Sandra‘s Closet

Your next dream destination? It might be an intergalactic exploration if your budget allows for a 28$ million trip to space with Jeff Bezos or to accompany Richard Branson on another space test-flight. The global super-rich are taking joyrides in viewing our planet from above.

If you are a fashionista, your space race is on this season. Several designers have tapped into the «Living on Mars» trend, with BALENCIAGA offering the most authentic interpretation. Now you can look like you accompanied Bezos to space without spending millions of dollars, a few thousands are just enough.

The most insane and most expensive piece of the collection is the so-called Space Parka. First spotted in the label’s F/W 2021 video game presentation, this puffy coat takes inspiration from retro NASA spacesuits. It’s made from distressed white shell and has an oversized fit that’s almost gravity-defying. Playful finishing touches include appliqués, buckles and straps.

Interesting to know is that as authentic as some of the collection’s pieces look, they are not launched in collaboration with NASA. You can use the space center’s logo, even free of charge, as long as the design is submitted to the Multimedia Division of NASA’s Office of Communications and the agency approves the specific uses. Ranging from €95 to €3990, the Maison’s NASA capsule that includes also graphic tees, polos, hoodies, socks, and co-branded baseball caps, can be found at select stores or the brand’s website.

Certain pieces are only available for pre-order. If you love the Space Parka as much as I do (it definitely deserves a spot in my museum), you can order it now at NET-A-PORTER. Sorry guys, size FR34 went straight to me :-)…

Space lovers can get the full look with silver Chevalier 110MM Booties, cyberpunk aluminum sunglasses, and logo-bearing handbags.

Who doesn’t want to walk around looking like an astronaut?  And it probably leaves less carbon footprint than the hour-long joyride that will have a staggering impact on the planet.

LoL, Sandra

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

Time is the most valuable asset, which is not the only reason I am investing in watches. I am such a watch aficionado. Even with the rise of iPhones and other digital devices that are better suited to record time, I prefer wearing analogue watches and their sales continue to spike year over year.

Watches were originally seen as a status symbol for men, a way to express their personal style. Now that gender tropes have become passé, women are breaking down the doors of the all-boys club. And I am loving it! When it comes to watches, I like buying across sectors, from diamond-encrusted smaller-case sizes, to mechanical masculine watches. I think of them as investments for every day: wearing beautiful outfits plus the kind of timeless-with-a-twist watch that goes wherever you do.

My newest addition to my watch wardrobe is this beautiful Maillon de Cartier 16mm 18-karat white gold diamond watch that I ordered at Net-à-Porter. Subtly feminine, the beautiful watch bracelet is like a piece of jewelry lending modern edge to just about anything you wear them it. I love to combine it with the Clash de Cartier bracelet MM in white gold which is finally available in size 14. It is all about duality, contradictions, and when it comes to the best timepiece, remember it is always time to invest.

More watches to come soon …

LoL, Sandra

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

Fashion can make us dream. Some looks invite us to indulge in a fairytale, among them tulle gowns that are absolutely trending this season. This was the outfit that I wore to the Acqua di Parma event lately.

My look: Embroidered cardigan (Look 46 Pre-collection S/S 2021) and Première Electro watch, both by CHANEL, raspberry ruffled tulle dress by Dior, Marble Silk Constance bag by Hermès, Jenlove 100 suede pumps by Christian Louboutin, Diorette ring and earrings, both by Dior Haute Joaillerie.

LoL, Sandra

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

With several high-end audio products already under its belt, Louis Vuitton now adds a portable speaker to its range of connected products. Seamlessly combining tradition and innovation, the Louis Vuitton Horizon Light Up speaker is an example of unique design and genuine craftsmanship.

Through superior sound quality and cutting-edge technology, it really comes into its own through the Maison’s unconventional approach to creating beauty in an everyday object. Not only does the speaker provide the ultimate audio-visual experience, it also represents the House’s skill in turning a utilitarian item into a work of art. With creativity running through every strand of Louis Vuitton, the Horizon Light Up speaker is no exception. Challenging perceptions of how objects should look and feel, as well as what is possible in terms of design, the speaker takes on a form that is unique in the audio market with inspiration coming from the Toupie (‘Spinning Top’) handbag, designed by the brand’s Artistic Director of Women’s collections Nicolas Ghesquière. Just as the Toupie rewrote the rule book for evening bags, the Louis Vuitton Horizon Light Up speaker aims to reinvent the world of portable speakers.

