«Christmas trees are the strongest ‘souvenir’ of my happy childhood.» – Karl Lagerfeld

I love Christmas trees and my favorite one (besides my own) can be found at London’s Claridge’s Hotel where in the eighth consecutive year a creative visionary has been invited to reinterpret the tree in their own distinctive style. This December, it is Karl Lagerfeld, one of the fashion world’s most influential creative forces, who created the stunning festive installation, a sixteen foot high inverted tree with silver gilded roots topped with a multi-faceted mirrored star which reflects rays of magical light across the art deco lobby. Reminiscent of a silver stalactite, the tree is hung with traditional silver lametta decorations, silver butter leather feathers and snowflakes handmade by craftsmen in Germany with tree candles giving a warm, inviting glow. Under the centerpiece sit hand sewn white Icelandic sheepskin rugs to reflect a recent snowfall.The famous designer was inspired by his own childhood memories of Christmas.

The Claridge’s Christmas Tree has long been a festive Mayfair landmark, drawing visitors and Londoners alike to marvel at its magnificent and ever-changing design. Scroll down to explore Claridge’s Christmas Tree designs through the years.

2016: SIR JONY IVE AND MARC NEWSON

2015: CHRISTOPHER BAILEY FOR BURBERRY

2014: DOLCE & GABBANA

2013: DOLCE & GABBANA

2012: KALLY ELLIS OF MCQUEENS

2011: ALBER ELBAZ FOR LANVIN

2010: JOHN GALLIANO FOR DIOR

2009: JOHN GALLIANO FOR DIOR

Merry Christmas to all of you – may you all sparkle as these beautiful trees with joy, love and laughter.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Claridge’s

If there’s one night to go all out and turn on the flash, it’s undoubtedly New Year’s Eve. But some of us are challenged throughout the whole festive season with specific dress code for special parties. Personally speaking, I will attend the 8th annual ASW Winter Weekend Mid December at the fabulous Gstaad Palace in Switzerland and for Friday night’s dinner «La Vie en Or» the dress code says asks for «glamorous, with a touch of gold». This is great! I love any reason to wear sparkle, but such an occasion is the perfect time to shine. And gentlemen, you are in this, too!

«Golden Girl» or just a little golden accessory – you decide how much you would like to shine.

From full-on sequin dresses to just the right gold accessory, there isn’t one right way to fulfill the dress code. The golden rule is you have to feel comfortable, in every tailored sense of men’s style, is purchase clothing that fits you properly. Nothing destroys an outfit – whatever the dress code and no matter how expensive the clothes are – like an ill-fitting jacket, shirt or trousers.

In general, gold is the perfect color to lift an all-black or an all-white outfit to something glamorous and fun. Perfect for all festive occasions!

To make your life a little easier, I put together a fun guide for all budgets so that you don’t need to worry about anything and can focus entirely on celebrating the start of the winter season in style!

HIGH END BUGDET – Full Looks

Get his look: Metallic jacquard dinner jacket by Dolce & Gabbana, shirt gold detail shirt by Comme des Garçons, turn-up hem wool-blend tailored trousers by Prada, ruler cufflinks by Paul Smith, skull and polka dot tie by Alexander McQueen and leather embroidered loafers by Gucci.

Get her look: Racko open-back sequined cady mini dress by Rachel Zoe or wondering lace-paneled fil coupé georgette blouse by Temperley London and sequined wool mini skirt by Marc Jacobs, Anya d’Orsay metallic patent-leather pumps by Saint Laurent, Celeste sequined canvas clutch by Jimmy Choo and Roma gold-tone earrings by Annie Costello Brown.

HIGH END BUDGET – Great Accessories

Stand out with a statement headpiece with a touch of gold and be the queen of the night: embellished satin headband by Dolce & Gabbana.

Lifting every basic look to new heights: Candy box by Jimmy Choo.

LOW BUDGET – A touch of Gold

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on your outfit, I recommend getting some fabric with golden sequins. Those accessories will have a great effect on your outfit and can be combined with all sorts of colors. Moreover they are less expected than some golden shoes or a handbag. I still love the mixture between gold and black the best.

You don’t need to be an expert in tailoring to do some cuffs or a belt. If you get a stretchy material, you can even glue it together instead of sewing it. In case you are to lazy for some DIY, you can order them directly here:

Cuffs with gold sequins

Sequined belt

The perfect touch of gold for a man: the right colored pocket square.

LOW BUDGET – Taking the Dress Code Literally up a Notch

Zara has some cool pieces in gold. Minimal investment for a maximum effect.

Be the star of the night: golden bomber jacket for men by Zara.

The perfect touch of gold for women and great for dancing: shorts in gold combined with a black top by Zara.

And don’t forget… you want to start the New Year with something new for good luck, it’s a great excuse to add a new piece to your wardrobe.

