Murakami created his own art movement dubbed «Superflat», extending from fine arts such as painting, sculptures and installations to more commercial media such as fashion and animation. Blurring the line between high and low arts, Murakami melds the aesthetic of the Japanese artistic tradition with contemporary art and culture. Of all his works, the most iconic is the smiling flower, which HUBLOT has sought to bring into a watchmaking context through several collaborative pieces. 

The MP-15 is the symbol of a friendship in full bloom, born from a shared passion for breaking down boundaries and going beyond expectations. HUBLOT first began working with Murakami in 2021, with a shared drive of breaking down boundaries and going beyond expectations with their respective artforms. After his eponymous Classic Fusion models and a series of NFT artworks paired with unique pieces, HUBLOT and Takashi Murakami took their partnership to the next level with the unveiling of the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon for the Only Watch 2023 charity auction. Reimagining one of Murakami’s most emblematic motifs, the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon took on the «smiling flower» and transfigured it from Murakami’s signature aesthetic into a wearable sculpture that seamlessly merges contemporary art, avant-garde watchmaking and exceptional gem-setting; the latter of which HUBLOT has pioneered with unexpected techniques and a mastering of the perfect rainbow effect. This requires carefully selecting gemstones that work together in a perfect transition of tones. 

Meticulously crafted from a block of Sapphire crystal, the modestly sized 42mm smiling flower case features twelve petals. True to Murakami’s highly chromatic palette, the twelve petals feature polished Titanium inlays that are set with 444 colored gemstones in total, including brilliant-cut Rubies, Pink Sapphires, Amethysts, Blue Sapphires, Blue Topazes, Tsavorites and Yellow or Orange Sapphires. These stones are grouped together so that each petal is in a different vibrant color, just like the original Murakami smiling flower. 

More than just an incredible feat of gem-setting however, the MP-15 features a truly revolutionary mechanical caliber. At the heart of the HUB9015 calibre is the central flying tourbillon, which can be admired through the domed sapphire crystal engraved with two twinkling eyes and a smiling mouth. A first for HUBLOT, the central tourbillon is an exceedingly rare type of complication that demands advanced engineering and reimagining how a mechanical movement is built. In the MP-15, it is animated by means of a manual-winding caliber that boasts an exceptional power reserve of 120 hours – enough to run for nearly a whole week. To make the winding experience as effortless as possible, HUBLOT has created a special rechargeable stylus that’s placed on the crown, which winds the twin barrels in 100 revolutions. 

With this work of sculptural, wearable art, the notion of innovative and original watchmaking nonetheless takes center-stage. Surrounding the MP-15’s central flying tourbillon and keeping its view unobstructed, the hours and minutes are indicated by two hand tips that revolve around its periphery. The hands are actually positioned beneath the tourbillon cage, with just their tips bent upwards and outwards thanks to an intricate co-axial construction. Making the reading of time effortless and intuitive, the opening features a flange ring set with twelve baton hour markers, each continuing the color of the petal. The visual intrigue of the MP-15 is further enhanced by the fact that most of the movement’s components have been skeletonized, which appear as if floating in a vacuum. A true feat of superlative watchmaking. 

The finishing touch comes in the form of the strap, which is transparent and decorated with Takashi Murakami’s signature flower motif. Like the case, the deployant buckle is crafted in Sapphire crystal and Titanium. 

An artistic endeavor that’s bound to garner the appreciation of contemporary art lovers for its audacity and discerning watch aficionados for its complexity, the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire Rainbow is a limited edition of 20 pieces, available to HUBLOT boutiques and authorized retailers around the world upon request. 

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot #Hublot
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CHANEL and The Boat Race Company Ltd have announced the signing of a long-term partnership with CHANEL as Title Sponsor and official Timekeeping Partner. The 2025 event will become The CHANEL J12 Boat Race. 

The historic race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities was established nearly 200 years ago in 1829. It is the oldest major sporting event in the UK, with the dark and light ‘Blues’ crews of eight rowers pitted against each other on the River Thames every year in the Spring. 

The 2025 edition of The Women’s Boat Race and The Men’s Boat Race will take place on Sunday 13 April along the 4.25 miles of the Championship Course between Putney and Mortlake in London. The Boat Race is attended by over 250,000 spectators on the riverbank, broadcast live on the BBC, and watched by millions globally on television. It has become a treasured highlight in London’s sporting calendar. 

The long-term partnership is an expression of a shared philosophy, one of an uncompromising pursuit of excellence which relies on collective effort to succeed. Boat Race Day encapsulates the raison d’être of Oxford and Cambridge: to develop and showcase exceptional talent, in the same way the House of CHANEL supports outstanding creative expertise. 

CHANEL has had its roots in sport since it was founded in 1910. Inspired by sporting attire predominately worn by men of the time, Gabrielle Chanel was an active sportswoman herself and used materials such as jerseys, and tweeds and created trailblazing designs. These designs gave women the freedom of movement – to ride horses, cycle, and most importantly to choose how they dressed and who they wanted to be. 

CHANEL was the first luxury house to launch its own fragrance in 1921 and its own high jewellery collection in 1932. Decades later in 2000, CHANEL launched the iconic J12 unisex watch – the name inspired by the J Class 12-metre race boats from the early 20th century. 

The iconic J12 watch is produced in the ‘CHANEL Watch Manufacture’ in Switzerland and is powered by self-winding movements from the Swiss Manufacture Kenissi, co-owned by CHANEL. 