Bound in noble leather and with metal components, the speaker boasts the House’s emblematic signatures. Only when the device is switched on does its purpose become obvious in an explosion of sound, light and movement. As the covered woofer vibrates like a heartbeat, a dynamic light show synchronises to the beat with a colourful digital interpretation of Louis Vuitton’s iconic Monogram flower. A top ring with LED backlighting provides three different animations in seven carefully selected, graduated colourways. A concave, steel middle band features the cut-out letters ‘L-O-U-I-S-V-U-I-T-T-O-N’ that glow in colours to match the dancing top ring.

Elegant and discreet, the speaker can be used inside and out, and is equally at home in the living room, office or garden, on a country retreat, a city break, or at a beach club party. The unconventional shape offers myriad acoustic benefits. When sitting on its dock, the sound is played at 360 degrees, but by placing the speaker on its side, music can be sent in a specific direction. At the top of the speaker, a leather strap is attached, a unique element that is as fashionable as it is freeing. Beautiful and compact enough to be carried as an accessory, either with or without its protective pouch, the speaker is truly portable, a perfect representation of Louis Vuitton’s Spirit of Travel.

The Louis Vuitton Horizon Light Up speaker weighs approximately 1kg and measures a mere 18cm in diameter – a remarkable feat of engineering that involved housing the highest quality acoustic components in a diminutive and complex case to deliver a unique audio experience.

With all the convenience of wireless connectivity through Bluetooth®, the speaker is also compatible with Apple AirPlay® 2, and Qplay via Wi-Fi. It can be charged via USB-C (through the speaker or dock), with a full charge providing up to 15 hours of playtime. Depending on the occasion, it can also be paired or grouped in larger numbers to accommodate bigger spaces and multiple rooms.

A dedicated Louis Vuitton Connect app controls all of the speaker’s functions including colour combinations, animation sequences and mono or multiroom set-up to be operated via a smartphone.

Living up to all of the House’s promises, the beautiful, practical and covetable Louis Vuitton Horizon Light Up speaker will be a welcome addition to any lifestyle occasion. Fated to be a future icon, it is sure to become the ultimate accessory for those who appreciate high-quality acoustics and ultimate craftsmanship, as well as for the contemporary traveller.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. AirPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The Constance bag, a great Hermès classic, undergoes a complete transformation for this exceptional limited edition version in silk and leather. The fruit of meticulous and complex assembly work, this refined marriage gives pride of place to the material. This silk is printed with the Orbis design using a unique technique that lends the colors and extraordinary vibrancy.

Marble Silk is the culmination of a veritable treasure hunt. It all started with the discovery, in an archival album of printed fabrics acquired by the House long ago, of fascinating motif whose production technique remained a mystery.

It took several years of research to locate the origins of this technique, invented in the first half of the 20th century in Switzerland, Germany, and France… In the end, however, it was in Japan that Hermès discovered the passionate craftsmen, heirs to know-how their ancestors had acquired in Europe, whom we may thank for the creation of the Marble Silk scarf.

Matching the bag is this exceptional Hermès Carré 90 Marble Silk Robe du Soir.

The process used to make the scarf is unique and entirely artisanal. First, a paste imbibed with different color pigments is prepared. Skilfully worked, cut out, and arranged in patterns, it is used to form the design, like marquetry, on a cylinder. The cylinder is then rolled over the silk to print it. Gradually becoming more refined over the course of the production process, the motif is never exactly the same, making each piece one-of-a-kind.

From this intricate process a rare silk is born, with wonderful whimsical motifs and a wealth of incredibly diverse effects and intense colors, all of which feature on this exceptional bag.

This bag is delicate. Although the silk of the Marble Silk Constance bag (size 24) has been treated to make it more resistant to stains, water (its is showerproof and not waterproof) and marks, it deserves special and attention. To preserve its original beauty, it needs time to rest. It needs to be provided with the best possible preservation conditions; a temperate, dry environment away from light, preferably in its original boy and dust cover.

LoL, Sandra

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

This season, Dior presents another episode of the lovable DIORAMOUR capsule collection. Inspired by the world of fairy tales, the DIORAMOUR capsule designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri celebrates love and the art of giving. A fashion fairytale that includes the most beautiful ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories and jewelry.

The pattern of the DIORAMOUR capsule is also featured on a new Dior Maison collection that I personally adore. Such beautiful gift ideas for a loved one or yourself.

If you happen to be in Hong Kong, you can take a closer look at the collection the Dioramour pop-up store that will run from July 17 to August 6.

Dioramour Pop-Up Store, 20 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

These are my NET-À-PORTER beauty essentials I am packing for vacation this summer, from a scalp scrub to a moisturizing sunscreen. To shop, click on the highlighted product description.

Enjoy your holidays!

LoL, Sandra

SACHAJUAN Scalp Scrub, 250ml
SACHAJUAN’s scrub is just the product to reach for when your hair needs a reset. It’s infused with natural Sucrose to exfoliate and remove build-up, while Soybean Oil and Shea Butter lock in moisture without weighing down your locks. The brand’s signature is Ocean Silk Technology – a blend of Algae Extracts that increases elasticity, hydration and shine.

SUMMER FRIDAYS Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream Moisturizer, 50ml

Ultra lightweight gel creams like SUMMER FRIDAYS’ «Cloud Dew» are a great way to keep thirsty skin moisturized. Infused with three types of Hyaluronic Acid, the oil-free formula contains ceramides, minerals and amino acids to support the skin’s protective barriers. Vitamin E– and C-rich Pineapple Enzymes have a smoothing, softening effect.

BOBBI BROWN Longwear Cream Shadow Stick – Taupe

BOBBI BROWN’s «Longwear Cream Shadow Stick» has a rounded applicator and emollient texture, so it glides on without dragging, blends easily and dries quickly without smudging, perfect for summer. Formulated to stay put for up to eight hours – even when exposed to water – it can be used to shade, define, contour or illuminate eyes. This is my favorite shade.

ROSE MD SKIN Retexturizing Booster, 30ml

ROSE MD SKIN draws on more than 20 years of dermatology experience to create her skincare products. This «Retexturizing Serum» is formulated with Retinol to help soften fine lines and wrinkles, while the signature Jamaican Superfruit Blend delivers resurfacing Sugarcane Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidant Lemon, Orange and Bilberry extracts.

GROWN ALCHEMIST Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF30, 50ml

GROWN ALCHEMIST‘s «Natural Hydrating Sunscreen SPF30» has a lightweight texture and easily absorbs into the skin. Infused with natural Zinc Oxide, it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, as well as environmental stressors including free radicals and pollution.

NORMAKAMALIFE The Skinline Kit, 3 x 59ml

Designer Norma Kamali launched NORMAKAMALIFE after addressing her own approach to skincare – every product is formulated with natural ingredients to help improve skin without makeup. This «Skinline Kit» starter pack includes three of the brand’s solutions for a fresh, glowing complexion. Store them in the included drawstring pouch when you’re traveling.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of NET-À-PORTER
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

After a year of mostly being stuck at home, we are all craving for bright colors, and vibrant prints. In fact, all things retro have had a big influence on fashion and personally speaking I adore Emilio Pucci’s swimwear collections that are very reminiscent of the ’60s and ’70s. Those kaleidoscopic patterns make me feel like being at a Mediterranean getaway immediately.

My look: Lilly-print silk-georgette maxi cape dress, Lilly-print stretch-jersey face covering, Lilly-print bikini top, mid-rise Lilly-print bikini briefs, and matching Lilly-print cotton-voile short sarong, all by Emilio Pucci, Mon Tresor mini leather-trimmed mesh bucket bag by Fendi, snake-effect leather platform sandals by Miu Miu, glass-beaded hoop earrings, and set of three glass-beaded chokers, both by Etro, Eva aviator-style rose gold-tone sunglasses by Tom Ford, charm bracelet with scissors and flower, and sautoir AirPods necklace by CHANEL, Intrecciato rubber iPhone 12 Pro Max case by Bottega Veneta, and Royal Oak 37mm 18-karat frosted rose gold watch by Audemars Piguet.

