Sandra‘s Closet

I am so excited to be back in Saint-Tropez soon. One shop I will definitely pay a visit to will be the CHANEL boutique that will once again take up residence in the heart of La Mistralée villa. In the wake of major renovation work under the direction of architect and long-time collaborator of the House, Peter Marino, this historic building will be transformed into a permanent showcase. Having hosted the CHANEL fashion collections in temporary settings every summer since 2011, the boutique will now open every year during the summer season to showcase the latest ready-to-wear collections, alongside leather goods, accessories, shoes and costume jewellery as well as a selection of watches and fine jewellery.

More than just a boutique, this setting feels like a holiday home. The façade, with its green shutters, cream-hued walls and anthracite-grey railings, blends the CHANEL codes with colours typical of Saint-Tropez. The summer villa and its conservatory open out onto a Mediterranean garden complete with a pool and pool house. A veritable invitation to sit back and relax under the Côte d’Azur sun.

This new Tropezian sanctuary has been redesigned to echo La Pausa, the villa in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin that was entirely imagined and decorated by Gabrielle Chanel, and which holds a special place in the history of the House. The whitewashed walls, stone staircase and carousel of photographs projected onto a giant screen, resonate with this iconic place. The cut-out mirrors are reminiscent of the legendary folded-mirror staircase at 31 rue Cambon as the spirit of CHANEL subtly infuses every space.

With the entrance hall dedicated to leather goods, accessories, scarves, costume jewellery and eyewear, the ground floor also houses an exclusive selection of timepieces, including the iconic J12, Première and BOY.FRIEND, and the COCO CRUSH, Camélia, Comète and N°5 jewellery collections. An exceptional conservatory welcomes the shoes. A unique chandelier, sunshades and original furniture combining pale toned fabrics and woven leather render the overall effect sublime.

The floor devoted to ready-to-wear can be reached either by a stone staircase or an all-glass elevator that plays with transparency and light. The S/S 2024 ready-to-wear collection as well as the 2023/24 Métiers d’art collection – unveiled last December in Manchester – are presented here. Two areas, each with a salon and dedicated fitting room, complete the ensemble. For an exclusive experience, one of them can be privatised. Hand-painted curtains cast a light, airy feel over the surfaces while bespoke rattan furniture, touches of powder pink and raffia create a warm ambiance in keeping with the spirit of Provence.

Works of art throughout the boutique recall the unwavering connection between the House and the art world. Several lion sculptures – referencing Gabrielle Chanel’s zodiac sign – a painting by Georges Noël, a coffee table by Agnès Debizet, two vases with a golden patina by Johan Creten, and eight ceramics painted by Pablo Picasso – a loyal friend to the couturière – all add to the poetry of the place.

Traversing the townhouse leads into the luxuriant garden, a peaceful haven of Mediterranean plants and ancient bricks. The pool tiled in specially made Italian glass mosaics and the powder-toned pool house showcasing the CHANEL COCO BEACH collection, reflect the essence of the French Riviera.
The CHANEL boutique in Saint-Tropez is an invitation to discover the world of the House against an idyllic backdrop where elegance encounters the art de vivre of the Mediterranean.

CHANEL Saint-Tropez
1 avenue du Général Leclerc
83990 Saint-Tropez
+33 (0)4 94 49 07 47
Open from Monday to Sunday, from 11am to 1:30pm and from 3pm to 7:30pm

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL
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Last night, I got spoilt by CHANEL. The French Maison had staged its Cruise 2023 Paris – Monte Carlo collection in an amazing setting at Galerie Gmurzynska for me. As I hadn’t been to the show that took place in May on the pebbled beach in Monaco, it was a great opportunity to browse and try all my favorite looks from the runway before they will be officially in stores.

Inspired by the Formula One, CHANEL was heading a destination that is an integral part of its history, Monaco. It was a beautiful nod to Gabrielle Chanel who had built her villa La Pausa in 1929 on the heights of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, and also to the late Karl Lagerfeld, who loved to visit in the summer, from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, at La Vigie, his famous villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

The collection? Imagining the luxurious and cosmopolitan beach lifestyle of the Côte d’Azur, as well as the Grand Prix and the ballet that Monaco is so famous for, Virginie Viard came up with some kitsch Formula-One inspired fashion (my favorite part of the show – the first jumpsuit in red and white is to die for), embroidered baseball caps, black-and-white swimsuits, glamorous sequins and ensembles in breezy crochet.

The accessories were playful and fun. Enjoy the photos to explore more.

LoL, Sandra

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

It feels like spring at the moment, happy moments with lots of sunshine that are only shadowed by the passing of my beloved Karl Lagerfeld. These photos were taken yesterday before I heard the news which is quite bizarre as he must have died while we took them. Wearing vintage pieces and his last Cruise 2019 collection with the name «La Pausa», that derives from Gabrielle Chanel‘s villa at the Côte d’Azur in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, I say once more farewell to one of the greatest designers in the world. Being German, I am proud to emphasize that a dear landsman went to Paris to leave such a mark on the world of fashion.

My look: «La Pausa» cashmere sweater, high waisted denim skirt (S/S 2016), cotton tweed white and black beret, metal and strass life buoy brooch, vintage striped logo 2way bag, all by CHANEL, and red leather Rockstud boots by Valentino.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

On the bridge of the La Pausa liner last May, Karl Lagerfeld imagined a collection inspired by cruise ships. The silhouette is happy, thought out for travelling comfortably and with style, just as Gabrielle Chanel did. Onboard the Flying Cloud, the yacht belonging to the Duke of Westminster, the designer liked to wear simple outfits, fine knitwear, pleated skirts and low-heeled shoes fastened with a strap. In block colour or two-tone, Mademoiselle would also wear them ashore, most often with light knits and mid-length skirts.

Gabrielle Coco Chanel

These shoes feature regularly in Karl Lagerfeld’s Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture collections, each time in new previously unseen forms: precious or understated, with a single or double strap, flat or with a heel, according to the designer’s imagination.

For the Resort 2019 collection, Karl Lagerfeld reinvents them as «children’s party shoes» to punctuate the looks of the collection. Imagined in silver goatskin, in white calfskin or embellished with sequins, and perched on a little heel, this new version brings elegance and femininity to a shoe long associated with children’s wear.

With their rounded toe, they follow in the line of the ballerina, the emblematic CHANEL shoe. The designer has also created a casual-chic sportswear version with a rubber sneaker sole.

The Resort 2019 CHANEL collection will be in boutiques from November 2018.
Do you like these shoes? Personally speaking I am not so sure… .

LoL, Sandra

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Photos: Courtesy of CHANEL
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