Sandra‘s Closet

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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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
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If you are scrolling through Instagram, odds are good that you’ve seen at least one «floating breakfast.» In case you’re not familiar with them, here’s what to know: they’re a typical luxury hotel room service breakfast – think avocado toast, eggs, fruits, colorful smoothies, coffee and the like – served in a pool or hot tub instead of in bed. Usually, they’re placed on large platters or baskets that have a floating cushion under them, then accessorized with tropical flowers to make them even more photogenic.

These breakfasts are particularly popular in Asia and the Pacific, especially at warm-weather private villa resorts in places like Phuket, Bali and the Maldives. I enjoyed mine at the Ritz-Carlton Fari Islands resort. It was absolutely breathtaking to start my day with a delicious floating breakfast while enjoying the stunning view of our water villa pool.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 
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Prada is to open Prada Caffè at Harrods in London, a space designed to add a new dimension to the brand and offer customers a unique and engaging experience. The environment revisits Prada’s visual hallmarks, with every choice – from the decor and menu to the tableware and atmosphere – reflecting the brand’s language, approach and distinctive way of viewing the world.

Inside, the walls, ceilings and velvet-upholstered sofas and armchairs are delicately coloured with the brand’s iconic green. The floors reproduce the black-and-white chequered floor of the historic Prada boutique on Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, while the floral bas-reliefs on the walls evoke some of Prada’s flagship stores across the world.

The tableware is original and exclusive, selected by Prada to match the surroundings and ranging from pale-blue Japanese porcelain with a contrasting double black line, inspired by ancient Celadon pottery – tea and coffee cups with lids, teapots, plates and trays – to blown-glass crystal glassware, including the Triangle series with its quintessentially Prada triangular pattern.

The range of food and drink on offer covers the entire day, from breakfast to evening cocktails, and provides a subtle, modern take on Italian tradition, with sandwiches and risotto sitting alongside buffalo mozzarella and salmon and crab dishes and spritz – and negroni-based aperitifs complementing the list of signature cocktails. The wine list spans the whole of Italy, with bottles from Sicily to Piedmont.

Pastries play a central role, displayed both on the spectacular central counter and the wall behind: the selection of fine patisserie products pairs expert craftsmanship with modern techniques and classic ingredients with more contemporary flavours and aromas.

Prada Caffè will be open from 31 March 2023 to 7 January 2024, from 9 AM to 9 PM Monday to Saturday and from 12 PM to 6 PM on Sunday, with an entrance on Hans Road. It will soon be joined by an outdoor stall, which will offer Londoners a delicious range of ice creams.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada
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HENNESSY X.O UNVEILS MASTERPIECE COLLABORATION WITH KIM JONES

In a first for the Maison, the acclaimed fashion designer transcends couture and cognac in a special collection featuring a collectible sneaker, Masterpiece decanter, and Limited Edition bottle.

Hennessy is pleased to announce a collaboration with the world-renowned British Artistic Director Kim Jones. In an audacious meeting of two icons, the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones collection bridges street and luxury in a unique celebration of the legendary blend’s impact on culture. Interweaving the richness of Hennessy X.O’s 150-year heritage with Kim Jones’ creative vision, the collaboration features the Hennessy X.O Masterpiece designed by Kim Jones, the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition bottle by Kim Jones, and in a first for the brand, the HNY Low by Kim Jones. This also marks the first time Maison Hennessy has partnered with a fashion designer, and that Kim Jones collaborates with a spirits brand.

HNY Low by Kim Jones

«We are thrilled to embark on a new odyssey blending cognac-making and couture with Kim Jones, a creative master of our time,» said Laurent Boillot, Hennessy CEO. «Inspired by the emblematic personality of Hennessy X.O, Kim has developed a resolutely contemporary collection that is destined to make an impact on culture today and in the future.»

For Hennessy X.O, Kim Jones pays tribute to cognac-making and couture, two processes that touch on an understanding of science and the natural world as well as artisanal craftsmanship and savoir-faire. He follows in the footsteps of a formidable lineage of great masters who have helped cement Hennessy X.O’s cultural resonance over the years, including Frank Gehry, Cai Guo-Qiang and Ridley Scott.

«I’m fascinated by the rich heritage of Hennessy, a household name behind which artisans have spent hundreds of years creating this special cognac,» says Kim Jones. «Storytelling is very important for me regardless of what I’m designing or who I’m collaborating with – I want my designs to educate and inspire people through the stories they tell.»

WHERE COGNAC MEETS COUTURE: THE HENNESSY X.O MASTERPIECE AND HENNESSY X.O
LIMITED EDITION DESIGNED BY KIM JONES

Designed exclusively for Hennessy by Kim Jones, produced using 3D printing technology, and finished by hand, the sculptural Hennessy X.O Masterpiece has been produced in a limited edition of just 200 examples. The decanter demonstrates how humanity and technology can work together to create something unique, «like a piece of bespoke couture for a bottle,» the designer notes.

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece draws inspiration from the making of Hennessy X.O, an art perfected by eight generations of Master Blenders. A specially developed titanium casing entirely encapsulates the bottle like an architectural second skin. Its twisting folds evoke both the couture technique of draping and the way in which, at the turn of the 20th century, Hennessy bottles were carefully hand-enveloped in tissue paper as a way of protecting their fragile parchment paper labels. Its base, an undulating oak plateau, nods to the barrels used to age eaux-de-vie that would eventually be blended to create Hennessy X.O.

While the bottle is entirely obscured from view, the cognac can be extracted using the fusil designed by Kim Jones, an elegant and playful ritual to serve a glass of the Hennessy X.O blend. As a finishing touch, the decanter itself has been dipped in gradient colors, an effect inspired by the shades of the different eaux-de-vie selected by the Master Blender to compose Hennessy X.O.

Says Kim Jones: «When I saw how the vintage Hennessy bottles were wrapped, it spoke volumes to me about how precious each one is, and how they were handled. I was particularly touched by their history, and the sense of how generations have dedicated their time to making each step of the process better and better. That same process also holds true with fashion.»

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition

The third element of the collaboration is the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition ‘ready-to-wear’ version of the decanter specially imagined by Kim Jones. The Hennessy X.O bottle is encased in an aluminum second skin, its structure showcasing the signature shape of the bottle while evoking a couture silhouette. A true representation of the merger of fashion and culture with excellence and legacy, the limited edition bottle is the final piece of the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones partnership.

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition by Kim Jones is available exclusively at Globus for CHF 241.50 now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hennessy
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The MOSCHINO after show dinner took place at Osteria La Risacca 6, an amazing restaurant specializing in seafood in Milan. Each dish on the menu was extremely good, prepared exclusively with fresh seasonal ingredients. The atmosphere was vibrant, great music played and we danced at the table.

With lovely Sara Bongiorni from MOSCHINO.

If you love fish dishes and you are in Milan, you must visit this restaurant.

After the dinner, we ended the night at Just Cavalli Club. As the name implies, the nightclub was designed by the designer Roberto Cavalli. Especially during fashion week, the club attracts fashionable club-lovers from across the world owing to its bespoke interiors and the overall clubbing ambiance.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Sledding into the weekend… something I can only recommend when being in Gstaad. Take this refreshing break! Even the ride up to the Eggli with the modern gondola lift designed by Porsche is an unforgettable experience. It effortlessly covers the 500 meters in altitude in just 5 minutes and offers breathtaking views of Gstaad and the mountain panorama surrounding the village. You can rent the sleds when you buy your ticket for the gondola ride and take it with you up the mountain. Just make sure that you are dressed with several layers as it can be very cold.

However before sledding down the Eggli Run back to Gstaad, enjoy a fondue on the terrace of the Bergrestaurant Eggli that offers delicious food and drinks for all tastes. There is also a very instagrammable spot with the #Gstaad.

Opening hours: December 16, 2022 until March 12, (daily 9:00 am – 4:30 pm)
Reservations at +41 33 748 95 59 or rest.eggli@bergbahnen-gstaad.ch.

Another great experience is the «Fondue Night on Eggli». When the sun goes down and the lights go on in the valley, peace has returned to the Eggli. On this special occasion, you have the unique opportunity to enjoy this unique atmosphere on the mountain. After enjoying a fondue à discretion (meaning as much as you like), you can sled down the Eggli Run back to Gstaad.

Dates: Every Thursday in February, 02/09/16 and 23, 2023. Reservations are required.
For more information, visit the website please.
If you like my outfit, click here for more information.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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As the holiday season approaches, Dior has created The Fabulous World of Dior, a spectacular presentation illuminating the hallowed halls of the legendary Harrods department store. An exceptional event combining the charm of the English spirit with French luxury and art de vivre refinement.

A fervent admirer of England, from 1953 Christian Dior developed a powerful and unbreakable bond with Harrods, London’s epicenter of British elegance. This story, beginning with Harrods’ earliest singular branded boutique, has continued to grow through exclusive collaborations and is now enriched by a new chapter, unique in its scope and creative daring, inspired by the magic of Christmas.

For this breathtaking event, Harrods is decked out in a dazzling installation deployed along its historic façade on Brompton Road.

