Sandra‘s Closet

This is the most stylish I got in Iceland. First of all, it was freezing cold (Thank God, I brought this padded gilet with me!), second of all, I have never felt the urge to dress up or put on make-up. Everything is just laid back and very relaxing.

My look: Grosgrain-trimmed cotton-jersey sweatshirt by Saint Laurent, Pedal Star skinny-leg printed denim pants by Closed, white padded gilet by Moncler Grenoble, large studded backpack by MCM, sunglasses by Marc Jacobs, printed silk scarf by Gabriele Frantzen and biker boots by Chanel. Hat, souvenir from Iceland.

Being on “luxury withdrawal therapy” is kind of fun for one week, but now I cannot wait to bring back some glamour into my life. Stay also tuned for the upcoming post about the most breathtaking sceneries I have seen on the island.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

After two days in Reykjavík, I have started my trip around Iceland. The so-called Golden Triangle, “the three great destinations” for the Icelandair travelers that visit the country are Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir and were first on my “to-see list”. Believe me, they are absolutely worth the visit. Step off luxury and explore paradise! Enjoy my photo diary.

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park

The Þingvellir area is an area of sea-floor spreading, displaying the close association of crustal rifting and volcanism. Þingvellir is next to the Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa the only site on earth where the effects of two major plates drifting apart can be observed. Almannagjá that you can see above is pherhaps the most dramatic structure at Þingvellir.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss (translated as “Golden Falls”) is to my opinion one of Iceland’s most stunning waterfalls (and I have seen Niagara falls in Canada!). The light, the scenery is just breathtaking.

Geysir – Strokkur

Strokkur is one of Iceland’s famous fountain geysers, erupting about every 4-8 minutes 15-20m high, sometimes even up to 40m high. It is part of a whole geothermal area next to the famous Great Geysir which was the first one described in a printed source and which is the name giver for this natural phenomenon.

It was freezing cold and I experienced very strong winds that day.

My look: White padded gilet by Moncler Grenoble, pink sweater and checkered shirt, both by Abercrombie & Fitch, large studded backpack by MCM, sunglasses by Katie Grand ♥ HOGAN, printed silk scarf by Gabriele Frantzen, suede classic short boots by UGG Australia and Le Skinny de Jeanne mid-rise skinny jeans by Frame Denim. Hat and gloves, both souvenirs from Iceland.

Skógafoss

On my drive further east, I passed by Skógafoss, a waterfall situated in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline. It probably rivals Gullfoss as Iceland’s most famous waterfall.

Dyrhólaey

The small peninsula Dyrhólaey is located on the south coast of Iceland. The view from up there from the cliff is gorgeous with black lava columns coming out of the sea.

Travelling through Iceland feels a little bit like being on luxury withdrawal therapy. The accommodations are pretty basic and you don’t find fancy restaurants. But you find something here that is absolutely unbeatable, breathtaking nature, an amazing light as it barely gets dark these months and peace for your mind.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

On Saturday morning, I flew to Reykjavík, the largest city in Iceland. The world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state has been on my “places to see” list since a very long time.

I have completely underestimated the climate. The city’s coastal location makes it prone to wind and it is freezing cold here. As I spent the last weeks only in hot temperatures, it feels even worse. During my first few hours in this beautiful and very colorful city , I went shopping and got myself a wool hat and sweater.

My look: White padded gilet by Moncler Grenoble, green sweater by Abercrombie & Fitch, 620 Photo Ready mid-rise leggings-style jeans by J Brand, large studded backpack by MCM, sunglasses by Marc Jacobs and Jenny brushed-suede ankle boots by Isabel Marant. The hat is a souvenir from Iceland.

Here in Reykjavík, there are many things to do and explore. One of the big highlights is whale watching.

The meat of this large mammal can be found on almost every menu in this country.

View of Harpa concert and conference center from the old harbour.

City center

Panorama of the city and the largest church in Iceland

Central Reykjavík seen from…

… the top of Hallgrímskirkja Church.

Colorful rooftops line Reykjavík.

Approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Reykjavik is the famous Blue Lagoon, a place that you don’t want to miss. Set in the pure heart of the Icelandic landscape, it offers a complete spa experience. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and bathing is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. I felt too cold to go swimming but the scenery itself has been worth the visit.

Now, I am off to see some geysers and more…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Here is my last look from Luisaviaroma‘s Firenze4Ever style lab shot at the bar of the Helvetia Bristol hotel in Florence. I am completely in love with Givenchy’s F/W 2013 collection (think about that gorgeous Bambi sweater…), a little punk, a little grunge all with a certain flair.

To order, just click on the highlighted text.

My look: Wool grain de poudre coat with golden details and sequined printed cotton fleece long sweatshirt, both by Givenchy, So Nice earrings by Reminiscence, calfskin metal plaque booties by Giuseppe Zanotti and studded backpack by MCM.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tommaso Fontanella

For S/S 2013, MCM makes a bold move bringing art and fashion together by launching the amazing limited edition collection ‘Eyes on the Horizon’, in collaboration with pop art whiz-duo Craig & Karl.

The pieces evoke a sunny optimism, recalling sun kissed vacations and the youthful excitement of endless summers. The artwork is focused on playful eyes peering out through pairs of sunglasses while taking on amusing and abstracted forms to add a sense of fun and modernity to the fashionable musts. I truly adore their humorous twist. A special project regarding this beautiful collection that I will participate in will be revealed soon.

