Sandra‘s Closet

Today, I would like to wish you with all my heart a wonderful Christmas Eve. Despite all different traditions, some of you might not be celebrating this Christian celebration, others might unwrap their gifts tomorrow, some of us, like me, tonight. Nevertheless, what we all have in common is love and this is what I am wishing you, a night surrounded by the ones you love.

As I adore the magic of this time of the year, I attached some photos of different designer installations to get you in the right mood. Enjoy!

London’s famous hotel Claridge’s annual Christmas tree has been designed by long time guests and friends, designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
(Do you remember the trees in 2009 and 2010 by John Galliano?!)

This amazing installation depicts iconic elements from a traditional Christmas tree reinterpreted with Sicilian elements that draw on the Italian heritage of the designers: hand-crafted Sicilian puppets known as ‘pupi’, hand-painted Italian festive glass baubles and a bespoke multi-coloured ‘luminarie’ framework created in southern Italy.

This Christmas in London, on the streets of Old Bond Street and Sloane Square, Tiffany & Co. has been going back in time with horse-drawn carriages, loaded with small blue Tiffany boxes, which reiterates its message that “The Perfect Christmas Comes Wrapped in Blue.”

And of course, this message is spread around the world with the house’s global shopping window displays.

In Paris, Prada gave French department store Printemps holiday windows with a high-fashion touch. The display, entitled “A Joyful Obsession,” is a colorful creation that is classically Christmas with visual elements inspired by the Italian brand. As part of the collaboration, Prada designed an exclusive collection with apparel, handbags, accessories and footwear.

Here comes my favorite tree installation that can be found in front of the Palace of Arts in Budapest. Made out of 365 wooden sleighs, the 11-meter-tall tree is a sustainable design endeavor which channels the true spirit of Christmas.

After the end of the holiday season, it will be dismantled and the sleighs will be donated to kids living in the SOS Children’s Village homes in Hungary.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, Claridge’s, Inhabitant

You know what I will be doing today… I will be buying all my Christmas presents as for the first time ever, I have not bought one single one. The last weeks were so busy with work that time flew without me realizing it. Yes, I would love to put my bag over my head and just pretend I can do some magic. So if you see me today in the city, say hi and cheer me up.

My look to go shopping: Grey travel poncho by Poncho Company Switzerland, fine-knit wool turtleneck sweater by Lanvin, Photo Ready mid-rise skinny jeans by J Brand, plaid bag and scarf, both by Karl Lagerfeld, green suede tote bag by Hogan, Simona ankle boots by De Siena, earrings by Dior, frog ring by Roberto Cavalli and Pasha C watch by Cartier.

Believe in the magic of Christmas and enjoy the special moments among the ones you love most!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Are you still looking for a last minute gift for a dear girlfriend or a little something to achieve the perfect holiday glow or the right sparkle for New Year’s Eve? Set an enchanting tone for Holiday, with the new makeup collections that express the magic and mystery of an endlessly festive night. Here are my favorites, enjoy and get inspired!

PETITE ROBE NOIRE SO CRAZY POWDER by Guerlain

The star product of Guerlain’s Christmas collection is this luxurious, limited edition atomiser designed to provide a generous puff of powder, scent and iridescent shimmer for the hair and body. Nobody can resist La Petite Robe Noire with its beautiful ingredients of black cherry, almond and Bulgarian rose.

HIGHLIGHTER ROSE ÉTINCELLE – VEIL OF LIGHT by Lancôme

As though the Lancôme rose were captured in crystalline frost this winter… Subtly pink in hue, this iridescent powder instantly illuminates every complexion. Simply apply with a brush to beautify your face and décolleté.
CHF 65.00

DIORIFIC JEWEL MANICURE DUO GOLD NAIL LACQUER BASE & CRYSTAL PEARLS by Dior

Dior reinvents its jewel nail lacquer with a duo that teams a gold base with crystal micro-pearls to sprinkle over nails. A bold manicure for precious, 3-dimensional nails.
CHF 60.00

ILLUSION D’OMBRE by Chanel

Enlivened with metallic reflections, this product can be used to create an extreme, stylised look or simply to caress the eyes with a veil of mother-of-pearl. I have never been a big fan of cream eyeshadows but totally changed my mind because this amazing powder-cream texture makes the application a pure delight.

My favorite shade is 837 Fatal, a silver purple, which is part of the House’s “Nuit Infinie de Chanel” holiday collection.

THE ONE LIMITED EDITION 2014 by Dolce & Gabbana

I am in love with special editions and this impeccably polished gold version conjures the luxurious spirit of its content for the festive season like no other. Holding one of the most beautiful rich oriental floral perfumes, it opens with a sparkling and modern interpretation of fresh top notes of zesty bergamot and mandarin combined with juicy lycée and peach. The journey to the heart follows into the scent of Madonna lily and ends in a sensual base of vanilla, musky and amber notes.

HYPNOTIC POISON by Dior

After showing you all the limited edition highlights for the holiday season, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite scents for winter: Hypnotic Poison, one of the best gourmand orientals on the market that was launched in 1998. Almonds and sambac jasmine mix with vanilla and musk to create a dark, bitter aroma. Pure seduction in a bottle and already a classic! Sometimes I only wear the body products mixed with another scent to achieve a new unusual combination.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of the Brands

It is not Christmas yet but today it feels already like it… NET-A-PORTER‘s semi-annual international sale has gone live! Save up to 50% on designers like Gucci, Stella McCartney, Chloé and many more! I always recommend to get some basic pieces as you don’t want to invest at the end of the season into something too trendy and fancy.

I put together a wish list of basic items, classics that should be in your wardrobe and that could be mixed and matched:

1 Leather over-the-knee boots by 3.1 Phillip Lim
2 Ester cutout suede ankle boots by Giuseppe Zanotti
3 Wool-felt wide-brimmed hat by Gucci
4 Wool-blend blazer by Gucci
5 Wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Chloé
6 Silk and lace dress by Nina Ricci
7 Motocross-style low-rise skinny jeans by Balmain
8 Silk-blend chiffon pussy-bow blouse by Dolce & Gabbana
9 The Falabella crystal-embellished faux leather clutch by Stella McCartney
10 The Pashli medium two-tone shark-effect leather trapeze bag by 3.1 Phillip Lim
11 Geometrie hammered gold-plated cuff by Hervé Van der Straeten

Have fun shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Together with Piaget, I hosted a very special evening called “Soirée de la Couture Précieuse” at the Swiss brand’s store on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich this month. I invited a small circle of friends that also enjoy the beauty of outstanding high jewelry creations.

Piaget‘s enchanting couture collection, first presented at the Biennale des Antiquitaires in 2012, was flown in from Paris on this special occasion. It was a true feast for all senses. While we were enjoying a gourmet dinner by Marco Pfleiderer at the large festive table in the middle of the shop, models presented the finest and most precious jewels, an ode to femininity and seduction. Later, we were able to explore the different facets by trying the pieces ourselves.

If you need a last minute inspiration for a Christmas gift, here you go. To find out more about the Couture Précieuse collection, I kindly invite you to read this previous post with all the details.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Pascal Pazanda

Are you wondering why I named this post Million Dollar Baby? Have a look at my neck… this amazing white gold and diamond choker necklace “EIFFEL MIDNIGHT” is worth CHF 1’190’000 and I had the great honour to wear it recently to a very exclusive event “La Soirée de la Couture Précieuse” hosted by Piaget and my humble self at their store in Zurich on Bahnhofstrasse (photos coming up soon). Believe me, it was hard to take it off…

My look: Houndstooth pencil dress by Alexander McQueen, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps and Sac du Jour leather tote in emerald green, both by Saint Laurent, Limelight Gala watch, necklace and rose diamond ring, all by Piaget and Twenties stay-up by Wolford.
On my nails: Toasted Sugar by Tom Ford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Pascal Pazanda and © Sandra Bauknecht

Happy fourth Sunday in Advent – your chance to win one last time in 2013! Three of  my lovely readers could win a COVERGIRL beauty kit in the amount of CHF 79.00 each.

The COVERGIRL beauty kit provides you with the perfect make-up products to create a glamorous look for the festive season, including the new Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step to make sure your skin looks nothing but perfect! Also included is the LashBlast Fusion Mascara – the brand’s first ever volume and length mascara! The fiberstretch formula and oversized brush make every little lash bigger, fuller and longer-looking. Moreover, the lucky winner receives a Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner, an Outlast Lipcolor, a Nail Lacquer Timeless Ruby and a Smokey Shadow Blast.

