Sandra‘s Closet

“A person carries off the hat. Hats are about emotion. It is all about how it makes you feel.”
– Philip Treacy

Perfect for weddings or a day at the races, Philip Treacy‘s outlandish headpieces are entirely handmade by his small team in London. He believes wearing a hat should make you feel empowered. The Irish-born milliner received his first headdress commission from Isabella Blow when he was studying at the Royal College of Art. Since then, his extravagant designs have been spotted on the most famous heads in the world.

TO SHOP PHILIP TREACY ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Philip Treacy, © Andrew Crowley

This weekend close friends of mine got married. It was a very romantic and beautiful private wedding celebration with lots of tears of joy and laughter. The bride looked breathtakingly stunning and so thought the handsome groom. One detail that I truly loved was that each guest had a little heart with his name on the table filled with a personalized quote.

My look: Stretch-cady peplum-hem gown by Alessandra Rich, bow-embellished patent-leather pumps by Saint Laurent, satin clutch bag by Prada, statement necklace by Lanvin and diamond rose ring by Piaget.

I am wishing the newlyweds a happy married life full of love and magic moments!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, Princess Madeleine of Sweden married her American love Chris O’Neill in a beautiful and moving wedding ceremony at the glorious Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The bride was breathtakingly stunning in a pleated silk organza gown with ivory-coloured Chantilly lace detailing created by Mr. Valentino himself.

The waist was emphasized by small vertical pleats that opened and spread out on the full skirt with a 4-meter long train. The six metre long silk organdie veil was edged with tulle “point d’exprit” with an application of Chantilly lace flowers. The royal tiara was decorated with fresh orange blossoms.

“Working with Princess Madeleine has just been so easy,” said Mr. Valentino. “She is very lovely girl. She is modern, fun, full of energy and enthusiasm, and she is so beautiful! It has been a pleasure and an honor.”

Mr. Valentino, a master couturier, officially retired from fashion in 2008, though most recently, in 2012 he created the wedding dress for Anne Hathaway. Throughout his career he has created wedding dresses for aristocrats and royals, most notably including Jacqueline Onasiss, Queen Maxima of Holland and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece’s gown.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via kungahuset.se, Getty

Wedding gown by Matthew Williamson, bridal veil by Lanvin and rings by Bvlgari

It’s that time of year… after those horrible rainy and grey days, we are thinking of our summer holidays and some of us might even plan something bigger, a wedding. Are you looking for the perfect paradise that will leave you speechless with magnificent, sun-filled memories?

I have something for you: Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, Bali, offers the special setting for your exclusive ceremony. You have four different wedding experiences and of course a large selection of rings to choose from the house of Bvlgari:

The Water Wedding

The altar is set upon a transparent carpet gently floating on the surface of the Water Pond. A truly unique experience, for a wedding ceremony held in front of the infinity of the Indian Ocean.

The Beach Wedding

An exclusive experience for those who choose to celebrate their ceremony on a secluded, white sand beach in front of a brilliant blue lagoon with wild Indian Ocean crashing on the reef.

The Pavilion Wedding

A romantic wedding experience for unions held in the formal surroundings of this intimate space decorated with garlands of fragrant flowers. A solemn ceremony starting with the bride-to-be moving towards the altar along an aisle deeply carpeted with blossoms.

The Bale Wedding

A romantic venue modelled on the traditional Bale Bengong pavilion and sited more than 160 metres above the beach below, with breathtaking views over the Indian Ocean. This exclusive setting is decorated with 5,000 blossoms.

Each Bvlgari wedding proposal includes flowers and decorations by a world-renowned floral designer, traditional Balinese performance, champagne for the toast and an exclusive Bvlgari wedding certificate holder. A wedding planner takes care of any special request in order to create a unique and unforgettable experience.

The legal validity of religious and civil ceremonies varies from country to country. To confirm the validity of the ceremony guests are planning in Bali, guests must consult all authorities (local and country of origin) involved. To help with all plans the staff at the Bvlgari Resort is pleased to provide all necessary information for definitive clarification of all issues beyond our area of expertise. Please contact Bulgari Hotels & Resorts Bali, Jalan Goa Lempeh, Banjar Dinas Kangin, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia, Phone: +62.361.847.1000.

I can only recommend Bali as I went there for my honeymoon, such a beautiful island.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Bvlgari

Personally speaking my favourite Hawaiian resort to stay at is the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, located at the Wailea Beach.

The beach in front of the hotel is wider than most of the others on the island with wonderful golden sand. This is where I started each morning with a yoga session. Listening to the sound of the waves, embraced by the softness of the sand was just amazing. Of course, this hotel is the perfect place to get married and during my stay, I witnessed many wedding celebrations.

The five-star hotel is home to four restaurants and bars, including an outpost of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s famous Spago. During your stay, you can treat yourself to some fine food. And of course, upon your arrival at the resort, you will be presented with the obligatory lei greeting.

The pool area is great but if you travel with kids not comparable to the Grand Wailea Resort which is next door, reminiscent of an amusement park, with fountains, tarzan’s swing, slides, caves, a bar in the pool and many other attractions. One of them while I was there: Britney Spears with her sons.
But be careful, all Grand Wailea Resort guests have to wear silver bracelets in the pool because it seems that Four Seasons guests tend to go over there from time to time.

If you travel without kids, you will have the best experience at the Four Seasons with a special pool area for adults only. Fashionistas will love the Missoni cabanas, furnished with the Italian brands fabrics and towels, but they cost an additional $495.- a day which I find absolutely crazy. I would prefer spending that money in the hotel’s boutique Knots 22 that carry the latest fashion from top designers, such as Missoni, Stella McCartney, Lanvin and many more.

As you see in the collage above, I love to pack Missoni when travelling. Those amazing knitwear pieces don’t wrinkle and are airy to wear in warm weather. To shop Missoni, please click here.

You can explore Missoni Home by clicking here for a great selection of cushions, towels and throws. Have fun decorating your world with the iconic zigzag pattern.

There are many sport activities offered at the resort, from yoga to hula dancing, from surfing to probably the most exciting one scuba diving. The hotel has also a well-equipped gym. If you like, you can book private lessons in tennis, pilates and gyrotronics® among others to keep yourself fit and busy.

I had a wonderful time at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. Mahalo nui loa (Thank you very much) and a hui hou (Goodbye)!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Swarovski pursues its story and opens a chapter on the theme of love: Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage. Boasting an olfactory composition inspired by moments of happiness in a marriage, it brings women good fortune and bliss.

The fragrance is composed of 3 main notes:

Sparkling and fruity, lychee blends perfectly with tea leaves to symbolise the seal of emotional commitment.
A delicate blend of peony and lotus evokes happiness, serenity and the promise of an eternal alliance.
In moments of intense love, white musk wraps women in a luminous and glittering aura.

This limited edition collection is available now.

Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage EdT Légère CHF 73.- (50ml)
Prestige Edition EdT Légère CHF 121.- (50ml)
Makeup Jewel Crystal Gloss, Rose Scintillant CHF 73.-

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Swarovski Parfums

Most brides opt for designer heels  in white silk or satin for their big day. But boots? Ugg boots?

UGG Australia has released a range of bridal boots, the so-called „I Do wedding collection“. Think cosy UGGs embellished with crystal stones, sequins and blue ribbons.

Most likely to wear them for your pre- or after-wedding pampering than walking down the aisle in them, those sparkling eyecatchers will surely not only attract the future brides among us. Personally speaking, I love the sequined ones…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of UGG Australia

“On her wedding day a woman should be certain that she has found a dress that makes her feel confident and above all else, beautiful.” – Carolina Herrera

This is something for all future brides among you, the new Spring 2013 Bridal Collection by Carolina Herrera that caters to various aesthetics and tastes – from a detachable ball skirt that transitions into a short cocktail style for the reception to strapless gowns and playful separates.

Embodying the notions of borrowed, blue, old and new, Herrera accessorized many of the looks with jewelry from her personal collection. “It has to be personal. Without a touch of personality, it’s just a dress.” As always the petticoat of each gown is embroidered with the bride’s initials in blue matching the grosgrain bow stitched into every waist. “I love the hidden details.” We do, too!

LoL, Sandra

Ivory cotton and silk mikado blazer with duchess satin detail, ivory silk crepe pant, ivory lace and organza blouse with bow detail

Ivory guipure lace column gown with ivory faille overskirt and hand painted veil

Off white silk mikado one shoulder bow gown with silk flower detail
Photos: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera

As you already know, I am a huge fan of Matthew Williamson. So of course, I paid a visit to his NYC store in the Meatpacking District on 14th street during my last visit.

The shop’s bridal section is just so wonderful. If I weren’t married already, it would be my absolute dream to wed in one of those gowns. If you are based in Europe, I recommend a visit to the London store.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Today, net-à-porter has released a gown almost identical to Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress that she wore to her sister Kate’s royal wedding to Prince William on April 29 this year.

The cowl-neck dream designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is not exactly the same and comes with minor differences to the original gown. It has for example a covered zip at the back instead of fabric buttons and the sleeves and neck seams have been alternated. Pippa’s version was made of heavy ivory silk and a customized order.

In the mood for pulling a Pippa? I just couldn’t resist…

LoL, Sandra