Sandra‘s Closet

For Valentine’s Day, the House of Hermès not only puts the human hand at the heart of its creations, but also puts your heart in the hands of its craftsmen. The selection of love-ready objects made with passion is designed to surprise you and ignite passion.

From a fascinating and large selection of gift ideas, you can surprise your partner and write the rules of love new. A little, a lot, or very passionately; look him or her in the eye at a beach racquet game, go to the midnight ball to find out who owns the forgotten pump, tuck love notes in your fanny pack or have a picnic hand-in-hand with your wicker Birkin.

Make your and a loved one’s heart beat faster and fall in love with Hermès objects for a wonderful Valentine’s Day, full of love and surprises.

LoL, Sandra

Belt in lizard, Swift calfskin and Epsom calfskin

Magellan portable backgammon set in mahogany and printed Swift calfskin

«Après la Vague» beach racquets in printed beech and cork

Ballerina in suede goatskin

«Grand Jeté» two-band ring in rose gold, diamonds and pink tourmaline

Headband in silk twill 

Balusoie bag in «Panoplie Equestre» printed silk and Hunter cowhide 

Birkin Picnic bag in Swift calfskin and wicker

Toupet bag in alligator and feathers

Scarf 70 «Jungle Love au Tampon» in vintage silk twill

Bracelet in enamel and gold metal

Scarf 70 «Rendez-vous Galant» in vintage silk twill

Rouge Hermès limited editions

Double-face scarf «Epaulettes de Gala» 90 in silk twill

Photos: © S/S 2023 Objets Hermes © Studio des Fleurs / © Maud Remy-Lonvis
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Jo Malone London celebrates the rose by introducing a collection of scents, from light and fresh to deep and voluptuous, honouring this iconic fragrance note.
Four distinctive scents offer a different interpretation of the queen of the flower beds, decorated in special-edition glass designs with tonal details. The collection includes colognes and home scents, allowing customers to enjoy the scent of freshly cut flowers as part of their everyday or in their home.

Each one makes a thoughtful gift for fans of floral fragrances, with no need for a vase and water.
«Over the years, we’ve created many different rose fragrances for many different collections. Almost unconsciously, we keep coming back to the rose, so it just felt natural that we should celebrate this timeless flower with a collection of its own.» – Global Head of Fragrance, Céline Roux

THE SCENTS:

RED ROSES
A romantic rose scent. Inspired by a blend of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses. With crushed violet leaves and a hint of lemon, it unfolds like a bouquet
of freshly cut flowers.
Top: Lemon
Heart: Red Roses Accord
Base: Honeycomb
Available in a decorated 30ml and 100ml Cologne, Home Candle and Diffuser.

VELVET ROSE & OUD
A decadent rose scent. Darkest Damask rose. Rich and textural, wrapped with smoky oud wood. Spiked with clove, decadent with praline.
Top: Clove
Heart: Damask Rose
Base: Oud
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne Intense and Home Candle.

ROSE & MAGNOLIA
An enchanting rose scent. A sensual floral with a mysterious character.
Luminous magnolia and a duet of roses. A decadent heart of sweet and petaly
Rose de Mai, warmed by the spicy opulence of Rose Damascena, draped in sensuous patchouli and warm amber.
Top: Magnolia
Heart: Rose
Base: Patchouli
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne.

ROSE BLUSH
A petal-fresh rose scent. The charm of blushing pink rose petals. Vibrant basil
and a juicy note of lychee add a modern twist to this pretty floral scent,
cocooned in the comforting embrace of white musk.
Top: Basil Grand Vert
Heart: Rose
Base: White Musk
Available in a decorated 50ml Cologne.

THE FULL LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTION
Red Roses Cologne 30ml RRP £55 / €61 / CHF 76
Red Roses Cologne 100ml RRP £107 / €124 / CHF 142
Red Roses Home Candle RRP £52 / €59 / CHF 86
Red Roses Diffuser RRP £68 / €82 / CHF 96
Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne Intense 50ml RRP £90 / €103 / CHF 120
Velvet Rose & Oud Home Candle RRP £52 / €59 / CHF 104
Rose & Magnolia Cologne 50ml RRP £76 / €88 / CHF 94
Rose Blush Cologne 50ml RRP £76 / €88 / CHF 94
Available online and Jo Malone stores and counters from now.

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? I am with Velvet Rose & Oud! It is such a warm, seductive and captivating scent.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jo Malone and © Sandra Bauknecht
@JoMaloneLondon #JoMaloneLondonRoses
DISCLOSURE: I received some of the products to test them.

