Sandra‘s Closet

Bored during quarantine? Worry not as the LV playing cards with matching LV pouch Arsene, or the new Vivienne playing card set will keep you entertained. If cards are not your style, how about a backgammon set as perfect companions.

Playing games is an extraordinary method to bond with loved ones. In my family, it is a tradition that we play during the holidays for example. Personally speaking, I am not only enjoying the socializing aspect of this form of entertainment. Many games involve the memorizing aspect, and this can be helpful to keep your mind focused and also help in improving your concentration level. Furthermore, I can be very competitive, especially when it comes to Scrabble…

I hope you will enjoy today’s selection of luxurious editions of the most popular games:

Crocodile-effect leather backgammon set by Aerin
CHF 3540

Walnut and stainless steel domino set by Brunello Cucinelli
CHF 1110

Brass and stone Tic-Tac-Toe set by Blue Carreon

CHF 1160

Domino box by Louis Vuitton
€ 2160

Playing Cards and Pouch Arsène by Louis Vuitton
€360

Playing Cards and Pouch Vivienne by Louis Vuitton
$ 720

Enzo crocodile-embossed leather playing cards set by Aerin
CHF 365

Solitaire game by Louis Vuitton
€ 1310

Backgammon set by Brunello Cuccinelli
CHF 6045

Shagreen and beech wood Jenga set by Aerin
CHF 1235

Walnut tic-tac-toe set by Brunello Cucinelli
CHF 480

Gifting such as game is always a great idea as those sets look also great as decoration.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

From Louis Vuitton to Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and Versace, here are some to die for sports accessories with a couture twist. They make the perfect gift for those fit-friends who are only obsessed with the best. The luxurious boxing gloves for example will turn your home into a workout studio that even the pros will be astonished by and with those marble dumbbells there are no more excuses not hitting the gym. And if you are still not convinced, imagine how your living room would become so instagrammable decorated with the CHANEL wakesurf board…

LoL, Sandra

Monogram dumbbells by Louis Vuitton
€ 1950

Marble dumbbells by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello
€ 1295

Boxing gloves by Versace
€ 2445

Jump rope «Christopher» by Louis Vuitton
€ 480

Vintage skateboard by Hermès
CHF 6844

Tennis racket cover in Monogram canvas by Louis Vuitton
€ 1370

Beach rackets by Hermès
€ 640

Beach rackets by Louis Vuitton
€ 2390

Ping-pong set «James» by Louis Vuitton
€ 1630

Golf kit «Andrew» by Louis Vuitton
€ 625

Volleyball by Louis Vuitton
€ 1950

American football by Berluti
€ 1500

Skimboard by Louis Vuitton
€ 1410

Black wakesurf board by CHANEL
CHF 7500

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, Neiman Marcus
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

From chess and backgammon travel cases, to poker and croquet trunks, the House’s made-to-order games collection has expanded and evolved over the years, continuing in Louis Vuitton’s grandson, Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s, love of sports and games. Now, Louis Vuitton presents new additions to the gaming collection with its pocket Billiards table and Babyfoot (French for table football) as the ideal gift for the cue-sports lovers among us.

Louis Vuitton Pocket Billiard in Monogram

Available in the iconic Monogram motif, designed in 1896 by Louis Vuitton’s son Georges Vuitton as a tribute to his father, the table also comes in the darker Monogram Eclipse or Damier Graphite, bringing a patterned touch to any interior. Versions in Epi leather with its undulated texture, present a splash of colour in cyan and fuchsia, with the added option of a bi-coloured navy and pistachio variation or caramel and white in smooth leather.

Louis Vuitton Pocket Billiards
1. Damier Graphite – 2. Cyan Epi leather – 3. Fuchsia Epi leather – 4. Bi-coloured Navy and Pistachio Epi leather – 5. Monogram Eclipse – 6. Caramel and White leather

Babyfoot by Louis Vuitton in Monogram

Created with identical craftsmanship to that of a Louis Vuitton trunk, House canvases or leathers sheath the Billiards table’s and Babyfoot’s wooden body. Emblematic Louis Vuitton savoir-faire perfects the table’s design with delicate leather corners in the brand’s naturally tanned cowhide leather – each edge meticulously dyed with numerous layers of hand-applied paint.
Hand-pressed metallic hardware finishes the tables, each stud engraved with the House’s signature.

