Sandra‘s Closet

Last week, I was invited by Christian Louboutin to a Red Night at The Connaught in London Mayfair. The evening started with drinks at the brand’s flagship store on Mount Street. As my plane was delayed, I missed that part and went straight to the party that was filled with many treats and a special tarot session.

Among fashion designers, Christian Louboutin stands out as one of the most influential, thanks to his ability to transform extraordinary shoes into true icons, all thanks to his distinctive signature: the red sole.

The dress code said a touch of red and for me that not only included the soles of my shoes but also a little touch of red on my jacket. The red sole of Louboutin shoes has become a symbol of luxury, style, and status, representing a fashion statement that doesn’t go unnoticed.

With beautiful Anna Lange, Christian Louboutin Store Manager Mount Street, at the event.

My gorgeous bag from the Flamencaba collection.

Spoilt to the fullest with this beautiful red quilt.

This holiday season, Christian Louboutin has a huge range of fantastic footwear, must-have accessories, and stocking fillers. I attached you some of my favorites available now below.

TO SHOP CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Graced with pearls, sequins and coloured leather, the Arceau watch appears decked out in festive finery inspired by Polish folk culture.

The Arceau watch created in 1978 by Henri d’Origny mingles classicism with singularity. Its round shape set on a stirrup lends itself to infinite expressions of creativity and expertise. Framed by this case with asymmetrical lugs, the Arceau watch embodies the Hermès style and highlights original forms of craftsmanship. Miniature painting, leather marquetry and sequins reinterpret the Costume de Fête silk scarf designed by Warsaw-born artist Jan Bajtlik.

Two versions – one in white gold, the other in rose gold – set with 82 diamonds feature a dial combining craft techniques as creative as they are demanding, expressed through colours varying according to two respective palettes. The lively, joyful equestrian motif is inspired by Polish folk culture. Illustrator, typographer and graphic designer Jan Bajtlik’s imagination is nurtured by traditional Krakow costumes and ornaments. His characters, animals and flowers draw on his native country’s popular art of paper cut-outs (wycinanki).

Miniaturised to dial size, the horse comes to life at the hand of Hermès artisans. Brightly coloured beads take shape on a sculpted metal base that is uniformly painted, a process punctuated by innumerable layers of micro-paint successively applied with a brush.

Emerging from this floral decoration, the spirited steed is revealed through equally meticulous piece of work: leather marquetry. Slim tesserae cut from different coloured leathers previously trimmed to just 0.5 mm thick are individually juxtaposed on the dial. This patient craftsmanship is complemented by delicately applied sequins. Six tiny, precisely selected shiny discs are pierced and sewn together with copper wire. As a final touch, the details of the harness are meticulously hand-painted on the leather.

Housed in a case measuring 38 mm in diameter, the Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement reveals the finishing and the ‘sprinkling of Hs’ pattern adorning its bridges and oscillating weight through the sapphire crystal caseback. A sakura pink or electric blue Swift calfskin strap complements the lively tones of these two watches, respectively issued in 24-piece editions.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès
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You know how much I love iconic hotels, such as Gstaad Palace or the Byblos in St. Tropez. After last weekend, I can add another one to my list. From its idyllic setting in Barbados, overlooking a tranquil coral sand beach, to its fleet of Rolls Royce Phantoms, Sandy Lane is widely acclaimed the premier and most iconic luxurious address in the Caribbean. The first glimpse of the sea through the marbled lobby is one you won’t soon forget, especially now with its beautiful Christmas decoration in sophisticated colors.

I went there this weekend and was blown away by its ambiance and colors. Set on white powdery coral sands and turquoise waters within an ancient mahogany grove, elegant Palladian buildings, 113 rooms and suites and a stunning private villa stud the property. Here you’ll find exceptional golf, exquisite gourmet dining, an outstanding spa, a gorgeous pool area and endless recreation all alongside authentic and magically warm Barbadian hospitality.

For more than sixty years, discerning travellers have chosen this distinguished address as their Caribbean ‘home’ to experience decadent relaxation, exclusive privacy, and unrivalled leisure…

I recommend having lunch at the hotel’s casual Bajan Blue restaurant that features Caribbean, European and Asian-influenced cuisine served beachside. This informal restaurant offers all-day dining, a famous, elaborate Sunday Brunch and spectacular themed buffet evenings. Features include a modern wine bar – ideal for pre-dinner drinks – a sushi station and state-of-the-art grill.

The color combination of hot pink and turquoise add so much sophistication to the ambiance. Love, love, love it!

LoL, Sandra

Welcome to the amazing shop inside the hotel that carries high end brands such as Zimmermann and Melissa Odabash, along personalized De Siena shoes, a brand from Switzerland.

The pool area of the hotel is just insane.

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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This weekend I went to Barbados and had the best time. It’s no secret that that the Caribbean island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with aquamarine waters and soft sands. The weather was changing between being sunny and light rain showers, providing a dramatic scenery. The perfect surrounding to sport this beautiful look.

My look: Colours Of Palccoyo jersey maxi dress by Johanna Ortiz, Bromelia 100 metallic canvas espadrille wedge sandals by Castañer, sunglasses with golden frame and burgundy lenses by Gucci, small messenger flap bag in Tiffany blue by CHANEL, Oscar seashell choker by Isabel Marant, Rose Céleste necklace, and Rose des Vents and Rose Céleste necklace, both by Dior Fine Jewellery, and coral earrings by Oscar de la Renta.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

At this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, Louis Vuitton will present a selection of the works that legendary Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry has produced during his wide-ranging and longstanding collaboration with the Maison. The specially designed booth in which the works will be presented embodies his trademark aesthetic and his constant experimentation with forms. Wood and cardboard models that have always been central to the architect’s design process find their form in the scenography, while five enveloping sail-like mesh structures nod to Gehry’s 2014 window displays for the Maison. Organized into four themes dear to Frank Gehry – Architecture and Form, Material Exploration, Animals, and his Twisted Box creation for «Celebrating Monogram»– the objects on display include handbags, trunks, perfume bottles, original artworks, preparatory sketches, and architectural models.

The stand will notably showcase the world premiere of Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry, a limited-edition handbag collection. The collaborative capsule is based around three themes key to Frank Gehry’s long career – Architecture and Form, Material Exploration, and Animals – and features designs based upon the Maison’s iconic Capucines bags, the Twisted Box Trunk, and a remarkable Bear With Us Clutch, based upon Gehry’s 2014 Bear with Us sculpture.

Each bag exemplifies the unique combination of Frank Gehry’s design prowess and Louis Vuitton’s remarkable craft and savoir-faire, such as a Capucines Mini Blossom with its glass-like resin petals inspired by perfume bottles and hammered LV recalling the logo he created for the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the iconic building he designed in Paris; a Capucines MM Floating Fish with painstakingly worked leather marquetry inspired by the piscine lamps on display at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and a Capucines MM Concrete Pockets whose innovative 3D cement-effect screen-printing gives the bag’s calfskin exterior the varied textures of Frank Gehry constructions.

Another highlight of the Maison’s Art Basel Miami Beach stand is the «A Tea Party for Louis» Trunk, the architect’s distinctive creation for the 200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries exhibition that celebrated Louis Vuitton’s 200th birthday. Based upon Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, his striking sculpture-trunk is a collection of eight arrestingly inventive figurines, each one resembling both a character in the book and the model of an imaginary Frank Gehry building. When brought together, the characters form what the architect describes as a tea party for the Maison’s founder.

Other Frank Gehry projects and artworks for Louis Vuitton on show include his Les Extraits perfume bottles and their unique stoppers handcrafted in Murano, Italy, and the Flaconnier Les Extraits designed to transport them, as well as a selection of sketches and models, such as preparatory drawings for his work on the «Celebrating Monogram» project and maquettes exploring his design for the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. These are accompanied by videos illustrating Gehry’s most famous collaborations with Louis Vuitton, and a painted portrait of the architect by French artist Jean-Philippe Delhomme.

Following its successful initial presence at Art Basel in Basel, Paris and Miami Beach in 2022, Louis Vuitton has become a global Associate Partner of the prestigious fair this year. This additional support further confirms the Maison’s close and committed relationship to the arts, one that began nearly a century ago when Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson, began commissioning artists to collaborate with Louis Vuitton on advertisements and perfume bottles.

Since 1988, Louis Vuitton has continued this legacy by collaborating with some of the biggest names in modern art and design, including Sol LeWitt, James Rosenquist, Cesar, and Olafur Eliasson. It has curated exhibitions by artists such as Sophie Calle, Dan Flavin, Alberto Giacometti and Gerhard Richter in its Espaces Louis Vuitton, instore contemporary art spaces, and has also created innovative large-scale global art projects, such as the 2022 collaboration with Yayoi Kusama, and a capsule collection of bags, shoes, accessories, luggage, and fragrances. The Fondation Louis Vuitton, which opened in October 2014 in Paris, embodies the commitment of LVMH – and Louis Vuitton in particular – to corporate philanthropy in support of the arts and creative endeavours. The building, commissioned from Frank Gehry, is already recognised as an emblematic example of 21st-century architecture and has already welcomed millions of visitors from the entire world.

Louis Vuitton will be present at Art Basel Miami Beach in the West Lobby of the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA. Public opening from 8th – 10th December 2023.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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Dark blue is such an elegant color and it is THE color to wear right now if you want to look on-trend. I choose it for the beautiful cocktail party with Gianvito Rossi in London.

My look: Asymmetric draped stretch-jersey turtleneck jumpsuit by Alaïa, dark blue 105 suede pumps by Gianvito Rossi, crystal chandelier earrings by CHANEL (S/S 2023), and crystal-embellished Hourglass tote bag by Balenciaga.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @georgiashane
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

What if believing in mysterious signs, keeping talismans close, or projecting your desires onto superstitions was a reliable way to ensure that luck is on your side? Gabrielle Chanel believed it wholeheartedly, shaping her destiny based on symbols that have since become iconic.

Lions, wheat, comets, camellias, numbers… Mademoiselle was as talented as she was superstitious, and she surrounded herself with objects and symbols. These talismans gave her the freedom to achieve her dreams; inspiration for the designs in her collections; strokes of genius that led to her most iconic signature styles; and the strength to embrace her destiny. With the LES SYMBOLES DE CHANEL collection, the CHANEL Makeup Creation Studio has reimagined 5 iconic symbols as precious highlighters. Le Lion, La Comète, Le Camélia, Les Perles, and Les Chaînes become 3 subtle and sophisticated shades: Warm Gold, Precious Coral, and Pearly White, offering sparkling shimmer designed to illuminate and enhance the complexion. And your future…

THE LION
A symbol of strength

The animal representing Gabrielle Chanel’s zodiac sign is a mirror image of her radiant, untameable personality. It also recalls the Lion of Venice, an iconic city that fascinated Mademoiselle. The lion is a true inspiration, lending strength and pride to those who choose it.

LA COMÈTE
A symbol of luck

“ I wanted to cover women in constellations ”, said Gabrielle Chanel in 1932, while presenting her first and only high jewelry collection, which is filled with celestial motifs. Superstitious, she put her faith in the stars and loved surrounding herself with comets. The comet gives off incandescent light, promising eternal luck to its owners.

LES PERLES
A symbol of radiance

Gabrielle Chanel played with strings of pearls boldly and freely, wearing them close to or draped around her neck, during the day as well as in the evening, in the city and even at the beach. Pearls, which capture both warmth and light, illuminate the complexion and reveal the radiance of those who wear them.

LE CAMÉLIA
A symbol of harmony

Typically worn by dandies on the lapels of their jackets, the camellia became Gabrielle Chanel’s emblem in 1913. It has been featured in many of her creations, where it continues to flourish, still today. Perfectly symmetrical, it never loses its leaves; it embodies steadfast beauty—harmonious and serene. An oasis of calm that soothes and provides peace of mind to those who treasure it.

LES CHAÎNES
A symbol of style

Gabrielle Chanel, an avant-gardist, broke with the rules of her era when she added a chain to her bags. Tucked into the lining of CHANEL jackets, chains are also the secret to creating their structure and ensuring that they fit perfectly. Symbolizing a unique style, chains reveal the allure of those who wear them proudly.

LES SYMBOLES DE CHANEL
Maxi Poudre Illuminatrice
WARM GOLD: a champagne
PRECIOUS CORAL: a soft, satin coral
PEARLY WHITE: a sparkling white
Available for CHF 77.00 each.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
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Experience the holiday magic by my dear friend Finnish artist Jani Leinonen at Dolder Grand Hotel, who has for the second time portrayed his idea of Christmas in a colossal art project for the Dolder Grand. For last year’s installation, click here please. Yesterday, I went to lunch with him in Zurich and heard all about this beautiful artwork.

Leinonen, who was born in Finland, has created a lighting installation consisting of stained glass windows, which will be on display in the Canvas Bar & Lounge from 1 December 2023, transforming the space into an arena of colours and patterns. «It’s probably the most beautiful work of art I’ve ever created», he says. And the most elaborate. «The making of stained glass windows is based on a complex technique that uses light to change the appearance of the space and can have a calming effect on the observer – both physically and emotionally. The history of stained glass windows is full of elaborated meanings that not only illustrate fundamental concepts of life – such as death, birth and the meaning of life – but also reflect the belief systems and power structures in our society.»

24 MESSAGES – 24 CUBES

To give his pieces deeper meaning, Leinonen asked 24 people from around the world – including artists, authors, mothers and children – to write a personal letter to Father Christmas. «The letters lend each light cube a special meaning that encompasses not only joy, but also grief, loss and the hope for a better world», he adds. «We received letters from all over the world, including one from an Egyptian poet who has been in prison since 2018 because of his poems. There is also a letter from a Ukrainian artist called Olena, who had to leave her home because of the war. And a letter from Basil, who has been living in the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert since war broke out in Syria in 2011.»

Got a very special message from Jani in the book.

All the letters have been compiled in a book, created in collaboration with designer Riikka Kuukka, the aim being to reflect what Santa Claus really means to us. But they also show how different people’s wishes or messages are. Jenni from the Arctic, for instance, wants winter to return. Ten-year-old Maya wants some money for piano lessons. Gina wants her brother back. «The letters are not at all what I was expecting», states Leinonen. «But they do show that, for many, this has not been an easy year – or decade.»

Jani Leinonen has assigned a letter to each of the cubes he has created. A new light cube illuminates every day, symbolising that this particular wish is to be fulfilled. To fulfil the wishes of people in need, the Dolder Grand sends Christmas greetings to its guests, customers and partners by digital means, donating the saved production and Christmas postage costs to Winterhilfe Schweiz. This aid organisation assists families, couples and individuals affected by – often invisible – poverty.

I absolutely recommend the pumpkin soup at the Canvas Bar & Lounge at the Dolder Grand.

The light show will be celebrated at 6 p.m. every day from 1 to 24 December 2023, accompanied by music and a Christmas aperitif for all those gathered in the Canvas Bar & Lounge.

And what does the artist himself want for Christmas? «On 24 December, I’d like all the light cubes to be lighting up the Dolder Grand in radiant colours, and for the wishes of those who have written the letters and read the book to come true. That’s my Christmas wish.»

Hyvää Joulua Maailmam upeimalle Sandralle!
Merry Christmas to the world’s most wonderful Sandra!

Thank you, Jani!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of The Dolder Grand #doldermoments
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Fun times ahead! Back to London next week, I packed my beloved Fendi boots and this super practical cashmere coat that actually feels like a cardigan. The dress is from Valentino’s Black Tie F/W 2023 collection and one of my season favorites.

My look: Leisure belted cable-knit wool and cashmere-blend cardigan by Max Mara, wool and silk-blend halterneck mini dress by Valentino, logo-embellished leather biker boots by Fendi, grooved cabochon clip earrings by Saint Laurent, My LV chain pilot sunglasses by Louis Vuitton, and Kelly Cut clutch in black Swift leather with gold hardware by Hermès.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @georgiashane
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

The 2023 edition of Louis Vuitton’s Artycapucines Collection sees five leading contemporary artists – Billie Zangewa, Ewa Juszkiewic, Liza Lou, Tursic & Mille and Ziping Wang – bring their unique visions to the timeless and classic Capucines bag.

Billie Zangewa

Since the first collection in 2019, the Capucines bag – named after Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Parisian street where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854 – has provided a perfect blank canvas for 29 contemporary artists to create an Artycapucines, including Alex Israel, Beatriz Milhazes, Daniel Buren, Henry Taylor, Paola Pivi, Park Seo-Bo, Tschabalala Seif, Ugo Rondinone, Urs Fischer, Vik Muniz and Zhao Zhao.

Ewa Juszkiewicz

Each special bag is further proof of how for over a century Louis Vuitton has continuously placed its innovative spirit and artisanal expertise at the service of artists and their creativity, from Louis Vuitton’s grandson Gaston-Louis commissioning work back in the 1920s to collaborations with legends such as Sol LeWitt, Yayoi Kusama, Richard Prince, and Takashi Murakami, to the opening of the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Vuitton in 2014. The Artycapucines Collection reveals the quintessence of that commitment to artistic creativity, savoir-faire and craft, while affirming the Capucines as the ultimate expression of femininity.

Liza Lou

They five latest designs pay testament to the collection’s ability to unite the artists’ talent and invention with the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Maison’s masterful artisans. All bags in the 2023 Artycapucines Collection, presented in specially designed boxes, will be available in limited editions of 200, with a worldwide reveal on 12th October 2023.

My favorite: Tursic & Mille

Since I am a big fan of these collaborations, I will spotlight each artist with small interviews in the next posts. Seeing the craftsmanship that goes into these pieces is truly captivating and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do.

LoL, Sandra

Ziping Wang

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
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