Posts Tagged ‘Althea Harper’

Knit It

November 18th, 2009

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Used to be when someone talked about knits, we all yawned thinking oh yeah, another oversized sweater to hide the extra holiday pounds. Change that attitude because now knits are hip.

Jessica Simpson Knit Triangle Scarf

Jessica Simpson Knit Triangle Scarf


While the battle of the knits brews tomorrow when Althea Harper and (Meana) Irina Shabayeva face off over who did the better collection, there is more to knits this season than just what the gals at Project Runway cooked up for us. Think beyond the basic scarf or sweater. Knits are showing up everywhere this season – from the snood to sweater dresses to hats and gloves - everything comes is a knit form this year.

Shopbop Basic Knit Gloves

Shopbop Basic Knit Gloves

So what is the allure of knits this year?

Maybe its because knits give off the feeling of luxury even in the bargain price range. Wool knits don’t have to be expensive to feel it. Of course, you can always amp it up with cashmere.

Maybe it’s because the past few years have been ridiculously cold, and the warm knits are a must. After all, isn’t it so much nicer to see someone in a warm knit dress and tall flat boots in the winter than someone with bare legs and 4-inch heels that we are supposed to believe is completely immune to the elements?

Maybe it’s a backlash to all the poorly made items we’ve seen crop up in the past few years. Something about a knit just says there was care put in to making it. Think of Althea Harper’s tweet

Yes! I knit all those pieces!!xxRT @Sbsterling When Althea says I spent a lot of time knitting does she mean she knit those pieces herself?

Maybe it’s the relaxed attitude knits give off. Its hard to be stuffy without so much structure.

Whatever it is, we are loving knits this year.

And if you are reading this and wondered, “What’s a snood???” Check Nicky’s Rag Tales for the dish.

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Printed News Comes Back – On Clothes

November 6th, 2009

I was in one of my favorite fashion areas the other day, the Camden Town neighborhood of London. The people there always seem to be doing something fresh. The look that caught my attention this past week was the newspaper print. I saw it on bags, belts, tights, skirts, and one jacket.

Newspaper Print Skirt

Newspaper Print Skirt

The newspaper print is whimsical and a break from the old standards. Normally with pattern we have three basic categories – floral, traditional, and geometric. Finally we have something new that isn’t a slogan t-shirt.

Reasons I love this trend
It’s black and white, but not boring
Work appropriate
The pattern isn’t the same old, same old
Nod to the printed word, fading fast
You can add (almost) any color accessories to it.

The trend also made me think of the Newspaper as Material challenge this season on Project Runway. Disclaimer – I think this season of Project Runway has been a touch on the boring side and I’m starting to wonder if Heidi Klum is trying to save it by being bitchy. She seems to get meaner each episode. And while Irina won the challenge that episode, my favorite was Althea Harper’s design.

Will you go with this trend? Here’s a few options from John Galliano at Styledrops to check out.

At least please let this trend replace those awful Ed Hardy shirts.

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