Sandra‘s Closet

Retweet, repeat, Zurich is an amazing town to live in! Last weekend, I wore this look to go to lunch with my girlfriends and enjoyed walking around town in it.

My look: Light blue double-face cashmere jacket with zipper, Kelly belt in epsom leather in gold with palladium buckle, Constance Slim Wallet in evercolor leather in gold and lime, and Twilly Grand Théâtre Nouveau, all by Hermès, denim ruffle detail midi dress by Chloé, Aliya 85 wedges in suede leather by Aquazzura, LV x Yayoi Kusama Neverfull MM by Louis Vuitton, sunglasses by Fendi, and Horsebit blue topaz diamond white gold ring by Gucci Fine Jewellery.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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In 2020, tweed entered the world of CHANEL jewelry: a first collection of 45 exceptional pieces dedicated entirely to this fabric, reproducing its suppleness and subtleties through the skilful use of articulations. With «TWEED DE CHANEL», inspired by the richness of the tweed weaves and transforming tweed into a precious fabric, Patrice Leguéreau, Director of the CHANEL Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, opened up a new chapter in CHANEL High Jewelry.

In 2023, Patrice Leguéreau returns to the magic of tweed for a second time, with the audacious creation of 64 new High Jewelry pieces. «For this new High Jewelry collection dedicated to Tweed, I wanted to go further in the interpretation by creating a veritable fabric of precious stones that is light and supple.»

Centerpiece of the collection is the «Tweed Royal» necklace. The yellow gold weave of the plastron necklace, intricately crafted and trimmed with a chain, is set with diamonds and a magnificent ensemble of 37 rubies. The lion’s head at its centre can be worn as a brooch or as a necklace on the plastron, while the magnificent 10.17 carats D FL Type IIa pear-cut diamond that adorns it, can be detached to be worn as a ring.

The «Tweed Royal» truly expresses the expertise, creativity and excellence of CHANEL High Jewelry. A true feast for the eyes. Below you can enjoy the making of photos to see all the amazing craftsmanship behind.

LoL, Sandra

Step 1 – Making a resin maquette to create the full shape of the «TWEED ROYAL« necklace.

Step 2 – Positioning of the pavé-set elements on the design for the «TWEED ROYAL» necklace, followed by polishing.

Step 3 – Checking and adjusting the articulations with set elements and resin rubies on the design for the «TWEED ROYAL» necklace.

Step 4 – Final assembly and positioning of the center stone on the «TWEED ROYAL» necklace.

Step 5 – Dismantling and polishing of the «TWEED ROYAL» necklace.

Step 6 – Making, pinning and assembling the lion motif on the «TWEED ROYAL» necklace, transformable into a brooch or ring.

Step 7 – The finished «TWEED ROYAL» necklace.

Photos: © CHANEL #TweedDeCHANEL #CHANELHighJewelry
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England is busy gearing up for King Charles’ coronation and if you were planning on taking a short trip to the royal nation, the first week of May would be the perfect time and I have a great suggestion what to do and where to stay.

In celebration of His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation (6 May 2023), Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has specially curated a series of bespoke experiences and events to mark this special moment in British history. Guests of the hotel are invited guests to enjoy and celebrate the occasion with its opulent accommodation suite experience ‘A Very Royal Occasion’ to rejoice this remarkable event.

A Very Royal Occasion is available from 1 May to 31 May 2023 with prices starting at £4,000 inc VAT and includes the following:
· A stay to remember in one of the hotel’s luxurious suites
· A regal welcome amenity fit for kings and queens
· ‘King’s Caviar’ breakfast with Oscietra caviar and Full English breakfast where guests may catch a glimpse of the Royal Horse Guards passing by or breakfast enjoyed in the privacy of their suite.
· Two-Michelin starred, 4-course ‘Royal Cooking’ lunch or dinner for two at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
· A specially curated Highgrove Hamper filled with a selection of exquisite tea and preserves
· A 50ml bottle of Laphroaig whisky – His Majesty’s favourite malt whisky
· Additional benefits available when becoming Fans of M.O.

The Royal Cooking Menu – 2* Michelin Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is marking the special occasion with a creative menu of reinvented dishes that were served at British Coronation banquets throughout the years including an additional dessert in celebration of His Majesty. The exclusive 4-course ‘Royal Cooking’ Menu includes: Coronation Chicken Tart; King James II (1685) – Veal Sweetbread; King George IV (1821) – Fillet of Beef Royale and King Henry V (1413) and King Henry V (1413) – Fflampayne. The Trifle; HM King Charles III (2023).
Priced at GBP155* per person, with an optional wine pairing at GBP125 per person, the ‘Royal Cooking’ menu is available from 1 May until 31 May 2023.

Time For Tea with Highgrove – Inspired by the best of British heritage and quintessential afternoon tea dishes served at the Royal table, The Rosebery is offering guests an unforgettable Coronation Afternoon Tea in partnership with Highgrove – the private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort.

Time For Tea with Highgrove is lovingly prepared by Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London’s talented pastry chefs and includes: The King’s Coronation Chicken, Clarence Court egg truffle sandwich, The King’s Cypher, freshly baked scones and plenty more. Carefully selected tea will also be offered including the estate’s organic English Breakfast and Earl Grey. Time For Tea is available until 14 May 2023.

A Royal Toast – As guests raise a glass to His Majesty King Charles III – The Aubrey and Mandarin Bar has created a special menu in partnership with Laphroaig. Three different whiskey cocktails will be available at both outlets from 1 May to 9 May 2023.

Your Royal Invitation – Guests of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, as well as passers-by, are invited to enjoy:

The Coronation lollipop infused with flavours of vanilla and whisky decorated with the King’s cypher. Vanilla flavoured lollipops will be offered to children. These lollipops will be available outside the Ballroom entrance on 7 May 2023 from 5.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. – for all to enjoy on a complimentary basis.

The Coronation canapés will be offered to guests at The Rosebery and Mandarin Bar between the hours of 19.48 p.m. and 20.23 p.m. (marking the life of King Charles from his birth year to the year of his Coronation) over the Coronation weekend.

The façade of the hotel will be illuminated in a beautiful deep blue colour – the prime colour that has been chosen for His Majesty King Charles’s Coronation Emblem to mark this celebratory occasion.

Get to know His Majesty King Charles III – hotel guests will have the opportunity to embark on a journey with the aim to get to know the King better. A specially created map including the King’s favourite haunts all of which have been granted a Royal Warrant by His Majesty. Guests will be able to venture out on a self-guided tour to visit establishments including Lock & co, Berry Bros & Rudd, Floris, John Lobb, Ettinger, Gieves & Hawkes and plenty more. The map will be available from Concierge and be offered to guests booking ‘A Very Royal Occasion’.

The Royal Glow – guests are encouraged to visit The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London and enjoy the hotel’s signature treatment – ‘English Rose Massage’ – known for its beautiful rose scent and its calming, yet uplifting, effects on the body.

Royal Connections – Since 1902 Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has had the honour of welcoming members of the Royal Family on multiple occasions, whether it was for charity events or prestigious banquets. To learn more, guests are encouraged to visit the ‘If Walls Could Talk’ exhibit permanently located at the hotel.

Enjoy this special moment in British history in style!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Mandarin Oriental
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Prada announces the twelfth installment of its Timecapsule NFT Collection. Featuring a yellow and grey design in the style of a tank-top, the drop on May 4th continues Prada’s expansion into the Web3 community.

This drop celebrates the one-year anniversary of Prada’s NFT Timecapsule collection. Through this journey, Prada is creating a unique experience that combines its rich heritage and creativity with innovative technology and utilizing archived materials to provide a phygital experience for collectors. Over the last year, the Prada Crypted community were offered opportunities to attend exclusive experiences, such as trips to their fashion week shows in Milan and invitations to cultural events such as Prada Extends and Prada Mode. Prada looks forward to continuing its exploration of this dynamic and evolving space and collaborating with different creators and artists.

