Sandra‘s Closet

«Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man and work like a boss… »

Here I am standing at the construction site of my new home, actually what will be my future bathroom. I truly enjoy the creative process of building and designing. Even that it is not possible to live there yet, I can see the rooms already coming to life in my imagination. It is very time consuming, yet extremely satisfying.

My look: Asymmetric open shoulder dress, by Louis Vuitton, Boss Lady pumps in pink by Sophia Webster, Niki mini studded quilted textured-leather shoulder bag by Saint Laurent, CC logo tights by CHANEL, and Lecce leather belt by Isabel Marant.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

Here it is: the PANTONE Color of the Year 2021 and great news is that we are getting two as in 2016. The global color authority announced PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, two independent colors that come together to create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic promise of a sunshine filled day.

As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. The colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience.

«The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,» said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. «Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.»

Usage
A marriage of strength and optimism, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating do not have to be used in equal proportions, either color can take precedence whether for apparel, beauty, home furnishings, product design or packaging.

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Apparel and Fashion Accessories
Illuminating punctuated by a touch of Ultimate Gray conveys a message of sunshine and strength. Enduring Ultimate Gray provides a great bouncing off point with Illuminating bringing in some brightness by way of a scarf, footwear, handbag, shawl, tops. With its energetic presence the marriage of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are a great combination for activewear. The high visibility contrast of Illuminating and Ultimate Gray adds to its appeal for outerwear.

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Beauty
A mix of warm and cool tones, combining Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in hair or nail makes a dramatic statement. Illuminating sparkles and shimmers when paired with Ultimate Gray in eye make-up.

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Home Decor
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are a great combination to set the mood in any room in the home adding a dose of sunshine and positivity. Juxtaposing Illuminating with Ultimate Gray in table linens, sheeting and home accessories including pillows and tabletop infuses vitality and liveliness. Painting a front door in bright yellow Illuminating conveys a warm and welcoming message when supported by solid and dependable Ultimate Gray in the exterior finishes. The ideal combination for any office whether in the home or in a commercial space with Ultimate Gray providing the firm foundation for Illuminating, a vibrant yellow that heightens awareness and enhances intuition, lighting the way to the intellectual curiosity, originality, and resourcefulness of an open mind.

Personally speaking I love this combination and wore it already today as I cannot wait for 2020 to be over. Let’s hope for an amazing 2021 without masks…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Pantone

Upcycled by Miu Miu is a special collection of vintage dresses reworked and transformed by Miu Miu, while the memory of the originals is preserved in cloth.
A strictly limited selection of just 80 one-off and numbered designs, Upcycled by Miu Miu is built around precious, anonymous finds, dating from the Thirties to the Eighties, carefully sourced from vintage clothing stores and markets worldwide.

Actresses Chen Ran debuted Upcycled by Miu Miu the first ever digital Green Carpet Fashion Awards, hosted by Eco-Age and in collaboration with Camera della Moda last month.

Once restored, pieces are re-fashioned and finished with signature Miu Miu embroideries and embellishments. Each piece is entirely unique and all are completed by hand. Re-imagined through the Miu Miu lens, the lives of garments worn and loved in the past are extended, renewed and sustained, enriching the lives of the women who will wear them by return.

Upcycled by Miu Miu dresses are available in nine selected Miu Miu boutiques worldwide: Milan, London, Paris, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, St. Moritz.

LEFT: 8 /80: A 1960s ivory cocktail dress customised with a white silk crepe collar, green satin bow belt detail and all-over diamanté embroidery; available at Miu Miu New York.
RIGHT: 13 /80: A 1960s embroidered coral red crepe day dress customised with a contrasting black crepe panel and white collar; available at Miu Miu Hong Kong.

LEFT: 14 /80: A 1960s short belted dress in white silk crepe with one-sided pleats on the front, customised with white and emerald green crystal embroidery and all-over diamanté embellishment; available at Miu Miu Shanghai.
RIGHT: 21/80: A 1970s periwinkle blue cotton and linen day dress customised with a white duchesse and lace collar, finished with diamanté embellishment; available at Miu Miu Tokyo.

LEFT: 25 /80: A 1970s green silk crepe day dress customised with a white collar and cuffs, finished with diamanté embroidery; available at Miu Miu Milan.
RIGHT: 26 /80: A 1970s silver and gold knitted cocktail dress customised with all-over diamanté embellishment, a crystal neckline and rose peach silk gazar bow detail; available at Miu Miu Paris.

LEFT: 27 /80: A 1970s white batiste cotton pleated tea dress customised with all-over diamanté embellishment and jewelled neck and cuff detailing; available at Miu Miu Moscow.
RIGHT: 31 /80: A 1970s pale pink pleated crepe day dress customised with embroidered black silk faille sleeves, a crystal jewelled belt, a white crepe collar and feathered hem skirt detailing; available at Miu Miu London.

LoL, Sandra

Actress Elisa Visari wearing Upcycled by Miu Miu.