Valentine’s Day will be different this year: with limited options for spontaneous getaways or romantic nights out, it is time to rethink the ways in which we can show appreciation for those who are dear to us. But when expectations are out the window, opportunities for new traditions arise. Let’s get creative! From small handwritten gestures to a beautiful gift. Treat your partner (or yourself!) with a Valentine’s Day surprise. Looking for inspiration? Have a look at my suggestions below:

Ruffled organza-trimmed printed silk crepe de chine dress by Rodarte

Bracelet As de Coeur by Hermès

Cherries T-Shirt by Miu Miu

GG and heart crystal-embellished choker by Gucci

Crystal-heart drop clip earrings by Alessandra Rich

Happy Hearts 18-karat rose gold diamond ring by Chopard

Valentine’s Day plate set by Louis Vuitton

Valentine cotton-jersey hooded sweatshirt by Balenciaga

Nike Air Force 1 Valentines Day 2021 for Women by Nike
I LOVE that they feature cute heart-shaped air holes on the top of the sneaker rather than the usual circle holes.

Nike Air Force 1 Valentine’s Day for Men by Nike
For the madly in love couples that love to match, there is also a sneaker for men.

Personalized chocolate by Toblerone

Besides all those fabulous gift ideas, there’s nothing quite like a handwritten Valentine’s Day card. Beautifully handcrafted, they’re ready to be filled with your love notes.

Love Valentine’s Day card by Smythson

Have a lovely Valentine’s weekend!

LoL, Sandra

Stills: Courtesy of the Brands

I love Valentine’s Day – everything in red and pink, with sparkling hearts makes my heart leap with joy. Here you see me on my way to dinner yesterday, celebrating love and life.

My look: Ruffled embellished chiffon wrap maxi dress by Ashish, bandage and crepe turtleneck jumpsuit by Hervé Léger, vintage CC heart motif earrings and vintage camellia hair clip, both by CHANEL, bow-embellished patent-leather pumps by Saint Laurent, printed metallic leather box clutch by Dolce & Gabbana, and vintage white black rasoir cut-off cat-eye sunglasses by Miu Miu.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

The American fashion house has dropped their new cheekily-named fragrance, just in time for Valentine’s Day and it is very Tom Ford.

«The prick of a rose. The slight pain that yields such sensual pleasure. Inspired by my own rose garden, Rose Prick is a wild bouquet of intoxicating and rare hybrids.
 A trilogy of Rose de Mai, Turkish and Bulgarian roses. Sharp and pristine. Warm and sensual. A heady bouquet of blooms in pink perfection. The danger of being so close to beauty heightens the seductive power of Rose Prick.» – Tom Ford

F*cking Fabulous. Lost Cherry. And now Rose Prick. The latest cheeky offering is certainly no exception and a rose by any other name wouldn’t be Tom Ford… Strong, unexpected, seductive, with an amazing staying power, the new fragrance smells just as delectable as it looks.

It isn’t overly rosey, inspite of its name, but it imparts a full-bodied rose scent, accented by spicy Sichuan pepper and warm notes of turmeric and patchouli. Personally speaking, after a few seconds I smelled some chocolaty gourmand notes on me, before the deliciously heady trilogy of Rose de Mai, Turkish rose and Bulgarian rose, which  is one of the rarest varieties of rose in the world, takes over. The base is sweet and sexy with patchouli and tonka bean, finished with caramel, vanilla, and musk.

 You’ve already made space on your shelf haven’t you? I felt the same way when I read the press release. I am so happy to have added the brand new Eau de Parfum to my fragrance collection because it ticks so many boxes for me, not only in terms of the scent itself but also because this matte baby pink bottle with its sophisticated signature black label looks so pretty in my bathroom.

Top notes: Sichuan pepper, turmeric
Heart notes: May rose, Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose
Base notes: Patchouli, tonka bean, caramel, vanilla, musk

TOM FORD Rose Prick Private Blend 50ml is now available for CHF 340.00 and as 250ml for CHF 890.00. TO SHOP TOM FORD ROSE PRICK ONLINE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tom Ford
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.

Victoire de Castellane’s creations continue the sparkling story started by Christian Dior himself: a story of femininity, elegance and refinement, adorned with delicately rendered boldness.

«Yes… A word whispered in your ear, a muffled cry that lies upon your neck… The Oui collection reveals a selfish pleasure, a precious gift or a commitment to life.»
Victoire de Castellane

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Now, the jewelry designer expanded the Dior «oui» collection, which means «yes» in English, featurings rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces that spell out romantic French phrases.