Happy Shopping! And I am looking forward to seeing some of you in Gstaad…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, Gstaad Palace and © Sandra Bauknecht

S/S 2018 TREND 1: SILK ROAD
Céline – Hermès – Versace

S/S 2018 TREND 2: ART LOVERS
Akris – Prada – Missoni

S/S 2018 TREND 3: IN FULL BLOOM
Rochas – Erdem – Marni

S/S 2018 TREND 4: FRINGES
Balmain – Calvin Klein 205W39NYC– Dior

S/S 2018 TREND 5: MARABOU
Proenza Schouler – Saint Laurent – Nina Ricci

S/S 2018 TREND 6: LAVENDER
The Row – Michael Kors – Tom Ford

S/S 2018 TREND 7: LIFE IN PLASTIC
Chanel – Burberry – Valentino

S/S 2018 TREND 8: WORKOUT
Gucci – Louis Vuitton – Marc Jacobs

S/S 2018 TREND 9: PLAID PLEASE
Fendi – Prabal Gurung – Balenciaga

S/S 2018 TREND 10: 80’s DENIM
Max Mara – Stella McCartney – Oscar de la Renta

S/S 2018 TREND 11: THE TRENCH
Gabriela Hearst – Maison Margiela – Victoria Beckham

S/S 2018 TREND 12: SHOW YOUR UNDIES
Christopher Kane – Miu Miu – Alessandra Rich

S/S 2018 TREND 13: RAINBOW
Peter Pilotto – Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini – Vionnet

S/S 2018 TREND 14: WHITE AT NIGHT
Jil Sander – Alexander McQueen – Etro

S/S 2018 TREND 15: MISE-EN-SCÈNE
Moschino – Dolce & Gabbana – Comme des Garçons

Photos: via Vogue.com

Power pairings… Dress, meet pants! Red have fun with pink! Exciting twists that will make heads turn. The downside? It’s dangerously easy to get it wrong. Here are some tips how to pull it off. First, make sure that the fabrics look good together, second don’t underestimate the proportions of your outfit. A belt might help to accentuate your shape.

A dress over pants has emerged as my latest obsession thanks to Balenciaga that showed that it can be undeniably chic when done right. The partial split (it is sewn together at the seam) at the front of my pink dress, where I put my leg through, and the one in the back, both give a new life to my “old” red leather pants.

My look: Split-side silk-georgette midi dress and scarf leather belt, both by Balenciaga, red skinny stretch-leather pants and red ankle boots, both by Saint Laurent, De Manta brocade clutch by Alexander McQueen, diamond rose ring by Piaget and sunglasses by Céline.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Hello from Lugano that is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland for me. Ticino’s lush, mountain-rimmed lake isn’t its only worth visiting asset. Walking along the flowery promenade on a sunny day is absolutely stunning and the perfect backdrop for a wonderful meeting. Here you can feel how close Italy is…

My look: Embellished striped wool and linen-blend and leather bomber jacket and Paris ankle boots, both by Saint Laurent, jacquard-knit mini dress by Alexander McQueen, Joyce embellished leather shoulder bag by Loewe, grosgrain bow brooch and aviator-style metal sunglasses, both by Gucci.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Fashion can be quite challenging as it likes to back and forth between faux-pas and the ultimate trends. What was an absolute no-go is now the must-have of the season. This summer it is the combination of heels and socks that shows the trendsetter. Grab a pair of heels, a pair of great socks and off you go. Here are the best ones available:

From left to right: Bow-embellished stretch-lace socks by Gucci, striped cotton-blend knee socks by Marc Jacobs, lace-up ribbed cotton knee socks by Prada and intarsia knitted socks by Vetements + Reebok.

From left to right: Striped sequined stretch-mesh socks by Gucci, Little William embellished ribbed cotton-blend socks by Gucci, ruffled wool-blend socks by Alexander McQueen and star-intarsia knitted socks by Givenchy.

I am embracing the trend with those lace socks by Dolce & Gabbana.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: via Pinterest and © Sandra Bauknecht

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

A throwback post to the City of Angels… from the Spirit Awards with Piaget to all the A-list parties happening in Hollywood to celebrate all things Oscar, Los Angeles is always worth a trip in February even that the weather can be quite cool.

My look: Ruffled silk-blend lace gown and leather and guipure lace bra, both by Alexander McQueen, stretch-lace thigh boots by Dolce & Gabbana, vintage embroidered clutch bag by Valentino, «Extremely Piaget» earrings in white gold set with pear-cut diamonds and cushion-cut yellow diamonds, «Extremely Piaget» ring with yellow and white diamonds, and rose diamond ring, all by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Piaget and © Getty Images

The ugly shoe phenomenon has been around for a while but this season it is getting truly serious, even Crocs have hit the catwalk. Reactions were mixed when the models appeared in those resin-moulded clogs on the runway at Christopher Kane, who told Vogue about this partnership the following: “I always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury. I wanted to bring my own stamp and DNA to Crocs’ classic clog shoe and achieve something really special. The marble print feels very earthy and I often think of Crocs in a very grounded way, worn with either an evening dress or with jeans, and adding the rock crystals brings a bit of luxury to this everyday style. Crocs are arguably the most comfortable shoe, I love that they are slightly awkward and might be perceived by some as ‘ugly’. They have a very naïve and childlike shape which I especially like when they look extra clunky on the foot.”