TO SHOP THE LIMITED COLLECTION ‘EYES ON THE HORIZON’, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MCM and Craig & Karl

LUISAVIAROMA‘s Firenze4Ever was once again an outstanding experience. The sun was shining, blue sky over Florence and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Below are some backstage impressions and a little teaser of my photo shoot with Tommaso Fontanella.

A goody bag filled with amazing products from the likes of MCM and Sisley (my favourite mascara) among others waited for me.

LUISAVIAROMA goes punk!

Being interviewed by the lovely Kelly for Glamour and Vogue Italia.

My F/W 2013 selection: Fausto Puglisi, Emanuel Ungaro and Givenchy…

Tommaso showing me the first pics.

Very happy with the result of the shoot: Tom, Anna and me.
Stay tuned for the style labs coming up soon! Missing Florence already…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

The closing night of LUISAVIAROMA‘s Firenze4Ever took place at the stunning Boboli Gardens (Giardini di Boboli), a park behind the Pitti Palace in Florence, that is home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries, with some Roman antiquities. It is amazing how LUISAVIAROMA always surprises us with another outstanding location.

Seated around the fountain in the Island Bassin (Vasca dell’Isola), we enjoyed a wonderful Tuscan dinner, a dance show, the amazing scenery followed by the after party with a private rock concert. The motto of the night was “Grunge Glam” and I went through my closet to find the most “punk-style” pieces that were in there.

My look: Cut-out knit dress, matching leggings and leather glove clutch, all by Alexander McQueen, choker by Louis Vuitton, bracelets by Miu Miu and Hermès, strappy sandals by Gucci and statement rings by Roberto Cavalli. All pieces are from previous seasons.

Below you can enjoy all my impressions of the night.

LoL, Sandra

Familiar faces: Sung-Joo Kim (looking a little different than at the MCM Grand Opening in Zurich last month) and the MCM team came to present their newest collaboration: they teamed up with illustrators, Craig & Karl, for a limited edition collection of summer accessories.

Adrian J. Margelist, Chief Creative Officer MCM, with me

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Et voilà, here is the second part of the MCM Blogger Makeover 2013. Jumpsuits are a huge trend this summer and I definitely couldn’t resist this one. Doesn’t it look lovely with the new MCM bag? All photos were taken in the studio of Christian Dietrich.

My look: Printed jumpsuit with studs, matching chiffon poncho, both by Givenchy, pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps by Saint Laurent, Veronika Visetos medium satchel by MCM, raffia and macarmé multi-bead earrings by Dolce & Gabbana and ring by Chanel.

If you haven’t seen the photos of the MCM’s Zurich Grand Opening, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Christian Dietrich for MCM

Here are the first official photos from the MCM Blogger Makeover 2013 and of course all the details on my look. I also included some more behind the scenes pictures and hope that you will like them. A huge thank you to Christian Dietrich for the beautiful shots.

My look: Ziggy printed silk-habotai dress by Mary Katrantzou, Janis leather pumps by Saint Laurent, earrings by Dolce & Gabbana, luggage and bag, by MCM, ring by Chanel.

Stay tuned… part 2 will be coming up soon!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Christian Dietrich for MCM

Last week, MCM‘s first European flagship store opened its doors in Zurich. As you already know, I felt very honoured to be the blogger host for this wonderful event.

My relationship with MCM dates back to my early college years when I designed a complete collection for the German brand that was founded by Michael Cromer in Munich in the Mid ’70s as ‘Michael Cromer Munich‘ (MCM). Today, it belongs to Sungjoo Design Tech & Distribution, and has been renamed ‘Mode Creation Munich‘ (MCM).

The company’s owner Sung-Joo Kim, a very fascinating lady, had flown in from South Korea for the event along with some famous celebrities. She was ranked among the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal in 2004 and selected as one of the “New Century Leaders” in CNN for the Best of Asia in 2003.

The new amazing colossal MCM store, located at the iconic Münsterhof, offers 160 square metres full of the brand’s must-haves.

Bettina Zollinger, store manager MCM Zurich, with me at the opening party.

Adrian J. Margelist, Chief Creative Officer MCM, with me in front of the shop. I am carrying the Veronika Isis studded shoulder bag from MCM’s upcoming F/W 2014 collection. For all details regarding my look, please click here.

To celebrate the first European flagship store, MCM released an exclusive Zurich Visetos line. The luxurious special edition, only available in Zurich is inspired by the city’s coat of arms, featuring a unique blue and white colourway available on various classic shapes.

How cute are these MCM doggies?!

The party crowd outside…

Spotted: Guya Merkle, owner and designer of Vieri Haute Joaillerie, the luxurious high end jewelry brand.

German actor Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht

Renowned South Korean actor Sang-Woo Kwon

Another famous guest: Designer Albert Kriemler, Creative Director of Akris.

At work

Lovely Fiona Hefti compèred the event.

The ribbon cutting ceremony

Later, I was invited to the official dinner held at the Zunfthaus zur Waag, during which Swiss singer Paloma Würth performed some of her songs. The highlight of the menu was definitely the logo cake for dessert.

Thank you, MCM, for this beautiful event!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of MCM, Tillate and © Sandra Bauknecht