«After rain there’s a rainbow, after a storm there’s calm, after the night, there’s a morning, and after an end, there’s a new beginning.»
When I was with my beloved Mary Katrantzou in Athens for her S/S 2020 show, I was reminded of this beautiful quote. The day of the event, we had a crazy storm followed by a rainbow, and then a beautiful calm afternoon and night. We shot the photos at my hotel, the Four Seasons Athens. that I can absolutely recommend.
For S/S 2017, Mary had looked back to her childhood visit to the ancient palace of Knossos, on Crete. I thought it is the perfect time to finally sport this dress with Minoan goddesses, Cretan murals and the silhouetted paintings on Greek vases and plates.
My look: Chariot print dress
by Mary Katrantzou, platform leather pumps by Gucci, Vicky quilted patent leather wallet on a chain
by Saint Laurent, silver-plated, Swarovski crystal and faux pearl clip earrings
by Miu Miu, and crystal aviator sunglasses by Chanel.
My last weeks were quite «stormy», but now I can feel the calm coming… so much to show you. Stay tuned!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
According to the F/W 2019 runways, camouflage is back and more versatile than ever. But why is camo a thing again now? It might have to do with its utilitarian roots and a second-coming of ‘80s and ‘90s style inspiration. Camo, by definition, is a form of armor. Its purpose is to hide and conceal. Blending in the landscape, I also love my new Jimmy Choo boots and bag, that both feature the new exquisite JC logo hardware detailing.
My look: Camouflage-intarsia wool cardigan
and matching camouflage-intarsia wool shorts, embellished rabbit-felt cap, and glitter sunglasses, all by Miu Miu, bee fil coupé shirt by Gucci
, Varenne leather tote and Mahesa 100 embellished leather knee boots, both by Jimmy Choo, pearl earrings and logo pearl brooch, both by Chanel.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Gold leaves in autumn, on a beautiful fall sunny day in Austria – during my stay at Vivamayr Maria Wörth, I went on several walks and explored the area nearby. Right next to the deluxe detox destination is the famous Gothic pilgrimage church dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the highest plateau of the island. It was built as early as around 875 and is one of the loveliest pearls of the landscape in the garland of Carinthian beauty, with the neighbouring Winterkirche beneath it.
After a week in sweatpants, I felt like dressing up. Isn’t it amazing how one brooch and a corset belt can change a black dress completely?!
My look: Wool-blend long sleeve dress by Alaïa, velvet and leather-trimmed Prince of Wales checked wool-blend corset belt by Miu Miu, Studwrap leather pumps
by Valentino, waist bag with chains and pearls and logo pearl brooch, both by Chanel
.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
Inspired by travelling, the CHANEL Cruise 2020 collection focuses on a silhouette in motion, powerful and yet delicate. Comfort, functionality and elegant simplicity form the basis of this allure that nothing can hold back. And to accessorise it, Virginie Viard has imagined a shoe that shakes up the lines of a great CHANEL classic: the two-tone pump.
Fastened with a strap, perched on a 7cm or 9cm conical heel with a pointed toe, this patent leather pump comes in various two-tone colour combinations with black as the common denominator. The blue, pink, red and purple all add a touch of pop to this shoe which also exists as a bootie.
Their form and carefully studied duo of colours respond to each silhouette of the collection, imbuing them with a modern allure and distinct elegance, from morning through to evening.
As a discreet signature, the white lacquered double C is positioned just below the ankle.
Extremely comfortable, this new pump fits the foot perfectly. The stability of its heel speaks of a long-distance journey, to come and go as one pleases, in complete freedom.
Gabrielle Chanel used to say of shoes: «they are the height of elegance.» With this pump, Virginie Viard revisits CHANEL’s emblematic two-tone shoe and reaffirms the vision of its founder.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © CHANEL
#CHANELCruise
This November, CHANEL is expanding LES EXCLUSIFS collection with the GENTLE OIL (Huile Douce), a delicate and sensorial oil for the hair and body that you shouldn’t miss and I will tell you why. In the cold season, our skin and hair are both suffering from the dry and freezing temperatures. Oil seals in moisture and adds extra nourishment.
With an elegant and sensual touch, the GENTLE OIL is pure luxury and embellishes the skin and hair while leaving a discreet, fresh and citrusy trail with floral notes of jasmine against a backdrop of white musks, making itself discreet and gives a voice to the fragrance of your choice in perfect harmony. It moisturizes the skin, thus prolonging and intensifying the scent of each LES EXCLUSIFS DE CHANEL creation, or needless to say any other perfume you love wearing, while remaining true to the fragrance.
The light, caressing texture of the GENTLE OIL envelops the skin in a silky satiny veil. Its formula boasting 80% ingredients of natural origin is extremely compatible with the skin, instantly absorbing upon application without leaving an oily film. To heighten the pleasure, I recommend mixing a few drops into your favorite body cream, in my case the FRESH BODY CREAM by CHANEL. The GENTLE OIL can also be applied on hair (down the length of the hair before shampooing or on dry ends as a finishing touch) leaving it softer, shinier and suppler. The bottle is iconic and beautiful, decorating every bathroom shelf by itself.
LES EXCLUSIFS DE CHANEL GENTLE OIL Body & Hair will be available as 250ml bottle for CHF 190.00 from beginning of November 2019.
