Sandra‘s Closet

Back in London in my hood… my apartment is located in the center of Mayfair, everything I love, from my favorite restaurants to the best shops, is in walking distance. I love strolling through the streets, running errands in style and having a quick coffee. As you can see in my smile, London is my absolute happy place.

My look: Cropped embellished cotton-blend tweed jacket, and Vichy button-embellished cotton-blend tweed mini skirt, both by Balmain, leather wrap bra top by Alaïa, Aevitas pointy stud leather platform pumps by Versace, Coco Crush necklace in beige gold with diamonds by CHANEL Fine Jewelry, necklace and charms by Foundrae, metal glass pearls leather earrings, leather bracelet, and mini rectangle flap bag in pearly lambskin with black-tone metal, all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Felicia Sewerinsson @feliciasewerinsson
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Last week, I was invited by Clé de Peau Beauté as their ambassador to «UNLOCK A NEW RADIANCE» at the Riviera-historic landmark, the Carlton Cannes. In the South of France, the Japanese beauty brand revealed their radiance expertise while we indulged in the glamour of the Croisette.

We started the journey after our arrival with a very early flight (thank you for those beauty products that make even the dullest and most tired skin look radiant and plump), with a wonderful lunch at the Carlton Cannes The Beach Club. As it was so extremely hot and humid, we were all very grateful when we changed location and discovered Clé de Peau Beauté’s scientific breakthrough that is infused in the newest emblematic skin care, in the super luxurious penthouse suite.

Clé de Peau Beauté is the number one skincare brand in Japan. Since its launch in 1982, it has been a pioneer in the Haute Cosmetics. Three core values play an important part: to be intelligent, uncompromising and exquisite.

THE SERUM REBORN
It is all about «switching off aging, and switching on youthful renewal.»

Scientists found that the epidermis acts like a third brain. Like the brain, our skin is smart. It has the ability to remove bad stimuli, even before they reach the skin cells. The skin can detect, capture and defend those aggressors with the help of RADIANT LILY, which is thriving in the wild for over 3,500 years in the mountains of Southern France. This flower is extremely attuned to the rhythms of its harsh environment. The high-potency extract derived from it helps to improve skin defense.

Later we were invited to a masterclass with Benjamin Puckey, Clé de Peau Beauté’s Global Color Director and Celebrity Makeup Artist, who revealed to us how to achieve «Radiance at a Glance» in a few steps.

SERUM
Apply around five drops with upward movements on the skin as the first step.

CORRECTING CREAM VEIL
This product is one of Clé de Peau Beauté’s bestselling products. The perfect base. They cannot keep it in stock.

RADIANT FLUID FOUNDATION
It has a SPF 25 and since 2013 Benjamin has it in his kit. He prefers using the foundation before the concealer.

STICK CONCEALER
With the help of its creamy and moisturizing texture, it blurs imperfections. It is a great product to use for flash photography as it absorbs the light.

EYE COLOR SOLO SHADOWS
The texture is so amazing and feels bouncy. Oil meets cream, apply it with your fingers and add on the intensity with different layers. According to Benjamin, doing make-up is about creating 3-dimensional looks also for the eyelids.

MASCARA
Clé de Peau Beauté created this mascara for Asian lashes which are short in general. So you can rest assured to have a wow effect when you use it.

HIGHLIGHTER
This new shade, a peachy browny ambery glow melts into the skin for the perfect summery glow.

LIPS
At the moment the trend is not to use a lip liner and apply the lipstick and tap it with your fingers.

Refreshments were served on the rooftop terrace of the penthouse suite where we could enjoy some sunshine thanks to the right sun protection.

After a short break where we were able to refresh and change into a glamorous black tie outfit to embark on a sunset cruise to celebrate this beautiful day.

Once we were back on land, we were surprised with an amazing candlelight dinner at Château de la Napoule. It felt like being part of  an episode of Bridgerton.

During the gourmet dinner we enjoyed like music. However, the dessert needs a special mentioning. A «chocolate sphere surprise» embellished with the Clé de Peau logo was drenched in warm caramel sauce which melted it to unleash the yummiest chocolate dessert inside.

To finish on a high this radiant evening, I was surprised with La Crème in my hotel room, the brand’s most exquisite skincare icon. Its uncompromising blend of 60 ingredients is working in synergy to amplify the skin’s innate ability to regenerate overnight. Thanks to it, I woke up all refreshed and ready to fly off to my next adventure.

Radiantly yours!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Clé de Peau Beauté
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored! We may also earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!
@cledepeaubeaute #cpbcollective #cpb #unlockanewradiance

Louis Vuitton reveals the Neverfull Inside Out, a reversible spin on an iconic bag.

Neverfull is a bag that embodies the versatility and timeless design of Louis Vuitton, as stylish as it is sensible. An everyday icon for 17 years, Neverfull is the cabas with a memorably playful name. As a new spin, Louis Vuitton has taken this beloved bag and made it fully reversible, proving that Neverfull does not mean never change.

Launching September 20, the Neverfull Inside Out is at once recognisable and fresh. With this inspired interpretation, the bag can be flipped so that the original inside becomes the outside. What was once concealed is now visible: the inside pocket printed with the Maison’s signature stamp becomes a defining detail. A spontaneous sleight of hand, a different assertion of self-expression.

Functionality plays a key part in this latest version. With an adapted resistant lining, the Neverfull Inside Out is durable whichever way it is used. Additional hooks allow the larger MM size of the bag to transform into a trapezoidal hobo shape.

The Neverfull Inside Out MM has a work-to-weekend feel and comes with a versatile strap for different carry options. Style extends across both sides, whether the outside classic Monogram or the inside grained leather in tones of black and brown. There is also a full textile version that combines coated canvas with fabric lining in three vibrant hues: Saffron, Red and Rose Pondichéry (deep pink). Meanwhile, a seasonal, upscaled GM size of Neverfull Inside Out with travel patches will debut as part of the next Flight Mode collection.

The smaller Neverfull Inside Out BB is defined by an interior zipped pouch that becomes a signature exterior detail. Compact and chic, it flips to leather in several colours including black, Dark Fango (khaki) and Rose Pondichéry. With a new Monogram removable strap, this size is ideal for a shoulder or cross-body carry.

The campaign will feature Sophie Turner, whose lively character pushes the possibilities of the bag’s function. Out and about, she takes her Neverfull Inside Out; sporting one side, then the other, with ease.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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LVMH has announced the appointment of Sarah Burton as creative director of Givenchy, effective immediately, according to a news release this week. Burton will oversee the women’s and men’s lines and will present her first collection for the house in March 2025.

Givenchy is back on the radar as LVMH has named Sarah Burton creative director for women’s and men’s collections, with immediate effect. She stepped down from Kering owned brand Alexander McQueen last year after two decades at the brand, and since 2010 as creative director.

Hubert de Givenchy

Sarah Burton said: «It is a great honour to be joining the beautiful house of Givenchy, it is a jewel. I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs.»

Her first collection will be presented during Paris Fashion Week in March 2025. Givenchy named also a new CEO, Alessandro Valenti, in July. Burton becomes the eighth designer at the French luxury house founded in 1953 by Hubert de Givenchy, who stayed on until 1995. She is its second female creative director. History repeats itself as her predecessors at Givenchy include Alexander McQueen, who designed at the Paris fashion house from 1996-2001.

Sarah Burton with Lee Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton was born in Macclesfield and educated in Manchester, before studying Fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, graduating in 1997. She rose to fame when she created the wedding dress for Kate, the Princess of Wales. In 2012, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the British Fashion industry. During her 13 year tenure as Creative Director at Alexander McQueen, Burton produced women’s and men’s collections to great critical acclaim, as well as establishing an extensive education programme supporting young creatives. In December 2023, Burton was awarded the Special Recognition Award at The Fashion Awards, honouring her outstanding contribution to the fashion industry. Owner Kering said upon her exit that she had left «an indelible mark.»

Personally speaking, Sarah was on my radar for CHANEL. I am a big fan of her work. I hope John Galliano could be the one for CHANEL, despite everything that happened. His talent is just outstanding and he would be such a great choice for the French Maison!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © GIVENCHY
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Today, I would like to talk about one of my all-time favorite wardrobe staples — the denim jacket. Nothing makes you look younger than these bad boys, and let me tell you, they’re not going anywhere in 2024. In fact, I’d say they’re hotter than ever as designers bring unexpected twists on the classic by playing with different shapes, washes, and embellishments, and I’m here for it!

My personal favorite this season is the cropped version that I like to combine with dressier pieces as in this post here. However, I am also a fan of the blazer style or the lace embellishments. I put the best ones available together for you!

LoL, Sandra

MY CHOICE: Cropped denim hooded jacketby Alaïa

Cropped embroidered denim jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier

Cropped denim jacket by Self-Portrait

Nariida Charlie denim bomber jacket by Blazé Milano

Valette denim jacket by Isabel Marant

Janet denim jacket by Anine Bing

Lace-trimmed denim jacket by Stella McCartney

Ruffled denim peplum jacket by Alexander McQueen

Denim peplum jacket by Liberowe

Ruffled denim peplum jacket by Balmain

Rae double-breasted denim blazer by Polo Ralph Lauren

Denim blazer by Alexander McQueen

Embellished denim blazer by Versace

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of the Brands
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Since a few summer season, Louis Vuitton offers the «LV By the Pool» collection, that brings the desire for exotic travel into everyday lifestyle. Revealing airy silhouettes, it unveils a vibrant wardrobe to celebrate the serenity of summer. The past weeks in Switzerland felt so tropical. I loved wearing the pieces for a swim in Lake Zurich. The tote bag is a souvenir from Saint Tropez showcasing the location on one side.

My look: Monogram flower tile long shirt dress, Monogram flower tile bikini top, Monogram flower tile bikini bottoms, Starboard wedge sandals, Neverfull MM tote bag «Saint Tropez» with fan and pareo, Louise hoop earrings, My LV chain pilot sunglasses, and LV Nanogram whistle chain leaf pendant necklace, all by Louis Vuitton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Breaking news, Tom Ford appoints Haider Ackermann Creative Director. The Colombian-born designer is known for his precise, sensual aesthetic. Owner Estée Lauder and licensee Zegna have sublime ambitions for the brand, whose former Creative Director Peter Hawkings exited suddenly in July of this year.

Ackermann, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and adopted by a French family, will work from his home city of Paris. His role makes him responsible for shaping all of Tom Ford’s fashion output, including womenswear, menswear, accessories and eyewear. He will also «guide the creative vision for the overall brand», the company’s statement mentioned. The first full view of his interpretation of the codes established and refined by Ford will be revealed in Paris next March at a runway show during the F/W 2025 edition of Paris Fashion Week.

«It is with tremendous pride that I will seek to honour the legacy of Tom Ford, a man I have long admired and have the utmost respect for,» said Ackermann in a statement.

«We are thrilled to welcome Haider Ackermann to Tom Ford,» William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman of ELC, said in a statement to Vogue «Haider’s appointment strengthens our ambitions for this enormously successful brand. His unique and insightful vision will further enhance the house’s global impact on fashion and culture.»

Tom Ford, who founded his eponymous brand in 2005, stepped down in 2023 following its $2.8 billion sale to ELC the previous year. I had always been a huge fan of his creative work and missed him at the helmet of his eponymous label. However, I am excited for Haider’s interpretation of the Tom Ford brand! I personally think it is a great match!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tom Ford / Estée Lauder
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The PIC restaurant is reborn at Beau-Rivage Palace under the creative direction of the triple-starred chef and Hublot Ambassador Anne-Sophie Pic. It has been a 15-year-long Swiss odyssey between the hotel and the world of Anne-Sophie Pic … fifteen years of friendships, creativity, tastes, foraging, reflection, trial and error…and success.