Babyfoot by Louis Vuitton
1. Damier Graphite – 2. Caramel and White leather – 3. Monogram Eclipse – 4. Cyan – 5. Fuchsia – 6. Pistachio

The tables are completed by carefully packed, essential accessories including billiard balls painted with flowers from the Monogram pattern encircling the numbers. Two pairs of leather and Monogram two-piece cues slot snuggly into place while a hot-stamped leather triangle completes the kit.

The players of the Babyfoot, inspired by Louis Vuitton’s «Groom», the famed character from the House’s 1921 advertising images, are each hand-cast in aluminium and, as a true testament of Louis Vuitton’s savoir-faire and history of personalisation, each player is meticulously handpainted by expert artisans in team colours to compliment the custom canvas or leather table. Artisanal, jewel-like counting coins boast a striking hand-painted Monogram flower, making tallying record wins even more satisfying.

Love it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

In case that you have forgotten that it’s Mother’s Day today, I have a last minute gift idea for you. Check out Paperless Post‘s latest collaboration with Carolina Herrrera, that is available for free, just in time to celebrate the woman, that brought you into the world. Surprise her with a personal message sent to her inbox directly and put a smile on her face.

Wes Gordon with me in Dubai last fall at an event with Net-à-Porter 

«I can’t think of a better way to reach out to your loved ones – especially mothers or maternal figures – than with beauty, optimism, and color.» – Wes Gordon, Creative Director Carolina Herrera

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE THE CAROLINA HERRERA MOTHER’S DAY SECTION.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: Courtesy of Paperless Post

When you look in your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth. Your mum is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend. Sunday is Mother’s Day, time to appreciate the most amazing woman I’ll always admire, appreciate and love.

Personally speaking, I have a very deep bond with my mum. Her eyes looked after me all my life and this inspired me to today’s gifting idea. Why not surprise your mum with a great eye care product or / and a pair of sunglasses, telling her how thankful you are to have her in your life.

It was love at first sight because we have all been loving our mums the second we opened our eyes for the first time. Even if you cannot be with your mum physically like me due to the current worldwide crisis, you can still surprise her with a gift sent to her directly. Just click on the highlighted product description to be transferred to the respective shop.

LoL, Sandra

The Eye Concentrate by La Mer
My avid readers know that I am a huge a fan of this newly formulated product. With triple the Concentrated Miracle Broth™, it helps transform the delicate eye area with essential energy and healing hydration to reduce the look of dark circles, lines and wrinkles in 3 weeks. Lime tea concentrate, the antioxidant powerhouse, helps prevent future damage before it begins.
Theprocedure is top secret, rumors are they play classical music to the kelp-based elixir for three months as it ferments. No matter how they do it, the formula’s anti-aging effects are truly undeniable.

Cat-eye neon-trimmed printed tortoisehell acetate sunglasses by Fendi
For the mum, who loves everything fashion like me, those sunglasses feature both, the monogram and neon trend in one.

Eye Rescue Stick by Susanne Kaufmann
The perfect new tool for the spa-loving mum as she can apply the stick whenever she wants during the day. Stored in the fridge, it can deliver an even more intense cooling effect. The product counteracts the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, energizing tired-looking eyes caused by blue light and smoothes various visible signs of aging like first wrinkles.

Green coffee extract reduces swelling around the eyes, while jasmine and hawthorn activate the enzyme telomerase in the skin cells and unleash antioxidative properties. A highly concentrated active ingredient from baobab helps to smooth out crow’s feet and fine lines. Ectoin increases cell protection and an antioxidant from larch bark leaves the eyes with a fresh glow.

Eye Cream Line A by Susanne Kaufmann
Powered by a combination of active botanical ingredients like white lupine and elderberry extract, this brightening treatment stimulates collagen production to improve firmness while simultaneously reducing any puffy areas.

Oversized aviator-style gold-tone sunglasses by Givenchy
Those clean frames look very sophisticated.

Eye Cream by Dr. Barbara Sturm
If your mum is into a thorough medical understanding of cells and anti-aging, she will love Dr. Barbara Sturm’s beauty products. Designed to target dark circles, this ultra hydrating eye cream has been specially developed in her German lab with purslane and golden root to lift the sensitive areas around the eyes and reduce puffiness. It’s also infused with active omega lipids that help skin retain moisture. Personally speaking, I love its pudding-like consistency.

D-frame acetate sunglasses by Bottega Veneta
Those sleek shades will work for pretty much any occasion.

Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid by SISLEY PARIS
The rose is the queen of the flowers, and this fluid features black rose aqueous extract for a radiant complexion and hydrating padina pavonica. Specially formulated for everyday use on the delicate eye area, it is fitted with a soothing ceramic applicator, that with regular use, reduces puffiness and dark circles, leaving behind a luminous, youthful-looking glow.

Paris oversized cat-eye zebra-print acetate sunglasses by Balenciaga
Animal prints are always in style and worn as sunglasses in an oversized cat-eye silhouette, they add some drama to every look. 

Luminary Genius Eye Cream by Bynacht
Between the hours of 11pm and 4am our skin’s renewal rate almost doubles – with no exposure to environmental aggressors or makeup, the dermis can absorb nutritional ingredients without any interference. Perfect for targeting signs of aging and tiredness around the eyes, Bynacht’s specially formulated cream is infused with persian silk tree extract and nourishing oils that repair and hydrate while you sleep.

Air Heart cat-eye acetate and gold-tone sunglasses by Le Specs
Slightly oversized, the blacked-out lenses will complement practically all of your mum’s outfits.

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands – Photo of me: © David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Oh, how wonderful spring is! With its bees, flowers, sun and now finally rain, it is my favorite season. One tradition I truly adore is the gifting of lilies of the valley on the first of May as a symbol of springtime and to wish happiness which is very popular in France. In many countries, the first of May is also National Labor Day. As a result, it is a public holiday that we get to enjoy.

My first of May outfit: Lily of the valley-print pussy-bow silk blouse and Lily of the Valley-print pleated silk skirt, both by Valentino

Legend has it that the custom began on May 1, 1561 when King Charles IX received a sprig of the tiny flower as a token of good luck from knight Louis Girard. It is said that whoever finds a lily of the valley with 13 small bells will be particularly lucky.

The king liked the idea so much that he decided to start a tradition and presented a bouquet of lilies of the valley to each of the ladies of his court each year on the same day. And thus began the Fête du Muguet as it is called in France, or May Day.

Christian Dior dedicated his whole Spring 1954 collection to his favorite flower.

The lily of the valley was also Christian Dior’s favorite flower and one of his lucky charms. Faithful to tradition, he offered it each May 1st to all his petites mains and clients. Christian Dior so cherished this spring flower that his florist, Madame Dedeban, grew it for him year-round in a specially heated greenhouse!

The Dior Hommes Fall 2014 collections full of lily of the valley details.

Thus, summer or winter, he was never without a sprig of it in his buttonhole. He also kept some in a finely-wrought box in his pocket. During preparations for his fashion shows, he would ask his petites mains to sew some sprigs of lily of the valley into the hem of a sleeve or a dress. Being the talisman it was, he was also prone to pinning it to the underside of the lapel of the suits worn by his models.

The original Diorissimo bottle of 1956

His beloved flower was also present in his collections each season. He devoted an entire line to it for spring 1954, and, two years later, with Edmond Roudnitska, the couturier realized his dream of capturing its green and floral fragrance. And so, 1956 saw the launch of his third opus, Diorissimo, a triumph of olfactory prowess.

Dior Haute Couture S/S 2016

Lily of the valley has inspired the House’s perfumes and designs ever since, as it did the S/S 2016 haute couture collection. Sprigs of lily of the valley, traced out in beads and sequins, bloomed across a white Bar jacket, the result of over three hundred hours of embroidery.

Kirsten Dunst at the 69th Festival de Cannes in 2016

Later in 2016, at the 69th Festival de Cannes, Kirsten Dunst ascended the famous steps in a white silk gazar Dior haute couture dress embroidered with 300 lily of the valley flowers.

The famous dress Muguet from 1957 was on display at the amazing V&A exhibition «Christian Dior Designer of Dreams»

This special creation was inspired by the dress Muguet, designed by Christian Dior for his S/S 1957 collection in which the flower also blossomed on a dress named Mois de Mai.

Surprise for my daughter today: The beautiful Lucky scent engraved with her name and sign.

In 2018, the Maison launched Lucky as part of their Maison Christian Dior Collection – another fragrance that features lily of the valley, in combination with white flowers and ozonic notes. The nose behind is Francois Demachy, Parfumeur-Créateur Dior, who says:. “Christian Dior was very superstitious and would stitch a stem of lily of the valley into the seam of his dresses for good luck. I wanted to represent the perfume of this hidden lily of the valley, sewn into metres of silk, with a profusion of white flowers and freshness. The scent of his favourite flower gradually reveals itself. Lucky is a good luck charm and the perfume to wear whenever you want to cross your fingers.”

Dior’s new Lily of the Valley china is so beautiful, click here for more infos. 