LoL, Sandra

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

I know I got your attention at «cheesy». Fashion should be fun and not be taken too seriously! This yellow Prada sweater got the internet talking and let’s be frank, it resembles Swiss cheese that is known for its distinctive appearance with several holes. However, I find it very fashion-forward and extremely cool especially when worn together with the matching black open-knit sweater. Being proudly Swiss, I love cheese and I adore this Prada look so much. It was actually my favorite from the S/S 2021 collection and it is also very «Pantone Color of the Year 2021». With Central European weather going crazy at the moment, it is the perfect outfit at the moment.

In case your wondering about the placement of the bow brooch… one hole is placed a little unfortunate revealing a little too much in movement.

My look: Distressed logo-intarsia sweater in yellow, distressed open-weave wool sweater in black, belted pleated mohair-blend skirt, two-tone slingback pumps, and Re-Nylon scrunchie, all by Prada, Constance 24 in Evercolor Lime with palladium hardware by Hermès, satin bow brooch by CHANEL, rose diamond ring by Piaget, Carrera Automatic Chronograph by TAG Heuer, Cameo embellished earrings, and faux pearl and crystal barrette, both by Simone Rocha.

LoL, Sandra

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

Amazing news for all fashion addicts. Our beloved Phoebe Philo announced that she is returning to the world of fashion with an independent, namesake label with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton as a minority investor.

«Being in my studio and making once again has been both exciting and incredibly fulfilling,» Philo said in a brief statement. «I am very much looking forward to being back in touch with my audience and people everywhere. To be independent, to govern and experiment on my own terms is hugely significant to me.»

A graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins fashion college, Philo was classmates with Stella McCartney. Being close friends, Philo joined Stella at Chloé in 1997 as her design assistant succeeding her as creative director in 2001 when McCartney left to set up her own fashion house in a joint venture with Gucci Group.

With her amazing personal style, Philo succeeded in accelerating Chloé’s rejuvenation and catapulting it into the high-margin leather goods business. During her tenure, Chloé’s look was widely copied by fast-fashion chains and she created hit handbags like the Paddington (see photo below) and Silverado.

In 2006 Philo left Chloé. During this break from the industry, she moved back to London to be with her family and had her second child. In 2008, LVMH offered her a job as creative director and board member of the French Maison Céline, where she set up her studio for the company and continued to work in London whilst showing in Paris. She agreed, and presented her debut collection the next year to much critical acclaim.

In 2017 after 10 years of working at Céline and much speculation in the media it was announced that Philo would step down as the creative director of Céline after the Pre-Fall 2018 collection.

Phoebe Philo’s work at Céline redefined what women aspire to wear, with her minimalist aesthetic, clean lines and tonal colour palette gaining traction with critics and consumers alike. Consistently name checked by fashion insiders as the label they want to wear, Philo successfully resuscitated a tired Parisian house and recast it as an imperative part of each season’s fashion dialogue.

It is said that Phoebe has had a small team working in London since late last year to set up her own company.

«I have had a very constructive and creative working relationship with LVMH for many years. So it is a natural progression for us to reconnect on this new project. I have greatly appreciated discussing new ideas with Bernard Arnault and Delphine Arnault and I am delighted to be embarking on this adventure with their support,» Phoebe explained.

Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive officer of LVMH, called Philo «one of the most talented designers of our time.»

«We have known her and appreciated her for a long time. Phoebe contributed to the success of the group through her magnificent creations over several years,» he said. «With this in mind, I am very happy to partner with Phoebe on her entrepreneurial adventure and wish her great success.»

I am so excited to see Phoebe’s first collection as I still love to wear all her previous designs at Chloé and Céline. According to an interview with WWD, Phoebe Philo’s eponymous label create clothing and accessories «rooted in exceptional quality and design.» More details about her new brand are said to be revealed in January 2022.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Phoebe Philo, Chloé and Céline