Each step has been painstakingly mapped out in detail in her private memory-rich journals. Switzerland is one of her most beloved places, a land where she never ceases to find inspiration. Partly, this is because she is able to look back fondly at a happy childhood suffused with rich memories of family gatherings in Switzerland’s Vaud region.

The setting of the new PIC Restaurant at the Beau-Rivage Palace was imagined and shaped by the chef. It epitomizes her culinary philosophy, one that underscores her delicate and bold cuisine, which combines classic ingredients and contemporary techniques to create innovative mouthwatering dishes. Her vision was transformed into reality by architect Tristan Auer: the restaurant’s design blends classic refinement with the promise of the contemporary.

Of all the gastronomic artisans in Switzerland, it is to Chef Jordan Theurrillat that Anne-Sophie Pic has entrusted her wealth of secrets. He has been at her side for more than a decade, including five years in Lausanne. Sommelier Dominique Peretti, also a veteran of Maison Pic, is in command of food pairings with the restaurant’s magnificent wine list. Finally, in the dining room, Diane Blanch, director of the Lausanne restaurant since 2021, places the Lausanne experience at the heart of Anne-Sophie Pic’s values.

It was 15 years ago that these two august institutions linked their destinies. And now they embark on a fresh new chapter combining the very best in hospitality, excellence, and savoir-faire.

Opening of the restaurant September 5 by the evening
Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 1.30pm and 6.30pm to 9.30pm

4-course menu CHF 160 / 5-course menu CHF 210
valid for lunch from Tuesday to Friday
7-course Tasting Menu CHF 330 / 8-course Tasting Menu CHF 390
valid for lunch and dinner

The hotel car park is available and free to restaurant guests.

Place du Port 17-19, CH – 1006 Lausanne
E-mail: e. , Phone: +41 21 613 33 39

I personally speaking love her restaurant in Valence, where she actually lives. It is absolutely amazing, especially her non-alcoholic pairings are outstanding, for a previous post, click here please. Therefore I am super excited to be visiting the new spot in Lausanne hopefully soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Beau-Rivage Palace, © Hublot
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Alaïa is participating to Homo Faber 2024: The Journey of Life, taking place from September 1st to September 30th, at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, in Venice.

This renowned event, curated by Michelangelo Foundation (a non-profit institution based in Switzerland, which champions craftspeople worldwide with the aim of promoting a more human, inclusive and sustainable future) under the art direction of Luca Guadagnino and Nicolò Rosmarini, showcases the finest in contemporary craftsmanship. In immersive exhibitions staged across the magnificent spaces of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, you can discover hundreds of handcrafted objects made by talented craftspeople from all over the world. Meaningful milestones will be celebrated with special objects handcrafted by skilled artisans according to specific techniques. From childhood to travel, romance to dreams, Homo Faber 2024 will showcase the craftsmanship behind the objects that accompany life’s most precious moments. Enjoy exceptional scenography, live artisan demonstrations and unique experiences from culinary ones to special tours. This year, Alaïa will present 30 knitted dresses that embody the Maison’s devotion to femininity.

Knitting is one of the essences of the House of Alaïa. Born from the savoir-faire of its ateliers, developed with its historical suppliers, Alaïa’s meticulous craftsmanship transforms knitted fabric is transformed into a prestigious source of pure beauty.

To book your private visit, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Alaïa / Homo Faber 2024
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This dress has been one of my favorites this summer and I wore it to many parties. Here you see me at the new One&Only Kéa Island Resort at their Bond Beach Club in May where Net-à-Porter hosted the Aquazzura Alfresco Lunch. By coincidence, I matched the decor with my accessories perfectly. If you are interested in the event, click here for more information.

My look: Faux pearl-embellished cutout stretch-jersey and lace maxi dress by PatBO, raffia small striped logo tote in tan and yellow, and matching striped raffia bucket hat, both by Prada, Almost Bare crystal-embellished PVC sandals by Aquazzura, and gold-tone, faux raffia and bead earring by Oscar de la Renta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Sandra Semburg Photography / @sandrasemburg
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