Sandra‘s Closet

Welcome to Casa Panerai, the largest Panerai boutique ever opened its doors in the heart of New York City on Madison Avenue. Home to an extensive collection of watches, both historical and contemporary, the store welcomes clients with elements visible from the sidewalk, an LED screen displaying captivating images that convey the brand’s connection to the marine realm and its spirit of adventure, and a larger-than-life iconic luminous green wall clock. Inside, an immersive timeline spanning nearly 30 feet along an original exposed brick wall highlights significant milestones of the Maison’s history in a multidimensional exhibition with materials including reproductions of original mechanisms, copies of patents and certifications and interactive models.

For female wristwatch lovers, the store includes a dedicated zone centered on the Luminor Due Collection. The space features soft, rounded furnishings and an oceanic influence that pervades the room, with walls covered in artisan-crafted variegated blue resin that evokes the kaleidoscopic hues of the sea. To complete Panerai’s heritage and aesthetic sensibility, the interiors feature furniture from Italian interior designers while a coffee bar sits on the upper level to offer a relaxing break.

To celebrate the opening, Panerai presents the new Radiomir Tourbillon Bronzo as a fitting centerpiece for Madison Avenue, a masterpiece that pays tribute to its legendary history and embodies the essence of the Radiomir. Combining technical feat and historical design, Panerai’s first-ever 45mm tourbillon movement is set in a bronze case that showcases a characteristic vintage look. Through the natural oxidation process, the bronze material evolves according to wear and tear, and its seasoned and retro appearance becomes completely different, adapting to the wearer’s individual surroundings and giving each piece a unique patina.

Furthermore, Panerai launches the Luminor BiTempo New York Edition, a special edition available in 212 pieces, which is set in a 44mm titanium DLC case with a grey matte shaded sandwich dial. DLC, also known as diamond-like carbon coating, is a specific treatment technique applied to the titanium material that combines high performance and aesthetical appeal giving the timepiece an unmistakable sleek black look and high hardness and durability.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Panerai
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I am so proud to announce that I am a new ambassador for BOBBI BROWN. I have been a huge fan of the global prestige beauty brand that empowers women to embrace and enhance their individual beauty. In 1991, makeup-artist-turned-entrepreneur Bobbi Brown launched her namesake label. Since then, the brand has offered universally flattering products created with uncompromising quality and an intuitive sense of what every woman wants: to look and feel like herself, only prettier and more confident.

The first new product I would love to introduce you is a lipstick. But it is not «just another lipstick», it is a true upgrade. I wear lipstick everyday. I just love it.

The new LUXE LIPSTICK is inspired by New York City with its NYC-inspired case featuring a skyline silhouette and shades that tell a story. The slogan is «the color that never sleeps.» Personally speaking, I love lipsticks that are skincare-infused. The new LUXE LIPSTICKS promise 10-hour moisture and 10-hour wear. I tried them and it is true. The new creamy formula boosts color payoff while nourishing and conditioning lips thanks to an infusion of flower extracts and wax. The all-day wear resists fading, feathering, and smudging, providing the ultimate lip- loving comfort.

Available in a large selection of tempting 36 shades, you can create your own The Luxe Lip Wardrobe. Visit the nearest BOBBI BROWN counter next to you and indulge in this expanded range of wearable bolds and power neutrals. Or just get inspired by the color swaps, and order them online. The new lipsticks are available now for CHF 52.00 each. I am wearing 318 Rose Blossom in this post.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored. We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!
@BobbiBrown #BobbiBrownSwitzerland

What to buy now? A question I get often asked. Times have changed. It is not always about the newest trends. Brands are launching re-editions and the second hand market is booming. Shopping in a more conscious and sustainable way has become important to many of us instead of just spending on whatever just hit the shelves.

If you invest in great quality and some designer pieces, you will enjoy those for many years to come. Here you see me in New York City for the launch party of PIAGET‘s new POLO S watches. My look consists of vintage pieces like my CHANEL bag that I got for my 18th birthday along with the dress from Gucci’s S/S 2016 runway collection (Look 39).

