Author: Fashion Rootle

Winter Wardrobe Phobia 

For me the most exciting time of year is spring. My winter wardrobe is dismal, I might be subconsciously sabotaging it as I hate jumpers, cardies, coats, scarves, tights, everything associated to keeping myself warm. The bulkiness, the claustrophobia of piling on layers and layers and still being bloody cold annoys me. Warm weather and I come alive, I feel my styling goes up a notch which is a bonus.

With Spring approaching, I sometimes get into a panic, I check the weather it’s 14 degrees does it mean a jacket will do, should I still wear my wooly jumper, is it time to ditch the thermal heat tech from Uniqglo ? The answer is I don’t know, hence the panic. 

One look I particularly like is the skirt/dress jumper combo. Fits perfectly for spinter ( winter /spring ) you can pop on some tights and a jacket which are easily removal if it gets too warm. Alexa Chung has this down perfectly.  

I won’t fret, spring will actually be here soon properly and I can drop the bulk and love my wardrobe again.

The End. 

Love to hate Zara 


Zara hates me, it’s true. She has targeted me from thousands of people and I just can’t let the relationship continue. I’m talking about the store, not an actual person. After a couple of purchases all sporadic and varied from shirts to jumpers to jackets I noticed a pattern. 

The reason for the end of our relationship is after numerous purchases they just weren’t to the highest quality I would expect, the most annoying part being finding a problem just shortly after bringing the item home. If this did happen I would obviously return the item but I really really prefered not to. This is after careful consideration, imagine finding the perfect jacket that fits you like a glove, after a week it had a great big hole that had appeared. 

My last purchase was at Christmas, I despise winter which means along with it I despise cardigans and jumpers but on this particular day, I was meeting someone at Regents Street and was 15 mins early and with a limited amount of warm clothing I popped into Zara and found a lovely charcoal jumper. I wore it ONCE and to my dismay bobbling hell decended on it, it looked like I had it for a hundred years. 

I emailed Zara with a Ra Ra Ra message of disatisfaction. ‘Bring it back into any store for a full refund or exchange’ they said. No, i thought and i didn’t, because I am done with you Zara, you win, I love you and you hate me! I am fully aware this is just bad luck as Zara is everyone’s favourite high street store. I just can’t cope with the consistent annoying inevitability of a new exciting purchase ending up back where it came from. 

I’ll probably change my mind, but for now, it’s off my radar. Sorry Zara.

The bobble jumper is my bedtime jumper so not a soul can see the bobbleness shame. 

The end, cry*

Photo credit: Zara.com/uk

Tamara Fogle bag 

Yesterday I was rocking my Tamara Fogle bag, my husband kindly bought this for me as a surprise gift. I stayed at my mothers the night before as my husband and I went to see Robbie Williams at the Roundhouse. She was looking after the little one. I thought the smaller the bag the better as I carried a large rucksack for our overnight things. It holds a purse, phone   ( iPhone 6 Plus ) keys and some Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream, a perfect size to travel light. It’s currently sold out but there are other bags to choose from her online shop.  All made in England, in a family run factory I know this bag will have been made with great care and attention.

Check out her stuff here; http://www.tamarafogle.com

Longchamp Large La Pliage Travel Bag


If you are off on a mini break somewhere I recommend the large longchamp bag pictured here. The space is rather large and deep which easily fits your essentials if planning a trip for a couple of nights. Better still you can pack the entire bag as it folds down to a small compact size for when you make those purchases and need another bag to take them home in. 

Available here at a reasonable £65: http://uk.longchamp.com/luggage/le-pliage/large-travel-bag-1624089

Bella Freud Autumn/Winter 2016 Preview with The Frugality

We all know there are dozens and dozens of fashion bloggers out there, you follow a handful but everyone has a fave. Mine is Alex Stedman known as The Frugality. Last night I met her and she was a complete babe. Having landed from NYFW the night before she looked stunning in a Marks and Spencer silver pleated skirt and a Bella Freud pink Anita jumper. A couple of weeks back she posted that she was hosting an event at the Bella Freud store on Chiltern Street, I got in there quick and got an invite to attend. I adore Bella Freud so I wasn’t disappointed with the Autumn/Winter collection, vibrant red hues, khaki green, pale baby pink were among the colours she showcased. I had the privilege of talking to The Frugality and she was extremely natural and beautiful. I recommend you all follow her on Instagram @thefrugality right now

Shiny, Sparkly, Comme Des Garçons

Would you believe me if I had said my husband bought this, wait for it, for himself! I think he bought it from Liberty for around £99. When he came home with it, I was kind of shocked, it’s so crazy. Well, guess who is using it now! I love the sparkle, and the snake skin like texture. I bought my husband a plain green one so knew this was hibernating in its box. Comme des garçons is a brand I’m fond of, it’s cool, it’s quirky and certainly brightens up any bag. 

Vintage heaven

I took a trip to Old Spitalfields market yesterday and found a little vintage market just opposite on Brushfield Street. I found a lovely leather bag with the letter’f’ for fashion rootle of course, and a gorgeous summer blouse with a round collar by Anne Fontaine. Everyone wants to look French chic and this combo will bring me a step closer. Both items were £35, a bargain indeed. 

Missoni Exhibition

I had the pleasure of attending the press day of the new Missoni exhibition held at the Fashion and Textile Musuem in Bermondsey street. The family travelled from Italy to present their showcase. Their collection consisted of furnishing fabrics and fashion. The brands distinctive design has a sensational appeal that is instantly recognisable. With the family business running since the mid 50’s you can’t help but love that they have stuck to a quality ethic of producing luxury items from the beginning to the present day. 

The exhibition runs til 4th September at the Fashion and Textile Museum. Closed on Mondays. 

Backpack Chic

  

I highly recommend getting yourself a backpack this summer. I am hooked on my navy blue longchamp pictured above. Not only is it practical but it’s so chic. I searched for the most appealing backpacks on the high street to give you some inspiration. Living in East London you hardly see anyone without one. It adds a touch of class to your outfit and you forget you have it on your back. The days of lugging a shoulder bag is over, well just for a couple of months anyway. 

Top; Longchamp La Pliage backpack £56 ; Bottom left; Whistles Mini Verity In orange £180; Second Left; H&M black backpack  £24.99; Second right; New Look Fringe Mini backpack £17.99; Far Right; Asos Mini Suede with Tassels backpack £35.

Archive by Alexa

  
Everything she does turns to gold, the latest project for Ms Alexa Chung is Archive by Alexa which consists of delving into oh so British High Street Department Store Marks & Spencer’s archives to create a 31 piece womenswear collection for the current period. The rediscovered pieces were hand picked by Alexa who was truly touched to be involved in a such a journey to bring back archived pieces back to life.

Alexa Chung commented;

“I have always had an affection for Marks & Spencer. I am thrilled to be part of this special and unique project. There was something very touching about looking back through the fashion and social history for which M&S is synonymous”

The collection debuts in April 2016 in selected stores and online at http://www.marksandspencer.com it’s definitely worth a peek.