Sandra‘s Closet

Bringing Versailles to the street, here is another outfit from Moschino‘s fab F/W 2020 collection that I love so much. Inspired by the gilded extravagances of Marie Antoinette, this look is envisioned with both grand theater and good humor. Full of fun and fantasy, fabulous fashion let’s us dream and play dress-up. Something we definitely need today.

My look: Flared-sleeve mini dress, thigh-high boots, and bow-embellished pillow clutch, all by Moschino, and vintage multi-strand couture pearl choker necklace by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken inside Baur’s Zurich‘s fumoir.
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This fall, Louis Vuitton and Editions Gallimard publish an unprecedented novel about Louis Vuitton, marking the bicentennial of his birth.

At just 14 years old, in clogs and without a penny to his name, he left the family mill to get away from his stepmother. Armed only with determination – and a surname that means «stubborn» in the local Jura dialect – he began an initiatory trek that would lead him to Paris two years later. There, he found work at Maréchal, Faubourg Saint-Honoré’s most prestigious trunkmaker and packer. From then on Lady Luck would keep smiling on him. In her lively and entertaining style, Caroline Bongrand traces the ascent of this intrepid young man in a Paris transformed by Baron Haussmann. A virtuoso craftsman and a visionary, Vuitton was the favourite packer and long-standing friend of Eugénie de Montijo, who kept him by her side as she became Empress of France. In 1854 Vuitton set up his eponymous business, never ceasing to innovate. Buoyed by the splendours of the Second Empire, he designed trunks to protect the most extravagant outfits and survive the farthest-flung travels, turning his own life into the stuff of fiction.

Novelist Caroline Bongrand has written numerous books, including Ce que nous sommes, published by Denoël in 2020, and an essay about issues facing women. She also wrote the screenplay of the 2021 film Eiffel.

The novel is published by Éditions Gallimard in the Hors-série Littérature collection, in French and English. A beautiful gift idea for a fellow fashionista.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Centuries after Marie Antoinette met her fate at the guillotine, her influence remains unshakeable. The French Queen serves as a constant source of inspiration for many fashion designers. When Jeremy Scott needed a gimmick for his Moschino F/W 2020 show, Marie Antoinette was there at the ready. Here you see me wearing one of the looks with a beautiful toile de jouy print on denim. I think this is something that Marie Antoinette would wear today.

My look: Graphic-print denim coat, jabot-collar blouse, cropped pants in printed denim, all by Moschino, Mage metallic embroidered velvet ankle boots by Manolo Blahnik, Constance 18 Mini noir black alligator mat with lizard buckle by Hermès, and  gold-plated glass pearl cameo clip earrings by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography – The photos were taken at the beautiful Baur’s Zurich.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Louis Vuitton launches a capsule collection of nine belts in the select colours of nine global cities.

This season Virgil Abloh reinvents the LV Pyramide belt first seen on the F/W 2021 runway. The belt with its bevel-edged buckle returns in a capsule collection of nine exclusive versions, spotlighting nine cities that hold a special place in the heart of Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director.

Featuring Monogram canvas on one face and soft calfskin on the other, the belt still displays the iconic LV buckle. Virgil Abloh put it through a special treatment recalling his urban inspirations and influences drawn from crushing cars. The metal has been artfully eroded to reveal a new colour pairing that coordinates with the leather of the belt. Each is crafted by the deft hands of Louis Vuitton artisans, making every item unique.

The new design is available in nine colourways, each associated with one world city – green and purple for Bangkok, red and black for Hong Kong, yellow and blue for London, and pink and blue for Paris. The city name is displayed in a popping colour combination of its own on each face of the belt, both the Monogram canvas and the leather side. All belts are reversible, so you can mix it up depending on your mood or your outfit, and each can be found exclusively in a limited edition at the flagship store of its namesake city, starting November 25th, 2021.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

Hublot welcomes one of the best chefs in the world, Eneko Atxa, who holds five Michelin stars with his various restaurants, to its «family». Born in Amorebieta (Vizcaya, Basque Country, Spain), he became one of the youngest chefs to be awarded three Michelin stars at his restaurant Azurmendi. His cuisine continues to grow and evolve, giving way to new proposals such as international projects ENEKO and BASQUE or the Eneko Shop, a delivery service through which the chef has adapted to the new ways of living and working in times of pandemic. With Eneko Atxa, who perfectly embodies the values Hublot holds most dear, namely passion, excellence and creativity, the brand further strengthens its ties with the leading visionaries of the world of gastronomy.

Conquering the world, with restaurants in Larrabetzu (Bilbao), Tokyo, Karuizawa, London, Lisbon, Seville and Brussels, his creative cuisine, inspired by his surroundings, always weaves in an unwavering commitment to sustainability and the environment. In this context of social responsibility, the Basque chef has won the Repsol Guide Sustainable Sun award, which values harmonious coexistence with nature, using proximity resources, working together with local producers and strongly advocating sustainability as part of the business approach.

The chef and his flagship restaurant, Azurmendi, lead the way in these matters, having been awarded 3 Suns by the Repsol Guide and 1 Michelin Green Star for his commitment to sustainability, at his restaurant Eneko. True to its philosophy of «First, Unique and Different», Hublot has boldly explored ground-breaking expertise while preserving classic Swiss watchmaking traditions. The Maison is constantly pushing the boundaries of watchmaking and traditional concepts to create futuristic masterpieces with unique craftsmanship and cutting-edge design.

«I use gastronomy to achieve a more sustainable, healthier and fairer society, but also to spark emotions. In this sense, as a member of the great Hublot family, I feel fortunate to be able to merge my culinary art with this manufacture in which all the talents and skills work in unison to create unique timepieces that unleash strong emotions». Eneko Atxa

At 44, the chef has already built a long career. He trained at the Catering School in Lejona (Vizcaya, Basque Country, Spain). He later worked in various restaurants in the Basque Country, such as Baserri Maitea and Martín Berasategui‘s restaurant Andra Mari in Galdácano. He is the Spanish champion of signature cuisine for young chefs. His restaurant Azurmendi, which opened its doors in 2005, has twice been considered the most sustainable restaurant in the world and has 3 Michelin stars. It was also named the “Best Restaurant in Europe” by to OAD (Opinionated About Dining) and designated the “Best Restaurant in the World” by the luxury magazine Elite Traveler. He has received the Madrid Fusión Sustainability Award, the 2015 National Gastronomy Award, the 2018 National Healthy Gastronomy Award in the Outstanding Personality category, was named 2019 European Chef of the Year by Madrid Fusión, and has been a member of the European Young Leaders Programme. Hublot welcomes Eneko Atxa, who next year will return to Bilbao in style, to the Hublot family of great international chefs. The new restaurant will be a fusion of Basque and Japanese cuisine, whose name will use the phonemes that make up Eneko’s name, with an oriental ring to it. This same concept of a Basque-Japanese fusion restaurant will also move to Madrid next year under the umbrella of the Radisson Hotel Group chain.

I will definitely go there soon as I love gastronomic experiences and will surely keep you posted.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot

Alessandro Michele kickstarted «The Hacker Project» of Balenciaga’s design codes for its Gucci Aria Collection earlier in April. In June, Demna Gvasalia hit back when he presented his Resort 2022 collection for the French fashion house where 14 looks were inspired by Gucci details. Both lines hit the stores on November 15, 2021.

Besides launching crossbranded merchandise with Gucci, selected Balenciaga stores will have their windows «Gucci-fied».

The must-have collector pieces come with a mashup of the GG monogram with double-B logos to create a one-of-a-kind crossbranded motif that appears on ready-to-wear, accessories and bags. To shop the collection, click here.

My favorite bag comes with a graffiti slogan «This is not a Gucci bag».

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Inspired by the language of evening dressing, a vocabulary of scintillation – sequin embroidery, crystal strass, the lusters of satin and velvet – for its campaign, the Miu Miu Nuit collection by Miuccia Prada is captured after dark. The images serve as both portraits of individual women – the actors Ever Anderson, Ciara Bravo and KiKi Layne – and as document of the vista of the collective Miu Miu world.

Ciara Bravo for MIU MIU

Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, those campaign stars are poised in enclaves that speak of the night: a deserted bar, a draped antechamber, the illuminated entrance to a member’s club. Images seem loaded with the memory of celebrations just ended, or the promise of those about to commence – the clothes themselves reminders of parties too, embroidered and embellished, joyous and optimistic.

Ever Anderson for MIU MIU

Each star shines brightly – a new generation of female talent celebrated for their abilities to transform. Ever Anderson has gardened critical acclaim for her turn as the young Natasha Romanov in Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’: her latest role is the titular female lead of Disney’s ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’. Ciara Bravo debuted on the small screen but quickly transitioned to cinema: she delivered a revelatory performance in the Russo Brothers’ ‘Cherry’, and acclaim for her role in ‘Small Engine Repair’. KiKi Layne has been lauded since her screen debut as the female lead in Barry Jenkin’s 2018 Golden Globe-nominated feature If Beale Street Could Talk. Layne also starred in HBO’s ‘Native Son’, in 2019. Most recently, she starred in ‘The Old Guard’ for Netflix opposite Charlize Theron and featured in ‘Coming To America 2’ alongside Eddie Murphy.

