Mad For Plaid

Leaves changing colour, freshly sharpened pencils, and of course plaid; these are the things that most remind me of the autumn months.  A classic for fall wardrobes, plaid has had a serious makeover.  Once a preppy accessory, these bold tartans are making their mark all over fall collections.  

From sophisticated romance, to grunge rocker, to lumberjack chic, this trend is one that has no boundaries. Plaid: shirts, scarves, sweaters, headbands, shoes, bags (the list goes on) this trend is fun, easy and affordable to add to your wardrobe.

Pair Roots Diane Motorcycle Jacket with Roots Ronson plaid flannel shirt (in any of the three available colours) and create a retro grunge look.  Or, sport Roots Rivington Melton Jacket on your next hike through the woods. This quilted coat, complete with fur trim, is the perfect way to let out your inner lumberjack.  

 

Want to support this trend without breaking the bank? Try adding a few accessories like Roots Mcgill plaid scarf Scarves are an easy way to add punch of colour and texture to any outfit.  With the added bonus of keeping you warm, why not try out this affordable look?

Summer Fashion Trend 2009: the Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits have been around for some time, but it seems as though this popular one-piece garment has now become essential in every woman's wardrobe. Jumpsuits are a definite must-have piece for summer. Thus, we wanted to give full spotlight to one of our hottest Roots pieces this season: the trendy Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit.

Fashion Foward: The Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit is a must for the fashionista that loves comfort. Made of organic cotton and bamboo fabric, this hot summer piece is super soft and lightweight. The Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit is eco-friendly, fashionable, AND comfortable! (In other words, perfect!)

Flattering: Some of us may feel skeptical about buying one-piece outfits. However, what makes the Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit special is that it flatters all body types.

Functional: This trendy jumpsuit is the effortless way to look chic as it can be dressed up or down. For a casual look, pair the jumpsuit with some nice gladiator sandals or add some bold accessories and heels for a dressed up look.

With all these reasons, it is extremely difficult not to love the Kate Bamboo Jersey Jumpsuit. Check out this hot summer piece and read some reviews from the lucky ladies who already own this trendy jumpsuit.

Related posts:

• Get this Look: Our Friends Show Off Their Roots Style

• Roots Designer "Must-Haves" for Summer

• Roots Green: What is Bamboo Clothing?

• Roots: Green Since ‘73

Get This Look: Your Perfect Summer Outfit

Breathable, lightweight, and stylish, the dress/scarf/purse combo will take you from lazy summer days through action packed weekends away.

We would wear this outfit to run errands, sight-see, meet friends for a late lunch, and even go sailing. It's versatile and comfortable!

The Sophie Smocked Dress was hand picked by our Womens fashion designer, Nikki, as one of her top picks for the summer. She loves it because it's cool and comfy, but also feminine.

Cdncowgirl04 from Calgary agrees that it's a great piece for summer: "LOVED this dress - it's so breezy and comfortable, supportive at the top, and nice coverage for days that are as nice in the summer. It works great when you want to dress up or down just add a bracelet or necklace and a pair of shoes and your good! Nice to wear to picnics or other outdoor events too."

We love the idea of pairing it with the Paisley Print Scarf because it provides a stylish pop of colour while offering protection from cool summer nights. Simply unwrap the scarf and turn it into a shawl to keep you warm when the sun sets. The scarf also made it onto Lynne Morris' (Senior Designer at Roots) top picks for summer.

To complete the look, we've included the Village Bag in Prince Leather. The beautiful bag will keep you organized with three zippered exterior pockets, so you can toss your phone, wallet, camera, and sunscreen and have them easily accessible. The long shoulder strap also gives you hands free capabilities, leaving you free to pick up groceries, scour clothing racks, or run after your little ones.

Roots Designer "Must-Have" Accessories for Summer

We just love to give you insights on some of our favourite Roots accessories for the summer. This time the spotlight turns once again to the people behind the Roots creations: The Designers.  We recently interviewed Lynne Morris, Senior Designer, to find out her "must-haves" for the summer:

Must-Have Summer Item# 1: For women, Lynn suggested the Paisley Print Scarf.

Why she loves it: It can be used as a scarf or a shawl. It is large enough to wrap around your hip. The bright colour is GREAT for summer time!

How she would wear it: For a head-turning look, Lynn recommends folding the scarf in half into a large triangle, placing the point to the centre front of you, and wrapping the other two ends around your neck and pulling closer to your neck. Alternatively, you can wear it as a sarong and tie it on top of your bathing suit.

Must-Have Summer Item# 2: The Drake Che Cap in black was Lynn's favourite for guys.

Why she loves it: It has a more modern look than regular baseball caps. It offers comfort thanks to the back strap. It's a very clean design, as it has very few seams and no stitching on the peak.  

How she would wear it: This cap can be paired with athletic wear for the weekends or with casual clothing.

Added bonus? It makes you feel good as it is made from 100% organic cotton.

    

Must-Have Summer Item# 3: Airstream Backpack

Why she loves it: This is a small sized backpack that holds a lot for day travel. Lynne recently used it on her design inspiration trip to Japan and described it as "the most practical bag" she's ever carried. She would choose it in white for the summer. At only $34.00, this backpack is an inexpensive splurge.

Lynne definitely gave us three awesome accessories for summer. Want to see other picks from the Roots designers? Check out other hot summer must-haves from the experts.

Designer Picks: Weekend Getaway

It's getting to be that time when we are either planning a winter weekend getaway or wishing we were planning one. Either way our designers have hand-picked a few key items that are sure to keep you warm and stylish whether you are staying in the city or heading away.

This weeks picks feature the Black Stone Limited Edition Cardigan $198.00, Men's Apex Black $115.00, Winter Che Hat $28.00, and Small Colorado Bag $338.00.

Click each item to shop!