Sandra‘s Closet

Breeze through check-in with this line-up of chic travel wallets, luxe luggage and more.
First priority is to stay organized with the help of those items:

Panama Marshall textured-leather travel wallet by Smythson

Printed textured-leather passport cover by Dolce & Gabbana

In-flight travel bag by Anya Hindmarch

Get your favorite beauty products in travel sizes and only take hand luggage (so no worries about lost baggage):

Beauty travel kit by Net-à-Porter Beauty

On board, get comfy, remove your make-up, relax and finally get some sleep:

In Transit No Traces – 60 pads by This Works

Ribbed-cotton travel set by Skin

Lace-trimmed printed silk eye mask by Dolce & Gabbana

All doesn’t work if you don’t have the right luggage (and don’t forget the luggage tag!). I always recommend a great bag that is easy to carry and that you can put on top of a trolley:
Falabella GO travel bag by Stella McCartney

Panama leather luggage tag by Smythson

Grained-leather suitcase by Mark Cross

Safe travels!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

My avid readers know how much I am in love with St. Barths. It is truly my favorite place for beach holidays as it combines both, the beauty of the Caribbean with the allure of the South of France – but without being so pretentious as St. Tropez can be from time to time.

My view of the EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS when landing on the island last month.

When I am going, I like to rent a house with my friends. But undoubtably besides that, there is not a better place to stay on the island than the EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS, which is ‘beyond perfect’.

Impeccable attention to detail, the hallmark of Oetker Collection hotels, creativity and sheer art de vivre, make it one of the most desirable resorts in the world for the travelling elite. And the location is stunning, perched on a rocky promontory that sheers the white sands of St Jean Bay in two; there is nowhere to match EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS for luxurious relaxation and play.

Impressions of the beach-side VILLA ROCKSTAR – a huge, ultraluxe, multi-faceted house which is being described as resembling ‘a hundred million dollar yacht on land.’

Rooms, suites and villas are steps away from the ocean and all are individually decorated in the unique style of owners David and Jane Matthews.
Live the island dream: relax in the sun or participate in water sports on the fully serviced beach; make music in VILLA ROCKSTAR’s recording studio or be a fashion icon in the ROCKSHOP boutique… and if you are staying somewhere else, please at least enjoy a drink at the Rock Bar or a delicious dinner at the On the Rocks restaurant with its exceptional setting on the top of the Eden Rock, with unforgettable views over St Jean Bay.

Dining at the On the Rocks restaurant with a spectacular view.

Both spots are places of choice to meet and mingle with adventurous and discerning connoisseurs and of course to run into many celebrities.

David Matthews with me

At star of its own is the owner David Matthews, whom I met for drinks at the famous Rock Bar to discuss a very special collaboration which I proudly announce today in this post further down. But before that, I would like to tell you a little bit more about this adventurer and true visionary who arrived on the island of St. Barths with his wife Jane and their four children in September 1995.

Hotel on the rocks

The family had purchased Eden Rock from legendary island aviator and local adventurer Rémy de Haenen, moving the family from London to the Caribbean to start a new more adventurous life. Wishes were granted two days after moving into the rundown buildings of Eden Rock when the powerful category four Hurricane Luis struck the island. While the storm raged the family was occasionally driven to seek shelter under the concrete sinks in the old kitchen, whilst reinforcing the old doors and windows using anything from bed frames to their recently arrived suitcases.

EDEN ROC – ST BARTHS beach facilities

Twenty years later, and transformed over that time by the Matthews family, EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS continues to flourish and is regularly voted amongst the Top 100 hotels worldwide. The family puts this down to passion, hard work by a dedicated, loyal team and a good dose of luck too.

Family values remain at the heart of EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS and this spirit is further strengthened by the recent partnership made with Oetker Collection who offers the greatest guest experiences at iconic masterpiece hotels around the world. David Matthews says: «It was pure luck that I met Frank Marrenbach, CEO Oetker Collection, three years ago. Now we are partners and work with the same passion to keep the very essence of this beautiful space.»