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

There’s for example a pink gold double ring that says «je t’aime» (I love you), dotted with diamonds; a pair of yellow gold earrings that feature the word «toi» (you) on one side, «moi» (me) on the other; and a diamond-embellished «oui» bracelet and necklace, which come in 18k gold in pink gold.

Oui earrings in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1500

Oui double ring in yellow gold with diamonds, € 1600

And don’t be shy. The cursive font used in the collection also lets you wear several pieces together,  make a statement by stringing together different rings, one on each finger.

Oui bracelet in pink gold with diamond, € 1000

Oui collier in pink gold with diamond, € 1200

I truly hope that my better half reads my blog 🙂 …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

You can’t go wrong with a classic red lipstick — especially when it’s in Dior’s emblematic #999, a hue that is suitable for most skin tones. To celebrate Valentine’s Day and love, the iconic Dior lipstick is adorned with the word «Love».

This flamboyant Rouge Dior, available in two highly desireable shades, is presented in an elegant metal couture box. This limited-edition version of the sensual Dior signature lipstick is a true fashion and beauty essential.

999 – iconic red, satiny finish
520 Feel Good – vibrant pink, satiny finish

In stores now for € 40.00.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

Screen kisses may be loving, life affirming, adorable, darkly romantic, hotly anticipatory and even melancholic. Miu Miu Kisses is a capsule collection of T-shirts printed with film stills of some of cinema history’s most celebrated embraces.

Choose between the sweet – Prince Charming’s life-giving kiss in Walt Disney’s Snow White & The Seven Dwarves – or the sweetly spooky – the ghostly embrace in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride. More emotionally charged is Bogart and Bergman’s parting kiss in Casablanca and Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh’s passionate embrace in Gone With The Wind. Finally, if light-hearted and big-haired is the order of the day, the tangle between Jennifer Beale and Michael Nouri in the 1980s classic, Flashdance, more than fits the bill.

Miu Miu Kisses runs the gamut from mischievous to playful and from nostalgic to tender.
Produced in black and finished with the Miu Miu Kisses logo, T-shirts are available in Miu Miu stores worldwide. Such a great gift for Valentine’s Day!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Miu Miu

Prada is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special selection of gold and white gold fine jewellery for both men and women.
In an exquisite, highly original style, precious materials are handcrafted in sophisticated designs that reinvent Prada iconic symbols and the themes of the new collections.

Vibrant hearts, baroque pearls, rock guitars, romantic roses, playful robots but also keys, rabbits, bananas, and the brand’s triangular logo – in gold and diamonds – relive Prada’s history through
contemporary and timeless earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces with an unmistakable hint of irony.

Prada’s fine jewellery is made using 18-carat gold and diamonds from suppliers with Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) certification.
The RJC is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2015 to promote responsible practices from an ethical, social and environmental point of view and respect for human rights in the handling of metals and precious stones, from their extraction right through to their sale.

Now on sale at selected Prada boutiques worldwide as well as on prada.com, exclusively for USA, Japan and UAE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Prada

«Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.»
– H. Jackson Brown Jr.

On February 14, we celebrate the life of Saint Valentine of Rome, who was actually incredibly unlucky and ended up being beheaded. Today it is a celebration of all things romantic, mostly for lovers. But why not thank a dear friend for their friendship or their trust in you. Actions speak louder than words. Personally speaking, I love the written word and the act of taking a beautiful pen to actually write a heartfelt message, is a meaningful sign, something that stays. If you add a spritz of fragrance, it will evoke all senses.

This amazing fragrance by SHALINI «Amorem Rose» is guaranteed to add a serious dose of sex appeal to your Valentine’s Day. Inspired by love, it is the most opulent rose perfume, although different by adding an element of smoke. Besides, it centers around Bulgarian Damask rose, Saffron flowers, Baltic amber and Mahogany wood.

Created by Maurice Roucel, who designed one of my favorite scents Musk Ravageur, SHALINI says in her own words, «it’s a perfumed poem dedicated to the greatest love stories. The Rose has the highest love energy of all the flowers, often referred to as the Queen of Flowers, the symbol of the divine feminine love. The smoke brings a sense of mystery and intrigue reminiscent of a great love… the love that touches your soul deeply and alters your very being.»

Amorem Rose by SHALINI is available at Spitzenhaus in Zurich.

My personal note to SHALINI KUMAR, a former Indian actress, was written with CARAN D’ACHE‘s Ecridor Doré Rose ballpoint pen that is adorned with a new brilliant rose-gilded finish.

Happy Galentine’s Day – to all my girlfriends around the world!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht