Sandra‘s Closet

Back in 1927, Mademoiselle Chanel bet on the on-the-go lifestyle, supporting women as their way of living evolved. Ever the innovator, she decided to make her line of skincare and makeup products available in smaller sizes. Daily essentials that could easily be slipped into a handbag, evening clutch, or small piece of luggage for spur-of-the- moment getaways.

CHANEL was inspired by these formats, which are as fun as they are practical, for its 2023 LES BEIGES collection. The House has revisited its iconic LES BEIGES products, offering them in limited-edition travel sizes. The LES BEIGES Summer To-Go collection captures the very essence of a radiant complexion and a healthy glow makeup look in miniature formats. As sensorial and intuitive as ever, LES BEIGES essentials are the perfect companions for achieving a fresh, luminous glow, anytime and for any occasion.

A HINT OF FRESHNESS IN A BOTTLE
Dazzlingly sheer, LES BEIGES WATER-FRESH TINT Travel Size (15 ml) is a water-based complexion product infused with micro- droplet pigments that leave a nearly imperceptible, luminous veil on the skin. Its 8 shades cater to all skin tones, giving the complexion a beautiful sun-kissed look.
LES BEIGES WATER-FRESH TINT Travel Size – 15ml – CHF 53.00
Light – Medium Light – Medium – Medium Plus – Light Deep – Deep – Medium Deep – Deep Plus

AN ULTRA-RADIANT COMPLEXION
As light as a caress, LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW BRONZING CREAM Travel Size (15 g) warms up the skin, creating the illusion of having spent a weekend in the sun. When applied to the cheeks, nose, forehead, and décolleté using the fingers or a brush, this cream-gel bronzer delivers an ultra-natural makeup look. It is available in 3 shades for a customizable sun-kissed glow.
LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW BRONZING CREAM Travel Size – 15 g – CHF 43.00
SOLEIL TAN BRONZE – A golden caramel
SOLEIL TAN MEDIUM BRONZE – An intense warm deep beige
SOLEIL TAN DEEP BRONZE – A chocolate brown slightly satiny gold

SUMMER ON YOUR SKIN
A true light catcher, LES BEIGES ILLUMINATING OIL Travel Size (50 ml) envelops the skin, leaving it with an iridescent shimmer. Enriched with jasmine oil, it gives skin a slightly coppery, golden glow. Apply to the face, shoulders, décolleté, arms, and hair for instant radiance.
LES BEIGES ILLUMINATING OIL Travel Size – 50 ml – CHF 66.00
One universal, sheer shade with shimmering gold and copper flecks

HARMONY OF LIGHTS
OMBRE PREMIÈRE LAQUE coats lids with a golden shimmer and is featured in two iconic jewel tones: RAYON, a soft, luminous beige, and QUARTZ ROSE, a radiant pastel pink.
ROUGE COCO BAUME (CHF 45.00) delivers a light, fresh lip look with two new shades: PINK DELIGHT, an ultra-natural, soft pink, and SWEET TREAT, a semi-matte brownish mauve.
To round off this sun-kissed look, CHANEL has designed two new shades of ROUGE COCO FLASH (CHF 48.00) with evocative names. DESTINATION, a rosy beige that enhances lips with its nude shimmer, and ESCAPADE, a slightly warm sienna red.

Available from Mid May 2023.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
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CHANEL is returning, as it does every year, to Saint-Tropez to celebrate the summer. For one season, the House is leaving La Mistralée townhouse and settling in the heart of the village. Built on a little town square with typical Provençal charm, a large 340m2 ochre stone residence with blue shutters has been transformed into an elegant boutique hosting the ready-to-wear and accessories collections by Virginie Viard, a selection of jewellery and watches, as well as a range of perfumes.

As if entering a holiday home, clients are welcomed into a shady garden with an outdoor salon surrounded by Mediterranean species. The boutique opens onto a vast vestibule decorated with a stained-glass window – a reference to the stained-glass of the Aubazine abbey where Gabrielle Chanel spent part of her childhood.
The ground floor then unfolds around a single large room punctuated with black columns contrasting with a terracotta floor and white walls set with panels of beige zellij or quilted-effect fabric. A minimalist two- tone architecture where warm spaces are created by sets of furniture, such as the curved lamps and the light-coloured rugs hemmed in black.