For drop #41 of the Timecapsule collection, Prada crafted a tank top in grey and yellow striped technical fabric with striped monochrome knit borders featuring the iconic Prada enameled triangle logo and the name of the month transferred on the back. Each shirt comes accompanied with its own gifted NFT, serving as an invitation to join Prada’s exclusive Crypted NFT community on Discord.

Prada continues to create unique experiences for its community, with members receiving an invite to attend the ninth iteration of Prada Mode in Tokyo on May 12th and 13th 2023. This event will see the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum transformed into a space where the guests can explore art in different forms and experience the historic architecture, the museum and the site-specific artworks, curated by Kazuyo Sejima – architect and a long-term collaborator of Prada.
Purchasers of Prada Timecapsule items prior to the launch of the NFT initiative in June 2022 can retroactively claim past Timecapsule NFTs in sync with their existing physical product. More details can be found on the Prada Crypted Community on Discord.

The drop is limited to 50 items, for 24 hours only, starting fromMay 4th, 2023 at 3pm CET.
To be eligible, you must:
● Hold a Prada Timecapsule NFT in your wallet (purchased from Prada directly or secondary market)
● Be part of the Prada Crypted discord
● Be verified as a holder and have the green tick to prove verification in the Prada
Crypted Discord

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Prada
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Thanks to Dolce & Gabbana I can enjoy my beloved pasta in an entire look decked out with one of the most delicious carbs on the planet. The Italian fashion house sent savory food-themed collections down the Milan runway in several previous seasons and has regularly pictured pasta-inhaling models in its campaigns.

My Look: Pasta printed cotton dress, decorative headband, pasta printed clutch (all S/S 2017) and bowtie pasta and cameo clip earrings (S/S 2012), all by Dolce & Gabbana, black lace-up Janis pumps by Saint Laurent, and pizza box bag by Moschino.

To the pasta, that improves your shape!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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I love pasta, basta! Leave it to Dolce & Gabbana to satisfy my huge appetite for Italian food with the most delicious carbs on the planet. The Italian fashion house joined forces with Pasta Di Martino, so that we can all get our paws on some DG-approved pasta.

I can only recommend this elegant gift box  «THE AUTHENTIC». It is a gift great for every pasta lover. Being dedicated to Naples, it contains a selection of 5 varieties of PGI Gragnano Pasta, made from 100% Italian durum wheat, and 2 cans of small Lampadina Tomatoes from the Sorrento Coast. On top you get a beautiful Dolce & Gabbana apron to be an Italian chef in style. The set is available for CHF 125.00.

TO SHOP THE GIFT BOX, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dolce & Gabbana / Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
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Christian Dior was particularly fond of lily of the valley, a symbol of the fine weather heralding the arrival of spring and the haute couture season. It was his good luck flower. A magical thinker, he would sew a sprig of it into the hem of each of his dresses.

As a tribute to this fascination, Dior Maison unveils the Lily Sauvage collection. These delicate creations are adorned with a unique motif featuring lily of the valley flowers intertwined with the House’s graphic Cannage motif, which is reinterpreted via a series of bamboo-inspired lines. Welcome spring with this poetic collection inspired by the warmer days ahead. I am so in love, especially with this extremely beautiful tray below (available for CHF 550 here).

Wishing you a wonderful lily of the valley season! If you would like to find out more about this First of May tradition, click here please for a previous post!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior Maison
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Now that you know all about the S/S 2023 bag trends, I put together for you a list to shop each trend immediately off the runway. Just click on the highlighted text to be transferred directly to the respective online shop. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

OVERSIZED BAG
Logo-plaque tote bag by Prada

WRISTLET
Pochette Clés XL by Louis Vuitton

BARBIECORE
Pink medium First bag by Fendi

PAILLETTES
Locò small sequinned-leather shoulder bag by Valentino

RED ALERT
Wanda crystal-embellished mini bag by Ferragamo

PUNK
Small Repeat shoulder bag by Versace

FORM FUNCTION
Denim peplum belt bag by Miu Miu

NOVELTY BAG
Inflatable-crab shoulder bag by Moschino

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
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Who doesn’t like to buy a new handbag?! From the rebirth of the oversized shoulder bag to girly-like pink, there’s a spring bag for every aesthetic among the runway collections. The S/S 2023 collections offer a great amount of choices – have fun exploring the new bag trends.

