Sandra‘s Closet

Today, I got back from a wonderful trip to Geneva with Nescens. The last weeks have been crazy with travelling, Los Angeles, Paris, next week, I will fly to London and Vienna. Therefore, I am so happy to have a very relaxing weekend ahead of me that I am planning to spend most of the time cuddled up in bed with my laptop. I have so many amazing things to show you.

For my Swiss based readers, I have also two reading suggestions for the weekend: First of all, my new column in the SI Style magazine is out now. This time, I am telling you a little bit more about my experience with the Fifty Shades of Grey triology. Second of all, the recent edition of Swiss News, the international magazine of Switzerland, is available now featuring a beautiful three-page portrait of one of my favourite designers, Mary Katrantzou.

And in case you are curious in which linen I will be all cuddled up, most of my bedding is by Christian Fischbacher. I just love their quality, fabrics and designs. The one you see in the photos is Cloque, one of my favourites as it doesn’t need to be ironed. Have a great weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

I would like to dedicate the first day of 2013 to a flashback of 2012. It was such an exciting year for me and I am truly thankful for all the magic moments I was able to experience and share with you. May 2013 bring us as many adventures and fashionable events as 2012 did.

Thanks for following me!

LoL, Sandra

JANUARY 2012

The year started with my visit to the fourth edition of Luisa Via Roma’s Firenze 4 Ever. As usual I had a lot fun, for example having dinner at the church, and adopted the Emilio Pucci Pug Dog for Happy Kids. It had been my third time at Firenze 4 Ever.

Then, I went to Paris for the Haute Couture shows and celebrated with Mary Katrantzou the launch of her amazing collaboration with Longchamp at Colette. Another highlight of 2012’s first month was the IWC Top Gun Gala held during the SIHH where I met lots of celebrities.

FEBRUARY 2012

In February, I flew to the Fashion Week New York where I walked in my first runway show, Polyvore Live. I went to many fashion shows, spotted celebrities such as Olivia Palermo, Bradley Cooper and attended the Fashion 2.0 Awards plus the Bloglovin’ Awards.

After coming back from NYC, I had around 24 hours to repack and left for Paris with Dior for my photo shoot for the launch of Dior Addict Extrême.

Later this month, I accepted Gucci‘s invitation to see the F/W 2012 show, followed by a trip to Florence to visit the manufacture.

MARCH 2012

March started with Paris Fashion Week. Spotted on the streets, bloggers and editors wearing the veiled beanie designed by Stephen Jones for Jil Sander. The sun was shining already and I wore my first summery outfits like this one by Emilio Pucci.

In the end of the month, I flew to London to meet the American designer duo Kaufmanfranco at the net-à-porter offices along with jewelry designer Diane Kordas.

APRIL 2012

April marked the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A good reason to fly again to London. As it was Easter break, I took my daughter on a girls’ trip.

In my luggage, of course, all of my Union Jack-inspired must-haves. A lot fun for every fashionista: Having Prêt-à-PorTea at the Berkeley.

MAY 2012

Being on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival was truly one of the biggest highlights of the year. The night of the Chopard Trophée was outstanding. The most memorable part: A private performance of Lana Del Rey.

A wonderful trip to the Lausanne Palace & Spa finished off this amazing month perfectly. I indulged in the world of Roja Dove’s Haute Parfumerie and enjoyed a feast for senses at La Table d’Edgar.

JUNE 2012

June was a busy month. I started for one day in Paris for the launch of Pleats Please by Issey Miyake. Then, the Art Basel took place. My favorites: Montblanc‘s party to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Cutting Edge Art Collection together with Parisian art gallery Perrotin and Galerie Gmurzynska’s private dinner held with Zaha Hadid for the start of the Art Basel.

Later in June, I went on my road trip through the US with stops in Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake City. I drove all the way through Wyoming to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, survived a hail storm and visited the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

JULY 2012

July was such a relaxing month that I spent mostly in Maui, Hawaii followed by a short trip to Texas before heading home to Switzerland. Just a few days later, I flew to Munich for the launch of Bobbi Brown’s newest book Pretty Powerful.

AUGUST 2012

In August, I flew quite a lot to Germany for work and Sandra’s Closet reached 40.000 Facebook likes (By the way, today we are close to 75.000 likes, how amazing is this in this short amount of time?!).

An absolute highlight were the St. Moritz Art Masters where I had the honour to be photographed by Amedeo M. Turello and Steve McCurry, two of the most famous photographers in the world. The results will be posted soon.

SEPTEMBER 2012

September was one of the busiest months of the year. For me, it started with the Venice Film Festival. I was invited by Gucci for the launch of Gucci Première and was so excited to meet with the face of the campaign, Blake Lively. Right after, I had the photo shoot for Swiss News.

In Zurich, I met perfumer Geza Schön during a lunch over the rooftops of the Swiss city. With Dior, I attended the Zurich Film Festival.

With Piaget, I went to the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris and visited the famous Château de Malmaison. Just a few days later, I flew back to the French capital for Fashion Week. Best party: Anna Dello Russo’s Paradise Ball. Favourite shows: Pascal Millet and Jean Paul Gaultier.

OCTOBER 2012

The first days of the month, I was still in Paris for Fashion Week and attended blockbuster shows such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Miu Miu.

Later, I flew to Hamburg to visit the Montblanc headquarters and worked on the creation of my Bespoke Limited Edition Ink “Sandra Berry” that was launched in the end of the year. Another exciting collaboration with Closed was revealed: My limited edition blogger “Zurich” T-shirt.

Then, I left for New York City for the best party of the year: The launch of Maison Martin Margiela with H&M where I spotted celebrities such as Julianne Moore, Chase Crawford and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The last days of the month, I went to Geneva to visit the Chopard headquarters in Meyrin.

NOVEMBER 2012

Another busy month that started with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Days Zurich. November marked a lot of events on Zurich‘s social agenda, such as the opening of the Rolex boutique and the Moncler store.

I flew to Greece with Hermès and hosted the exclusive Caviar & Oyster collection dinner with Bobbi Brown at my house.

DECEMBER 2012

Such an exciting month for me as my Montblanc Bespoke Limited Edition Ink “Sandra Berry” has been finally launched.

I went to Gstaad with Louis Vuitton for the opening of their new store in the Swiss Alps and flew to Doha, Qatar for New Year’s Eve.

Here is the third look that I wore for my shot with Swiss News magazine:

Two-tone leather baseball jacket by Balmain, Cherub-print stretch-silk mini dress by Dolce& Gabbana and studded ankle boots by Valentino.

Hope that you will like it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Carina Scheuringer and © Sandra Bauknecht

Here is my second look that I wore for the shoot with Swiss News magazine:

Powdy leather biker jacket, Powdy silk dress, Powdy printed modal and cashmere-blend scarf , all three by Mary Katrantzou and Tribtoo pumps by Yves Saint Laurent.

This printed biker jacket was one of my best buys for the season, I have worn it to many occasions. Such a gorgeous piece!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Carina Scheuringer and © Sandra Bauknecht

Swiss News, the international magazine of Switzerland, featured me in their October issue. It was lovely working with them. Emily Mawson wrote the text and Carina Scheuringer took the photos of me in some of my favourite winter looks. Promised, I will post all the details and more pics of my outfits soon.

If you are curious about the article, you can read it below:

AUTUMN DAYS
New season fashion with Sandra Bauknecht
by Emily Mawson

I have heard that Sandra Bauknecht is friendly. Fashion designer Mary Katrantzou says she is “the loveliest person.” Meanwhile, journalist Sherin Hafner describes her as “bringing joy to the lives of others” in Schweizer Illustrierte Style (12/09). Yet nothing quite prepares me for the beaming, petite fashion blogger with tumbling caramel hair who greets me with a hearty handshake and invites me into her beautiful home.

Dressed in joggers and a plain jersey, she looks casual – it is a comfortable look that belies the indulgence of being at home in Zurich for a few days between a trip to Venice, where she interviewed actress Blake Lively, and jetting to Paris then London for Fashion Weeks. Touches all around nod to this more recognisable side of her: Chanel wellies beside the dresser in the hall and a leaning pile of fashion magazines on a bench in the kitchen. “I’ve prepared cake for afterwards,” she smiles, “but let’s look at the clothes first.” She sweeps through the hall and I notice how tiny she looks in the magnificent, high-ceilinged surroundings.

Sandra’s Closet
“What I like the most about fashion is that you can re-invent yourself every day,” says the 37-year old as she shows me the rail of new season outfits she has prepared for our photo shoot. One ensemble is edgy, one elegant and another fun. She thinks that this autumn/winter season, anything goes: “If you feel comfortable with yourself, you will have a great presence and everything will look stylish on you.”

Some trends are, however, just too fabulous to be missed. “I adore the leather trend so leather skirts and dresses are a must. And the brocade and needlepoint trend…” says Sandra, twirling a long strand of hair around her finger. “Dolce & Gabbana has one of my favourite collections this season – but this changes every season. And Raf Simon’s last collection for Jil Sander is to die for. The coats in blush colours are divine.” As for Swiss fashion, she is watching Albert Kriemler at Akris – “He is definitely our most internationally acclaimed designer” – and upcoming designers including Aleksandra Wisniewska, Javier Reyes and Little Black Dress.

The face behind blog Sandra’s Closet, Sandra writes about fashion and shares insights she has garnished through her fashion design studies, as a fashion editor at Marie Claire magazine in Germany and through working as a stylist. “Fashion has always been the love of my life. I drove my Mum crazy with my ideas of what I wanted to look like,” she reveals. Instead of buying Mickey Mouse comics, she bought Vogue magazine. As a pupil at a girls’ school in a suburb of Frankfurt, she told teachers what to buy when they went shopping during school trips. “Sandra has such an amazing way of looking at fashion and curating it in a very original way,” says Katrantzou. “I absolutely love seeing her in my pieces.” Shooting the season “Mami,” says a tiny voice; Sandra introduces her daughter. “This is my photographer,” she states. Assisting Swiss News editor and photographer Carina, the little girl – who takes the photos for Sandra’s Closet – snaps away like a pro.

Sandra exudes a radiant and positive energy that is immediately apparent in the photos. She refers to Marie Claire being discontinued while she was on maternity leave (which lasts up to three years in Germany and allowed her to spend time living in America and working freelance) as an “amazing coincidence, because I knew I wanted to move to Zurich.” She is teaching her daughter to take the time to find the person behind the great look, because outer appearance changes daily. And mother and daughter fall about laughing as they tell funny family stories after the shoot. The life of a fashionista “I knew we would need something sweet afterwards,” Sandra giggles. Over cake and champagne, she describes the fashionable moments that make up her life. “During last fashion week, I went for lunch with Mary Katrantzou and tried on most of her new collection. It felt like two girls playing dress-up. We were both so excited and happy!” It is a busy life, though. “I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie without having my laptop on at the same time to work,” she sighs. “I blog wherever I am, no matter what the time of day.” Sandra’s greatest dream is to open a museum. “I have been collecting fashion – especially limited edition pieces – for many years now,” she says. “This is also why my blog is called Sandra’s Closet. People often have said, ‘Oh my gosh, have you seen Sandra’s Closet?’” You surely will have to now.

Sandra Bauknecht’s fashion tips
1 Looking good is all about the proportion of the clothes. Hemlines are very important.
2 If you keep everything and therefore have a lot of clothes, it is easier to get dressed. There will always be something that matches your outfit perfectly.
3 Trousers are celebrating a big comeback this season. All-over print trouser suits will be seen on every fashionista
4 Layering is the way to cope with autumn’s changeable weather.
5 If you only have the budget to buy one key piece for the season, do not choose something trendy. Invest in a great accessory such as a Chanel or Hermès bag, or a gorgeous coat – something that transforms your look immediately.

Thank you, Emily and Carina, for this beautiful article!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Swiss News © Carina Scheuringer, © Sandra Bauknecht