The ROCKSHOP boutique

David Matthews is very charismatic man and could have listened to him for hours but I wanted to quickly pass by the hotel’s ROCKSHOP boutique which is part of EDEN BEING, the new lifestyle and luxury retail brand from the Oetker Collection with physical boutiques in most of the resorts as well as now an online store. The idea behind this new venture is about capturing memories of your travels with a range of bespoke items and exquisite products, all carefully curated and inspired by the famous hotels.

Match made in heaven: a curated selection of CHLOÉ is also available at EDEN BEING.

Hand-painted backgammon board exclusively made for EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS by Alexandra Llewellyn.

A commited custodian of the artisan, EDEN BEING supports craftsmen local to the Oetker Collection hotels. From watchmakers to sculptors the talented artisans produce pieces of singular beauty to capture memories gathered on your travels. And I am very proud to be a new ambassador for this beautiful lifestyle brand.

My beautiful new cuff by ADELINE GERMAIN for EDEN ROCK – ST BARTHS.

Before David took off with his Harley like a rock star himself, he gifted me with this special edition seven seas cuff by ADELINE GERMAIN that also can be found at Rockshop boutique. It is crafted with 7 rows of silver plated brass with eel and salmon leather representing the 7 world’s oceans. Lucky me to be taking a piece of paradise home!

The legendary Matthews family

His next venture? His son’s wedding in May. And guess who is going to be his daughter-in-law? No other than beautiful Pippa Middleton. A legend hotel and a legendary family!

And I am very proud to be now an EDEN girl as well…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of EDEN ROC – ST BARTHS 
© Sandra Bauknecht

Today, I want to share with you something very special. For the first time, you can enjoy a catwalk show at 10.000 meters being on route to New York Fashion Week with Lufthansa on February 8, 2017 on board a Boeing 747-8.

Up in the air, New York based fashion designer Rubin Singer, who began his career at Oscar de la Renta, is offering a preview of his women’s collection before the actual fashion show in the Big Apple. And the best is… on a catwalk high above the Atlantic Ocean.

Moreover, air hostesses’ uniforms are also influenced by fashion trends. Therefore, in another fashion show the Lufthansa crew will model the looks of the past 60 years. And in tune with this retrospective, the jumbo jet has had a 70s-style facelift. Every passenger on flight LH 400 from Frankfurt/Main to New York on 8 February 2017 is invited to take part in this unique event – irrespective of booking class.

I am loving it! What a great idea!
TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHT, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Lufthansa and Rubin Singer

“We wanted the Saint Barth store to have a relaxing atmosphere, that it be a meeting place to enjoy a moment of tranquillity at the water’s edge”.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

There is a new treasure chest in the Caribbean as Dolce & Gabbana inaugurates its first boutique on Saint Barthélemy, adding a precious tile with a distinctly paradise flavour to the mosaic of new shops around the world. As I am on the island at the moment, I couldn’t wait to discover the exclusive colorful special collection designed for St. Barth that is only available here.

Me in front of the new Dolce & Gabbana store in Gustavia.

My favourites? The beautifully embellished sun hats and beach bags. To make the gentlemen happy while you are shopping there is in the tropical garden surrounded by palm trees on the ground floor, the Dolce & Gabbana Martini Bar.

Below you can enjoy the photos shot by the Morelli Brothers and styled by Anna Dello Russo that highlight the special capsule collection with prints from the island.

Kiss kiss from St. Barth!
#DGLovesStBarth

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana, © MorelliBrothers, © Massimo Listri and © Sandra Bauknecht

As promised yesterday, here are the most amazing photos taken during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The experiences I had were unbelievable and a huge thank you goes to Omega Watches for this amazing trip.

