Sandra‘s Closet

Tweed, the durable beautiful fabric, has been CHANEL‘s signature material for over a century years. In March at the Grand Palais Éphémère, CHANEL’s artistic director and designer Virginie Viard showed for F/W 2022 a ready-to-wear collection completely dedicated to tweed and CHANEL Makeup Creation Studio drew also inspiration from the emblematic fabric for its 2022 EYE MAKE-UP COLLECTION.

Anyone who is familiar with the French Maison knows that tweed has been synonymous with the brand ever since Coco Chanel rose to fame in the 1920s. Many do not know, however, how Coco Chanel’s affection for tweed started. While she was dating the Duke of Westminster, she realized the versatility and potential of the fabric with its flexible texture and irregular patterns, giving it its natural appearance. Being a true visionary, she partnered in 1924 with a Sottish factory to begin making her first tweed designs which ranged from jackets to sportswear.

A few years later, Chanel partnered with a French factory to create tweed that could incorporate different materials such as silk and cotton in order to give it a more elevated, high fashion look and feel. Chanel also began dying the material different colors to distinguish her tweed from the typical, classic hues. Until today, tweed is a source of infinite possibility and offers exceptional creative freedom for the House of CHANEL. It is produced each season in a variety of forms, colors, and styles.

For the new EYE MAKE-UP COLLECTION, called LES 4 OMBRES TWEED, the essence of the emblematic fabric has once again been reinterpreted, now taking the form of limited-edition LES 4 OMBRES eyeshadows. First created in 1982, this eye quad has also become a CHANEL makeup staple.

DRESS YOUR EYES IN TWEED
For this new collection, four exclusive creations were designed with a tweed pattern embossed on the surface of each shade. The four-color harmonies capture the creative worth of the fabric. Just as different fibers are intertwined to form tweed, the shades can be blended, and their intensity varied, to achieve chic and bold makeup results. The eyeshadows are as effortless to apply as a tweed garment is to wear.

For this special occasion, the compacts are paired with tweed pouches crafted by Maison Lesage, which is part of CHANEL’s Métiers d’art since 2002. Each of the four harmonies features a unique color palette and suits all skin tones. These versatile eyeshadows work in synergy to create a wide range of looks, from simple and natural to sophisticated.

TWEED FAUVE
The first harmony, entitled Tweed Fauve, is composed of radiant hues that bring warmth to the eyes. A combination of powerful colors between earth and fire, which combines a fiery brick orange with the depth of an intense aubergine brown, illuminated by the subtle shine of a satin coral and the reflections of an amber gold.

TWEED CUIVRÉ
The second, Tweed Cuivré, makes them shine with golden shimmer. An elegant accord that evokes the richness and brilliance of the precious metals dear to Gabrielle Chanel.

TWEED POURPRE
Tweed Pourpre combines pinks and mauves to offer a satiny and iridescent make-up look. A harmony that oscillates between softness and audacity. Tweed Pourpre brings together pinks and mauves while offering a satin and iridescent finish.

TWEED BRUN ET ROSE
Four natural brown and beige tones represent the final creation, Tweed Brun et Rose. It is embodied by four eyeshadows in natural colors with shades of brown and beige. I am wearing it in the picture above.

STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF
To complement these color harmonies, two new shades of STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF have been created—one, Cuivre Doré, to illuminate the eyes, the other, Bois Noir, for added intensity.

This extremely beautiful eye make-up collection is in stores now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL and © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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As FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ fever takes hold, Hublot announced a dedicated the official «Hublot Loves Football» campaign with 15 football icons and 15 one-of-a-kind football designs created by my beloved friend fashion designer Mira Mikati.

Hublot will serve as the tournament’s official timekeeper, timing all 64 matches, right through to the final in Doha’s Lusail Stadium on December 18. With more than 1 billion viewers, the FIFA World Cup™ tournament is the world’s most watched sports event.

Designer Mira Mikati and Kylian Mbappé  during a creative session for Hublot Loves Football.

To illustrate the campaign, Hublot’s love of football, and the brand’s commitment to beauty in diversity, Hublot invited Lebanese fashion designer Mira Mikati to design a special, happy, colourful «Hublot Loves Football» campaign logo that brims with optimism. Her hand-drawn and painted design captures a youthful, hopeful enthusiasm and communicates a spirit of unity.

Mira with me during Paris Fashion Week.

«Play is at the heart of all my designs. When I’m not playing with colour, I’m playing with words. Just as football sparks joy on the pitch, I want my work to be a constant supply of happiness. Dreams really can come true. Meeting Hublot’s ambassadors and discussing their dreams, passions and how far these drivers can take you was very special. By interpreting every player’s dream, with Hublot we want to inspire other to dream just as big. Whether it’s playing for your country or designing your own collection, we want to inspire the next generation to believe they can achieve anything.» – MIRA MIKATI

In addition, Hublot brought Mira together with 15 Hublot Ambassadors and Friends of the Brand to create 15 unique designs to represent the football of their dreams. Each is a one-off, a piece of art created to capture the themes of hope and universal respect, as well as the individual personalities of the football stars and their shared passion for football. Some are hand-drawn and painted, others crocheted, representing the human element in football. Football is the people’s sport.

My Mira Mikati looks: Back to the ’80s – Santa Monica – Greetings from Verona – Vacation – Never Rest – Mira Mikati

The colors of the rainbow, playful, happy and above all else, colorful – something that perhaps best describe my lovely Mira Mikati. Her designs exude happiness in every detail and love wearing her creations. I am so proud of her for designing those footballs in a rather male dominated field.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: @ Hublot/ Mirą Mikati and © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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If you are not into real books and were not impressed by yesterday’s reading list, I have another book you might enjoy from my holidays, the Maldives embroidered appliquéd canvas clutch.

Handcrafted in an intricate process that can take up to 300 hours, Olympia Le-Tan‘s signature book-shaped clutches are a must-have among fashionistas. This one inspired by the Maldives is patterned with lush palm trees, turquoise waters and floating beach huts that dot the island coastline. It’s structured with a sturdy gold-tone frame and unlocks to reveal Liberty florals. Gift it to a loved one to commemorate a honeymoon or special birthday trip. It could also be the perfect packaging to surprise someone with a travel experience. Needless to say there are many destinations featured as a book clutch.

YOU CAN FIND A LARGE SELECTION OF TRAVEL BOOK CLUTCHES HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Olympia Le-Tan
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Right now, I am in the Maldives at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands Resort and I am feeling very well balanced and grateful. I absolutely enjoy having the time to exercise and to finally read some great and captivating books.

At Amazon you can enjoy the Sandra’s Closet book shop online, where you can discover my actual reading list., filled with my favorite genre: psychological thrillers. I added the titles if available in both languages, English and German.

Auris by Vincent Kliesch & Sebastian Fitzek (only in German)
A famous phonetician who uses sounds to solve the mystery.

Das Netz by Lilja Sigurðardóttir / Snare by Lilja Sigurðardóttir
The first book in her Reykjavík Noir Trilogy.

Das Geheimnis um Zimmer 622 by Joël Dicker / The Enigma of Room 622 by Joël Dicker
An innovative page-turner, the most diabolically addictive thriller yet of the famous Swiss author.

Die Assistentin by Alexandra Andrews / Who is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews
A well written thriller about two women: the famous author and her young assistant who also dreams about becoming one.

Abendrot by Lucy Foley / The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Instantly took the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller list. I can only recommend it.

Mimik by Sebastian Fitzek (only in German, soon available in English)
Always the best to give you goosebumps.

CLICK HERE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE SANDRA’S CLOSET x AMAZON BOOK SHOP.

Reading relaxes me significantly. I always recommend to read at least five minutes before turning off the lights. It will help you to sleep better. Good Night!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Louis Vuitton inaugurates its first restaurant in China, The Hall by Louis Vuitton, located alongside the newly opened Chengdu Maison at Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li.

Situated in the heart of the city, the Chengdu Maison embodies Louis Vuitton’s Art de Vivre, culture and lifestyle set across two buildings connected by a glass bridge and encompassing a total area of more than 2,000sqm. This fall, just nine months after the Maison’s opening, Louis Vuitton China presents its first dining dimension The Hall by Louis Vuitton, welcoming guests for both lunch and dinner service as well as afternoon tea. The restaurant is housed in the historic architecture of Guangdong Hall, which served as a merchants’ gathering place during the early Canton days, translating these historic traditions of social commune into a new urban landmark.

Refined, light and exceptionally modern, the menu takes inspiration from pan-European flavors with classics from both French and Mediterranean cuisine, brought to life by a dynamic program of visiting international Michelin-star chefs (from China and abroad) who each take to the kitchen’s helm to bring unique creativity and not-to-be-missed excitement to diners. As its first, Louis Vuitton welcomes Michelin-star chef, Olivier Elzer from November 2022 until March 2023. Together with Chef Elzer, The Hall by Louis Vuitton will showcase its first seasonal menu where creative local flavors meets French finesse.

A specially curated wine list weaving together French with Old World Italian will also feature an exceptional selection from the Jura, the birthplace of Louis Vuitton himself, as tribute to his memory and admiration. The cocktail list draws inspiration from house icons to create an imaginative menu that walks guests through the Maison’s culture.

The Hall by Louis Vuitton features original artworks from artists including Lu Xinjian, Zhou Yilun and Nanchuan Daocheng. Amongst many specially crafted furniture pieces and objects from the house’s Objets Nomades collection, a coral embellished chandelier designed by atelier oï takes center stage as a vivid counterpoint against the restaurant’s calm and peaceful ambiance. Yunmi, a restaurant group who also owns a series of reputable restaurants including Da Vittorio Shanghai, is operating the restaurant.

The Hall by Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Maison Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu
1120b, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, No. 8, Zhongshamao Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, China

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday
Lunch service 11:30 – 14:00 Teatime 14:30 – 16:30 Dinner service 17:30 – 21:30
Reservation: +86 (028) 86116567

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Finally after three years, the Kispiball (Kispi is an abbreviation for Kinderspital which means children’s hospital in German) took place again at the wonderful Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich. It is one of my favorite charity events of the Swiss social calendar that raises money for the city’s children’s hospital. I danced all night long in my Dolce & Gabbana gown and enjoyed being among my dear friends.

My look: Strapless polka-dot silk-organza gown, and «’L’Amore È Bellezza» ribbon belt, both by Dolce & Gabbana, pink double bow satin pumps by Mach & Mach, Tro crystal-embellished leather shoulder bag by Oscar de la Renta, and crystal-embellished snake necklace by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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This was the outfit I wore to the Versace F/W 2022 show in Milan. The Italian Maison has such a huge momentum again, its skyrocketing platform heels are all over along with the iconic codes we all adore so much. The surge in archival interest, and Donatella’s enduring icon status have made the brand a star once more.

My look: Envers satin jacket dress, Medusa chain embellished waist belt, Medusa Aevitas embellished satin platform pumps, and small Medusa top handle bag, all by Versace, black panties by CHANEL, and gold mesh necklace by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
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In general, hair salons are closed on Mondays (actually not sure if this is only a European thing…), so it was a lovely surprise when I received the invite from AVEDA to get spoilt on a Monday morning at the hair dresser.

As you know, I have been using AVEDA products for a long time. I admit that I always switch between brands or product lines during the month as for me personally speaking my hair gets a kick from the alternation. However, the reason why I am a big fan of the house, that was acquired in 1997 by the Estée Lauder Companies, is that AVEDA is a cruelty-free brand with a mission to care for the world by creating vegan, high-performance hair, skin and body formulas for beauty professionals and consumers, all with sustainability at heart. Green chemistry at its best.

During an intimate breakfast at Eddine Belaid in Zurich, we learnt a lot about the history of the brand. The face of the campaign, Anja Leuenberger, was also present and told us about her experiences with the hair products, that helped her to finally achieve longer, healthier hair.

Aveda was founded in 1978 by Horst Rechelbacher, a pioneer of holistic beauty, and a champion of environmental responsibility.  Born in Austria in 1941 to an herbalist mother and a shoemaker father, Horst began working in the salon across the street at the age of 14. «I was not a good student at all but I was very eager to be something different,» he said. Horst was a natural talent, and by 17 he was working as a stylist at a prestigious salon in Rome, tending to international celebrities. By the young age of 20 he had won the European Hairstyling Championship, which he used as a springboard to tour Europe and the United States. «What is a calling? It’s like almost a fire inside me and it keeps me alive,» he said.

He opened his first salon in Minneapolis as a European hairdresser, and then several others, becoming a successful salon entrepreneur in his twenties. In the late sixties, Horst suffered burn out from overwork and recovered thanks to herbal remedies prepared by his mother, as well as to the practice of yoga and meditation. Following a retreat in India in 1970, Horst integrated ayurveda in his lifestyle and his salon business model.

He adopted a holistic thinking, the belief that individual beauty is directly linked to the beauty of the world around us. His were ideas that would revolutionize the beauty industry. In India, he also received the inspiration to create Aveda. With Shiv Nath Tandon, whom he met in an Indian ashram, he developed his first Clove Shampoo in a kitchen sink in Minneapolis, together with doctors of ayurveda, Vinod and Kusum Upadhyay. All have continued to work with Aveda since the early 1970s.

Out of this well-timed collaboration, AVEDA, which stands is Sanskrit for «all knowledge», was born in 1978 with the vision to bring beauty professionals botanical products that would be good for them, their guests, and the Earth and its communities. Horst’s foresight is a testament to how far ahead of his time he was, and although no longer with us his legacy lives on in countless ways.

Horst Rechelbacher taught us that: «Every day presents every one of us with the opportunity to create positive effects. Even the simplest, seemingly insignificant choices we make in our daily lives—what to eat, what to wear, what to use on our bodies and in our homes—have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond us personally.»

Living up to this legacy, I was spoilt this Monday morning. The ritual started with smelling the different essential oils AVEDA has to offer. After choosing my favorite one, I got a neck and shoulder massage, that AVEDA salons are known for. The journey of relaxation starts already then.

I then received two different in-salon treatments after washing my hair, first the famous SHINE TREATMENT, that helps improve the condition of damaged hair and only takes 5 minutes. It refreshes your color, tints your natural hair, and corrects uneven tones or adds clear, eye-catching shine. It lasts up to 20 washes.

And as the second part of the ritual the BOTANICAL REPAIR™ professional treatment that transform your hair with molecular plant repair to strengthen strands from the inside out. Dry, damaged hair is instantly transformed with stronger, softer, visibly smoother and shiner hair in just one treatment. It is plant-powered, bond building and scientifically formatulated to treat three key layers of hair, so that it is transformed from the inside out. The hair is visibly revived and shinier after the treatment.

With the AVEDA Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Overnight Serum for home, you can get healthy hair while you are sleeping.

I received the treatment at Eddine Belaid in Zurich, an AVEDA exclusive salon.

I have also some great news for you. Until November 4, 2022 you receive a 30% off site wide discount on all AVEDA products with the code AVFAMILY.

Happy Shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of AVEDA and © Sandra Bauknecht
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Louis Vuitton reveals a collaboration with master LEGO® builders, LEGO® Certified Professionals, for its holiday windows and store displays around the world. From now until January 1st, 2023, iconic LEGO® bricks will be used to construct festive scenes that celebrate imagination and the art of creation.

Conceived by the Louis Vuitton Visual Image Studio and realised by LEGO® Certified Professionals, these colourful and dimensional scenes further a creative exchange that began with the Louis 200 Trunks, for which the LEGO Group was among the Visionaries and contributed a giant birthday cake made from 31,700 bricks.

LEGO® Certified Professionals are an inspiring group of LEGO builders who have turned their passion for the LEGO® System-in-Play into their profession.
They are often referred to as master builders as they are the creative brains behind many large-scale LEGO builds that inspire joy in people around the world. For this occasion, which also coincides with the LEGO Group’s 90th Anniversary, the collaboration will have worldwide reach, enchanting people from outside and inside the stores. Snow-capped Christmas trees instantly evoke winter, while brick-covered backgrounds appear in vibrant arrangements of the Damier pattern.

Many of the trunk variations, including those developed for the High Jewellery niches, are panelled in LEGO tiles with realistic hardware and handles. They come both closed and open overflowing with brinks. Other scenes conjure the dream of Paris during the holidays, with highly detailed replicas of the Arc de Triomphe and Pont Neuf. Drawing inspiration from an archive photo, larger-than-life trunks are stacked to resemble the Eiffel Tower – a fantasy composition that shows the limitless possibilities of LEGO play. On a giant scale, the façades of certain Maisons will be further enhanced with exterior festive designs spanning 2 to 15 metres and accented with bricks. On a much smaller scale, special packaging during this period will feature LEGO motifs.

More than an imaginative interpretation of the Louis Vuitton universe, the collaboration with LEGO Certified Professionals underscores the enduring message of handmade creation. From a single brick to millions, the tradition of both brands finds joyful expression resulting from interaction. Once disassembled, the bricks will be repurposed through local partnerships so that kids in local schools can be inspired to build and learn through play.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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They were already a huge trend in 2012, when Kim Kardashian sported them in a nude beige and black: Givenchy‘s Shark Lock Boots. Now, they are back, and even in a full-on sparkly version (see last pair in this post)! The Maison’s most iconic silhouette is seducing It-girls all over the world who like to add a tough-luxe edge to their ensembles.

The sleeve of the boot that looks like part of the pants elongates legs to the extreme. So no wonder, other brands have been jumping on the trend. Here are the best ones available.

LoL, Sandra

DG buckle knee boots by Dolce & Gabbana

Suede leather boots with sleeve by CHANEL

Cowboy boots with sleeve by R13

Shark Lock leather knee-high boots by Givenchy

Shark Lock beige leather knee-high boots by Givenchy

x Disney® Shark Lock knee-high leather boots by Givenchy

Shark Lock embellished knee-high boots by Givenchy

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
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