Sandra‘s Closet

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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On November 9 and 10, 2022 Prada will present the eighth iteration of Prada Mode in Dubai featuring an installation by artist Damien Hirst. A traveling social club with a focus on contemporary culture, Prada Mode provides members with a unique art experience along with music, dining, and conversations.

In Dubai, Prada Mode will feature a new edition of Pharmacy by Damien Hirst, following the iteration presented at Prada Mode Moscow in 2021. Hirst created the Pharmacy restaurant in Notting Hill, London in 1998, six years after the inaugural installation of the same name at the Cohen Gallery New York. Pharmacy was conceived as a fully functioning restaurant and bar in an installation of Hirst’s floor- to-ceiling medicine cabinets, and specially made butterfly paintings. Hirst designed furniture, architectural details such as a huge molecular model in its window, light boxes, and a wallpaper design taken from a catalogue of prescription medicine. It is fitting for this to be made especially for Prada Mode: the artist’s long-time friend Miuccia Prada designed the staff uniforms for the original restaurant.

«I’m thrilled and honoured to be invited by Miuccia Prada to recreate Pharmacy for Prada Mode in Dubai after our successful collaboration in Moscow,» said the Damien Hirst. «I’m working really hard with a complicated but beautiful space, ICD Brookfield Place, to create harmony between the inside and outside of the new building. Once again, Prada have found a space that will provide the perfect place for it.
I’m so excited to be doing this! I’ve always thought great restaurants can be seen as art, and art without the evidence as we always remember great meals on great evenings with great people in great places and in this way Pharmacy is definitely a kinetic artwork, that works best filled with people and art existing and living and breathing and eating and drinking and enjoying themselves as one.»

For Prada Mode Dubai, Damien Hirst will transform a dedicated space at the landmark ICD Brookfield Place, the newest landmark building in Dubai designed by Foster + Partners. The building has become a lifestyle and business destination and home to some of the world’s leading corporations and an array of high-end restaurants and bars, representing the development of a cultural epicentre in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre district (DIFC).
On November 9 and 10, early access to the club will be available for members to participate in morning and afternoon panels and discussions as well as nightly events, sampling specialty cocktails and dining throughout.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Prada
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On the second day of the three-day extravaganza with KILIAN PARIS to celebrate the Maison’s 15th anniversary, founder Kilian Hennessy invited to an intimate lunch at «La Suite Girafe».

Located on the 9th floor of the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, «La Suite Girafe» or LSG to its friends, was the former flat of the curator who had a private terrace with a panoramic view of the whole of Paris in the 1930s. Today it seats 100 people and is open for lunch and dinner. Famous Parisian interior designer Joseph Dirand created a beautiful space with stunning views over the Eiffel Tower.

In terms of cuisine, the emphasis is on the praise of iodine, with ever more refined dishes that give pride of place to the products. Like a Parisian seahouse, LSG offers a contemporary marine cuisine where seafood, raw and cooked fish in all their forms are combined. Don’t miss the famous pavlova for dessert, it is divine.

«La Suite Girafe» is open to the public (strictly by reservation only) and to members of PH1 (a private members club by Paris Society). It has been one of my favorite restaurants in Paris since its opening in 2021 and I can absolutely recommend it.

La Suite Girafe
1 place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre
75016 Paris
Phone: +33 01 42 25 25 59

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht 
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I am already missing summer so much that I want to show you one of my favorite looks shot at the beach of the Blue Palace Elounda hotel in Crete. In the background you can see the small island Spinalonga. It is actually a pretty creepy place, also known as the Leper Island, as that is where Greek lepers were quarantined until 1957.

My look is very colorful. The sunglasses are from the recent Loewe F/W 2022 collection. I adore the inflated style, it feels new. The Maison’s broken egg sandals are definitely a piece for the museum – I am completely obsessed. My bucket bag is from The Collector, a Geneva based brand, that is specialized in high end bags, preferably in exotic leathers.

My look: Lola cropped tie-front paneled linen top, matching Lola belted paneled linen midi skirt, and fringed faux raffia sunhat, all by Zimmermann, Broken egg sandals, and inflated oversized square-frame acetate sunglasses, both by Loewe, coral earrings by Oscar de la Renta, and bucket bag by The Collector.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Anouk Bauknecht
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Arriving perfectly dressed for the new season, the S/S 2022 Prêt-à-Portea collection at The Berkeley London showcases couture cakes inspired by designers from Lanvin to Gucci. A contemporary twist on afternoon tea, this playful and stylish edit is set to become another favourite for sweet-toothed fashionistas.

This season’s collection opens with Oscar de la Renta – a striking orange gown crafted with apricot bavarois, salted Manuka honey and apricot ganache, topped with a meringue frill. A hero handbag from Michael Kors – whose bags were seen filled with flowers on the catwalk – has been created as a Victoria sponge with fresh strawberry jam, wrapped in an Opalys chocolate cylinder with flowers intricately piped with lime butter cream.

Gucci’s pink silk tuxedo has been reimagined in bourbon vanilla mousse and Emmanuel sponge, layered with peach compote and glazed with shimmering pink icing. This is finished with a thin chocolate jacket and bow tie. Meanwhile, Lanvin’s towering floral platform heels will stomp down the cakewalk made from chocolate biscuit, painstakingly piped with royal icing.

Schiaparelli’s couture golden mini dress combines caramel sponge, dark Valrhona chocolate and hazelnut praline, all topped with a shimmering, chocolate oversized collar. Richard Quinn’s buttercup yellow gown is immortalised in ice cream – chocolate wafer cones are filled with fresh fruit compote and pineapple and star anise sorbet, topped with bright yellow chocolate waves.

Finally, the Prêt-à-Portea pastry team have created a showstopper of a cake – designed to share – paying homage to Saint Laurent’s floral jumpsuit. An oversized red rose made of lychee mousse with fresh raspberry is set on a glossy white coconut cake, and finished with a green chocolate leaf.

As always, the tea also includes elegant canapés and sandwiches, with a selection of loose-leaf teas from the extensive collection.
Afternoon Tea is served Monday – Sunday: 1pm – 5.30pm.

Cannot wait to be back in London!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © The Berkeley and Courtesy of the Brands
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Origins, travel, experience. And the certainty that a suitcase is not just a container. From the culture of travel that forms the history of the brand comes the new Gucci Valigeria campaign, featuring actor, screenwriter, director, and musician Ryan Gosling.

Creative Director Alessandro Michele, through the lens of photographer Glen Luchford, upends a typical sense of narrative and sets the campaign in a dreamlike dimension that goes beyond the boundaries that separate it from reality to recount a present built on the possibilities of the imagination and of an encounter.

The Gucci Savoy collection is the narrative result of a story that takes flight from the typical splendors of travel to confer the value of memory to the origins of a brand that was created from an intuition and from the observation of potentialities, precisely thanks to travel, developing discoveries of worlds and of diverse cultural manners.

«Travel for Gucci was never purely physical. Gucci is the brand that accompanied the artists, writers, actors, and directors of Hollywood on their journeys… This is why I wanted the advertising campaign to recount a situationist dimension where the protagonist traverses a “non-place” that is first and foremost a mental place, the same as those who, in the past and present, choose Gucci because they grasp the significance of creativity used to build imaginary places. And it is for this reason that a Gucci suitcase appears as a magical suitcase,» says Creative Director Alessandro Michele.

It is precisely in travel that the heritage of Gucci finds its origins. Founded in Florence in 1921 by Guccio Gucci, who more than twenty years prior when he was just 17, emigrates to Paris and then to London. The young Florentine works first as a porter at The Savoy in London, the go-to destination for international travelers. The very young Guccio Gucci comes into contact with the magic of travel that, at the time, was synonymous with discovery, discussion, study, and a bridge between diverse cultures. It was a time in which traveling signified experience, displacing the certainties of one’s social environment, a pursuit of the unexpected, of a will to encounter and to know. The return to Florence can’t but remember that observed and studied reality, assimilated and ready to be transferred into the practice of work. Guccio Gucci will do it with his first suitcases, trunks, bags, hat boxes. All the containers required to bring with oneself, on a journey, those necessities to represent oneself and one’s culture in an unknown and often foreign place.

In a narrative inversion that fills a stretch of space-time, the same containers appear as protagonists in the campaign, which presents the Gucci Savoy collection
including trolleys, hard and soft suitcases, duffle bags, trunks, hat boxes, and beauty cases. Objects that encapsulate experiences and desires that, in the images and video of the campaign, fill the bed of a polished pick-up truck in which the new collection lives side by side with historical pieces and that, in this plausible story of possibilities, are also repositories of dreams.

And it is this reality-adjacent dream that Ryan Gosling is living. At the end of a journey studded with arrivals and departures, he is introduced to surprising places through a trunk that becomes a gateway to fantastical worlds, which will turn out to be more real than any imagination could conceive. Because it leads to that reality of discovery that has always had the ability to build unexpected worlds.

The Gucci Savoy collection, which is part of the House’s wider Gucci Valigeria travel selection, is distinguished by a combination of heritage-infused design elements including the GG monogram and/or the Web stripe, offered in both soft and hard-sided iterations. The collection comprises items for every travel need, designed to be used now and for many years to come as classic and contemporary elements come together within a timeless aesthetic.

I will be going to Florence with Gucci in the beginning of October and cannot wait to explore everything where it all had started…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci #GucciValigeria
Creative Director: Alessandro Michele – Art Director: Christopher Simmonds – Photographer & Director: Glen Luchford – Make up: Thomas De Kluyver – Hair: Paul Hanlon / DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

If you are looking for a more quiet dinner place with great food and a beautiful ambiance in Mykonos (there will still be music, but not as loud as at other places), I recommend BEEFBAR MYKONOS. Located in the Bill & Coo Coast Hotel on Agios Ioannis beach, you can find a wide selections of the finest quality meat cuts and contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. The menu offers also grilled fresh fish caught by local fisherman, ceviche, tataki and Kobe beef gyros. Don’t miss the amazing display of fresh vegetables inside the restaurant, it is a real foodie’s paradise.

The interior is beautiful and I enjoyed watching the enchanting view under the shade of the mulberry trees as the sun sank into the Aegean sea.

It is an all-day seaside restaurant that also has the Bill & Coo Beach Club next to it. I have not been during the day but got a lot of positive feedback from friends who went.

The plates are so cute. Designed in collaboration with French porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud, there is a broad selection of different starter plates that you can also order online here for your home.

Beefbar Mykonos is open for lunch between 1PM – 6PM, for dinner 7PM – midnight.
Bill & Coo Beach Club is open between 11AM – 8PM

ADDRESS Beefbar Mykonos – Bill & Coo Coast Hotel – Agios Ioannis – Mykonos 84600
PHONE +30 6956600169
EMAIL 

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
@BillAndCooWayOfLife #BillAndCooWayOfLife #MykonosLessOrdinary

Mykonos is known for its dry, windy climate, sandy beaches and world famous nightlife! While being on the island, you should definitely visit Chora, also called «Mykonos Town.» Located in the middle of the western shore, the walkable town is home to some of the island’s best attractions, including the former fishing village of Little Venice, iconic whitewashed windmills, the archaeological museum, and the Church of Panagia Paraportiani. The neighborhood is best explored on foot; considering the small streets and slippery stone-paved alleys, I recommend flats or wedges.

From our hotel, the Santa Marina, the driver took us to the Belvedere Hotel, from there, we walked down the hill to the marble quays of the Old Harbour, where we started our exploration tour. The sunset started and the scenery was breathtaking. On the east side are the arcades of the Town Hall dating to the 1700s, in front of which is the tiny church of Agios Nikolaos, crowned with a blue dome.

There’s a string of bars and restaurants hugging the curve of the harbour, among them Jackie O’ – a must-visit bar. It is located just below Paraportiani church and is an ideal location for sunset cocktails and dancing all night long. Drag shows also take place, adding a spicy and fun note.

Leave your phone in your hand as around every corner, you will find another instagrammable spot. The most unique area in Mykonos Town is known as Little Venice. Small picturesque waterfront Cycladic houses with colorful, wooden balconies are kissed by the waves of Aegean, creating a photogenic seascape with a romantic atmosphere. Some of the restaurants and bars including Negrita have ideal locations in front of the sea which makes them the perfect spots to enjoy the sunset with a glass of champagne or a fancy cocktail. From this area you also get a great view of one of the most iconic spots of Mykonos, the famous windmills. They are considered the signature landmark of the island and are a truly wonderful sight.

After our sunset drinks in Little Venice, we went for a stroll through the heart of town, which is known by locals and tourists to be Matoyianni Street, the main street of a complex of pebbled streets in Chora. It is dominated by designer stores (you will find all big names here, from Hublot, Dior to Off-White and all sorts of concept stores), souvenir shops, and handmade jewelry designers.

During the summer months, most of Matoyianni’s shops and markets are open until 2 am, and you’ll never be short of things to do throughout the evening hours. If you investigate the side streets you’ll come across so many amazing little shops, shoulder to shoulder with quaint little churches like Agia Eleni and Agios Kirykos.

Dinner we had booked at La Maison de Katrin Restaurant, which instantly has become one of my favorite spots in Mykonos! The intense color of the bougainvillea above it is really mesmerizing and makes it a wonderful photo opportunity (best in the morning, when the restaurant is closed). Since 1971 until today, Katrin marries traditional Greek recipes with French gourmet cooking, warm hospitality with elegant surroundings. The moussaka is absolutely divine!

I ran into German-Greek singer Vicky Leandros that night, who is very famous in my home country Germany.

After dinner, we went for drinks to another fun place in the city, Interni Restaurant & Bar. Set in a secret garden in Matoyiannia, it is the synonym of the modern night culture à la Mykonos. A fun place where you can dance and enjoy great music outdoors.

Mykonos Town or Chora is definitely the heart of this majestic island – and with its fairytale environment not to be missed!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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In the beautiful cave of Agia Anna, next to Kalafatis beach, you’ll find a restaurant-bar like no other. Peacefully nestled on a natural platform on the rocks, hanging over the sea, Spilia (which means cave in Greek) Seaside restaurant is one of the most iconic Mykonos hotspots.

With a 30-year history and a recent makeover, this stunning all-day venue features dishes that offer up an authentic Mediterranean-Mykonian culinary experience. Seafood and fresh fish are served straight from the Aegean – oysters, mussels, urchins, crayfish and lobsters await your order in a small natural sea pool, to be prepared before your eyes. The signature dish of the restaurant is the amazing crab pasta, that I highly recommend.

The best way to get to Spilia is by boat. Just hold on to everything, winds are strong and boats are very fast. If you book the second seating for lunch, you will enjoy also the sounds of a DJ and you can dance the calories off immediately at the table.

Enjoying spectacular views of the endless blue waters of the Aegean sea, Spilia has also a 5-star beach club, Agia Anna, next to it. You can get there easily over the rocks. It is a fun little walk with lots of photo options.

Spilia Sea Side Restaurant
Agia Anna Beach, Kalafatis
Ano Mera, 84600 Mykonos Island
spilia.
Phone: +302289071205, +306949449729

The sea urchins are taken fresh from the natural pool inside the restaurant.

Spilia is a unique place, one of my favorites in Mykonos so far. A well hidden gem for the real connoisseurs of fresh fish, fine dining and divine atmosphere. At night, the scenery is so romantic, ideal for couples.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Greetings from Mykonos where I am at the moment. The last time, I visited the Greek Island, was over 20 years ago. So I was very curious how it has changed and if it is worth the recent hype.

Before my trip, I spoke to many people who had been coming the past years to find out what I should definitely do and see. Scorpios Mykonos was definitely on the list and after last night’s experience, be sure to work it into your itinerary! Built around a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Greek agora, Scorpios is a gathering place meant to galvanize the artistic, spiritual, and social life of its community. It is often associated with the best parties, not only in Greece but the whole world.

The sunset ritual is an experience not be missed. The Sunset Beach offers uninterrupted views of the sea and is the perfect spot from which to watch the sun disappear over the Aegean. We came by boat from our hotel, the Santa Marina, around 8pm (I think next time I would come a little earlier) and already enjoyed the breathtaking view of the location. Its bohemian design overlooking the turquoise waters transports you to another world, especially when bathed into the last sunrays.

Scorpios Mykonos is a day and night club, so you have the option to stay all day or just come for the evening. We had made a dinner reservation and had the best table at the corner in front, overlooking the terrace as well as the dancing area. While enjoying the  amazing Greek food, we also danced in between at our table. The live bands and DJs are thoughtfully chosen. However, I recommend checking the schedule. All nights are great, but Sundays and Thursdays are among the best ones. Saturday are supposedly also very good. Valeron is playing then, the top DJ and artist in Mykonos. The club is open until 2am.

For the dress code, I would best describe it as «bohemian with a touch of sexy». Black is definitely a good color to wear. I highly recommend flat shoes or wedges as you will have your feet in the sand. Check out their clothing store Scorpios Bazaar that carries a collection of artisanal brands that preserve handiwork traditions while drawing influence from the raw Mediterranean landscape. This will give you the best idea of what to wear.

Details of my outfit, can be found here.

Be sure to make a reservation beforehand. The Island of the Winds is without a doubt famous for its sunsets, but there is nothing quite like it when it comes to having a great party at Scorpios Mykonos. Enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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