Sandra‘s Closet

«A mother is the one who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.»

Are you still looking for the right gift for your mum this Mother’s Day? I have a great idea and an amazing contest for you today (how to win, see below please)! Create unforgettable memories for a very special person with moments of pure well-being.

Say thank you to your mother and spoil her with a delicious mother’s day brunch at Park Hyatt Zurich in the elegant Lobby Lounge or treat yourself.

If you have small children, no worries. In addition, plenty of chocolate cockchafer will be ready to be painted by the little ones.

Sunday, 14 March 2017 from 11 am to 3pm
CHF 80 per person, children 14 years old and younger can enjoy 50% off
Reserve a table by e-mailing masters. or by calling +41 43 883 1042.

This is your chance to win an invite for four people to the Mother’s Day Brunch at Park Hyatt Zurich this Sunday!

The lovely menu that is waiting for you on Sunday!

To participate in the contest, please send me an e-mail with your postal address and the header “Mother’s Day” to . All entries must be received until tomorrow Friday, May 12, 2017 at 3pm CEST.

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.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Park Hyatt Zurich

These Dolce & Gabbana heels are a testament to innovative design. They are playful, thought-provoking, and are one-of-a-kind pieces of art – high octane I would call them.

1 Carretto Siciliano Print Pumps
2 Kiera Polka-Dot Print Sandals
3 Under the Sea Embellished Sandals
4 Pineapple Print Platform Sandals

A flower boquet I would love to wear.
Embellished Satin Sandals

And the next season doesn’t stop! Then the heels come with the vase. Aren’t those sandals to die for? Now available for pre-order from Dolce & Gabbana‘s Pre-fall 2017 collection.

Embellished Patent-Leather Sandals 

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

Power pairings… Dress, meet pants! Red have fun with pink! Exciting twists that will make heads turn. The downside? It’s dangerously easy to get it wrong. Here are some tips how to pull it off. First, make sure that the fabrics look good together, second don’t underestimate the proportions of your outfit. A belt might help to accentuate your shape.

A dress over pants has emerged as my latest obsession thanks to Balenciaga that showed that it can be undeniably chic when done right. The partial split (it is sewn together at the seam) at the front of my pink dress, where I put my leg through, and the one in the back, both give a new life to my “old” red leather pants.

My look: Split-side silk-georgette midi dress and scarf leather belt, both by Balenciaga, red skinny stretch-leather pants and red ankle boots, both by Saint Laurent, De Manta brocade clutch by Alexander McQueen, diamond rose ring by Piaget and sunglasses by Céline.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

With email at your fingertips, nonstop group texting, and around-the-clock social media delights and distractions, actually making the time to unwind and shut down at the end of the day can be pretty difficult. My stay at LANSERHOF truly helped me to regain some energy and to boost my beauty sleep which is still for me the most important aspect when it comes to a healthy glow.

While I was at the famous detox retreat, I forgot about my beauty regime (something I love to do from time to time). Sometimes the secret to perfect skin could be about using a minimal amount of product and slapping it on in under three minutes…

CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream
CHF 36.00 (15ml)

«Snap, pop, swipe»! Here is an eye cream that really make you look «wide awake» even if you haven’t gotten 8 hours of rest. The first thing to love about this eye cream is its packaging. It’s housed in a tube with a plastic cap and a ball-tip applicator. Though it might seem confusing at first, dispensing is a snap: Just pop the ball tip applicator up, squeeze and swipe. The skin feels instantly hydrated, a real energy boost. I recommend carrying it in your bag for a quick fresh-up during the day (it can be applied over the make-up).

SISLEY SISLEŸA L’Intégral Anti-Âge
Extra-Rich for Dry Skin Day and Night
CHF 450.00 (50ml)

A major factor of aging is linked to personal lifestyle. Everyday stress, life’s hardships and various excesses deregulate the biological life cycle of cells. This behavioral dimension, the third dimension of aging, affects the face even more than genetic or environmental aging. Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Âge fights against the visible signs associated with the 3 types of aging to provide a truly complete anti-aging solution. The results are spectacular on wrinkles, firmness, radiance, density and hydration to preserve the skin’s beauty. From the first few applications, lines are smoothed, skin is plumped and durably moisturized. Signs of fatigue are reduced, the skin glows (also available for normal skin).

DIOR Hydra Life Moisturizing Tinted Aqua-Gel
Immediate Beauty SPF 30
Water BB 020
CHF 68.00 (30ml)

Inspired by Asian beauty rituals and developed in partnership with Dior makeup artists, this amazing water-based product combines the moisturizing and protective powers of a skincare with the complexion-perfecting and skin-evening properties of a foundation. Its featherweight texture conceals imperfections and reduces surface irregularities, revealing flawless skin instantly. You look like you are wearing no make-up and are provided with a healthy glow. I love it!

GUERLAIN La Petite Robe Noire
Deliciously Shiny Lip Color
020 Poppy Cap
CHF 42.00

Lipstick is the absolute symbol of femininity and seduction. This deliciously shiny lip color provides you immediately with a healthy appearance as it reveals the lips’ natural radiance, leaving them supple and comfortable. What I love most is its buildable coverage thanks to its thin film: one layer to offer a glimpse of the sensual texture of the lips, several for a more dense and sophisticated finish. I personally love to add a touch of orange if I am not wearing any make-up.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht, Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

«Clouds come floating in my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.»

Fluffy clouds to wear this S/S 2017 season … fashion can put you in a state of blissful happiness. Time to get on cloud nine! Happy Sunday!

Get the look: Happy Clouds top by Rosie Assoulin, Puzzle printed leather shoulder bag by Loewe, Cloud iPhone 6/6s case by Stella McCartney, Dionysus embellished suede pumps by Gucci and Panama Every Cloud textured-leather notebook by Smythson.

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

As you know, I am a huge fan of niche fragrances and haute perfumery. But there is one Maison that has always impressed me with its “commercial” launches and that is GUERLAIN. Founded in 1828, the French perfume, cosmetics and skincare house is among the oldest in the world. Perfumes by Guerlain are often said to be characterized by a common olfactory accord known as the “Guerlinade“. Let me introduce you to the newest creation:

Thierry Wasser at work

This spring, Guerlain, that was acquired in 1994 by the LVMH group, has launched a new fragrance for a strong, free and sensual woman, MON GUERLAIN, orchestrated by Guerlain Master Perfumer Thierry Wasser. The new women’s fragrance is embodied by Angelina Jolie, an icon of modern, multi-faceted femininity.

Angelina Jolie, the face of Mon Guerlain

Why her? “We create perfumes for the women we admire” said Jacques Guerlain, creator of mythical fragrances such as Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue and Mitsouko. Thierry Wasser, Guerlain’s Master Perfumer, drew his inspiration from Angelina Jolie to create a fragrance expressing the idea of the “notes of a woman”: the choices, emotions and dreams that embody modern femininity.

The partnership between Angelina and Guerlain was agreed in Cambodia in December 2015, where she was directing her film First They Killed My Father. It has its roots, however, in Angelina’s childhood memory of her own mother’s love of a Guerlain powder. Angelina Jolie is a filmmaker, Special Envoy of the UN Refugee Agency and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She has donated her entire salary from the Guerlain campaign to charity.

At the heart of the fragrance composition is Tahitensis vanilla – also present in Jicky, Shalimar and Habit Rouge – joined by Carla lavender, Sambac jasmine and sandalwood. Melding fresh and sensual feminine and masculine notes, this audacious accord gives Mon Guerlain its power and modernity.

Mon Guerlain – Carla Lavender

The bottle for the new fragrance revisits the celebrated quadrilobe bottle, inspired by an alchemist’s flacon, designed by Gabriel Guerlain and crafted by Baccarat in 1908. One century later, it is beautifully enhanced by a luxurious glass weight and a golden adornment.

The Mon Guerlain fragrance collection features:
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum spray 30ml, 50ml and 100ml
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum bottle 1 l

 Mon Guerlain Perfumed Body Lotion 200ml and Mon Guerlain Perfumed Shower Gel 200ml.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain

When you have thought that your GUCCI Ace Sneakers were already on top of the fashion tribe, you are mistaken. It is time to pimp you footwear and make them truly unique.

For Pre-fall 2017 Gucci offers a large variety of fun embroidered leather embellishments that can be secured and removed using the metal snaps at the back. But careful when you order, they ship as single pieces. So if you prefer the same ones on both shoes, you have to get two.

Have fun mixing-and-matching with your compatible Ace styles!
Available for pre-order by clicking here. Delivery between now and 15/06/2017.
And I am sure that the clips work for other sneakers, too…:-).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci

When it comes to fashion, I am always open to try something new and unexpected. I fell in love with the sequin-trimmed boyfriend jeans immediately. They might not show off your shape in perfection, but I like how they leave a little mystery.

My look: Safari leather top, sequin-trimmed boyfriend jeans, classic Paris D’Orsay pumps with bow and metallic-trimmed leather clutch, all by Saint Laurent, black onyx dragonfly ring and snake ring, both by Roberto Cavalli, Linda sunglasses by Tom Ford.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

They are back! First spotted on the F/W 2016 runway, Balenciaga’s sequin-embellished satin pumps are truly a piece of art. For me, it was love at first sight.

Embellished satin pumps in blue

Everything about these shoes is perfection, the satin, the heel shape and height and of course the exquisite sequin embroidery. The only drop of bitterness is the price tag of CHF 2400!