My look: Multicolored lace embroidered dress, beaded necklace, and Molina turquoise lip pumps, all by Gucci, quilted lambskin mini vintage classic flap bag by CHANEL, Limelight Gala watch, rose diamond ring and rose diamond necklace, all by Piaget.

LoL, Sandra

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

Greetings from Manhattan and happy weekend to you all! I love being back in this vibrant city where everything seems possible. Today I am embracing fashion in full color with these head-turning hues and the striking silhouette.

My look: Couture biker jacket in saffron yellow, matching biker wool crepe skirt, and oversized bow hairband, all by Moschino, Aimee suede clutch by Khaite, Raynibo 100 crystal-embellished suede sandals by Christian Louboutin, Lily tiger print cat eye sunglasses by Saint Laurent, Panthère de Cartier Manchette 22mm 18-karat rose gold and diamond watch by Cartier, pearl necklace and vintage blue sapphire earrings by CHANEL.

LoL, Sandra

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

Disco. Decadence. The ultimate indulgence. Sometimes you get an invitation that is so amazing you want to show it to the world… in this case a dear friend of mine is celebrating a Studio 54 party in New York City next weekend. I couldn’t have wished for a better theme. Studio 54, the legendary world-famous night club of the late ’70s, located at 254 West 54th Street, between Eighth Avenue and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, was the landmark of various parties in the art and fashion world and the hot spot for all celebrities of the era.

At the peak of the disco dancing and music trend, it was founded and created by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager in 1977, and sold in 1980 to Mark Fleischman, who reopened the club after it had been shut down following Rubell and Schrager’s convictions on charges of tax evasion.

Studio 54 has become a dress code in itself: it means sparkling mini dresses, sequins, jumpsuits, platform sandals and Farrah Fawcett hair. Michael Kors admittedly skipped his own prom for a night out at Studio 54, so it’s fitting that the former NYC club serves as inspiration for his F/W 2019 collection.

TO SHOP ALL CLOTHING AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS BELOW, JUST CLICK ON THE HIGHLIGHTED DESCRIPTIONS PLEASE:

One of my favorite pieces of the collection – Look 65 (also featured in the ad campaign)
Feather-trimmed sequined silk-georgette mini dress by Michael Kors Collection.

Look 13
Asymmetric sequined stretch-jersey halterneck dress by Michael Kors Collection

Look 52
Glittered cashmere tank by Michael Kors Collection

Look 56
Knotted stretch-lamé midi dress by Michael Kors Collection

Look 67
Metallic fil coupé leopard-jacquard midi dress by Michael Kors Collection

Another designer who is constantly inspired by his mom’s Studio 54 days is Michael Halpern. Since he graduated Central Saint Martins MA in the class of 2016, the London’s resident New Yorker is going for full glitter-disco looks. Just one word: amazing!

Look 3
Draped sequined tulle halterneck midi dress by Halpern

Look 12
Asymmetric sequined chiffon mini dress by Halpern

Look 22
Sequined tulle flared pants and off-the-shoulder ruffled sequined tulle top, both by Halpern.

Look 25
One-sleeve draped asymmetric stretch-jersey midi dress by Halpern

Look 32
Draped animal-print sequined stretch-tulle jumpsuit by Halpern

And as far as your beauty looks are concerned, look no further than the just-released Studio 54 for NARS collection. Start the party with iconic shades; own the night with exclusive bolds and brights.

Never Enough Mini Lipstick Coffret by NARS

Limited Edition Explicit Content Mascara Set by NARS

Studio 54 Outshine 4-Piece Lip Gloss Set  by NARS

Softcore Blush and Balm Set – Torrid by NARS

Glitter. Glamour. Excess. Expression. Consider this your VIP ticket beyond the velvet rope. Once you’re in, anything goes.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of the Brands

If you are in NYC or planning a spontaneous trip, I absolutely recommend to surprise your loved one with a stay at The Mark Hotel and indulge at their special Valentine’s Day Menu.

