Are you a Fashion-knista?

I've been so crazed with work these last two weeks - I haven't knit a stitch! - And one of the things that I'm buried with is an article I'm writing for the next issue of Yarn Market News. It's about whether knitters care what's happening in the world of fashion.  I've been doing a lot of research and I've learned that lots of designers like Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney and Michael Kors are putting more luxury sweaters in their collections because women want more unstructured, comfortable garments. And because more designers are creating these fashions, more mills are making lux yarns and that means that eventually luxury yarns will become more affordable. I didn't know that. But I certainly can't wait for THAT to happen.

But for the most part, I don't pay much attention to what's happening in high-fashion knitwear. I guess I am exposed to the patterns that are shown in Vogue Knitting and the other knitting mags, but I tend to stick to basic shapes, styles and colors.   I spoke to Adina Klein today (she's the editor at Vogue) and she told me that off-white/cream-colored yarn is always the top selling color no matter what yarn it comes out in. I didn't know that. But it does explain why I have four cream-colored cardigans.

So, for the next several posts, I hope you won't mind weighing in with some of your opinions.

Here's my question for today: to what extent does what's happening on the runways influence what you knit and if so, where do you go to get your insight into style and trends?

Comments

[Jeanne B.]

I used to be an avid follower of Style with Elsa Klench, but I wasn't knitting at the time. Now that I am knitting, I'm not really paying attention to what's happening on the runways (other than Project Runway) so it doesn't influence me. My insight comes from knitting magazines, blogs (where I can see what the popular patterns are), random samplings from TV shows, and my own creativity.

[Carole]

Maybe the younger knitters will be better at answering this question. But I knit mostly shawls and socks. You don't see a lot of either of those on the runway. ;-)

[Lia]

I mostly look through magazines and catalogs for inspiration. I see things that I couldn't afford and try to translate it into knitting if possible!

[Jennifer]

To be honest, the runway just isn't on my radar except for Project Runway. I'm more inspired by other knitbloggers and knitting publications.

[Lindsay]

I am never, ever influenced by the high fashion runway items as the models are so skinny, that whatever they are wearing would never fit! (tee, hee)
Linz

[Kirstie]

I'm always interested when I see knitting out in the wild, and especially on the runway, just because it means that more and more people are paying attention to and valuing knitted garments. But I'm still a very timid knitter, and haven't done any real garments yet - I'm currently only swatching for my first grown-up sweater.

So, while I do find it interesting when I see knitting featured more prominently in magazines and on television, I can't really say that it affects my buying habits in terms of materials, or my knitting habits in terms of patterns and planning. I knit what I like.

[Cookie]

I've never been tall or thin enough to be interested in what's happening on the runway. I'm more interested in what suits my shape and coloring. Although, I do enjoy getting updates from Silvia/RedSilvia.typepad.com on what's coming up in fashion. Not that I'm wearing tunics, but it's nice to know what's coming. And, like Carole, my knitting is more about socks and now lace.

[Scribbles & Bits]

This is kind of a tough one. I am very interested in the runway fashions. I check Vogue (and Vogue Knitting) both in print and online. I find it all very inspiring. That being said, I don't nec. actually knit anything that pays homage to what I see. I'm too self-concious to comfortably pull off things out of the ordinary until everyone else is wearing them and then I feel comfortable creating my version. Of course I'm also tempered by the fact that I love classic shapes. I work too hard and spend too much money on my knitted pieces for it to be something trendy. The fabric will last for a while. The aesthetic should, too. (Have I rambled enough to help you?)

[Heidi]

None whatsoever at all. I get my trends from the stores (my fave tends to be Ann Taylor Loft) and from people I see on the street (in Chicago) and from bloggers!

[elizabeth]

I don't necessarily knit what's trendy, I like to think I have a more classic style--especially when it comes to something I'm making. If I'm going to devote hours of my life to creating a cardigan, I want to be able to wear that cardigan for at least the next few years.

Generally I try not to buy things I think I could make, so if I see a knit in a store that I like I'll take a picture and try to recreate the pattern at home. I think it's all part of being creative and keeping your brain thinking.

[Debbie]

I had noticed that there were more sweaters on the runway - I do at least CHECK to see what they're coming up with in high fashion! However of late I'm all about knitting things that can be finished - I'm into any type of vests I can find. I like knowing that sweaters are being worn but most of them appear to be big and require too much time. However I'm noting that the model in your runway pix is in fact wearing a vest type thing!

[Keanalee]

Nothing I knit is inspiried by runways. Mostly I look to other blogger, new knitting magazines, my local LYS & of course knitting books that fill my LYS. But my #1 inspiration is definitely bloggers. Occasionally I will see something in a movie that I think would be cool to knit & then I will go search for it on the web(blogs).

[rachell]

I think there may be a difference between what's on the runway, and what's on the high street.

I take very little interest in runway 'high' fashion BUT I am quite interested in the more wearable versions that eventually filter down to the high street stores. I don't know what Marc Jacobs is up to, but I do know what's on sale in Topshop and Hennes, and what's being worn on the street in London.

I want to knit things that may not be at the cutting edge of fashion but which are, at least, in line with overall fashion trends. As a UK consumer I would say that yarn manufacturers & pattern publishers like Rowan show near-total disregard for what's fashionable. They rely far too heavily on 'classic' (read 'mumsy') styles and then when they do try to innovate, they go completely off the wall.

I would be grateful if manufacturers/publishers acknowledged that I want to wear my knits with everything *else* in my wardrobe. I am reasonably fashionable and I don't want to convert my whole look from fashionable to mumsy just so I can wear hand-knits.

Just my two cents!