Sandra‘s Closet

OMG! This week had been so busy, that I have almost forgotten a very special day. On November 23, five years ago, the probably biggest adventure of my life has started, I published my first post and Sandra’s Closet was born. I am so grateful for all the amazing things that have happened since then. I travelled to the most distinguished places, met many celebrities and fashion designers (click here to see most of them) and appeared in many publications (check out the press section here).

Below I put together some of my personal highlights over the last five years:

Being the face of the Closed F/W 2011 campaign.

Walking a runway show during New York Fashion Week F/W 2012.

I designed this limited edition “Zurich” tee in collaboration with Closed.

The launch of Sandra Berry, my very own bespoke limited edition ink by Montblanc.

I went with Montblanc for the ultimate Oscar experience to Los Angeles in February 2013.

I became the ambassador for Piaget.

Being at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles with Piaget was an amazing experience.

In August 2013, we shot a fun social media campaign with MCM in Berlin to celebrate the limited edition collection: Craig & Karl – EYES ON THE HORIZON.

I hosted a fun event with MCM to celebrate the launch of their new backpacks in November 2013 in Zurich.

In December 2013, I hosted the Goldenized event at Patrizia Pepe‘s Zurich store.

Before becoming the editor in chief of L’Officiel Switzerland, I had for three years, from 2011-2014, a monthly column in SI Style magazine.

Being invited by Omega for a dinner with George Clooney in Shanghai in May 2014 (post coming up soon).

Hosting a lunch with IWC and star guest top model Karolina Kurkova during the Zurich Film Festival 2014 (post coming up soon).

Being an ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger’s BHI campaign in October 2014 made me very proud.

Designing a Samsung tablet during the Mercedez-Benz Fashion Days Zurich 2014 that we will be raffled off soon here on my blog was an extremely fun project.

And last but not least something I am really proud of: I am in a book that was launched recently in German during Berlin Fashion Week and in English during London Fashion Week (a detailed post will be published shortly). Fashion Germany, the new coffee-table 208-page tome presents the country’s most important people in the world of fashion.

My blog has taken me on such a beautiful adventure and I would like to thank you all for following me and supporting my work. Without you, the success wouldn’t have been possible. Stay tuned during the next weeks as some amazing raffles will be coming up to thank you for all your time that you are spending on Sandra’s Closet.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands, © David Biedert Photography, © Christoph Schemel and © Sandra Bauknecht

Last Wednesday, I was invited by Montblanc to DINE & TIME with famous chefs Ivo Adam and Frank Widmer at Park Hyatt‘s Parkhuus restaurant in Zurich. It was a race against or better said with time. Each course of the gala dinner was defined by its maturing or preparation time of the ingredients and served to a certain time matching this number.

Another fun detail was the race between the watch maker to assemble parts of the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph and the pastry chef to create a watch-inspired cake.

Jérôme Lambert framed by Raquel Marquard to the right and my humble self to the left.

It was the first official event in Europe to which Montblanc International’s new CEO, Jérôme Lambert, had invited and I felt very honoured to sit next to him.

Great news is: Montblanc’s amazing ‘Signature for Good’ collection, a range of special edition products, has already achieved its goal and raised 1.5 million dollars for UNICEF’s education and literacy programmes for children worldwide. Congrats!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Montblanc

True beauty comes from within (and make-up, of course). Without joking, beauty is a funny thing… and most of us might be most of the time focused on our own appearance, pursuing the goal of looking “the best” – at least externally.

Personally speaking, I think what really makes you beautiful is the right attitude. Being happy with yourself might give you this certain charisma and glow no beauty product can achieve. Live life to the fullest, don’t criticize yourself all the time. We spend too much time living in the ‘what if’ and ‘if I had‘. As Robert Brault puts it briefly: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

As I don’t want to start the week too seriously, let’s get inspired by Bo Derek who said once: “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” My new Bvlgari bag definitely put a big smile on my face. And doesn’t a smile always make us more beautiful in the end… with this is mind, let’s jump on the latest trend.

My look: Safari dress by Pascal Millet (from his extremely beautiful S/S 2013 collection), ultraviolet Serpenti shoulder bag by Bvlgari (also availble in beige), pointed leather Mary-Jane pumps and crinkled print scarf, both by Saint Laurent, Happy Diamonds ring by Chopard, Tank Americaine watch in yellow gold with diamonds by Cartier, 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc, bangles by Sal y Limon, floral sunglasses by Prada and Pearls stay-up by Wolford.

Have a great week!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

This was my look that I wore to the Secret Boudoir event in Zurich last Tuesday. I have been crazy lately for 3.1 Phillip Lim’s designs. Look at this S/S 2013 jacket, what’s not to love about it? The fabric, the embroideries, the colors, everything is just perfect.

Here are all the details: Embroidered chiffon and twill varsity jacket by 3.1 Phillip Lim, polka-dot silk dress (also available as blouse here), white ‘Duffle 6’ bag and Janis leather pumps, all by Saint Laurent, Diorette Marguerite ring and matching necklace, both by Dior Haute Joaillerie, 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc and floral sunglasses by Prada.