Photos: © Miu Miu

I just love this bag! Daniel Lee‘s blown-up take on Bottega Veneta‘s intrecciato weave creating perfectly shaped squares feels so modern and sophisticated. The structured, ’90-inspired silhouette is crafted from two layers of soft leather that’s thickly padded so it feels soft and puffy.

In my closet: Cassette small Intrecciato-leather cross-body bag in green

There are two options. First, wear the adjustable leather strap cross-body or tuck it inside to carry as a clutch as seen above or opt for the version with the chunky chain strap in gold (my favorite) or silver, which happens to be another new addition this fall, see below.

In my closet: Cassette chain-embellished padded intrecciato suede shoulder bag in dark brown

YOU CAN SHOP THE FULL VARIETY OF THE DIFFERENT PADDED CASSETTE BAGS HERE.

It is hard to decide, isn’t it?

LoL, Sandra

Photo brown bag: © Sandra Bauknecht. Photo green bag: © David Biedert Photography
Stills: © Bottega Veneta
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

Today, the House of Chloé has already announced its new designer after Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s exit was announced last week. It is no other than Uruguay-born, New York–based designer Gabriela Hearst, whose eponymous extremely successful label turned five this year.

Gabriela Hearst’s famous It-bags have been successful from the beginning.

While Ramsay-Levi’s designs were much appreciated by industry insiders, the brand’s heat with consumers, especially in terms of It-bags, cooled under her reign. That might be one of the reasons why Gabriela Hearst has been chosen. She is bringing a track record of success with handbags. Her iconic «Nina» style has been a huge hit from the beginning, followed by models such as «Patsy», «Diana» and «Demi». These bags are all highly sought after and trying to get them is almost impossible with extremely high waiting lists.

A true rancher by heart: Gabriela Hearst  

Gabriela Hearst grew up on her family’s 17,000-acre ranch, Santa Isabel in Paysandu, Uruguay, surrounded by horses, cattle and sheep, where the notion of luxury meant things were beautifully crafted and made to last. Her approach to «slow and conscious luxury», which is defined in her craft-forward aesthetic and focus on sustainability might be the other reason for being Chloé’s lead candidate.

Chloé’s new CEO Riccardo Bellini

CEO Riccardo Bellini, who joined from Martin Margiela in late 2019, who welcomed Hearst in a statement this morning. had already indicated in an interview with WWD last month, that Chloé was seeking B Corporation certification for its social and environmental performance and was creating an advisory board to hold the company accountable.

Hearst’s first runway show for F/W 2017 was produced to have as low as an environmental impact as possible, and from there her commitment to the issue has only grown. Now, she opts for eco-friendly fabrics and chooses to use recycled yarns whenever she can.

Power couple: Gabriela and Austin Hearst

Hearst’s lead investor is her husband, publishing heir Austin Hearst, whom she married in 2013. She opened her first store in New York in 2018, followed by another in London the following year, and made her Paris Fashion Week debut in September. In 2019, LVMH Luxury Ventures, an investment arm of LVMH, took a minority stake in Gabriela Hearst, making it the only American brand other than Marc Jacobs in which the global luxury conglomerate is invested.

My two favorite looks from the Gabriela Hearst F/W 2020 runway.

I am loving her cashmere knitted pieces. Incredibly soft and each piece has a tag where you can explore its garment journey. Stay tuned for many outfit posts coming up! Honestly speaking, I am truly looking forward to seeing her at the helmet although I liked Natacha’s designs a lot.

TO SHOP GABRIELA HEARST ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Gabriela’s first collection for Chloé will be presented next March. All the best, I am sure it will be different and fabulous!

LoL Sandra

Wearing Gabriela Hearst dress and Nina bag

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Gabriela Hearst
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

My kind of weekend vibes… fighting the grey and cold weather with some vibrant colors and some tropical prints that will put you immediately in a good mood.

My look: Jungle-appliqué embroidered knit sweater by Valentino, printed stretch-cotton poplin shorts, jungle mix face mask, and orange gold-tone and resin clip earrings, all by Dolce & Gabbana, wool cape with contrast trims in red, inverted cat-eye sunglasses, and snake finger ring with crystals, all by Gucci, Cassette Intrecciato leather cross-body bag by Bottega Veneta, and 76 suede over-the-knee boots by Saint Laurent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise. 

The past four weeks have been extremely intense for me. I would say it was probably the most intense time of my life so far. I moved out of the house I had lived in for 16 years and I didn’t do anything else for one month than packing boxes. Everybody in my friendship circle knows that I love doing everything by myself, especially when it comes to my beloved closet. So I wrapped every single piece in acid-free silk paper which is the least harmful for clothing.

During the past months, I had a severe moth and fur beetle problem in my old home which was built in 1896. Those insects hide very well in the old wood floors and moldings – it is almost impossible to fight them. The terminator treated the rooms, I had planted ichneumon wasps for over 10 weeks. Yet, they didn’t go away. Therefore, I had to check every item in order not to pack them.

During this one month, I had the moving company (I can absolutely recommend Hobi Transporte) come every week for two days to load parts. My new house is unfortunately not ready yet. The construction and refurbishment take much longer than expected.

My fiancé lives out of Switzerland which doesn’t make it any easier. However, I managed to get everything done and I am very proud of myself, even that I have to be now in an interim solution next door. Packing means venturing on a trip down memory lane. You find so many things that you might have forgotten about. I indulged in this ride, it made me cry sometimes or laugh. However, it was intense, yet very satisfying.

I am overly excited over the beginning of this new phase in my life. I am looking forward to the new home that we create by ourselves and that will be even more beautiful than my previous one. Every room will be dedicated to a designer.

I have never shown my home in all those years I have had my blog. Now that I moved out, I thought it is time for you to explore parts of it… The closet is missing. This I still keep for myself… one day, I will reveal it as well. Promised!

To new and beautiful ventures, quoting Paulo Coehlo: «If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.»

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography

During the festive season, the Maison Cartier unveils an innovative pop-up store in Zurich: The «Cartier Winter House». Located on Rennweg 22, a few steps from their boutique, Cartier Winter House is a 150 m2 space spread over three floors, much like a «Chocolaterie». A warm and welcoming venue set to open its doors today this year. From Tuesday to Saturday up to 24th December, visitors will be able to discover chocolate creations with unique flavours.

On the ground floor: Workshops and tastings, a hot chocolate bar and customisable chocolate bars, to enjoy in the boutique or to take away!

Then venture upstairs to the first floor of this pop-up boutique to discover the brand’s iconic creations or the exclusive services on offer. Bespoke engraving, touch and try and a cord bar. A perfect opportunity for visitors to find the ideal presents for their loved ones or to just enjoy themselves, whilst sipping on a hot chocolate in a special gourmet tea room.

Finally, the third floor of this venue will be dedicated to more private events, such as digital conversations with friends of the Maison, digital presentations on the Haute Joaillerie collection, and also chocolate-themed dinners skilfully orchestrated by a reknown Swiss chef.

Cartier has held the city of Zurich close to its heart since the opening of its first boutique in 1978, as Laurence Bourgeois, Managing Director of Cartier Switzerland attests, «Zurich is an avant-garde city in terms of architecture, art and design. Cartier naturally found its place there.» The Maison also opened its new boutique at Bahnhofstrasse in 2018.

Practical information:
From 5th to 24th December (open on Sunday 6th and Sunday 20th December)
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm – Tuesday to Friday
Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Thursday Dec 24th from 10 am to 5 pm
Address: Cartier Winter House, Rennweg 22, 8001 Zurich

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Drawings: © Cartier

On December 2nd, I was invited by Net-à-Porter to join a live event hosted by Alison Loehnis, President of NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER and Natacha Ramsay-Levi, Creative Director of Chloé to discuss the S/S 2021 collection. I was so keen on it and hoped to make it on time as the moving company was still unloading my boxes. However, all of a sudden I received a message in the morning of the 2nd that due to Natacha Ramsay-Levi being unwell, Net-à-Porter was regrettably cancelling the event with Chloé. Today, I found out why Natacha was not feeling well.

She is stepping down from her role at the Parisian luxury leather goods and apparel brand owned by Richemont after only 4 years. A new creative director was not named yet.

«Over the last months of health, social and economic turmoil, I have thought about the changes I want to see in our industry and how to better align them with my own creative, intellectual and emotional values,» Ms. Ramsay-Levi said in her statement. «It is this reflection that makes me consider my future differently and desire to pursue new opportunities.»

Me wearing some of Natacha’s key looks for Chloé

Personally speaking, I truly liked Natacha’s vision, who worked as a key deputy of Nicolas Ghesquière during his time at Balenciaga and during his early seasons at Louis Vuitton, as it was a less commercial take on the house’s bohemian and very feminine codes. However, what had been driving the most sales at Chloé previously, were all the It-bags under previous designers like Clare Waight Keller and Hannah MacGibbon, that have been lacking recently. Even that the collections were broadly well received by fashion lovers, they were ultimately lacking in strong-selling items unfortunately. Sometimes, it drives me nuts that people don’t understand the greatness of some pieces and that they opt for mainstream.

TO SHOP THE CHLOÉ F/W 2020 COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Chloé F/W 2020 finale

Photos: © Chloé and © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Dear Santa, if I asked you for an instrument for Christmas this year, it would be the Piano of 24 Colors by Hermès. Indulging in a gifting extravaganza, the set is filled with 24 Rouge Hermès lipsticks designed by Pierre Hardy. The 24 number is in reference to the Hermès address in Paris, 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorè, which means it could also work perfectly as an advent calendar.

The gift box that houses the lipstick collection is as long as a piano, spanning 88.3 cm. Beautifully packaged in the label’s signature orange bag in addition to the box, the collection includes all of the signature shades such as «Beige Naturel,» «Rouge Orange» and «Rose Lipstick.»

As Hermès Beauty’s creative director Jérôme Touron explains: «The 24 colors of our lipsticks resonate together like piano keys. Having them all to hand allows you to play endlessly.»

Limited to 440 boxes, the Piano of 24 Colors is available for example at Selfrigdes to order for £1400 here. A lipstick a day keeps the sorrow away!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès