Jetsetter Destinations: Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine

 This past weekend was another fun filled trip for the HOL girls, this time in the form of a few days on the open road! The itinerary wasn't planned and included stops in St. Augustine, Savannah and Charleston. Each destination has amazing amounts of charm and personality, and honestly it would be difficult to choose a favorite.

Some of our favorite places to wander, snap photos and of course eat a delicious meal are as follows: 

Charleston: 

Rainbow Row: One of the most visited parts of Charleston, this historic row of colorful houses are charming and full of history. A nice long walk down Bay street is a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Middleton Place: Home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the US, the middleton plantation has been around since the 1700's! A vast expanse of gorgeous landscapes, horseback riding and a museum- we definitely recommend taking the self guided tour, you never know what you will stumble upon.

Squeeze: Number one choice for a cocktail in Charleston. Tucked away on East Bay, Squeeze has an amazing happy hour with creative, delicious and well priced drinks. Also, the amazing bar staff make for a seriously enjoyable, relaxed time. 

Savannah:

Antique Shopping: Jefferson Street is home to quite a few very full antique shops. You can get lost for hours in the multiple rooms of furniture, books and everything in between.

 (make sure you go upstairs to see the thousands of chairs they have in one room)

River Street and City Market: Shopping, eating, live music and wonderful people watching are all great things to do while strolling around these beautiful Savannah neighborhoods. You may even stumble upon an art fair if you're lucky!

Goose Feathers: An adorable cafe in the historic downtown area of Savannah. We grabbed a fantastic breakfast and cup of coffee, but they offer healthy, fresh selections all day long. 

St. Augustine:

St. George Street: Antiquing, shopping and sightseeing. The streets of St. Augustine are charming and very fun to explore. Each unique shop and restaurant has a personality of it's own where you can find truly unique items.

Crucial Coffee: Hands down the coolest and most delicious coffee shop we've ever been to. They have fun names for the drinks they create, and an adorable interior filled with fun magnets and little things to keep you entertained while you wait. Don't forget to try something they have baked fresh. You definitely won't regret it. 

The Floridian: Their slogan says it all; Innovative Southern Fare for Omnivores, Herbivores and Locavores. They create unique dishes using local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Also, the laid back reggae music playing atmosphere inside is just as inviting as the cozy front patio. 

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Jetsetter Destinations: Chicago

This past weekend we made an extremely fun filled trip to Chi town! Filled with food, wine, more food,  and tons of fun, these are some of the highlights from the trip:

Navy Pier: A long walk down the pier in beautiful weather was a great way to spend an afternoon

Girl & The Goat: A gastro pub with a fantastic, contemporary menu. Just make sure you make reservations early! 

John Hancock Observatory: A great view of the city, and delicious martinis!

Strolling down Michigan Ave. is a fun way to spend a day as well, stopping in your favorite shops, and restaurants along the way.

 A fall trip to Chicago is an absolute must, taking long walks in the gorgeous weather while leaves change is quite a nice change from the palm trees and sunshine here in Florida. Keep an eye out for our next exciting destination in the coming months!

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Jetsetter Destinations: Kenya, Africa

Truly rewarding experiences in life often happen when we step out of our comfort zone, and explore what the world has to offer. Such is the case when visiting Campi ya Kanzi, nestled within the legendary 'Green Hills of Africa',  upon a 280,000 acre Maasai Group Ranch. This award winning luxury safari destination is a pioneer in environmental sustainability, providing not only an unforgettable wilderness experience, but an authentic view into Maasai culture, while directly involving  the local community. A true definition of ecotourism, Campi ya Kanzi is a partnership initiative with the Maasai, whereby the ultimate travel adventure simultaneously aids in the preservation of wildlife and cultural heritage. Personalized game drives, flights over Kilimanjaro, guided star gazing, evening sundowners and visits of Maasai villages and schools are just some of the exhilarating, memorable experiences to be had during a visit to this magical place. 

Learn more about Campi ya Kanzi, the affiliated Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, and the many benefits of visiting such a uniquely amazing place, here

Also, be sure to check out the Nyumba ya Kipepeo house in Malindi, proceeds of which go to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. 

*Photos courtesy of Veronika Borchers

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Board of the Week: Jetsetter Destinations

After this week's Board of the Week, we've all added a couple more destinations to our bucket list! We received photos of so many places from all around the world and had a fabulous time looking through all of them. We've been putting them up on our Pinterest board this morning so be sure to check it out.

Don't forget, we'll announce next week's Board of the Week theme on Monday! And it's sure to be a good one!

Here are just a handful of the photos that were sent in:

Bellagio and the Lake of Como. Lombardia, Italia - Sent in by Pam R.

Budapest, Hungary - Sent in by Julie K.

 Venice Canals - Sent in by Jessica A.

Edinburgh - Sent in by Valerie W.

Carpet of Flowers, Brussels - Sent in by Debbie M.

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Board of the Week: Jetsetter Destinations

This week's details:

Summer always brings a sense of freedom and escape and it is the most popular time to travel abroad so our theme this week is Jetsetter Destinations.

Your inspiration photos can be a photo of any travel destination you love visiting or that is on your bucket list! 

When you find that special photo(s) you want to add to our Board of the Week, 

email your images to: brittany@houseoflavande.com

Please make sure to include your name and the source of the photo. We won't be able to pin your photo unless you include an image source, so please be sure to include that info.

You have until Friday morning to send us your photos.

Check back in with us on Friday afternoon on Pinterest to see if you're pin made the cut! 


We've added some photographs to help inspire your inner jetsetter!

Lake Orta, Piemonte, Italy

Burgundy Street, Madrid, Spain

Portillo Ski Resort, Chile

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Weekend Getaway

In honor of our mini vaca this weekend we are sharing with you our essentials for dressing, relaxing and sipping a few cocktails during a weekend away at the beach... ahhh sunshine!

Look One: Day at the beach. Keeping it simple with a caftan, flats and a big straw hat to keep those rays off of your gorgeous face! Don't forget your jewels either. Yes at the beach. Stacked bangles and a simple pendant bring it all together. 

What we are reading: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. An absolute must. 

Daytime cocktail: Mojitos. Yummy, yummy mojitos!

Look Two: Night out
This Temperley London caftan is a great main piece for dressing up with heels to go dancing, or throwing on flats to lounge beachside in the evening. Add in glitzy and graphic jewels and a clutch and you are ready to go!

Clothing and accessories via Net-a-Porter.com

Night time cocktail: Dirty Martini

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L-Atitude

We just discovered this new website and love it so much we wanted to share. Introducing L-Atitude, the perfect go-to site for all you chic jetsetters and worldly travelers with a flair for style. The site's motto "Shop The World, Flaunt Your Where's" says it all. With an online boutique filled with worldly wares from some of the hottest cities across the globe, the site also features a must-visit-often blog that will help your travel style stay savvy day-to-day. With fun features like city secrets, street smart, currency exchange, globe-trotters and zip code guide, it can also be used as a travel guide for your next exotic getaway. Not to mention it features some of the chicest stylesetters, right now its Garance Doré, and highlights their secret style spots and shopping tips. Globetrot and shop the world at shoplatitude.com Tweet

Sophia Coppola's Top Hotels

Stylesetter and filmmaker Sophia Coppola is at it again with her latest flick Somewhere, landing back in LA at the oh-so-chic hotel Chateau Marmont. Nowness.com recently sat down with the director and Marc Jacobs muse for a behind the scenes peek of her latest film, and an exclusive feature of Coppola's Suite Dreams, her picks of the top hotels in the world. Knowing her endless vision of great taste, we can guarantee that this is one list you'll want to hang onto and use as a go-to resource for future travels.

Here's a little taste on where Sophia likes to stay when traveling the world. Visit nowness.com for the complete list.

The Ritz, Paris

Bonafide “old Paris” elegant glamour. “For ultimate spoiling.”

 

Park Hyatt, Tokyo

"For sentimental reasons, and the view over Tokyo at night.” (The hotel was the setting of Lost in Translation). Don’t forget to catch jazz band Sausalito every night at nine in the New York bar.

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Celeb Sighting

Jessica Alba made a style statement last week at LAX when she landed back in the states from Venice. We love her sheer blush top, especially since she accented her look with a House of Lavande vintage Trifari star necklace. She shows us perfectly that a subtle touch of glitz works perfectly for a casual day outfit.

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South Dixie Treasures

Check out Circa Who in the historic Northwood neighborhood for great finds that are both unique and classic

Since we here at House of Lavande deal in the best of vintage couture jewelry, we have a certain appreciation of this same realm in the world of interior design, furniture and sculpture. And lucky for us, there happens to be a mecca of this very concept right in our very own backyard. South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach is known for its antique galleries and boutiques where top interior designers and other fabulous talents (Michael Kors is a regular visitor), hunts for bijou treasures and grandiose statement pieces. If you've never hit this street full of vintage dealer's delights, it's a definite must next time your in the hood, or have a free weekend with fun time to spare. And we love how 1stdibs.com is currently featuring a round-up of their top antique and gallery picks, complete with restaurant recommendations. With all that seeing at shopping you'll be in the need for a lite bite and glass of champagne. Happy Antique Shopping.
1stdibs.com - Shoptalk Palm Beaches Tweet

Vita Italia

Tommy Ton is currently one of the best streetstyle lensmen of today, and we can't help but to get inspired by his candid takes of the chic fashionable set as they descend upon Milan for the men's spring 2011 collections. Clearly jeweled adornments are very trés chic, here are a few fresh new ways on how to wear the look and some cool statement pieces making an impact on the Italian streets.

To see more of Tommy Ton's Milan streetside inspirations, visit his current gallery on style.com and blog Jak & Jil. Tweet

A Slim Summer

Summer is officially here, and what better way to get into the spirit then with a little love from Slim. Forever classic and timeless, Slim Aaron's iconic imagery has been the inspiration to many creative minds in the world of design, and to all those that aspire to an elegant way of life. Late photographer to the world's elite and posh jet-setters, here's a few of our favorite Slim images that will certainly inspire you to book your summer getaway.

 Kaufman House

A poolside party at a desert house, designed by Richard Neutra for Edgar J. Kaufman, in Palm Springs, January 1970

 Eden Roc Pool

Guests by the pool at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc, Antibes, France, August 1976 

 Keep Your Cool

Carmen Alvarez enjoying a game of backgammon with Frank 'Brandy' Brandstetter in a swimming pool at Acapulco, 1978

 Mara Lane At The Sands

Austrian actress Mara Lane lounging by the pool in a red and white striped bathing costume at the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, 1954

 Poolside Gossip

A desert house in Palm Springs designed by Richard Neutra for Edgar Kaufman, 1970

 Sea Drive

 Film producer Kevin McClory takes his wife Bobo Segrist and their family for a drive in an 'Amphicar' across the harbour at Nassau, 1967 

 Sundowners

Two bikini-clad holidaymakers enjoy a glass of wine outside the Carlton Hotel, Cannes, 1958 

 Tropical Mustique

Pierre Vincent Marais holidays with friends on the island of Mustique in the Grenadines, 1989

All photography by Slim Aarons

Prints available at www.photographersgallery.com

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Burton Machen at Tomas Maier

Tomas Maier, the creative force behind the Italian luxe label Bottega Veneta, and owner of his own equally chic boutiques, will exhibit works from American photographer and artist Burton Machen beginning May 13 at the Tomas Maier boutique in Miami. Burton Machen's pieces are known for reflecting movement, the passing of time, and the effects of mankind. He wants the viewer to think that anything - detritus, graffiti, discarded paper - can be turned into art, and his work conveys a sense of development that's influenced by various forces to ultimately show the impact of humanity upon the world. A definite must-see!

Burton Machen's art work will be on display in Tomas Maier's Miami location starting May 13 running through summer 2010. His work has been featured in Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar and has showed at The Whitney Museum.

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The Luxury Collection Destination Guides

Today marks the launch of Assouline's latest in their travel series, The Luxury Collection Destination Guides, perfect for any jet-set girl on the go. This chic travel set features six country specific guides packaged in a unique vintage inspired travel box, and offers a one-of-a-kind passport to the prestigious Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts located in six different worldly destinations – Italy, Greece, Argentina, India, Spain, and the United States. This unique go-to travel set acts as your personal guide, offering an insider view of each locale’s most unique restaurants, boutiques, and cultural sites. We also love that each book features a passage and recipe from a celebrated chef including Mario Batali for Italy, Francis Mallmann for Argentina, José Andrés for Spain, and Charlie Palmer for the US. If only each book also came with a pair a Louboutin's perfect for each destination!! A girl can always dream.

The Luxury Collection Destination Guides will be exclusively offered as a complete set at Assouline Boutiques in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, as well as shopassouline.com and other major retail stores for $140

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Modern Mix With Pearls

With Grace Kelly adorning the current cover of Vanity Fair and fashion heading back to the classics, there's no better time then to work a stylish staple like pearls back into your wardrobe. Revisit these gems with a modern mix by layering up with other stones and baubles and pair up in unexpected ways for a current trend-on look. Whether it be a chunky pearl bracelet stacked with an oversize watch and a few equally chic bracelets, or the must-have statement mix-material pearl necklace worn during the day with simple separates. This classic is very right now! Here are a few examples on how to approach these classic baubles with a modern mix in mind.

Dior jewelry designer Camille Miceli featured in Elle May 2010

Make all black even more chic with the addition of a chunky statement pearl necklace. A great piece that will work well from day to night. A great alternative is to layer up 3 or so pearl necklaces for the same effect.

Harper's Bazaar April 2010

Layer up traditional strands of pearls in unexpected ways for a modern look. Mix with bold pendants and other long stranded necklaces.

Photo courtesy of style.com

Pearls will be making an equally stylish impact for the fall as seen here backstage at the Rodarte Fall 2010 show.

JCrew May 2010

Work your pearls for day too. Pair up with casual pieces and make a statement beach or pool side look with a fun fashion forward approach.

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