Get to know … Fortescue England with me…

Hi Darlings,
Wow, this blog is long overdue, despite actually having been ready to go for a little while now. I seem to have been in one of those incredibly frustrating situations with one tech issue after another. All of this is hopefully now resolved though! I am a little behind on my schedule for blogs again now, so do stay tuned as there will be lots of uploads coming over the next few weeks.

One of my very favourite things about social media, is finding new brands which just fit with my style so seamlessly. It is such a fantastic place to find new, up and coming brands. I also love finding and wearing clothes which are up and coming, and being able to share these across my social media platforms and my blog. I love it when I see someone else wearing something I haven’t seen before too, and how you can instantly find out the information and make a purchase for yourself. Social media is a hugely powerful marketing tool, and such a great place to start shopping … although not so great for your bank balance!

I had been following Fortescue England from the start of their journey through social media, and I instantly knew that this brand was going to be a perfect fit for my wardrobe. I could spend ages introducing you to Fortescue England myself, but I really wanted you to hear it straight from the founders mouth. There is no better way to get a feel for a brand, than from the person that created it!

So, let’s find out a little more about Fortescue England from its founder, Charlotte.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your brand, Fortescue England?

‘My name is Charlotte, I’m a farmer’s daughter and a horsey girl and my farm-based upbringing and involvement with the equestrian world meant I was able to admire and develop a love of country style from an early age. At school I studied textiles and then went on to study fashion at college and university. I absolutely loved it and entered various competitions within the fashion industry, winning several titles along the way including Midlands Fashion Designer of the Year. Throughout all of these experiences I developed an interest and passion for ‘Making it British’. As such, I knew that when I launched my own brand, it had to be made in England.‘

Where did your inspiration for Fortescue England come from?

‘Fortescue is my maiden name, a name that is steeped in history dating back to the battle of Hastings. It originated as two words, ‘Fort Escu’ which translates as ‘Strong Shield’. Hence it feels entirely appropriate to become the name of my brand for a number of reasons; It is personal to me and my heritage but additionally I hope that my customers will feel empowered and fit to conquer when wearing my garments!‘

Where and how are the products made?

‘I am the definition of a small business; Having become a first-time Mum in June and 4 months later the time felt right to try and make my dreams of creating my own country clothing brand a reality. I currently make everything myself and am thoroughly enjoying it. I have a small studio at the bottom of my garden which is an aladdin’s cave of sewing machines and fabrics. I have personally designed the garments, developed the patterns and sewn them together.‘

What sets Fortescue England apart?

‘I know there are lots of brands out there but sometimes country clothing can be a bit samey and predictable. I plan that Fortescue will be more fashion-led and have more of a twist on classic country clothing.‘

What can we expect to see from the brand?

‘In the very near future I will be sourcing my manufacturing from an actual factory here in England, this will allow me to provide ready-to-wear collections rather than made to order items. I can be more adventurous with my designs and hopefully as a brand we will just continue to grow. I have also booked stands at various country shows next year including the game fair and I am very much looking forward to meeting clients and bloggers there.‘

Which is your favourite piece from the current collection?

‘The Esther and the Arscott waistcoats would be my personal go to. I feel they are easy, effortless pieces that look great just with jeans and boots or you could really dress them up for a more formal occasion. The Esther could also be used as a body warmer under your favourite wax jacket if you wished.‘

How did you choose the rich colour palette for the clothing?

‘I have used real leather to trim a lot of my designs and this beautiful mahogany tone really set the palette, it works beautifully with earthy greens and warm mink shades. I think when creating a country collection you need to be inspired by your surroundings and the rich tones of the countryside. I will be introducing a much bigger colour range as the brand progresses which I feel will really set it apart from what’s already on the market, so watch this space!‘

Who is Fortescue England suited to?

‘I would like to think that Fortescue isn’t limited to a certain age or demographic, I have tried to appeal to a lifestyle and be inclusive of all. I would say however that people who appreciate small, British, handmade items will really like what I do and even more so what I have planned. I really hope that people will take an interest in my brand and enjoy following the journey, I think it will be worth it!‘

Where and how can we view and buy the items?

‘I currently sell online at www.fortescue-england.combut in the near future hope to get a few stockists on board in the form of country stores and outfitters. As mentioned earlier too, despite the year of uncertainty, I have booked to attend a few country shows; The game fair, our countryside rocks, Burwarton show and many more which can be found on the ‘visit us’ page of the website. I really look forward to meeting lots of avid show goers and can’t wait to welcome you to the stand. Please do follow Fortescue-England on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date and to share the exciting journey!‘

Let’s have a closer look at the current Fortescue England collection…

Fortescue England Products

The Maude Cape

If there is one item of clothing that needs no introduction over on this blog, it’s a cape. The easiest ‘cheat’ item in your wardrobe, for effortless style. I always feel like I’ve made an effort when I have a cape on, even if I just have the scruffiest or simplest outfit underneath. I have also raved about these so many times for the fact that you can layer up so much underneath – which is perfect for those chilly days – especially the ones we are having at the moment!

This cape has been beautifully designed with a full length antique brass zip running up the centre and a stand up leather trim collar. From the back, the cape has been designed with practicality in mind, with a centre gusset to enable free movement, and press studs on the wrist to change the style of the cape to a more structured fit if desired.

£159.00

Shop here…

The Arscott Longline Waistcoat

This is such a beautiful, sophisticated style. A longer length waistcoat is a really nice addition to any wardrobe, they offer something a little more unique, whilst creating a very flattering look. I love these longer line waistcoats to add a little bit more elegance to a simple outfit. They pair so effortlessly with jeans and boots, really elevating that easy and simple outfit look.

This waistcoat has been beautifully designed to feature the signature stand up collar, alongside large lapels. The outer of the gilet is again a wool blend, with a beautifully soft viscose mix lining.

£225.00

Shop here…

The Agnes Waistcoat

In this really classic style, the Agnes waistcoat is the perfect starting point if you want a good all rounder to introduce into your wardrobe. In my opinion this is probably the easiest piece from the collection to style in a multitude of ways, so if you’re looking for a good starting point, this could be it!

I really love the classic, and simple look of this gilet, but as always with Fortescue England, the incredible attention to detail is there, and with this gilet it comes in the form of a striking cornflower blue faux fur suede trim.

£189.00

Shop here…

The Sir Faithful Waistcoat

One for the men! Well…. we can’t leave them out now can we! Plus I feel like if you buy them something, they question less what you’re buying! Divert that attention away from your own bags ladies! This is a stunning classic style gilet for men. With the same beautiful craftsmanship, this will fit seamlessly into any wardrobe. The inside of the gilet features a welt pocket, and there is the classic stand up collar design.

£189.00

Shop here…

My Top Pick:

The Esther Waistcoat

So…. here it is! My pride and joy!

The Esther Waistcoat is just spectacular. For me, I have a wardrobe full of basics, which I then love to add unique, special items to, which take my simple, every day outfits to the next level. You know it’s funny because people think there is some big secret to great looking outfits, and yet I have always found that keeping outfits simple, but investing in some really special pieces, is what can really transform an outfit.

The Esther Waistcoat is so striking, and it was the item that I was most drawn to from the collection. I loved the stand up collar, the unique zip to the front, and the shape and size of the pockets. The stand up collar is a real bonus for me, I just think it keeps the gilet looking really sharp, and elegant, and I also prefer this style when wearing shirts or roll necks!

This gilet has an incredibly effortless, Country feel, whilst still looking super special.

This waistcoat is really easy to dress both up or down, perfect for practicality during country pursuits, but equally able to be dressed up with a silk scarf or skirt, to create a country chic look. If you follow my Instagram (@countryclassiclucinda) you will have seen me styling it in a complete variety of ways already, from out walking, to heading out for brunch (gosh.. I can just about remember back when…)

The dark green tweed is so practical, and goes with all other colours, meaning you can pair this with everything in your wardrobe. It will also team perfectly under your favourite jacket on days that you need to layer up a little bit more.

A specific style guide will be coming very soon as I really want to show you just how easy it is to style these types of investment pieces that you want to get the most from. I have tried lots of different looks with this gilet already, so also keep an eye on my Instagram if you can’t wait for the blog!

You can find a reel that I posted recently over on my Instagram of 3 different ways to wear this gorgeous gilet – view that here.

£189.00

Shop here …

Follow the Fortescue England journey here:

I hope you have loved finding out more about Fortescue England with me. This brand is gorgeous and I am really excited to continue to follow their journey this year, and see new product releases.
Don’t forget you can subscribe to my blog below if you don’t want to miss my ways to wear the Esther Waistcoat, which will be coming soon!

That’s all for now my Darlings,

Lots of Love, Lucinda xo

“Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered.”
– Giorgio Armani

{Please note, I have collaborated with Fortescue England to produce this interview and blog, however, all thoughts and opinions on the products are my own, and have in no way been influenced by the brand. The links within this blog are not affiliate links}