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
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Never stop dreaming! Never take any blessing for granted. Coming back from Milan Fashion Week, I was super grateful for all those amazing moments, encounters and experiences. Even after all these years being in the fashion industry and collecting fashion, I have never lost my spark for it. Here you see me at the Prada S/S 2025 re-see. Exploring all the runway pieces up close is one of my favorite things to do as you really get the essence of the collection. Prada has always been a visionary house and you might only understand a few seasons later what this was all about. It is intelligent fashion. I have an extensive Prada collection and like to mix and match different seasons, combining vintage items with new ones like I did here.

Stay tuned for the full report on the Prada S/S 2025 collection coming up shortly.

My look: Double-breasted cloth jacket with feather detail, knitted top in green, and matching green jacquard skort, sequin-embellished triangle bag, and matching sequin-embellished bucket hat, earrings, and black suede boots, all by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Stefano Facca
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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
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In the first episode of MY STYLE ROCKS this week, I wore this super fabulous fun outfit. The topic of the show was «Club Night» and I couldn’t think of a better look to wear on stage. I had sported this outfit before for a night out with Hublot x DJ Snake in Paris.

My look: Sequined tulle jumpsuit by Halpern, Cassandre small suede shoulder bag, patchwork belt with snake head buckle, and Bianca leather sandals, all by Saint Laurent, Impatiens silver-tone crystal clip earrings by Oscar de la Renta, and Big Bang Unico Summer turquoise watch by Hublot.

Please tune in daily at 6pm at Sport1 to see MY STYLE ROCKS! Every time with a new topic and of course a new outfit from my closet …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka and My Style Rocks / Beyza Babacan
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Party time in Athens with my dear friend Mary Katrantzou. Great memories of a legendary night and the start of an amazing new adventure. My white jumpsuit couldn’t have been a better choice, like a plain white canvas waiting to be filled with something exciting.

My look: White jumpsuit with crinoline legs by Alaïa, Horsebit 1955 mini leather-trimmed crystal-embellished canvas-jacquard shoulder bagby Gucci, Tribute woven leather platform sandals by Saint Laurent, and bi-color heart-shaped earrings by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Rian Davidson 
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Another designer to make a career move…, Fendi artistic director Kim Jones is leaving the Italian fashion house but will stay on at Dior Homme, LVMH said in a statement, the latest in a series of designer shuffles at big name labels as the industry adjusts to a downturn.

A new creative organisation for the label will be announced «in due time,» the company said. One of the industry’s highest profile designers, Jones succeeded Karl Lagerfeld at the label in 2020, designing ready-to-wear and couture collections.

Demi Moore walking the Fendi Couture runway in January 2021.

Described as «the hardest working in man in fashion» by ELLE UK’s editor-in-chief Kenya Hunt for a December 2023 profile, Jones has previously held the top job at Louis Vuitton (Men’s) having risen up the ranks of the industry by way of non-profit incubator Fashion East.

Last week, LVMH named Michel Rider to succeed Hedi Slimane at Celine, and in September named Sarah Burton to take over creative direction at Givenchy.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Fendi
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Finally I can share the news for you: the most spectacular style battle in the world is coming to Germany presented by Gülcan Kamps and I will be part of it. On October 15, 2024, MY STYLE ROCKS premiers on Sport1 and I am one of the four jurors alongside fashion designer Harald Glööckler, actress and model Larissa Marolt, and beauty expert Andreas Wendt.

The new show is on daily from Monday to Friday at 4:45 p.m at Sport1 and 3+.

MY STYLE ROCKS is a fashion competition show in which twelve stylish, self-confident women fight a daily fashion battle to determine the most stylish woman in Germany. Every day, the participants get a motto that they have to interpret in their own stylish way. From an autumn walk to a sophisticated business appointment to a club night. They can go shopping or present something from their own closet. After walking the catwalk, they will explain their choices and their inspirations to the jury and their fellow contestants.

They will then be commented on and evaluated using a points system by us fashion experts as well as the other candidates based on their creativity, their presentation and their consistency with the theme of the day.

At the end of the week, on the last gala day, they are given a specific theme – such as «Red Carpet Glam», «Feather Fantasy» or «Halloween Queen» – and the candidates have to take it up a notch. At the end of each week, the person with the highest score wins the weekly prize. Those with the lowest overall score, however, are in the danger zone – and one of them is eliminated.

What I really love about this TV format is that viewers have the opportunity to follow the contestants’ development over the weeks and see how they increasingly express their fashion sense and personality through their outfits. They will also learn new tips and be inspired by their fashion sense. It’s not just about being fashionable, but also about expressing their talent, creativity and fashion sense – and ultimately making it to the finals to win the crown. Personally speaking, I will give insights into fashion history, materials, proportions and trends.

Each week one contestant will win the weekly prize of €1500 and at the end of the series only one of them will be crowned as the most stylish woman in the country. She will win the big prize money of € 20,000!

In Switzerland MY STYLE ROCKS will air on 3+. For more information on the show in German, click here please. I hope you will start watching on Tuesday!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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After its huge success in 2023, Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon returns. The second instalment of this bold collaboration delves deeper into the story of the Sailor Guardians, bringing to life five more beloved characters from the iconic manga series. The capsule collection featuring footwear, bags and accessories draws on inspiration from the celebrated magical girls und is in stores now.

Personally speaking I am obsessed with the footwear. So many cool pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jimmy Choo
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