This spacious salon presents the S/S 2023 ready-to-wear collection and pre-collection, to be joined in the coming weeks by the CHANEL – Dakar 2023 Métiers d’art collection. Styled on mannequins, the looks are also shown in understated dressing rooms made of stretched woven fabric textured like white tweed. Accessories, small leather goods and costume jewellery mingle with books and decorative objects in large bookcases. Les Eaux de CHANEL fragrance collection also occupies these shelves, like a row of invitations to visit Deauville, Biarritz, Paris, Venice, Edinburgh and of course, the landscapes of the Riviera. The ground floor is also home to two other spaces. The first one is devoted to bags, including the iconic 2.55 and 11.12 bags, along with seasonal creations and new versions of the CHANEL 22 bag. The second one is dedicated to summer with swimwear and beach accessories, sunglasses and from May onwards, a preview of the CHANEL COCO BEACH collection.

Upstairs, the decor combines modern furniture with elements inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s own apartment: a wheatsheaf table and decorative objects in bronze and rock crystal by Goossens, screens and mirrors. A second stained-glass window softens the sunlight while a space like a contemporary boudoir is home to the Watches and Fine Jewelry, notably the COCO CRUSH and N°5 collections, and the J12, Première and BOY·FRIEND watches. Pale fabric sofas for visitors to try on the season’s shoes, nestle by dressing rooms presenting further ready-to-wear silhouettes. Three large fitting rooms complete this welcoming holiday home, steeped in the art de vivre of the French Riviera.

The CHANEL seasonal boutique in Saint-Tropez will open its doors from 8th April until October.
CHANEL Boutique
78, boulevard Louis Blanc 83990 Saint-Tropez France +33 4 94 49 07 47
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 10am to 1pm and 2 to 9pm

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
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Classy with a savage side… I love juxtapositions. Traditional bouclé tweed that emphasizes the shape of the body is mixed with oversized velvet for a fierce yet sweet look. I got many compliments walking around the sunny streets of Boston in this beautiful outfit. Here you see me in front of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Newbury Street that is located right next to my hotel, The Newbury Boston.

My look: Double-breasted velvet jacket by Saint Laurent, bouclé tweed jacket, and matching mini bouclé tweed skirt, embellished silver-tone belt and silver-tone, crystal and faux pearl clip earrings, all by Alessandra Rich, cropped top with logo, and bouclé tweed cap, both by CHANEL, black suede boots by Prada, cutout acetate butterfly sunglasses in shiny black smoke by Fendi, and VSLING mini top handle handbag in black with sparkling embroidery by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

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

Boston, Boston, Boston, you have grown on me so much. I don’t want to leave. Wandering around Boston Common (America’s oldest public park, 1634) and the Public Garden ( America’s first botanical garden, 1837) is one of my most favorite things to do. Every morning, I wake up to this stunning view in my suite at The Newbury Boston.

Depending on the season, you can ice-skate on Frog Pond, play softball or tennis, or simply lounge with a book on the 50-acre Boston Common. Across Charles Street, the smaller Public Garden shines in its own right. It’s the perfect park, with pathways designed for promenading, formal flower beds and a petite lagoon fringed with weeping willows.

My look: Knit vest, knit cardigan, knit top and knit skirt (Look 7 Pre-Fall 2021 Le Château des Dames Métiers d’Art), quilted lambskin mini vintage classic flap bag, earrings and necklace, all by CHANEL, Dior Empreinte heeled boots by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

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

Every season, CHANEL releases what I like to call a unicorn bag, a very beautiful and special bag, which is hard to get and very desired. With the increase in pricing and the lessened supply, there is even a higher demand for CHANEL bags.