Embellished printed crocs by Christopher Kane

Also Alexander McQueen is jumping on the orthotic shoe trend along with no other than Balmain, who would have ever thought that?! What do you think of that trend? Yay or nay?

Floral-print leather sandals by Alexander McQueen

1 Canvas, leather and rubber sandals by Prada
2 Glittered leather platform sandals by Miu Miu
3 Faux leather platform sandals by Stella McCartney
4 Strappy suede sandals by Balenciaga
5 Laser-cut textured-leather slides by Simone Rocha
6 Phoebe printed leather slides by Sophia Webster
7 Laser-cut metallic leather sandals by Marni
8 Lace-up metallic-trimmed leather slides by Balmain

Blame it on the Birkenstock, but the must-have of the season is bringing ugly shoes out into the light of day. Complete with orthopedic-style soles, pool slide straps and ultra-utilitarian fastenings like Velcro, they may not be for everyone, at least they are comfy and make your orthopedist happy!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

Nothing has changed since last winter… more is more is still the motto, this is what the S/S 2017 season is all about! With fashion in a maximalist mood, accessories have kept their center stage. On the runways, kitten heels are back, earrings were bigger than ever, and one bag is definitely not enough. New? The marriage of socks and boots. The forecast: Get ready for your another sumptuous season!

LoL, Sandra

S/S 2017 TREND 1: EXTRAVAGANT SUNGLASSES
Céline – Dolce & Gabbana – Gucci

S/S 2017 TREND 2: SOCK BOOTS
Fendi – Balenciaga – Emilio Pucci

S/S 2017 TREND 3: WRAP BELTS
Balmain – Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini – Isabel Marant

S/S 2017 TREND 4: STATEMENT EARRINGS
Delpozo – Alexander McQueen – Altuzarra

S/S 2017 TREND 5: KITTEN HEELS
Chloé – Prada – Dior

S/S 2017 TREND 6: ONE BAG IS NOT ENOUGH
Stella McCartney – Valentino – Marni

S/S 2017 TREND 7: THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Givenchy – Chanel – Loewe

S/S 2017 TREND 8: FLATFORMS
Salvatore Ferragamo – Versace – Miu Miu

S/S 2017 TREND 9: SUPERSIZED BAGS
Sonia Rykiel – Mulberry – Ports 1961

S/S 2017 TREND 10: ARM CUFFS
Roberto Cavalli – Louis Vuitton – Rodarte

Photos: via Vogue.com

Here they are: the most important trends for the S/S 2017 season. Scroll through my forecast to see which styles will be on everyone’s shopping list next season. From dresses in brilliant shades of fuchsia, strawberry, rose, and bubble gum to buzzy words on slogan tees. Don’t expect the high-volume sleeve to disappear anytime soon, the choice is yours – enjoy!

LoL, Sandra

S/S 2017 TREND 1: THINK PINK
Hermès – Valentino – Céline

S/S 2017 TREND 2: HIGH-VOLUME SLEEVES
Dolce & Gabbana – Marc Jacobs – Kenzo

S/S 2017 TREND 3: 80’s LAMÉ
Saint Laurent – Isabel Marant – Gucci

S/S 2017 TREND 4: OP ART
Akris – Mary Katrantzou – Louis Vuitton

S/S 2017 TREND 6: 70’s FLOWER POWER
Prada – Chloé – Christopher Kane

S/S 2017 TREND 7: SQUARE-SHOULDERED
Jil Sander – Balenciaga – Jacquemus

S/S 2017 TREND 8: SWIM ADDICT
Max Mara – Fendi – Miu Miu

S/S 2017 TREND 9: SLOGAN TOPS
Dior – Paco Rabanne – Stella McCartney

S/S 2017 TREND 10: BRALETTES
Victoria Beckham – Alexander McQueen – Alexander Wang

S/S 2017 TREND 11: SPORT SPIRIT
Moschino – Courrèges – DKNY

S/S 2017 TREND 12: DEEP SEA METALLICS
Maison Margiela – Chanel – Balmain

S/S 2017 TREND 13: GRAPHIC STRIPES
Mulberry – Lanvin – Tory Burch

S/S 2017 TREND 14: MODERN RUFFLES
Givenchy – Erdem – Loewe

S/S 2017 TREND 15: TRANSPARENT
Alberta Ferretti – Giambattista Valli – Emilio Pucci

 Photos: via Vogue.com