The boutique hotel located in New York’s Upper East Side at the corner of Madison Avenue and 77th Street spreads «Love» with a Sensuous Special Room Service Menu not only for Valentine’s Day but the whole upcoming weekend! Romance is in the air…. and in your suite.

The offering includes  love potion cocktails paired with natural aphrodisiac bites prepared by Michelin-star Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Optional add-ons include a Sexual Satisfaction Grade Card, a pair of Agent Provocateur Panties, and The Mark Eye Mask.

Moreover, you can enjoy 24/7 shopping at Bergdorf Goodman and have access to The Mark Sailboat, a 70-foot vessel available to guests to sail around the New York Harbor. I also recommend getting a special treatment by hairstylist Frederic Fekkai and perfumer Frederic Malle.

Warning: This menu may cause too much passion and lust.
Pure luxury, pure satisfaction, this is what #LifeAtTheMark is all about!
There is a reason it is New York’s most boldly lavish hotel…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of The Mark Hotel

Another New York Fashion Week look that works great for day and night.

My look: Rys multi-texture jacket by Hervé Léger, Night knitted dress by Temperley London, large classic flap bag in caviar leather by Chanel, black suede knee boots by Prada, and embellished square butterfly sunglasses by Celine.

LoL, Sandra

 Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

ESSIE‘s Fall 2018 six shade nail polish collection will have your fall for NYC. If these city slicking nail polishes can make it here, you can take them anywhere.

From left to right: It Takes a West Village – Stop, Drop & Shop – Booties on Broadway – Fall for NYC – Say It Ain’t Soho – Empire Shade of Mind

Available now for CHF 14.90 (13,5ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of ESSIE

Still haven’t been to the Polo Bar, RALPH LAUREN‘s first restaurant in New York City? The designer’s Kipton Mixologist Box lets you bring the designer’s signature cocktail style with you wherever you go. The travel set includes a hand-cut crystal decanter, four matching glasses, a leather-bound book full of cocktail recipes, a bottle opener, six cocktail picks, four coasters, and a silver-plated brass jigger and nut bowl. The elegant saddle leather carrying case is lined with our signature Wexford plaid wool, which is featured in the dining room’s décor.
Such a great gift for cocktail cognoscenti…

TO SHOP THE KIPTON MIXOLOGY BOX ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

The famous Polo Bar
1 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022, USA – Phone: +1 212-207-8562

Photos: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Last night, fashion’s most anticipated yearly event (yes, hotter than the Oscar’s), the MET GALA, offered a breathtaking red carpet that I will tell you all about today. It always takes place on the first Monday in May. But if you’re not an industry expert, you might be wondering why on earth there should be so much hype about it. First of all, Anna Wintour is hosting the night along some well-known co-hosts, which are all much-worshiped by the paparazzi: Amal Clooney, Rihanna, and Donatella Versace. But there is more… many stars, models and fashion designers attend the night in showstopping outfits worthy of unforgettable photos.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, right, designer Donatella Versace, left, and Vogue US Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour  in Rome last February.

It is a huge night for fashion fundraising as it is dedicated to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute – formally named The Anna Wintour Costume Center, in homage to the American Vogue’s editor-in-chief, who has been a chair member of the museum’s gala since 1995. It also celebrates the opening of the newest exhibition of which its theme sets the tone for the event and invitees have to dress accordingly. Personally speaking, I find this year’s motto extremely interesting, instead of being dedicated to the work of one designer, it is inspired by the dialogue between fashion and the masterworks of religious art: «Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination».

In Anna’s recent «Letter of the Editor» in the May 2018 edition of US Vogue, she writes: «The exhibition itself has been years in the making, and it will be not only the largest Costume Institue show to date but the biggest show ever at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s hard to not sound hyperbolic about it, but it is going to be an absolutely magnificent experience – spanning some 26 galleries and including work from the likes of Valentino, Gaultier, and Dolce & Gabbana along with more than 40 extraordinarily opulent liturgical garments and accessories on loan from the Vatican.