For the 23C (Cruise 2023) collection, it is in my opinion this stunning CHANEL Rainbow Classic Flap bag. As the name suggests, the classic flap comes in the colors of the rainbow, in yellow, orange to red, pink, purple and green. In one bag, you have many different colors, which means it is a very versatile model to carry. If you love vibrant colors, then this is a must-have for you.
The bag retails at CHF 11240.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL and © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Birthdays at Gstaad Palace are birthdays well spent. My friends and family spoilt me to the fullest and I got surprised with many orange boxes. I have such a thing for zodiac signs and am a proud aquarius girl. Therefore I truly love the Zimmermann F/W 2022 collection dedicated to astrology.

My look: Celestial Zodiac embroidered mini dress, and embellished knee-high boots, both by Zimmermann, Lotus bead-embellished pleated leather tote by Ulla Johnson, earrings and pearl waist belt, both by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

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

What is the ultimate style? For me this means investment pieces that are timeless, classy and that you can keep for many seasons to come. In terms of brands, CHANEL is one of the Houses that offers great and seasonless investment opportunities.

My look: Sparkling knitted dress with silky underdress by CHANEL, Chiara crystal-embellished suede slingback pumps, and Palmette crystal-embellished suede cross-body bag, both by Christian Louboutin, and necklace by Alessandra Rich.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht – The photos were taken by myself at Gstaad Palace.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

I am a queen because I know how to govern myself. Ladies, never forget, you are the queen of your own empire! Straighten your crown and make the world your oyster and that works best in a great outfit.

My look: Cropped embellished cotton-blend sweater, and cutout crystal-embellished distressed high-rise slim-leg jeans, both by Area, turquoise logo embossed medium Baguette bag by Fendi, loafers with logo buckle by CHANEL, «Les Mustangs II»double face scarf 90 by Hermès, and Aquanaut Luce in khaki green by Patek Philippe.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht – The photos were taken by myself at Gstaad Palace.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Adventure time in my new cruelty-free fake fur coat that still captures the luxurious appeal of mink. Nadja Axarlis, founder of FAZ, produces her luxury pieces at a small Parisian atelier. I had a lot of fun taking these photos in the snow outside of the Gstaad Palace hotel.

By the way, the sweater features a travel destination that is on top of my bucket list, can you guess which one it is?

My look: The Cool belted faux fur coat by FAZ, Ines embroidered cashmere-jacquard sweater, and Diana suede leather tote, both by Gabriela Hearst, printed jersey track pants by Dolce & Gabbana, «Vicky» hat in black by Hermès, green rubber boots with logo (F/W 2022 Runway), earrings with red and turquoise stones (Métiers d’Art 2014 Paris – Dallas), and sunglasses, all by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

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

The heart shape as a motif is impossible to ignore in fashion right now. Already in June last year, I posted about the heart shaped bag trend. Fans of the heart bag may not intrinsically realize it, but the motif speaks to a psychological comfort during a time when things are still incredibly uncertain.

CHANEL debuted pastel quilted flap bags in the shape of chunky hearts on the S/S 2022 runway and they immediately sold out everywhere. I found one for you pre-owned in great condition, that is 15% off right now, please see below.

2022 Heart diamond-quilted crossbody bag by CHANEL Pre-Owned

The shape of a heart is so beautiful, but also gives good energy and in some ways, hopefully, spreads love. Valentine’s Day is coming up and I thought you might get inspired. However heart shaped bags aren’t just for Valentine’s Day and weddings, just saying… happy shopping!

LoL, Sandra

Le Cagole Heart mini studded crinkled-leather shoulder bag by Balenciaga

Pearl Heart medium bag by Simone Rocha

Heart-shaped biker crossbody bag by Moschino

Heart shaped shoulder bag by Blumarine

Metal Devotion crystal-embellished bag by Dolce & Gabbana

L’Amour Petite Cœur crystal-embellished clutch bag by Judith Leiber

Le Coeur heart-shaped leather shoulder bag by Alaïa

Heart pillow clutch by Alexander Wang

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © Sandra Bauknecht / David Biedert Photography
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.