Best Dressed

We love a great best dressed list, and the current one that Vogue.com is featuring has to be one of the best yet. Check out the Sibling Rivalry album and pick who you think does it best!

Tweet

HOL & MW

Friends! Next week join us at Matthew Williamson in NYC for the launch of our pop-up shop while enjoying champagne and an exclusive 30% off the new AW '11 collection! 

Tuesday November 15th from 6-8pm

Matthew Williamson: 415 West 14th St. 

212.255.9881

RSVP: info@houseoflavande.com

Tweet

Ms. Birkin

One of Lou's notes to great style is to keep it simple; mix and match new with old, cheap with expensive. Whatever works!

Coming up in the December issue of Glamour, there is a fantastic few pages on the iconic muse Jane Birkin and her daughter, French actress and model, Lou Doillon. Speaking candidly on the past, the story behind the Birkin Bag and what inspires their effortless sense of style, it's easy to see how these two down to earth girls have inspired so many.

Lou is wearing a Botega Vanetta dress and Jane is wearing a Harvey Faircloth sweater and Tommy Hilfiger pants.

A style philosophy Jane always keeps in mind: Have that "It's been in my closet for years piece". Wether it really has or not, everyone should own something that looks like it's yours. 

Lou staying Comfy and cozy in a Rag and bone sweater and jacket and pants by Marni. 

Tweet

Fashion Inspirations: Art Deco

All jewelry, House of Lavande

The glamourous look of art deco jewelry has been popping up everywhere lately! From Amber Heard's look in The Rum Diary, to current look books, this ultra feminine look isn't just for the red carpet anymore! Mix and match a fun art deco necklace with a stacked bangles, to accent jeans and a blazer, or throw on a fabulous pair of earrings to go out for cocktails. There are no rules, and art deco is the perfect way to experiment with a different and unexpected look! 

Catalog photos courtesy of Planet Blue

Tweet

Food For Life

Continuing on with our list of Super foods from last week, today we are talking about Blueberries, Lentils and Blackstrap Molasses. All delicious ingredients that can very easily be worked into meals you are already making!

Blueberries

These little guys pack a serious punch in the nutrition arena. In just one serving you can get 25% of your daily Vitamin C requirement. We all know how Vitamin C promotes a healthy immune system, but it also promotes healthy gums and capillaries as well. Next on the list is Dietary fiber, something that is very important for all of us to incorporate into our diets, wether you are vegan vegetarian or a meat eater. A hand full of blueberries will keep you regular, your heart healthy and your cholesterol down. And lastly, and possibly most important on the list is the levels of antioxidants in blueberries. Being one of the most antioxidant rich foods out there, these guys are fantastic for neutralizing free radicals which cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and most age related diseases such as alzheimer's. So a handful or two a day will do your body good!

Lentils

Packed with protein, folate, magnesium, two B vitamins, and tons of fiber, lentils are great for keeping your heart healthy and are fantastic if you are deficient of magnesium. Great for diabetics as well, they help regulate blood sugar levels while providing a steady, slow release of energy. Also, with a low glycemic index, lentils are great if you are trying to lose weight, since they will help you feel fuller for longer. 

Blackstrap Molasses

This could be our favorite on the list this week. Blackstrap Molasses one type of molasses that is left over from the process of refining sugarcane into table sugar. This is a sweetener that is actually good for you! Blackstrap has been proven to increase iron and calcium levels and has loads of copper, manganese, potassium and magnesium. All extremely essential minerals that most of us need more of, this could be a sweet way to get them! Not to mention, People have actually seen a decrease in grey hairs due to the high levels of copper that the molasses contains! 

Tweet

Getting The Look

While scouring the pages of one of our favorite go-to sites this morning, we thought it would be nice to put together a collection of our favorite ideas from Style.com's Get The Look feature. Fun ideas for putting outfits together and some of the small, simple details we may over look sometimes are all here.

Simple elements mixed with interesting details make for a put together outfit

1. Teased hair with that just rolled out of bed chic touch
2. Small feminine detail to compliment the structured overall look
3. A winter white coat. Not as bright as white, perfect for fall
4. A detailed top that adds a bit of interest to the outfit
5. Black skinny jeans

Wear a chunky cable knit and still look fabulous

1. A great pair of shades
2. A chunky cable knit cardigan
3. A simple shift dress that can be transformed into many different outfit options
4. simple, understated handbag
5. Ankle strap wedges that can be carried over into spring, after the fall weather leaves us

Masculine meets feminine with a new look at a three piece suit

1. A simple blown out hairstyle that is effortless and simple for getting through the day

2. Gold bangles

3. The casual and comfortable denim button down is an unexpected addition 

4. A plaid, and grey three piece suit. Not just for the fellas anymore, ladies.

5. A leather satchel in a rich fall hue is a perfect top off

Tweet

Changing The Game

Marie Claire's list of 16 women under 40 who are changing the face of their industries (and really, the world) has just come out in the November issue!  We have taken note of three women from that list, highlighted their accomplishments and ideas that are changing the lives of others across the globe. Be sure to read through the entire list, you will walk away feeling inspired and motivated by these incredible women.