In Switzerland at the CHANEL Boutiques in Zurich and Geneva, at CHANEL Parfums & Beauté at Bongénie in Geneva and CHANEL Space Parfums at Jelmoli in Zurich and Manor in Geneva.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © CHANEL and © Sandra Bauknecht
Last Friday, I arrived in my happy place which is my old hometown Munich. Before the official start of Oktoberfest on Saturday, I went out with friends on Friday night wearing this quite daring dress. Unfortunately, it is always hard to find someone who is not only willing to take some photos and but also capable of doing so. This time, it was obviously a difficult task:-) – men can be so uncooperative – but I hope that you still enjoy this post.
My look: One-shoulder satin-trimmed crepe mini dress and feather cape, both by Balmain, black calf leather lace up Janis pumps by Saint Laurent, Satin Touch 20 denier stay-up stockings by Wolford, black and white grained leather bag with gold-tone metal details and single earring, both by Chanel.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
CHANEL will present its Cruise 2021 collection, created by Virginie Viard, Artistic Director of the Fashion collections, on Thursday May 7th, 2020, on the island of Capri in Italy.
From the 1920s, Gabrielle Chanel offered her clients lightweight and comfortable designs for yachting, coastal resorts, spa towns and other various sunny destinations such as the Riviera and the Lido beaches in Venice.
Capri’s seasonal CHANEL boutique will be open until October 20th 2019.
Since 2000 and under the impetus of Karl Lagerfeld, the CHANEL Cruise collection has become a much-anticipated rendezvous. CHANEL was the first House to introduce an actual runway show for its Cruise collection which invites us to travel around the world. It will be the first time the fashion house has presented a resort collection outside of Paris since 2016.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © CHANEL
Last weekend, I was invited to a birthday party in Fribourg with the dress code «Choose a Quentin Tarantino Movie Character». The possibilities are versatile but one that I truly liked and that looks great in daily life is the style of Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) in Pulp Fiction. The 1994 movie is known for its many twists, but most poignant of all is her dance with Vincent Vega (John Travolta). It’s in that scene that Mia sports the outfit that has inspired one of the most popular Halloween costumes of the last two decades, with a white button down shirt as the quintessential piece combined with black cropped pants.
My look: Bandage flared pants by Hervé Léger, cotton-poplin shirt, sequined gun shoulder bag, and Janis suede platform pumps, all by Saint Laurent, Petit Jardin embroidered stretch-tulle underwired bra by La Perla, and diamond ring by Vainard Fine Jewellery.
You’ll never watch that scene the same way again when I tell you what else made it so iconic for a fashion lover. It was the nail polish on Mia’s fingers. First debuted at the F/W 1994 CHANEL show, Le Vernis Rouge Noir made its screen debut in Pulp Fiction 25 years ago. Until today, the hue is still one of the most coveted—and questionably duped—color in both fashion and beauty history.
I really like this hair style (the wig is from atop.ch). What do you think? Time to get a new hair cut?
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
In 2019, COROMANDEL lends itself to a new variation and inspires the eighth Parfum in the LES EXCLUSIFS DE CHANEL collection. Darker and more intense, this new interpretation of COROMANDEL exalts the opulence of its oriental-woody trail.
A true exercise in perfuming style, the creation of a parfum requires an intimate understanding of the original fragrance in order to accentuate the most characteristic features and thus intensify its olfactory signature. From the richly woody oriental fragrance COROMANDEL, Olivier Polge, Perfumer Creator for the House of CHANEL, chose to magnify the dark and smoky facets with a special focus on three raw materials that are key to its identity. Frankincense is heightened to give the Parfum a vibrant and vertical power that builds upon contact with the skin. A more concentrated quality of labdanum fully reveals the smoky and leathery accents of its ambery note. Lastly, a densely textured, velvety benzoin gives the COROMANDEL Parfum trail a warm and captivating depth.
Inside Coco Chanel’s apartment: her beloved coromandel screens.
A bolder expression of the COROMANDEL personality, the Parfum is an even greater evocation of the lacquered screens that lined the walls of Gabrielle Chanel’s private apartment. Intense and mysterious, its dark woody trail recalls the deep shades of these luxurious objects from the Orient, with which it shares an exotic elegance and exquisite refinement.
LES EXCLUSIFS COROMANDEL Parfum 15 ml for CHF 274.-
Available in Switzerland from Mid September at CHANEL Zürich, Geneva, Bongénie in Geneva, Jelmoli Zurich, and Manor Geneva.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL
Any pet lover will say that life just seems better with a dog. The furry friends keep us company, entertain us, comfort us, protect us, and seem to make life fuller and more complete. I grew up with a dog and I still remember those beautiful years at his side. Today, I cannot pass a dog without a little cuddle. Henry kept me company while taking the photos of this floral-print linen outfit that is one of my favorites at the moment.
My look: Goldie cropped ruffled floral-print linen top, Goldie floral-print kick-flare linen trousers, and floral-print cotton visor, all by Zimmermann, Marmont fringed logo-embellished metallic cracked-leather pumps by Gucci, logo earrings, side packs in yellow, and yellow logo cuffs, all by Chanel, «Mitza» ring by Dior Fine Jewellery and cat eye metal mirrored sunglasses by Fendi.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