For curator Andrew Bolton, it required endless hours of patience dealing with the Vatican, given the labyrinthine way that it operates.»

Central to the conversation will be the papal garb on loan from the Sistine Chapel sacristy, many of which have never been seen outside the Vatican, even in the 1983 Met blockbuster, «The Vatican Collections: The Papacy and Art».

An enduring influence of religion on fashion: for F/W 2010, church elements played a huge role on the catwalks. Have a look at this previous post: The Nun’s Story.

The display of these extraordinary ecclesiastical pieces will highlight the enduring influence of religion and liturgical vestments on fashion. Among the 150 or so ensembles that will be on display are pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, who was educated by nuns, and John Galliano, whose transgressive F/W 2000 Couture collection for Christian Dior opened with a mitred, incense-swinging pope-like figure who proceeded down the runway to a voice intoning: «Understand the concept of love.»

First look of Christian Dior Couture F/W 2000

Fashion is a way to express yourself and by placing clothes within the context of religion, you realize how much power the looks of Christianity have and that fashion has supported the way we feel the Catholic imagination.

Part of the exhibition
Left: Fragment of a floor mosaic with a personification of Ktisis, Byzantine, 500–550, with modern restoration, marble, and glass; right: Ensemble, Dolce & Gabbana, F/W 2013

Me in a Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2013 look: A Byzantine Moment

«Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination» is on view May 10–October 8, 2018. A catalog with photographs by Katerina Jebb will accompany the exhibition.

Below you can enjoy some of my favorite looks of last night.

My personal winner: Blake Lively in Atelier Versace
She needed to arrive in a party bus to have enough space for her amazing gown!

Love this look as well: Jennifer Lopez in Balmain, Jimmy Choo shoes and clutch.

Rare moment: The host of the night, Anna Wintour, caught smiling in Chanel.

Angel of the night: Katy Perry in Versace.

Madonna in Jean Paul Gaultier

Co-host perfection: Rihanna in custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano, Christian Louboutin shoes, Maria Tash jewelry, Cartier jewelry, and a custom Judith Leiber Couture clutch.

Always an eye-catcher: Sarah Jessica Parker in Dolce & Gabbana and Jennifer Fisher.

Heavenly: Anne Hathaway in a stunning red Valentino gown.

Icon: Lily Collins in Givenchy

Cara Delevingne in Dior Haute Couture

Simple and elegant, matching the theme:
Andreea Diaconu in Michael Kors Collection and Chopard jewelry

Beautiful print: Ariana Grande in Vera Wang.

Lana Del Rey and Jared Leto, both in Gucci

Curvy and beautiful: Kate Upton in Zac Posen

Rita Ora in Prada

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in custom Ralph Lauren Collection

So cute: Cardi B shows off her baby bump in Moschino next to designer Jeremy Scott.

Kate Bosworth recreated her bridal look in Oscar de la Renta and Tacori jewelry.

Beautiful in velvet: Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren.

Definitely not the most sexy look, but matching the theme well: Greta Gerwig in The Row.

Stella Maxwell in Moschino and David Yurman

Sexy interpretation: Taylor Hill in Diane von Furstenberg

Best dressed man of the night: Chadwick Boseman in Versace.

I personally didn’t like this look at all, not matching the theme (as a co-host you would expect better) and the cut is not pleasing her beautiful shape: Amal Clooney in Richard Quinn.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Via Vogue.com, © Sandra Bauknecht, © Melanie Galea, (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Photos: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane DickFund and Fletcher Fund, 1998; Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, Dodge Fund, and Rogers Fund, 1999 (1998.69; 1999.99) / © Metropolitan Museum of Art; Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana / Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Digital Composite Scan by Katerina Jebb, Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX/Shutterstock