But still another one to add to the wish list for you! Isn’t it interesting that Demna Gvasalia relaunches some of his bestsellers this season again?! It reminds me a lot of what Hedi Slimane did when he was at Saint Laurent. On one side, it is absolutely great because those expensive must-haves such those heels cannot be added to a specific season which I adore, on the other side he will have to be careful that it doesn’t get boring over time.

Embellished satin pumps in pink

Embellished satin pumps in green

Embellished satin pumps in black

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Always on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala takes place and its 150-foot-long red carpet is probably one of the most-watched fashion events of the year with a gazillion of celebrities walking it in the most exquisite gowns. This year, it celebrated the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” that will go on until September 4, 2017.

Today I would like to share my personal list of best-dressed (and worst-dressed) celebrities that made their way last night into the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur for the party of the year. The dress code called for avant-garde black tie, either you go big or go home, enjoy!

My favorite look on the red carpet: Lily-Rose Depp‘s pink Chanel look detailed with oversized silver camellias and a creeping vine.

Who did meet the dress code the best? The answer is clearly Rihanna. She showed up once again in a full-on fashion fantasy from the Comme des Garçons F/W 2016 runway that was also an architectural miracle, paired with Rihanna Loves Chopard jewelry.

As 2017 Met Gala cochair of the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between” exhibition, Pharell Williams wore ripped denim by Comme des Garçons Jeans with a black biker jacket, and plaid shirt. His wife, Helen Lasichanh, paired her straight-off-the-F/W-2017-runway red onesie with a blonde topknot. Not showing any arms, it looked like a fashionable straightjacket.

Cara Delevingne appeared as a sci-fi fashion fantasy wearing an embellished pantsuit from Chanel‘s Spring 2017 Couture collection. I love how she always surprises.

One of my favorites! Even that Zendaya rejected the theme of the night, she ensured all eyes were on her wearing a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda ball gown covered in a tropical parrot print.

Two thumbs up for bringing glamour to the red carpet. Jennifer Lopez looked gorgeous in a Valentino dress and Harry Winston jewelry.

Lily Collins showed up with a graphic dark bob and black lipstick, juxtaposing her sweet Giambattista Valli gown and her fierce Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

Plus-size model Ashley Graham channeled her inner flamenco dancer in a fabulous custom H&M dress. So pretty!

I am in love with Blake Lively’s Atelier Versace gown that featured a draped gold beading at the bodice, giving way to a plumed train in shades of blue. She had the best accessory of the night with her … her husband:-)! Couple goals I would say!

Another one arrived with her handsome husband who might have thought looking at his wife Gisele Bündchen in Stella McCartney, of Ed Sheeran singing «I’m in love with the shape of you» …

If you don’t have a husband to bring, bring the designer of your dress! That was Dakota Johnson‘s motto of the night, as she appeared in a stunning ruffled black Gucci gown with Alessandro Michele at her side.

Radiant like a sun goddess, actress Jessica Chastain in a yellow fluid Prada gown paired with some stunning Piaget jewelry.

Lupita Nyong’o also dazzled in Prada, pulling off the vibrant orange shade with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

Gigi Hadid looked amazing in a nude, asymmetrical Cinderella-esque Tommy Hilfiger dress. I am just not so sure about the stay-up.

Showstopper! Leave it to Bella Hadid to steal the show in a glittering catsuit by none other than Alexander Wang. She looked so fabulous!

Priyanka Chopra did not disappoint in a bold Ralph Lauren trench coat gown with an unbelievably long train. Very different, something I like. I am just not a big fan of her booties in combination.

Like it or not, the award for most nude goes to none other than Kendall Jenner, whose slinky La Perla Haute Couture dress will absolutely go down in Met Gala history.

When it comes to Gwyneth Paltrow‘s understated Calvin Klein dress, I love the cut and the color, but I am not fond of the ankle length.

Katy Perry was unfortunately not among my favorites last night. The custom red tulle gown by Maison Margiela, designed by John Galliano himself, was topped with a heavy-looking wool coat covered in adornments like tulle flowers and plenty of beads. On the veil, a cryptic message across her eyes spelling “Witness” was embroidered, nevertheless it was truly one of the night’s most creative looks.

My favourite picture of the night! Have a look at Sarah Paulson dressed in a beautiful classy Prada gown. Her facial expression says everything! The American Horror Story actress seemed to have a heart attack after bumping into Madonna with the designer of her camouflage Moschino dress by her side, Jeremy Scott. Declaring war on fashion in camouflage, the famous singer was definitely not going incognito. I am not a fan of her look.

Swiss power at the Met Gala… Roger Federer in Gucci. I adore this snake embellishment on his back!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Vogue.com, © Getty Images, © Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock, © Theo Wargo/Getty Images