To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Covergirl” to . All entries must be received until December 28, 2013. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules.
The winner has to have a Swiss address.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Covergirl

Thank you for your sweet comments regarding my recent outfit post “Amazing Grace“. So many of you liked my Grace sweater by Pringle of Scotland. The iconic brand was founded in 1815 at the birthplace of the Scottish knitwear industry. From the beginning technical innovation has led to the creation of knitwear as outerwear, the signature argyle pattern and the classic twinset.

For the first time, Pringle of Scotland is set to trial a new retail format focusing on cashmere editions, its expertise in knitwear and show casing the current collections with the opening of a seasonal store in St.Moritz, Switzerland, that will be open from now to April 2014. Catering to the resort’s discerning global clientele, it will showcase exclusive Scottish handknits, luxurious cashmere and fur accessories and special re-editions exclusive to the Engadin store.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Pringle of Scotland

Marc Jacobs dedicated his final collection for Louis Vuitton to the women who inspire him. In the same spirit, the S/S 2014 advertising campaign is devoted to a series of portraits of the designer’s muses.

Catherine Deneuve, Sofia Coppola, Gisele Bündchen, Fan Bingbing, Caroline de Maigret and Edie Campbell, the model hand-picked by Marc Jacobs to open his final runway show, are photographed by Steven Meisel.

The simple studio backdrop and restrained color palette turn the spotlight on the personality of each, as well as on the season’s variations on the iconic Noé bag – embroidered with feathers, crystals, alligator or Sprouse sequins, in supple calfskin, or in Monogram canvas trimmed with black leather.

Just as Marc Jacobs’ valedictory show was intended as a celebration, so this, his final campaign for Louis Vuitton, offers a vibrant homage to women and to enduring style.

On the S/S 2014 runway, a single bag appeared in a myriad different guises, the NN14 – the season’s statement update of the iconic Noé bag, famously designed by Gaston-Louis Vuitton in 1932 in response to a request from a champagne producer for an elegant way of carrying five bottles of fizz.

The limited-edition NN14 was created through what Marc Jacobs described as a “cleaning” of the original design – smaller, more streamlined, but still recognizable as a “bucket” for champagne. In addition to Les Extraordinaires, the extremely rare and precious editions whose extravagant embellishments – feathers, crystals, sequins, studs, alligator appliqués – testify to Louis Vuitton’s exceptional savoir-faire, several simpler versions of the NN14 bag will set the tone of the next season.

All share the NN14’s distinctive details: a hand-pleated leather tassel closure, a Louis Vuitton-embossed leather handle, and the emblematic LV padlock and key bell. Inside the bag, a matching removable zippered pocket is perfect for stowing valuables.

The NN14 in Monogram Idole combines canvas with calfskin trim in black, dark red or deep blue. The bag comes in two sizes: small for elbow and hand carry (also available in classic Monogram canvas with natural cowhide trim), and large, which can additionally be worn on the shoulder.

This bag will surely fly of the shelves… question is which one is your favorite?! I am crazy for this embellished one…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Dear Santa, please have a look! My lovely friend Soraya put together a blogger wish list and asked me to be part of it. Here are the items I truly wish for.

1 Appliquéd cotton-jersey and silk sweatshirt by Emma Cook
No designer approaches print and color quite like her.

2 Classic Plonge leather shorts by Saint Laurent
A must for the new season.

3 Stripe leather, suede and canvas sandals by Sophia Webster
Those fabulous heels are perfect for my upcoming trip to a warm weather destination.

4 Cassandre leather shoulder bag by Saint Laurent
No doubt, this summer I will need something yellow in my closet.

5 Multi-coloured backpack by Chanel
The must-have piece of the new season. A wait list voucher is enough for Christmas.

6 Set of two gold-tone arm cuffs by Maison Martin Margiela
Those jewelry pieces vamp up every outfit.

7 Miss Lanvin snow globe by Lanvin
The perfect decoration for my new desk at L’Officiel Switzerland.

8 Story Teller hardcover book by Tim Walker
Coming from my favorite photographer, I couldn’t wish for another coffee table book.

Santa, hurry up, I have just pushed the “add to basket” button… as I cannot wait for those pieces to arrive at my doorstep. I hope that I could inspire you a little.

LoL, Sandra