LoL, Sandra

Photos:  Sandra Bauknecht

Last week, Montblanc hosted a gala evening at the Park Hyatt Zurich to present their ‘Signature for Good’ 2013 campaign to the Swiss audience. I was kindly ask to come on stage to speak about this wonderful initiative and to share some of my most impressive moments during the Montblanc Pre-Oscar Charity Brunch at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

My look: Embellished dragon-print silk-cady dress by Emilio Pucci, Catwalk patent leather bag with crocodile print and bow-embellished patent-leather pumps by Saint Laurent, 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc, Tank Americaine watch in yellow gold with diamonds by Cartier and Gran Gala tights with gold shimmer by Fogal.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Something for my Swiss and German based readers: 
The May issue of SI Style magazine featuring my monthly fashion column is available now. This time, I tell you why I am so in love with Los Angeles and how much fun I had at Montblanc’s Pre-Oscar ‘Signature for Good’ charity brunch. For further information on the look, please click here.

LoL, Sandra

Photo: © Sandra Bauknecht

On my last day in Los Angeles, I had a little time to walk down Rodeo Drive and to meet with my Beverly Hills girlfriends at the Beverly Wilshire for a drink before heading to the airport.

Bonnie Star (to the left) is a famous American jewelry designer, who made the wonderful cuff that I am wearing on the photo, modeled after nineteenth-century French lace.
(For a previous post on Bonnie, please click here).
Claudia Deutsch (to the right) is the owner of the Artspace Warehouse gallery in Los Angeles that offers high quality original artworks from established and emerging international artists at affordable prices for every budget. She brought this new concept also to Zurich, check out the Kunstwarenhaus.

My look: Striped glossed rayure-effect blazer and flat tote bag, both by Saint Laurent, classic white tee by Burberry London, stretch leggings by Stouls, long tank top by Rick Owens, skull silk scarf by Alexander McQueen, boots by Balmain, gold lace cuff by Bonnie Star and 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

While doing my tour around Los Angeles, I had to stop at one of my favourite shops in town: Opening Ceremony.

My look: Printed stretch-satin jersey top, striped low-rise skinny jeans, both by Balmain, crystal cat’s-eye sunglasses by Prada, flat tote bag by Saint Laurent, patent leather jeweled heel lace-up oxfords by Miu Miu and 4810 hoop earrings in pink gold with diamonds by Montblanc, dotted socks by Fogal.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

My love for Los Angeles started a long time ago when I went to a summer college there. The sunshine, the easy lifestyle, the friendly people, have fascinated me from the early start. The prejudices concerning the Californian city are multifarious, of course you have many people working in “the industry” and the plastic surgeries are higher per capita there than anywhere else. Yes, and the traffic is horrendous and I am scared of earthquakes.

However, there’s so much more to this metropolis that people don’t understand unless they immerse themselves in it. In summer 2010, I rented a house in Beverly Hills and spent two months there, long-time readers of Sandras’ Closet might remember. When the day came to fly back to Europe, I didn’t want to leave. Los Angeles has a mix of people, trends, fashion, nationalities, and industries that you can’t find anywhere else.

Therefore I was so happy when Montblanc invited me to come to Los Angeles to live the Oscar experience and to attend their “Signature for Good” 2013 charity brunch. When I landed at LAX, my heart started already jumping for joy. But enough of my love letter. So, what follows is my list of a few of my favorite things to do and see in Los Angeles.

Me in front of the Montblanc boutique on the famous Rodeo Drive.

At Opening Ceremony, one of my favourite shops.

Fred Segal‘s perfume store is gigantic.

Shopping like the locals on Robertson Boulevard. (For a detailed Los Angeles shopping guide, please click here).

Also home to my favourite restaurant for lunch: The well-known Ivy, a hot spot to see many celebrities.

Have an Ivy Sunday, so yummy!

Great for dinner: Cecconi’s

Girls just wanna have fun: Tea time at American Girl Place.

A must-see: Disneyland

The famous star handprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre have to be on your sightseeing list…

… along with Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame.

At Venice Beach, you can enjoy the lively boardwalk with a crazy and colorful crowd. From rollerscaters, artists, palm readers and street dancers, to performers and vendors of any sort. It is also home to the iconic “Muscle Club” – an outdoor gym where bodybuilders shape their bodies under the sun. Arnold Schwarzenegger used to go there.

My list could go on and on… my favourite hotel is by the way the Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica.

If I had a wish granted from the fairy…? I would love to live in such a fabulous Beverly Hills mansion. It doesn’t hurt to dream.

Thank you, Montblanc, for having me brought back to this fab city!
Bye-bye L.A., I will surely be back soon…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I loved Hilary Swank‘s look that she wore to the pre-Oscar charity brunch to celebrate the Montblanc and UNICEF Signature For Good 2013 initiative. The Hollywood actress looked stunning in this off-white outfit combined with metallic accessories.

Here are all the details to get her look (To shop, just click on the highlighted text):
Gazar-silk ruffled dress coat, Razmir shell top and skirt, all three by Giambattista Valli, silver pumps by Miu Miu, Belle de Jour metallic leather clutch by Saint Laurent, Princesse Grace de Monaco Collection earrings and bracelet  in pink gold and diamonds, both by Montblanc and bow belt by Asos.

LoL, Sandra

Hilary Swank with me
Photos: © Pascal Le Segretain and © Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for Montbanc