Sandra‘s Closet

Here are the details of the outfit that I wore for the amazing shopping spree in Abu Dhabi.
I added some elements from the Middle East such as harem pants and the Chanel necklace from the Dubai collection.

My look: Black cardigan by Miu Miu, white T-shirt by R13, harem pants by Balmain, Alice leather sandals with pearls by Saint Laurent, Falabella faux brushed-leather shoulder bag by Stella McCartney, long metal necklace embellished with crescent moons and glass pearls and sunglasses by Chanel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Last weekend, I was invited to a very special birthday celebration, a trip and memories that I will treasure forever. My readers who have followed me since the beginning, might remember the amazing 40 hours in Venice for my friend Dan’s 40th birthday in 2011. Now it was time to get together for his wife Mel’s big day.

When I arrived at the airport, none of the guests had any idea where we would fly to. The boarding pass said to Dummy City and when we entered the amazing private jet, everyone was speculating where it would take us. After a fun 3.5 hours flight, we landed in a fairy tale of one and one thousands nights in Marrakesh. The magic red city, where the legends of the Orient still feel alive. And my outfit couldn’t have been a better match…

My look: Dotted silk cardigan and matching top, both by Dolce & Gabbana, transparent black plissée harem pants by Gucci, Boy bag with chains and metallic patent phone holder, both by Chanel, Alice leather sandals with pearls by Saint Laurent, Limelight Gala watch and rose diamond ring by Piaget, Hapi leather bracelet by Hermès.

Stay tuned for more from this weekend coming up soon…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Those who have been following me on instagram have got already an impression how fabulous my trip to Dubai was this week. Karl Lagerfeld had chosen the Emirates destination as the place to present the Chanel Cruise 2015 collection. You would imagine that past presentations in St. Tropez, Dallas and the Palais de Versailles among others would be hard to top. Think again. It’s Karl Lagerfeld. It was a feast for the eyes, an amazing experience, like the fairytale of One Thousand and One Nights.

The guests, among them celebrities such as Dakota Fanning, Vanessa Paradis, Freida Pinto and Tilda Swinton, were brought by junks to a manmade island off the coast of Dubai where an enormous golden hangar covered in an interlocking double C’s lattice awaited us. From far away it looked like traditional Islamic fretwork.

We were asked to wear flat shoes (even that flats are trending at the moment, this was a challenge for me) as we walked through the sand. With an outdoor temperature of around 36°C, it felt like a beautiful evening in the desert. We were greeted in the souk tents with refreshing lemonades and Arabic coffee while enjoying the Dubai skyline.

Inside comfy, cushioned seating around the catwalk, yummy hors d’oeuvres, champagne and gigantic fake palm trees awaited us.

In the middle of the location, the food was on display that we enjoyed after the show, from mini pita-shawarmas and falafel with date chutney to pistachio baklava.

The show was beautiful, Karl Lagerfeld dreamed up his “idea of a romantic, modern Orient, a new One Thousand and One Nights.” He mixed precious and costume jewelry and played with the sickle-moon motif. Those pearl crescent-moon hair pieces and Bedouin-inspired cuffs are divine. Aladdin’s slippers, harem pants, ghutra-pattern-inspired jackets, mosaiced skirts, necklines and embroidered leather camellias bring the Arabian culture into the Chanel style in a respectful and culturally sensitive way.

It wouldn’t be Karl Lagerfeld though if he didn’t add some humor to his collection. I adore the tunic tops hemmed in a sequined version of the Dubai skyline and the golden jerrycan bag will surely be on many shopping lists.

After the dinner, we enjoyed a private concert by Janelle Monáe.

Vanessa Paradis with me after the show

Sweet Dakota Fanning

Tilda Swinton giving an interview outdoors

When we walked back to the boats through the candle-lit sandy path, it felt like a million-and-one Arabian nights. Thank you, Chanel, for this beautiful night. In the September issue of L’Officiel Switzerland, you will find an exclusive report and some amazing pictures. Stay tuned!

While you are reading this, I am already on my way to the next adventure. For one evening, I fly to Shanghai with Omega for an exceptional dinner with George Clooney.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of Chanel

Hello Gentlemen! In case you were wondering how you will work the Morrocan trend, here you go. Your must-have for S/S 2011 is a pair of baggy pants, and I don’t mean the ones that hang down your knees. I am talking about that chic and trendy version, that are baggy on top and tapered at the bottom.

Try them on and you will fall in love – probably the most comfortable pants in your closet and a great addition to the limited selection that men have. Discover your inner Prince of Persia and if you are a leader by nature, you will definetely not want to miss that trend.

LoL, Sandra

A Moroccan spirit influenced many designers for their S/S 2011 collections which inevitably meant that Yves Saint Laurent, who had spent many years there, was in the air as well.

As the models stepped out onto the runway, you were immediately jetted off to North Africa with all those crochets, tassels, feathers, beads, fringes and Moroccan mirror details. The Sahara subtext was explicit in the colour palette, the Tuareg head wraps and tribal jewelry seen at Giorgio Armani and Salvatore Ferragamo for example.
Drop-crotch harem pants should be on your must-have list for summer.

LoL, Sandra