I witnessed history when Usain Bolt ending his Olympic career after his victory in the 4x100m relay which secured his ninth gold medal. That was the only moment it was raining, the rest of the time it was sunny and beautiful. I saw so many amazing winners, enjoyed the beach volleyball finals at night, went to a samba school, did sightseeing and had the best time ever. As pictures sometimes speak more than words, I would like to invite you to indulge in my diary below…

After all these impressions, I am sure you would enjoy this great coffee table book: In The Spirit Of Rio by Bruno Astuto.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Omega Watches and © Sandra Bauknecht

As 2016 is almost going to mark its end, I want to share some of my most impressive moments of the year. One was definitely my trip to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games with Omega Watches in August. Brazil had been on my bucket list for many many years and funnily enough whenever I was supposed to go something tragic happened.

So you can imagine my happiness when I finally flew to this magic and vibrant city that is full of contrasts and great diversity. My favorite sightseeing spot was the Corcovado mountain as the panoramic views from up there are breathtaking and the magic you feel being close to the Christ the Redeemer statue gives you chills. A symbol of Christianity across the world and a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, it was constructed between 1922 and 1931 and is listed today as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Watching the sunset, I took an important personal decision that felt all of a sudden very easy and I have not regretted it. 2016 was not the best year for me and I am truly looking forward to 2017!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post with some stunning shots of Rio de Janeiro.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

One question I have been asked many times in my life is how I can stay slim while enjoying food so much. I think the key to success is to listen to your body and mine tells me constantly to feed it with Japanese food when possible. It is the best, it is healthy and you always feel light after, but full of energy.

Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa brings his delicacies to Munich.

When I was in Munich for Oktoberfest, I couldn’t wait to visit the Mandarin Oriental that has undergone an extensive refurbishment of the public areas in 2015 and has opened its doors to a new and innovative gastronomy concept, by introducing the award-winning cuisine of internationally celebrated chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa to the Bavarian capital, and to Germany.

The restaurant follows the successful format of the chef’s original Matsuhisa Beverly Hills and his five other exclusive outposts around the world.

 Having arrived on the first floor, atop the new curved staircase, on my way to Matsuhisa Munich.

Offering Nobu Matsuhisa’s renowned New Style Japanese-Peruvian cuisine as well as individual creations by Chef Loris di Santo the menu has an emphasis on seafood, featuring signature dishes such as the legendary Black Cod and Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi with jalapeños, alongside grilled lamb cooked over tealeaves with Peruvian Anticucho sauce, as well as traditionally prepared sushi.

One of my favorite starters: Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi with jalapeños.

So yummy! The iconic Blad Cod.

The sushi bar.

My all time favourite food – I could eat it every day.

The semi-private dining section.

The restaurant accommodates 95 guests including eight seats at the exclusive live cooking counter. Moreover it offers a semi-private dining section with space for up to 10 people. In this intimate setting, guests can experience Omakase, a bespoke culinary experience exploring the chef’s choice of tailor-made menus. Matsuhisa, Munich will also feature an exclusive eight-seat live cooking counter where skilled chefs will prepare a variety of Nobu’s famous Japanese-Peruvian dishes.

Designed by Amsterdam-based FG Stijl, Matsuhisa, Munich reflects Nobu’s Japanese origins. The luxurious and timeless decor provides provide a warm and inviting atmosphere in brown and gold, using natural materials including stone, leather and wood.

 Matsuhisa, Munich opens daily from 7 – 11:30pm (Mon-Sun). For reservations, call
+49 89 290 98 1875 (available from 10am to 6pm).

Great news for my Swiss readers, you don’t need to travel far to enjoy this very special cuisine. The hotel Baur au Lac celebrates 10 years Nobu Matsuhisa at Rive Gauche! The world-renowned kitchen of Nobuyuki „Nobu“ Matsuhisa will join the iconic restaurant until November 13, 2016.

Two seatings per evening – 6pm and 9pm. Reservations: +41 44 220 50 60.

I will be going and am looking forward to enjoying a fabulous dinner there…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Munich and © Sandra Bauknecht

“We wanted to really tell the story of the brand and of us.“
– HUMBERTO LEON, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, KENZO

Hello from NYC where I am for the launch event of Kenzo x H&M and I couldn’t be anymore excited about it. First of all, I truly love what I have seen so far and second of all, H&M throws the best parties for their designer collaborations.

Do you remember…
2011 H&M x Versace in NYC
2012 H&M x Maison Martin Margiela in NYC
2013 H&M x Isabel Marant in Paris
2014 H&M x Alexander Wang in NYC
2015 H&M x Balmain in NYC

A little surprise waiting in my room…

This time, I am staying at The Roxy Hotel Tribeca which is the partner hotel of the iconic Soho Grand that opened in September 2015. Walking into the lobby, the space feels a bit more like a movie theater than a typical hotel lobby, with brick walls and a huge restaurant setting the tone.

The entrance of The Roxy Hotel Tribeca…

I am on the top floor and have a beautiful view over the neighborhood. So far, I am very happy and will be heading out now to enjoy the beautiful and sunny weather…

My view

Inside the hotel…

My room…

Another part of my view…

With Carol Lim, Creative Director Kenzo, backstage at her first Opening Ceremony show in 2013.

Now, I am about to leave my hotel for the interview with Carol Lim, Humberto Leon of Kenzo and Ann-Sofie Johansson of H&M. Enjoy some of my first impressions and stay tuned for more coming up from NYC. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @sandrascloset for live updates! The show will be taking place on Wednesday evening at 7.45pm local time.

Below you can see some of my personal must-haves of the collection that will hit the stores on November 3, 2016.! Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of H&M and © Sandra Bauknecht

Greetings from beautiful Bordeaux where I spent the last two days as guest of CAUDALIE, the French beauty brand that is committed to delivering all natural, anti-aging skincare with the power of the vine. The port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France is home to the vineyard-inspired luxury house.

Despite the cold temperatures and the rain, I walked around the streets of this extremely picturesque town that is the world’s major wine industry capital. Its historic part is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century.

I had so much fun that I was jumping around…

Water mist effect

Located between the Garonne and beautiful 18th century architecture of the Place de la Bourse, the Mirroir d’Eau is the most-photographed site in Bordeaux and is listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by Unesco. Designed by landscape artist Michel Corajoud, it alternates a mirror effect and artificial misting in an extraordinary way.

Pool mirror effect

In front of the fountain at Place de la Bourse

Place de la Bourse, also known as Place Royale, is one of Bordeaux’s most beautiful squares.

The cutest stores can be found in the streets of Bordeaux.

At the Place de la Comédie

Place de la Comédie is a place where the main streets of Bordeaux converge, including the 1200 meters long promenade Sainte Catherine, which is said to be the longest pedestrian shopping street in all of France. Mind the trams and settle on the terrasses to enjoy the beautiful sight of la vie bordelaise going by. A huge statue of a woman’s face, so-called «Sanna» by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, has been standing there since 2013.

Walking towards the Eglise Notre Dame la Grande.

The name loosely translates as the «Church of Our Great Lady». It is an 11th century Gothic church located at Rue Marbly and one of the city’s most popular buildings. Built by Pierre Duplessy, a renowned architect and town planner in the late 17th century, it is a listed historical monument.

Bordeaux is an extremely beautiful city that I can only recommend to visit. Stay tuned as I will tell you more about my hotel, Les Sources de Caudalie and all my little adventures here soon.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

During the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, I had the honor to visit the Omega House in Ipanema. It’s just beautiful with different corners to explore the identity of the brand. Located in front of the famous Ipanema beach, I paid a visit to this iconic Brazilian spot. As it’s still quite dangerous, I didn’ t wear any jewelry. Don’t you think that my new dress designed by my friend from Dubai, Nadine Arton, brainchild of Glamonyou, is just perfect for Rio?

My look: Selma short dress by Nadine Arton, Blooms GG Supreme leather-trimmed printed coated-canvas shoulder bag by Gucci, Rockstud kitten heel leather pumps by Valentino and Aviator gold-tone sunglasses by Ray-Ban.

With my host Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of Omega. 

Stay tuned for more coming up from my amazing trip to Rio de Janeiro last week!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Omega and © Sandra Bauknecht
Thank you, Adriana Bavuso, for taking the pictures!