Dior reinvents the forty-four traditional Christmas windows of Harrods.

From November 10 to January 3, 2023, the façade of the Brompton Road edifice will be adorned with a monumental installation aglow with a play of light radiantly showcasing Dior’s fundamental references as reinterpreted by artist Pietro Ruffo for the Dior cruise 2023 collection. The compass rose, lucky stars and scintillating flowers will guide visitors along the historic window displays – a captivating attraction that draws people from all over the world, transformed and brought to life by a fantastic gingerbread tableau. A journey that stretches the limits of the imagination, exploring the House’s different worlds and symbols, from fashion to beauty.In the heart of this prestigious venue, a thousand fascinating surprises and animated decors, enhanced by gourmet treats, await customers.

Dior Café at Harrods – a new and extraordinary venue dedicated to delighting the taste buds.

Two dreamlike pop-ups – an ode to Monsieur Dior’s attachment to the celebration of Christmas and the art of cherishing loved ones – along with a Café specially conceived for the occasion, and even a truly immersive exhibition that plays with proportions to enchant the senses, promise unforgettable moments of joy and sharing. A tribute to British hospitality and the pleasure of entertaining, so dear to the founding couturier, a tearoom is unveiled in an unprecedented stage set, entirely adorned with gingerbread from the facade to the interior design and even the tiniest details, where Dior’s distinctive fundamentals are sketched. The Medallion chairs are dressed in iconic Dior toile de Jouy, the patterns of which can also be seen on the wooden tables, while the lines of the Maison’s signature cannage decorate the tableware, illuminated by delicate golden hues.

The architecture of Dior’s emblematic locations – from Granville to La Colle Noire and 30 Montaigne – are shown in reduced proportions.

Initiating a captivating encounter between the different customs that brighten the end of year festivities, from the City of Light to the English capital, Dior has conceived a unique, unprecedented exhibition – a real «kingdom of dreams» specially designed for Harrods – which revisits the tradition of gingerbread houses.

Timeless essentials of the feminine universe, the J’Adior pumps are dressed in the Jardin d’Hiver print, which also embellishes silk scarves, shawls, a pajama set from the Dior Chez Moi line, or the Lady Dior. It appears on exceptional trunks, as well as an elegant case enclosing a Saddle or a Lady Dior reinterpreted in micro format. Like an ode to travel and the plurality of cultures, the Rêve d’Infini motif imagined by Pietro Ruffo blossoms on the Dior Book Tote, (to see me wear this bag, click here please), D-Way mules and silk twill scarves, while the graphic cannage is drawn on iridescent phone pouches and cases.

The Dior Prestige ritual, lipsticks and fragrances – such as J’adore, Eau Sauvage, Miss Dior and the olfactory works of La Collection Privée – also appear in sumptuous exhibits, sometimes depicting a forest of pine trees made of cookies, sometimes a joyful flurry of candy balloons, boldly conveying the House’s excellence in beauty, from skincare to perfume.

A momentous pause in time, defined by a selection of objects of desire – such as sumptuous gift sets and advent calendars – cultivating, more than ever, the pleasure of giving so cherished by the House.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior
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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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Lady Gaga is a woman of the 21st century – boldly speaking her mind, and driving change through her art, her commitments, her actions. She is not only bubbly, she also love the bubbly. The collaboration of Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga opens its second chapter and brings together a common ambition to discover harmony in tensions, and create by juxtaposing polarities and dualities with the Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2008 x Lady Gaga Limited Edition. When Dom Pérignon chooses to be rosé, it is a radical declaration of freedom. Freedom to explore. Freedom to cast aside conventions and push the boundaries of creation. And who else could be more suitable to incorporate this way of living than Lady Gaga.

Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2008 bears witness to an exceptional year in a decade of brazenly generous sun. Gray, overcast skies dominated spring and summer in 2008, resulting in a deficit of both light and warmth. The maturity of the grapes surpassed all expectations, revealing exceptional high-toned balance. The bouquet instantly opens with raspberries, rapidly joined by notes of violet. Greener nuances then arrive, evoking angelica.

Dom Pérignon Rosé springs from this desire to dare, seizing the red of the pinot noir grape in its primal radiance, capturing its vital power in a bold, assertive assemblage. Tempered by a slow, masterful transformation during nearly 12 years in the cellar, Dom Pérignon Rosé is untamed and carnal, both light and dark, magnetic. Its vibration embraces the thrill of the unknown and is an invitation to explore.

Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2008 x Lady Gaga Limited Edition its available at Globus for CHF 480 and at Mister Champagne for CHF 450.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dom Pérignon – DRINK RESPONSIBLY
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