LoL, Sandra

After years of micro bags, designers seem to be gravitating toward more functional full or even oversized silhouettes (think messenger and massive slouchy bags).

If you’re into safety, this is the style for you. Wrapped around your wrist, those bags come in all sizes this season.

Barbie’s signature pink celebrates fantasy and femininity and is an absolute must this summer!

What a better way to unleash your inner party girl than sporting one of those must-have sparkly bags?!

Red leads the way head to toe so don’t forget your matching bag.

Studs, spikes and heavy-duty chains celebrate a new-punk movement.

Mini bags have been all the rage for years now, but finally, a more functional and fashionable bag trend is taking over this spring’s style

In today’s realm of the internet, novelty bags are loved for their eye-catching appearance. Taking the shape of a dool house or an inflatable floating device, this season runways are increasingly seeing various objects.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
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The power of water… Drinking plenty of water is a simple yet vital part of maintaining good health, especially as we get older. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can help with everything from healthy heart function and skin elasticity to making you happier and more productive. And good news is that you can drink water in style and also get dressed for it.

Evian is partnering with historic Paris fashion house Balmain. With a unique baroque motif designed by Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, this limited edition 75cl glass bottle reflects a shared commitment to embracing our heritage. Paying homage to the fashion house’s founder, Pierre Balmain, who grew up in the small mountain village of Saint Jean de Maurienne, not far from evian’s iconic source in the Alps, its design combines the universes of both houses, with delicate light blue lace features and aqua-like droplets inspired by evian’s pure natural mineral water, enhanced with Balmain’s signature embellished details and gold lettering.

The collaboration also includes the launch of a capsule collection of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. Classic sportswear silhouettes with the shades of soft pastels that one immediately associates with Balmain runways, the evian universe and, above all, refreshing joys of summer.

Relying on a wide variety of eco-friendly practices, materials and innovations, the collection of laid-back styles and accessories places the collaboration’s focus squarely on the powerful possibilities of a future world of fashion sustainability, all grouped under the distinctive tagline of «Together, change is beautiful.»

The Balmain team undertook the task of integrating a diverse range of materials, such as GOTS-certified organic cottons, sustainable viscose, and various recycled materials, to craft an extensive range of clothing items, including swimsuits, tees, hoodies, bombers, trucker jackets, and jeans.

Through this collaboration, evian and Balmain demonstrated a shared dedication to eco friendly practices, even in the minutest details, such as the recycled polyester labels and composition stickers, paper packaging made from pulp derived from sustainably managed FSC-certified forests, and the use of recycled plastic hangers and bags.

As an extension to the collection, evian and Balmain collaborated with Solaris, a recycling innovation industry leader to highlight the new opportunities presented by recycling plastic waste not suitable for circular economy in the fashion industry. Together, they developed a surprising new spin on the popular Balmain B-It slider: a sleek and transparent B-It that is entirely crafted from plastic waste that is typically judged to be unsuitable for reuse within the circular product cycle. Solaris also assisted Rousteing’s accessory design team, helping create an unexpected take on the house’s luxury Blaze handbag, using a 45% plant-based resin mixture to 3D-print the body and cover of the Blaze. The bag’s handle and lock logo were also 3D-printed, relying on a 100% rPET material created from recycled evian bottle waste (evian rPET flakes) that doesn’t meet circularity standards.

The «Together, Change is Beautiful» campaign was shot by filmmaker and photographer Carlota Guerrero, an artist who aims to portray beauty in a natural and frank way.

Guerrero’s film features the highly acclaimed La Marche Bleue dance troupe performing an original dance piece choreographed by founder Leo Walk. «The sequence was choreographed so that the movements would be impossible to perform alone,» noted Walk. «Instead, the dancers achieved their goal together, supporting each other and making it clear, through dance, that together, change is beautiful.»

Stay hydrated, stay in touch.
TO SHOP THE BALMAIN x EVIAN SPORTSWEAR COLLECTION, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

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