KiKi Layne for MIU MIU

Here, these women both adopt other personas and, paradoxically, personify themselves – dressed in finery, caught in fleeting moments. They shift between realities, embody characters, make believe – to make us believe.

I am so obsessed with the denim pants… should I get them?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Miu Miu

One of the best press happenings of the year is always the famous Sephora Christmas event to discover the most exciting beauty novelties for this holiday season.

I discovered exclusive holiday collections, limited-edition beauty sets and the bestselling products of the year. In this post, you will find a lot of fun products to show you care or just indulge yourself. Get ready for the holidays with beauty advent calendars and some amazing gift ideas.

One of my favorites. The famous «Holiday Vibes» advent calendar is a must for every beauty lover. 24 surprises for only CHF 49.90.

The «All Beauty Stars» advent calendar in gold and pink contains 12 new beauty brands that Sephora specifically casted for the holiday event. 7 original sized products along with 2 surprises, once the box is empty, you can reuse it every year. Available for CHF 159.90 (worth around CHF 450 if you bought the products alone).

The «Holiday Vibes»  Sephora collection includes many amazing gift ideas, such as the set of 8 face and body masks to pamper your skin from head to toe.

The Too Faced Cinnamon Swirl Holiday 2021 collection offers so many amazing products in warm brown shades.

Prepare yourself for New Year’s Eve with the Too Face Hangover Collection. I love the Replenishing Face Primer that can repair a beauty hangover. The replenishing skin booster hydrates, smooths and brightens for a dewy, refreshed, and revitalized complexion.

In the mood to try a new mascara? I can recommend this mudge-proof, easy to apply and intensely black, award-winning Volume Disturbia Mascara by Givenchy.

Completely obsessed with the Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette by Huda Beauty. A versatile palette with 18 shades in five ultra-wearable textures to create dramatic smoky eyes, as well as a variety of natural and sultry looks.

3 Little Wonders® by OLEHENRIKSEN promises to transform your skin in 7 days: The signature professional-strength age-defying regimen brightens, firms, evens skin tone, smoothes skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

The cutest Christmas decoration… get a mini ornament for maximum effect under the tree.

All these products are available now at Sephora. Hurry up, as they will be selling out fast.

LoL, Sandra

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

It is a HACK! The Hacker Project, first presented within Gucci Aria in April 2021, merges the iconic silhouettes and codes of Balenciaga and Gucci in unique creations as an exploration on ideas of authenticity and appropriation within the fashion industry. Among the hybrid universe of ready-to-wear and accessories, combining the aesthetics of Creative Directors Alessandro Michele and Demna Gvasalia, emblematic styles come together to create something new — from the Jackie 1961 enriched with a diagonal Balenciaga print to the City bag in GG canvas and the Triple S sneaker reimagined with Gucci’s Flora print.

The range includes styles featuring the new jumbo GG motif, a maximalist version of the historic monogram.

The non-collaboration even includes a co-branded Triple S.

Available for two weeks only, the Balenciaga and Gucci’s Hacker Project will drop worldwide on November 15.

LoL, Sandra

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele – Art Director: Christopher Simmonds – Photographer and Director: Harley Weir – Make up: Thomas De Kluyver – Hair: Paul Hanlon

That was a very quick move! Bottega Veneta has named Matthieu Blazy as its creative director with immediate effect after the unexpected departure of Daniel Lee, owner Kering said in a statement.

Set to present his first collection in February 2022, Blazy joined Bottega Veneta as its design director last year under Daniel Lee and was now promoted to the top position.

Matthieu Blazy

Blazy, who leaves between Antwerp and Milan, previously worked under Raf Simons at his namesake brand and at Calvin Klein, as well as doing stints under Phoebe Philo at Celine. He also served as the designer of Maison Margiela’s «Artisanal» couture line.

Bartolomeo Rongone

Bartolomeo Rongone, CEO of Bottega Veneta, said: «Matthieu Blazy is an extraordinarily talented individual, whom I am proud and excited to entrust with the creative helm of our luxury House. Bottega Veneta has always been equated with signature craftsmanship and distinctive creativity. Matthieu’s appointment will further enhance the modern relevance of our brand and accelerate our growth, while preserving the values that are at the core of Bottega Veneta.»

Good Luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta