Sandra‘s Closet

Tomorrow, Oktoberfest season kicks off in Munich and I am so happy to write this post from my previous hometown in Bavaria. From time to time, I like to play around with the Wies’n style outfits and don’t opt for the traditional «Dirndl» but look for designer pieces that are inspired from Tyrolean or Bavarian styles. This Pre-fall 2019 season, Miu Miu offers some truly amazing options.

Enjoy those beautiful pieces that you can wear all year round …

LoL, Sandra

Ruffled embroidered wool cardigan by Miu Miu

Cropped ruffled cotton-poplin blouse by Miu Miu

Belted velvet shorts by Miu Miu

Bow-top felted cap by Miu Miu

Wies’n stay-ups by Falke, CHF 37.00
Wies’n knee socks by Falke, CHF 26.00

Scalloped crystal-embellished cotton-poplin mini dress by Miu Miu

Miu Lady crystal-embellished leather and matelassé velvet shoulder bag by Miu Miu

Sandale Du Desert 100 leather and gingham canvas sandals by Christian Louboutin

Gold-tone, crystal, enamel and canvas earrings by Miu Miu

 Kassi gingham linen peplum top by Reformation

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, Falke, Miu Miu

«A daily bathing ceremony is one of life’s simplest luxuries. It is a chance to prepare yourself for the day ahead or reflect on the day just gone.» – Claire Croft (founder)

Today, I would like to introduce you to Abahna, a beautiful British brand that is now available exclusively at Marionnaud in Switzerland and that celebrates the ceremony of bathing. Something that has become very important to me. During the last months I had such a crazy schedule that I had this feeling of being literally crushed under a heavy pile of work. I wondered if I was just spinning my wheels, or if it was even worth it. I decided it is time for a change, to look at my own personal time management.

To counterbalance my busy social life as well as all my travels, I knew that I needed to allow myself some me-time to recharge my energy. Since a few weeks, I start my day with a book and leave my laptop unopened while having my first cup of coffee. In the evening, I light a scented candle, take my book and indulge in a bath without checking my iPhone at all. This helps me to clear my mind so I can focus on my actual goals that I would like to achieve in the near future.

Following the idea that bathing could be both rewarding and therapeutic, Claire Croft founded Abahna in 2005, inspired by exotic bathing ceremonies and spas that she experienced during her travels to India and the Far East. Influenced by the world’s many and varied bathing traditions, Abahna borrows from «nahana» (Urdu for to have a bath), the Russian «banya» and the Portuguese «banho». Her focus is on the product formulations and also on the packaging aesthetics. Therefore she carefully works with English suppliers who meet her high standards.

Let me introduce you little further to the ceremony of bathing as throughout the ages it has involved so much more than just getting clean. In ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, the purifying properties of water were revered with sacred practices, while across Asia and Africa special ceremonies honoured its life-giving powers. And still today, Japanese onsen, Moroccan hammam and Scandinavian sauna are steeped in elaborate bathing customs.

In all of these traditions, aromatic oils and natural extracts have been used for health, beauty and emotional wellbeing. Divinely scented and brimming with therapeutic qualities, these ritual preparations are the inspiration behind the Abahna collection.

Claire Croft designed every beautifully packaged product with these rich traditions in mind – from exotically scented soaps, foams and creams to natural wax candles and room diffusers – so that you can enjoy the benefits of your own sumptuous, multi-sensory bathing experience. Before you let the ceremony begin, please read those bathing do’s and don’ts.

• Don’t soak for longer than 20 minutes at a time – extended wallowing can dry out skin and zap energy.
• Don’t soak for longer than 3 minutes in a cold bath.
• Always wait until at least 40 minutes after eating before bathing.
• Bathing more than twice a day is not recommended, as it can strip your skin of its natural oils.
• Try to avoid having a really hot bath just before bed as it increases your heart rate which can make it hard to sleep.

And now enjoy your bath and some you-time. Abahna products make also beautiful gifts.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Abahna

Last weekend, I was invited to a birthday party in Fribourg with the dress code «Choose a Quentin Tarantino Movie Character». The possibilities are versatile but one that I truly liked and that looks great in daily life is the style of Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) in Pulp Fiction. The 1994 movie is known for its many twists, but most poignant of all is her dance with Vincent Vega (John Travolta). It’s in that scene that Mia sports the outfit that has inspired one of the most popular Halloween costumes of the last two decades, with a white button down shirt as the quintessential piece combined with black cropped pants.

My look: Bandage flared pants by Hervé Léger, cotton-poplin shirt, sequined gun shoulder bag, and Janis suede platform pumps, all by Saint Laurent, Petit Jardin embroidered stretch-tulle underwired bra by La Perla, and diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.

You’ll never watch that scene the same way again when I tell you what else made it so iconic for a fashion lover. It was the nail polish on Mia’s fingers. First debuted at the F/W 1994 CHANEL show, Le Vernis Rouge Noir made its screen debut in Pulp Fiction 25 years ago. Until today, the hue is still one of the most coveted—and questionably duped—color in both fashion and beauty history.

I really like this hair style (the wig is from atop.ch). What do you think? Time to get a new hair cut?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 

Flanker is perfume-speak for a new fragrance that launches on the tail of a successful scent. Sometimes, when a brand sees that a perfume is very successful, the company launches certain versions with a slight variation, as a cross-selling strategy, not only for their existing customers but also to attract new ones.

This fall, four new so-called flankers will be launched which I like even better than their original scent and that I don’t want you to miss.

Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey Rose & Rose

Celebrating the wildness of a rose, the new limited edition fragrance is a flanker to 1993′s L’Eau d’Issey. A fruity floral with raspberry, pink pepper, pear, osmanthus, a ‘double concentration’ of damascena and centifolia roses, cashmere, amber and patchouli.

Eau de Parfum Intense CHF 68.00 (25ml), CHF 113.00 (50ml) and CHF 142.00 (90ml).

Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum Intense

This new version of Guerlain’s bestselling fragrance, launched in 2017, is a complete, multi-facetted ode to today’s femininity. this incomparably fresh oriental fragrance is made from a blend of the very finest ingredients, including Tahitian vanilla from Papua New Guinea, jasmine Sambac from India, sandalwood album from Australia and lavender from Provence.

Eau de Parfum Intense CHF 98.00 (30ml), CHF 136.00 (50ml) and CHF 189.00 (100ml).

Twilly d’Hermès Eau Poivrée

The peppery spirit of a daring fragrance, coloured with three new ingredients, vibrant pink peppercorn, tender rose and elegant patchouli. Spicy, floral, woody.

Eau de Parfum CHF 37.00 (15 ml), CHF 84.00 (30ml), CHF 126.00 (50ml) and CHF 171.00 (85ml).
Available exclusively in all Hermès boutiques.

Elie Saab Le Parfum Royal

This is my absolute favorite. A radiant ode to femininity, Elie Saab’s orange blossom and patchouli signature is reinvented as an ambery floral chypre. In the top notes, the fragrance glitters with mandarin essence, shedding its light on a radiant accord. The noble heart of the scent unveils two facets of the queen of flowers, Turkish rose absolute and Bulgarian rose, with precious Lebanese neroli, distilled from orange blossoms grown in the Couturier’s homeland. A regal trail of suede-smooth Indonesian patchouli essence and creamy Indian sandalwood essence blends with amber and vanilla into a majestic, long-lasting silage. Such a beautiful scent.

Eau de Parfum CHF 75.00 (30ml), CHF 113.00 (50ml) and CHF 151.00 (90ml).

LoL, Sandra

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

Modern princesses love this rock ‘n’ roll-meets-romance feel. Deconstructed silhouettes balanced by frilly details make heads turn. Just add a tiara and the throne is all yours!

My look: Crystal-embellished stretch-scuba bodysuit by Alessandra Rich, paneled denim and tulle maxi skirt by Junya Watanabe, Vicky quilted patent leather wallet on a chain by Saint Laurent, Freedom leather ankle boots by Fendi, tiara headband and silver-plated, Swarovski crystal and faux pearl clip earrings, both by Miu Miu.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The collaboration between Apple and Hermès, based on a unique vision and shared values, continues this autumn with radical new creations for Apple Watch Hermès Series 5.
Apple Watch Hermès is the expression of a shared quest for excellence, attention to detail, and a profound respect for know-how and craftsmanship.

Dark Art, black shines a light on time
The dial of Apple Watch Hermès Series 5 is entirely in black, as are the strap and buckle.
The time is revealed by the interplay of light and shadow that accompanies the revolution of the hands.

Della Cavalleria, a play on monochrome and printed leathers
Apple Watch Hermès Series 5 also plays on contrasts with new straps. Three monochrome colours – encre, étain, and brique – combine with leather printed with the Della Cavalleria scarf design. The dial harmonises with these new creations, prolonging the intensity of the colours.

Apple Watch Hermès Series 5 will be available to order on hermes.com and apple.com from now, with availability in selected Hermès and Apple stores from 20 September in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK and the US.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès

In 2019, COROMANDEL lends itself to a new variation and inspires the eighth Parfum in the LES EXCLUSIFS DE CHANEL collection. Darker and more intense, this new interpretation of COROMANDEL exalts the opulence of its oriental-woody trail.

A true exercise in perfuming style, the creation of a parfum requires an intimate understanding of the original fragrance in order to accentuate the most characteristic features and thus intensify its olfactory signature. From the richly woody oriental fragrance COROMANDEL, Olivier Polge, Perfumer Creator for the House of CHANEL, chose to magnify the dark and smoky facets with a special focus on three raw materials that are key to its identity. Frankincense is heightened to give the Parfum a vibrant and vertical power that builds upon contact with the skin. A more concentrated quality of labdanum fully reveals the smoky and leathery accents of its ambery note. Lastly, a densely textured, velvety benzoin gives the COROMANDEL Parfum trail a warm and captivating depth.

Inside Coco Chanel’s apartment: her beloved coromandel screens.

A bolder expression of the COROMANDEL personality, the Parfum is an even greater evocation of the lacquered screens that lined the walls of Gabrielle Chanel’s private apartment. Intense and mysterious, its dark woody trail recalls the deep shades of these luxurious objects from the Orient, with which it shares an exotic elegance and exquisite refinement.

LES EXCLUSIFS COROMANDEL Parfum 15 ml for CHF 274.-
Available in Switzerland from Mid September at CHANEL Zürich, Geneva, Bongénie in Geneva, Jelmoli Zurich, and Manor Geneva.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL

In exactly one week, Zurich will have a new hot spot. Say hello to Baur’s – the new brasserie and bar is part of the famous hotel Baur au Lac.

For the last two decades, the Baur au Lac Grill Room was known as Rive Gauche, and one of Zurich’s most popular restaurants. But at the iconic hotel change is part of its DNA, and Baur’s, an all-new dining concept, inspired by the classic European brasserie, will open on September 20th.

The stunning interior design is blending contemporary chic with international grace in an artful, inviting ambience while the menu offers a fine selection of grill room-inspired dishes, modern takes on culinary classics and plant-based delicacies, paired with a sophisticated wine list, curated by the world’s best sommelier.

Opening hours Brasserie:
Monday – Sunday
Lunch 12 pm – 2:30 pm
Dinner 6 pm – 10:30 pm

Opening hours Bar:
Sunday – Thursday 3 pm – 12 am
Friday – Saturday 3 pm – 1 am

Visit baurs-zurich.ch for more information and to book your table.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Baur’s, Instagram ©baurszurich

It’s not just silhouettes that Demna Gvasalia re-imagines from Balenciaga‘s archives – he unearths some of the house’s signature prints and gives them a fresh spin, too, such as this chain motif from the ’80s. Shooting this post, I truly felt like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her prince behind the thorn hedge. The photos were taken at the Ortsmusem Thalwil (museum of local history), a place worth visiting.

My look: Draped stretch-jersey bustier, asymmetric pleated printed crepe midi skirt, and Opera printed silk twill-trimmed suede clutch, all by Balenciaga, «Dior Split» sunglasses by Dior, crystal, bead and felt clip earrings by Etro, cocktail ring by Chanel, and feather-winged suede sandals by Edgardo Osorio for Salvatore Ferragamo.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Inspired by the season’s colorful store windows, Louis Vuitton launches new digital watch faces for the connected Tambour Horizon watch.

Neon and electric, the Monogram flowers and Louis Vuitton initials pop as if glowing in the dark. You can choose from the four new designs to give an entirely new and eye-catching look to your Tambour Horizon Connected Watch.

In addition to the new neon designs, the Tambour Horizon connected watch includes a travel feature with flight, hotel and transportation information, «My 24 hours» with weather, daily agenda and step counter, along with access to LV’s City Guide and exclusive customizable watch faces to truly tailor the timepiece to your own needs.

The «LV Neon» faces can be added to any Tambour Horizon watch through the Play Store now.

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Collages: © Sandra Bauknecht