A multi-arts festival for children....

This week has been wonderful. Thank you sunshine, you have lifted our mood, put a skip in our step, and given us a big slice of positivity. It seems there is lots to look forward to, Easter is next up and with it comes the Brighton & Hove Children's Festival which runs 6th-15th April. If you haven't had a look, there are lots of fun activities, events and workshops for families and children under the age of 11. I know no other place quite like Brighton, where children are most definitely seen and heard, given so much presence and even celebrated. Proof indeed that this city has to be one of the best places to live in the UK. It also has great shopping!

Creative coffee....

We love coffee. No day is complete without it. We also like anything new, creative, different, and 'out there'. So we don't so much like, rather really really love The Marwood. The Marwood is a cafe, not too far from us, here in Brighton which not only serves knock-out coffee but delivers a whole lot of creative inspiration with unabashed craziness! And for that, we salute them. It's not particularly new, but having visited again very recently I was reminded that they are worthy of a huge thumbs up. If you're new to Brighton, coming to visit, or just haven't been there yet, go and have a coffee there, eat some cake, hang out, and contemplate just how marvellous it is that there are creative people in the world livening things up for us...this cafe sums up what Brighton is all about.

Au revoir January...

Phewy... if that wasn't a long month! We got through it, January is done! This is a very good thing. Well ok, we have a few days left but they can dwindle off slowly, for the hard work is over. I can't wait any longer. It's now time for change, dust off and get ready for all things new.

February is the month when we look towards the new season .... goodbye A/W, hello and a very warm welcome S/S. Starting over, having a change, creating a new look, whether it be in your wardrobe or in your home, is very exhilarating ...rather like a new haircut, or a re-haul of your wardrobe, or getting rid of all those old toys your children haven't played with for at least 2 years, or finally sifting through that pile of paperwork that keeps getting moved around the room in tidy piles ... a change or refresh gives a new energy for life, a boost which helps drive you forwards to new opportunities. Not only is this a good thing, it's a necessary thing. We need change.

So that's what we've done here at lavender-room, we have stripped back the old (quite literally) and revamped with a fresh new look in the store. And most importantly, we have got some really lovely new products arriving in the coming weeks which we think you will love.....lots of colour and lots of joy (come and check out our fab new teapots, guaranteed to bring a smile to your morning brew) ... here's looking forward to Spring!

Hushhhhhhh .....

Have you got your heating on yet? Or had your first log fire? Are you starting to layer your clothes? If you're anything like me and afraid of the cold, then the answer to at least one of these will be a definite yes. Warm clothes, wrapping up and cosy nights in mean one thing to us Lavender girls.... some Hush time; soft woollens/cotton mixes, Henley tops, cute wool dresses, loose leggings, long vests, wrap cardigans, and my favourites ...soft brushed cotton Pj's. Hush Pj's are so good they don't even wait until bedtime in my house... they're on for the evening when I get home from work, way too comfortable and cosy to be kept for just under the duvet. Each year Hush produces beautiful new designs but our favourite, and theirs too it would seem because they keep bringing it back, is the Vintage Rose print. Or if you don't fancy the full set, you can buy just the Pj bottoms and match with a vest or tee. They are supreme winter warmers, brilliant for a Christmas gift, and guaranteed to make you feel warm and loved....which let's face it girls, is all you can wish for in winter.

What does a hat say about you?

Hats have been gradually seeping their way back into our wardrobes for the past few years now, the festival season really being responsible for launching them back into modern fashion. Summer has, without doubt, been the time for hats to shine, for men and women. Yet slowly we're seeing them filter through to the Autumn/Winter season, but still with some anticipation.

And so it's through this observation that I want to explore what a hat says about you, what statement do we advertise when we wear a hat? Should we be self conscious or should we stand tall?

Frank Sinatra once said, 'Cock your hat - angles are attitudes'. This sits uneasy with me because attitude can sometimes be mistaken for arrogance, and whilst we are talking fashion here, where egos and arrogance abound, I certainly do not attempt to come anywhere close to that quality or trait. That said, an attitude which speaks, 'I am me and I am happy to be me' shows strength, individuality and presence. Whilst I personally shy away from a hat because it invokes self-conscious thoughts ... 'everyone is noticing me!', if I can adopt a new personality, just for a day, what a refreshing and powerful piece of apparel it is!

I'm going to try it.... and if nothing else, simply see it, on a very base level, for exactly what it is ...a highly expressive consumer product worn as a covering for the head. Check out our beautiful Fedora's by Pachacuti before you go ... they are, I guarantee, the finest you'll find.

These boots were made for Autumn ....

Having finally accepted that summer is over (and I have to tell you, it's taken quite some time to give in to that reality) I am now focusing on allowing Autumn to move in, finding ways to make the transition a little smoother for myself. And I'm starting with my feet. Whilst we are still getting some sunshine (tees and lightweight jackets are still having their moment) we are also dealing with wind and rain which demand that flip flops and espadrilles no longer cut it. Ankle boots are what we need girls, and for me, ankle boots are Autumn's version of the flip flop; they go with any outfit, work with casual or smart, and can be worked with jeans, dresses or skirts (they look hot with bare legs) and I know I will wear them every day for the next few months, and probably beyond to next years festival season. Finding the right boot can be a feat but with so many options around this season it won't take you long to find your perfect match. Let us introduce you to Ash. Whether you're a trainer type of girl, a rock chick, or a girl who lusts after a bit of understated sophistication, you will find in Ash something for everyone and every look. Ash hi-tops are legendary, in the same vein as Converse but perhaps a little more style-conscious and smarter. Ash ankle boots are faithfully on trend and offer various 'looks' ....my favourite this year is the Crosby, full of attitude and seriously cool. Take a look at our chosen styles from Ash's AW collection and begin to embrace the new season by kicking your heels with your first key piece!

Beach Life ....

It has to be one of the best things about living in Brighton. Actually no, it is the best thing about living in Brighton. The beach. Ok it's pebble (apparently 614 billion of them) and not white sand, but then you can't have everything and the pebbles don't seem to matter so much when you have that vast, open scenery that is the ocean. To me, a beach is not just about the colour and material of the shore, it's all about losing yourself, and your mind, into the big blue and the sky that meets it and the clouds that hover above it. Where else do you see and feel that imposing creation of nature? In the mountains, but the closest we have to those on our doorstep are the Downs (and there's another great thing about living in Brighton). If the pebbles really bother you, wait till low tide where you can find long stretches of sand, which is great fun for children and paddling, or move down the coast way in to Hove and beyond where the pebbles are more shingle and comfortable. And at the edge of a busy and very colourful city, the beach is right there ... just literally turn your back on the craziness and be somewhere else. Beach life in Brighton is alive, fun and happening with many sports - go to Yellowave, for some hot Volleyball action or Hove Lagoon for a whole host of water sports and sailing activities. The beach has some great cafes (check out the new Bandstand cafe (alfresco style) for a real taste of 'being on holiday') and restaurants (Due South is special). But above all of this, what I love most about living by the beach is that after a day at work I can swim in the sea, wash all my troubles away (it's amazing for hangovers!), feel truly alive and be ready to take on the world. It's a special feeling.