Sandra‘s Closet

Thanks to my friend Catherine who surprised me with those to-die-for sugar shapes, I have discovered Belle de Sucre, a brand that is almost too good to eat. Every little piece is handmade in the headquarter in Cornou, just South of Paris. Claire Vincent, the founder, came up with the idea to use different colours, shapes and flavours, all made from organic ingredients including fruit pulp and cocoa beans, making them a guilt-free pleasure as well as a work of art.

Adorably packaged and poetically designed, the collection, including must-haves like little handbags, flowers, hearts and lips, is already flying off the shelves! The perfect little surprise for a beloved friend or to decorate your Christmas table.

In Switzerland, Belle de Sucre products are exclusively available at Globus.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Belle de Sucre and © Sandra Bauknecht

“The best gift of all comes from the heart. It’s a song that you share or a smile that you start, it’s the love that you give… .” This is my daughter’s favourite Christmas song and I love the message. When it comes from the heart, every action becomes more beautiful.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money, it is more the time you invest to make somebody else happy. My friend Tine recently surprised me with this handmade cookie jar filled with glittering biscuits. Isn’t it the perfect gift for someone you love? All you need is some hot glue, cute ribbons, one or two flat Christmas ornaments and of course a canning jar. The decoration only depends on your individual tastes, have fun!

Speaking of love, today is my Dad’s 70th birthday! Happy Happy Birthday to the best father I could have wished for. I am blessed to you have you in my life.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Louis Vuitton is always good for beautiful Christmas gift inspirations. The French house’s holiday brochure is full of perfect surprises for the festive season. The bags are guaranteed winners, and the accessories are everything a LV fan could want. Dear Santa, below is my wish list…

LoL, Sandra

Tote MM Majestueux bordeaux, in Monogram, leather, lizard and ostrich

Lockit Monogram Transparent noir (Collection Cruise 2013)

Bag Charm Carrousel marron.

Suitcase 35 Christmas Baubles in Monogram (How amazing are Louis Vuitton ornaments for your tree?!)

Charm Car, white and yellow gold, diamonds

Vuitton City Guides 2013 suitcases in Monogram Macassar

Calypso MM in Damier Inifini onyx for MEN

Montre Tambour Voyagez II, rose gold

Sequined Shoes for MEN

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

A great gift for the coffee table: Bottega Veneta‘s tome, the house’s first ever book with Rizzoli to celebrate the craftsmanship and luxury of the legendary maison.

This beautifully designed and slipcased monograph is the rich result of a collaborative effort between creative director Tomas Maier, designer Sam Shahid, and many of today’s leading fashion journalists. It highlights the brand’s illustrious history that reaches back to a time when it was known primarily for its soft, handcrafted leather handbags. Today, Bottega Veneta is renowned not only for its coveted leather goods but also for a remarkable range of luxury products. Now, as then, the brand stands for the discreet sophistication and refined individuality captured in its famous line, “When your own initials are enough.”

Simultaneously available in English, Italian, French and German, the trade edition is sold in Bottega Veneta and fine book stores worldwide for € 80/CHF 100. There is also a luxury edition slipcased in intrecciato leather, which is sold exclusively in Bottega Veneta boutiques for € 550/CHF 680.

This is the ultimate volume for the true connoisseur of luxury handcraftsmanship, especially if you find pieces from your own closet in the book like I did…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bottega Veneta and © Sandra Bauknecht

Special gifts that celebrate that unique love between owner and cat might be a great idea for you or a fellow kitten lover. I love this uber-cute new season cat wool sweater by Issa, a stylish way of showing your love for these animals. 
Need a shopping basket sweetener? Here’s a Matches FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING code – simply enter FREE12 at checkout – valid till December 10, 2012 midnight GMT.

Or have you every thought of treating your feline friend this Christmas to an Advent calendar for cats from Harrods. Behind each window is a tasty treat that your cat will love and enjoy. Perfect for getting all the family involved in the festive season.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Matches and Harrods

Today is the 2nd of December, time to open the second door of our Advent calendar and to reveal the secret why I went to Greece with Hermès. It is something for perfume aficionados and beauty lovers:

Jour d’Hermès, the French house’s new women’s fragrance, will hit the shelves on February 15, 2013. Great news is that it is available exclusively now in all Hermès boutiques. Such a fantastic, very selective gift for Christmas. The scent is like the dawn, luminous, sensual, floral and very feminine. In the beginning of next year, I will tell you all about the trip to Delphi and give some more information on the new scent.

LoL, Sandra

Still: Courtesy of Hermès

It is December 1st, are you getting antsy for Christmas? Like last year, I have created a little online Advent calendar to make the wait a bit easier. Every day I will surprise you with one or two deliciously fashionable must-haves, or an inspiration for a lovely gift, even for yourself.

Get caught up in some fabulous offerings and don’t forget to shop them fast. Some things will sell out so quickly that even Santa can’t bring them. Hello, wait list!

To celebrate the Advent season in style, Monnier Frères offers to Sandra’s Closet readers a special 10% discount from today until December 15, 2012. Enter promo code XMAS10SCL at checkout. Delivery before Christmas is guaranteed for any order placed before noon on the 20th of December, 2012.

I am not dreaming of a white Christmas but of a…
1 20 Year silk twill square by Christian Lacroix
2 Maraini Faith leather bag by Jil Sander
3 Red hat by Borsalino
4 Tuyet embroidered clutch by Balmain

Have fun shopping and enjoy your 10% discount!

LoL, Sandra

For Christmas 2012, Guerlain launches a gorgeous little trio of options for La Petite Robe Noire, the brand’s freshly re-worked fragrance. Three alternative “little black dresses” are featured on limited-edition bottles, named Ma Petite Robe Noire.

Simply choose which of the three dresses matches your or your gift recipient’s taste and have the bottle calligraphed with your name, initials or a secret message. The perfect fusion for a perfume-loving fashionista!

The complementary calligraphy session will be available in Zurich at Jelmoli only on the following dates: Friday 30st of November and Saturday 1st of December, 2012.

If you like to read my review of Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire, please click here for my thoughts on this yummy fragrance and check out this post to get an idea how cute a personalized bottle can be.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain

For the past 150 years the House of Roger&Gallet has been celebrating the magic of Christmas and has shared the joy of giving with fragrance connoisseurs from all over the world.

To celebrate its anniversary year, Roger&Gallet is introducing a collection of colourful and festive Christmas box sets. And I have some very good news for my Swiss based readers, 15 OF YOU CAN WIN ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT BOXES EACH. All you have to do is send me an e-mail to with the header “Roger&Gallet Christmas” and your postal address.

Contestants MUST live in Switzerland. All entries must be received until November 30, 2012. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win this contest. By entering this contest, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these official rules.

GIFT SET FLEUR D`OSMANTHUS
For her. A cascade of appetising floral notes, with citrus fruit and wood transport you into a Chinese Garden of Eden, in quest of the rare and mysterious flower of happiness. The bunch contains a heart of mandarin, grapefruit and benzoin essential oils.

GIFT SET ROSE
For her. Nepalese roses, sparkling mandarin and peonies combined with the mysteries of amber and the velvet of almond milk lead you to a magical walk through the splendour of the palaces of Bengal and their delectable gardens.

GIFT SET BOIS D‘ORANGE
For both him and her. The essence of mandarin meets the soft, green accents of basil-verbena: an original blend with an orange theme and a base of musky notes of clear amber and woody depths of palissander and Atlas cedar take you to an olfactive journey into the Andalucian gardens of the Alhambra in Grenada under the orange trees of the Generalife Palace.

This year, Roger&Gallet’s eaux parfumées (100ml) are accompanied by a delightful duo: a shower gel (50ml) and body milk (50ml), to add extra magic to your gifts. Also available in the following scents: CÉDRAT, THÉ VERT, GINGEMBRE.

PRICE: CHF 59.60 each

GIFT SET 4 SAVON
The four soaps in this box set are delicately wrapped in “sun-shaped” pleated silk paper, in colours reflecting their fragrances: Jean Marie Farina Eau de Cologne, Bois d’Orange, Citron and Rose. Roger&Gallet soaps are produced using the traditional “cauldron” method and perfumed to the heart.

PRICE: CHF 27.40

All gift sets are available in pharmacies now.
Don’t forget to enter the contest! Good luck!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Roger&Gallet

Jo Malone is always a great option for Christmas gifts, and this year, the brand offers some limited edition sets along with some fun products.The influence of the ’20s and ’30s has been seen in almost every make-up collection for this holiday season and Jo Malone’s Christmas collection is no exception. Let’s have a closer look at this Art Deco-styled range.

Cologne Intense CHF 320.00
DARK AMBER & GINGER LILY 200ml
(One of my favourite scents by Jo Malone comes now in a larger size.)

Scent Surround™ Diffuser CHF 86.00
PINE & EUCALYPTUS 165ml
(Let your house smell like a freshly cut Christmas tree.)

Christmas Cracker CHF 50.00
POMEGRANATE NOIR BODY & HAND WASH 15ml
LIME BASIL & MANDARIN COLOGNE 9ml
ORANGE BLOSSOM BODY CREAM 15ml
(I am so in love with this cute product. What a cute idea to surprise your guest with such a special cracker on the table.)

Tea Trousseau CHF 795.00
ASSAM & GRAPEFRUIT COLOGNE 100ml
EARL GREY & CUCUMBER COLOGNE 100ml
SWEET LEMON COLOGNE 100ml
PARMA VIOLETS TEA DELUXE CANDLE 400g
SWEET ALMOND & MACAROON DELUXE CANDLE 400g
(This to-die-for box is including some of the most amazing fragrances and beautifully scented candles. Anybody looking for a gift for me…?)

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Jo Malone