Leila Chirayath, 28, founder , Samasource

Sama, which means "equal" in Sanskrit brings data entry, computer based work to poverty stricken parts of the world. Helping women, children and refugees, Samasource is a non profit company that allows people to learn, and work via the internet, all while being monitored and driven by teams all over the world.  

Julie Hu, 26, founder and CEO, Lark

We have all been there- Those mornings when all you want to do is sleep, and your significant other's alarm is blaring at some horrible hour. Well Julia Hu was having that issue on a very regular basis, so she created a solution. A silent alarm clock! A wristband that syncs with your Iphone and vibrates! 

Bridgette Carr, 34, Director of the Human Trafficking Clinic, University of Michigan Law School

Solely dedicated to to assisting Human Trafficking, Carr's clinic is the only of it's kind. Mainly helping women and children forced into labor of all kinds in the U.S. she is a direct contact for the National Human Trafficking Center, so when a case comes up, Bridgette's cll phone rings. The issue of human trafficking is terrifying and very real, and something we should all be aware of since it is happening in our own backyard. 

Check out this article from CNN for more information on Bridgette and human trafficking in the U.S.

Tweet

Beautifully Inspired

We are always on the lookout for things that inspire us here at House of Lavande, and as we have mentioned before, one of our go-to destinations for all things beautiful is Anthropologie. A catalog team has recently returned from a trip to  Southeastern Peru, where they captured absolutely stunning images of the land, the people, and the towns. All of these images are featured in the just released November catalog (you can See an online version of the catalog here.) Bright colors, beautiful scenery and the creative touch that only Anthro can provide make this another inspiration filled catalog for all of us to enjoy.

Women of this region in Peru wear colorful woven skirts with petticoat underneath. Almost always paired with a wool sweater and a hat, you can often tell what region a woman is from by the type of hat she is wearing. 

Sunshine through the mountains

The Islands of Los Uros in Lake Titicaca. Islands that are made of reeds by people who preceeded the Incas. The current residents maintain the islands by constantly piling on additional reeds. 

Fall color inspiration

Up close with treasure at the Pisac market

Islands and boats made of reeds, and bright beautiful colors

Cover shot location

More inspiring fall colors from the Pisac market 

Tweet

Come November

Fall editorial press is still rolling out, and House of Lavande is gracing the pages of many of our favorite magazines here and abroad! 

Tweet

Food For Life

Staying focused, and in touch with the foods that are best for you body can sometimes get a bit off track, especially around these last few moths of the year. Obviously indulging here and there is a must, but staying focused is as well! 

Below is a short list of Super Foods that we love. Ingredients that are easily incorporated into everyday meals, that not only fight disease, but also help you to feel fuller for longer, don't contain boat loads of calories, and give you all of the nutrients that many are lacking in their daily diet. We have started off with four of our simple favorites that you can include in your juices, or in your everyday dinner recipes, and eaten regularly they will change your body and your life. Next week we will continue the look into Super Foods and other small additions that make a huge difference in everyday health. Enjoy!

Greens:

Wheat Grass-

Extremely alkalizing, and promotes healthy blood. It normalizes the thyroid gland, which assists in healthy digestion, and promotes weight loss due to it's high enzyme content and cleaning effects on the body. 

Spirulina- 

A cultivated micro algae that has been consumed by people all over the world for thousands of years!  Spirulina contains 70% complete protein, where as a steak contains only 25% once it has been cooked. Another main benefit is the ability to control blood sugar. A key for diabetics, one tablespoon a day is all that is needed. 

Fruits and Nuts:

Goji Berries- 

Grown and cultivated in the protected valleys of Tibet and Mongolia, Goji berries are one of our favorite things to snack on. They are 500 times more rich in vitamin C per oz than orange juice, and are also a fantastic source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and E. Also they are a full compliment of protein, contain 18 amino acids, and 21 trace minerals. An excellent antioxidant that fights disease and can help in the aging process at the same time. 

Raw Cacao-

Raw, unprocessed cacao could possibly be the most amazing food on this list. This nut could possibly contain  the worlds most concentrated source of antioxidants found in any food. They are also extremely high in Magnesium and Iron. Just a 28 gram serving of raw cacao beans contains 314% of the recommended daily allowance of iron. And last but not least they have an antioxidant score of  95,500 (which is 14 times more flavonoids than red wine, and 21 times more than green tea.)

Tweet