And last but not least, a very sweet fairytale tells of the affection between the lily of the valley and a nightingale. Once upon a time, every night, the nightingale would come to the garden to sing. However, the lily of the valley was shy and hid herself from the bird. The nightingale was lonely and said he would no longer sing unless the lily of the valley revealed herself, and promised to bloom every May for all to see. And so she does.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dior, Giambattista Valli, Vogue and © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

If you’re prone to misplacing your AirPods, those designer cases below are ideal – they can be worn as a cross-body bag or can be attached to your key chain or to handbag with an easy snap. Most of them come with an opening at the base to allow easy charging.

LoL, Sandra

Snake AirPods case by Fendi

Textured-leather AirPods case by Saint Laurent

Textured-leather AirPods case by Gucci

Intrecciato leather AirPods case by Bottega Veneta

Floral-print textured-leather AirPods case by Dolce & Gabbana

Textured-leather AirPods case by Prada

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands / Net-à-Porter
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Victoire de Castellane’s creations continue the sparkling story started by Christian Dior himself: a story of femininity, elegance and refinement, adorned with delicately rendered boldness.

«Yes… A word whispered in your ear, a muffled cry that lies upon your neck… The Oui collection reveals a selfish pleasure, a precious gift or a commitment to life.»
Victoire de Castellane

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Now, the jewelry designer expanded the Dior «oui» collection, which means «yes» in English, featurings rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces that spell out romantic French phrases.

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

There’s for example a pink gold double ring that says «je t’aime» (I love you), dotted with diamonds; a pair of yellow gold earrings that feature the word «toi» (you) on one side, «moi» (me) on the other; and a diamond-embellished «oui» bracelet and necklace, which come in 18k gold in pink gold.

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

And don’t be shy. The cursive font used in the collection also lets you wear several pieces together,  make a statement by stringing together different rings, one on each finger.

Oui bracelet in pink gold with diamond, € 1000

Oui collier in pink gold with diamond, € 1200

I truly hope that my better half reads my blog 🙂 …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

Prada is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special selection of gold and white gold fine jewellery for both men and women.
In an exquisite, highly original style, precious materials are handcrafted in sophisticated designs that reinvent Prada iconic symbols and the themes of the new collections.

Vibrant hearts, baroque pearls, rock guitars, romantic roses, playful robots but also keys, rabbits, bananas, and the brand’s triangular logo – in gold and diamonds – relive Prada’s history through
contemporary and timeless earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces with an unmistakable hint of irony.

Prada’s fine jewellery is made using 18-carat gold and diamonds from suppliers with Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) certification.
The RJC is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2015 to promote responsible practices from an ethical, social and environmental point of view and respect for human rights in the handling of metals and precious stones, from their extraction right through to their sale.

Now on sale at selected Prada boutiques worldwide as well as on prada.com, exclusively for USA, Japan and UAE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada

Are you good at gifting? Come in! Frédéric Malle grew up immersed in the world of perfumery, and has a deep knowledge of raw materials, fragrance structure and accords. His ‘Editions’ collection includes scents by distinguished noses including Dominique Ropion, Jean-Claude Ellena and Pierre Bourdon.

This holiday season, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle offers a truly kaleidoscopic range from which to select the perfect gift. The gift that says I was thinking of you, I care, I remember…, or perhaps just, I hope this brings you joy.

Find a gift that is as unique as its owner, a gift that is a perfect match, a gift that will wrap him, or her in luxury, and will be the perfect reflection of the person wearing it. So many original perfumes, but also home scents: candles, rubber incense, perfume guns, linen sprays, hand creams and soaps…. As well as many other items that will dazzle and enchant you.

Perfume is a powerful thing. Whether it’s your signature scent as you kiss someone good bye, your exquisite trail as you leave a room, or the particular mood that evaporates throughout your home to change its atmosphere, or even the lingering whiff of perfume on sheets.

Choosing a perfume for oneself is a deeply personal experience. But choosing one for someone else can be a way to say what is often left unsaid. It needs care and attention. Taking the time to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to imagine their desires, is an intimate act. An attention that requires empathy and often affection.

In addition to a curated selection of perfumes, scented objects, and other gifts, this year’s holiday season is wrapped with the homely design of Konstantin Kakanias.
The L.A based artist, and friend of Frédéric Malle is not only a celebrated artist holding shows regularly in the US and Europe. He is also the author of the Mrs Tependris albums, and collaborated with T Magazine, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Lacroix.

TO SHOP FREDERIC MALLE ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

Luxurious, happy, mistake-free gifting.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Frédéric Malle