Rove Arounds

As I was driving into work today I was struck be a couple factors. One, I am getting older as I can now reflect on what “used” to be. Two, Mediocrity and complacency has gotten a strong hold in my native town of Minneapolis. The Uptown I knew has been fully replaced by the very thing I loathe looking at. Bit by Bit it’s face changed, now fully unrecognizable and devoid of the very things that made it special. I know I speak for many with memories longer than mine, but the death of independent specialty shops is sealed.

It’s not just the products that have replaced them but the lack of aesthetic that comes with them. The buildings & structures they build are equal to the products they carry. Generic, emotionless, mass manufactured, cold, impersonal, ugly. In the winter, I take note of the number of people completely comfortable wearing Columbia, Patagonia, The North Face gear in every color. Apparently, this is “our” fashion statement. I get the miserable weather, harsh winters etc. but really must we be reduced to looking like that? I mean, so many of us? Is this what “we’ have become? Apparently, this is the Minneapolis uniform, why else could Columbia & North Face build an empire on Hennepin Ave.? Am I alone is this? Does anyone else see what has become acceptable or norm here? Are we losing our sense of character, whimsy, independence? I realize this is the Midwest but honestly, have we all lost the plot?! I remember a Minneapolis with a backbone, a bit of fire, did they all move away? I must be getting old…

It’s a Wrap (Skirt)
Yes, it’s the time of year when our pale, winter legs come out from hiding. How springy is it to wear a fun skirt when temps are in the 70’s and the trees are in bloom? But after months of hibernating, eating winter comfort foods, and watching the entire catalog of “Lost” episodes on DVD, we may not think of ourselves as being fun-skirt ready. Enter the solution: the wrap skirt. It’s back & it is better than ever!

A wrap skirt is universally flattering. Any body, any height, any weight. The very nature of the wrap means that it will adjust to fit anyone, with simple, lovely lines and a tie-at-the-waist closure. It will fit you in spring, after a winter of being bundled on the couch, and it will fit you in autumn, after a summer’s worth of rollerblading around the lakes (or chasing the kids around the back yard).

At Rove Arounds, we can create a custom-designed wrap skirt just for YOU. Short or long, made with your choice of a wide variety of fabrics. We’re all about real sizing for real bodies, so stop in for a custom fitting appointment and a skirt that’s sure to spend most of the warm season on your body and not languishing in the closet.

Snack Happy
Are you trying to teach your kid(s) to be green? It’s hard to explain consumption & waste to a 2nd grader, but it’s easy to teach them little ways they can be kind to the Earth. Rove Arounds is proud to carry snackTAXIs, the sturdy, colorful, eco-friendly alternative to plastic sandwich bags.

According to the folks at snackTAXI, each reusable bag you use can eliminate an average of 1000 plastic bags over its lifetime. You can also tell your kids that they’re helping to save hundreds of thousands of sea animals, who die from eating discarded plastic bags that they think are food.

snackTAXIs are made in Massachusetts from 100% cotton and nylon and are machine- or hand-washable. They feature wonderful, colorful fabrics with aliens, animals, butterflies, and more. Nurture your budding eco-warriors by packing their lunches in reusable bags!

The New York Times is reporting good news for fashion: after a nasty winter (they did get pummeled with snow), and a bleak economy, people are ready for COLOR. Bold prints, lively patterns, and dramatic color are signaling a shift in people’s moods that some are seeing as a sign of recovery. The article quoted a psychologist as saying that prints “represent the mind-set of the consumer. They express a budding feeling that’s more optimistic and refreshed.”

Do you need a little more optimism in your closet? Are you tired of going around in a steady stream of neutrals? Come to Rove Arounds for a dose of novelty. We will revive you with fresh and funky florals, bold geometrics, and vivid solids. Banish those conservative grays to make room for clothing that makes a statement but won’t break the bank. You’d be hard-pressed to find such a variety of handmade, unique (sometimes one-of-a-kind) items at such affordable prices. New items arrive weekly, so stop in often!