TNNA 2007 Report: The Fashion Show

As I mentioned in the previous post, we attended the Fall/Winter 2007 fashion show Friday night, organized by TNNA's Yarn Group -- essentially, what member companies are offering up to knitters (and crocheters, but the emphasis was squarely on knitting) for the season(s) to come.  The blurb in the information booklet suggested we'd be seeing "the newest trends and finest fashions".  123 items were rolled down the runway, the final eight being a grand finale from Vogue Knitting of garments that will be featured as their Silver Anniversary Covers (more on which in a moment).

In going through my notes, I've discovered that I ended up writing a kind of "word association" thing -- which has turned out, essentially, to be a list of things that struck me as I was watching:

• one-skein
• collars (shawled, foldover, cowl)
• lace
• organic yarn
• coats
• dresses
• assymetrical
• diagonal
• freeform
• modular
• felted bags
• gathered cuffs
• swing coats and jackets

Yes, there were a lot of dresses being offered up for next season.  A lot.  Dresses seem to be so in that even what I would have called a tunic-length sweater (designed by Kaffe Fasset) was called a dress.  It was rather short for a dress. 

Modular stuff is still in evidence, as is bling and froufrou, but both seemed to have been toned down considerably, and so there were some nice items featuring both.  Yes, there were a couple of items that were really over the top, but for the most part, modular and bling are starting to be used as details that set something apart, give it a little extra something, without going overboard.

I'm a little wary of the whole "organic yarn" (well, organic anything) bandwagon -- don't get me wrong, I think we need to be looking at more environmentally-friendly, sustainable production kind of choices, but no one is going to convince me that corn yarn is good for the environment (well, except as a way of using up by-products of corn production), but I'm saving that discussion up for another post once I'm finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma.  However, it's definitely a trend.

I'll confess I'm really tired of felted bags (even though I've got the materials for one stashed away -- the floral carpet bag that was in IK a while back, and once I've made that I'm done with felting for a good long time), but there's lots of felted stuff out there, and bags of every shape and description.

And I've been trying to come up with my own ideas for one-skein items -- and it makes sense that this is a growing trend, what with the number of luscious and luxury yarns out there.  A one-skein project could just be an affordable treat, whereas if you needed any more than that, you might not want to break the bank and buy.  I feel that way, and obviously others, do, too.

I actually marked an arrow next to any garment/item that caught my eye at the fashion show, and it's interesting to note that several days later, I can only remember what just a few of them were, so obviously those were the items that caught my eye as something I'd be interested in:

• the Twisted Sisters City Block sweater:  knit in a rayon/cotton blend, it combines mitred squares with what looks like some kind of chevron stitch.  I made a point of going to their booth to check it out, and liked it even more once I'd seen it up close.


• the Navajo Jacket designed by Vivian Hoxbro for Harrisville Designs.  I am so sorry I didn't stop by the Harrisville booth to take a good look at this, as I can't find a photo of it on-line yet.  I love Vivian's work, have knit a couple of her garments, and have always wanted to take a workshop with her.  I was too star-struck to go up and introduce myself.  But it's typical of her work, so if you know it, you'll know what ballpark it's in.


• the Autumn Entrelac Shawl from Jojoland International (knit in their Rhythm yarn).  I'm not a fan of entrelac, but I liked this shawl, and I was really glad to have the opportunity to check out the yarns from Jojoland.  I'm particularly impressed with the Harmony, which is a variegated laceweight wool, and there's going to be a really pretty, simple shawl designed in the yarn by Jane Sowerby in the Fall Issue of Knitter's Magazine (there were two colorways knit up at the show -- HC08 was at the booth, and I believe Jane was wearing one in HC01 as well.  I much prefered the orange/yellow one, but all the colours of the Harmony are really wonderful.)


• Hanne Falkenberg's Plissé jacket.  I'd seen some buzz about this on the 'net lately, but it didn't actually go on my wish list until I saw the model at the show.  It's simple, but with some nice details, and very flattering.  I have a couple of Falkenberg kits in the stash which I'm now determined to get to, as I'd really like to make this jacket, but can't justify it while I've got others already waiting.


• the Earth Stripe Dress, designed by Kaffe Fassett in Kid Silk Haze, which will be in Rowan's Magazine 42.  I haven't turned up a photo of this yet, but it reminded me very much of the Caterpillar sweater from a few issues back (and which I actually have on the needles.  Just need to finish sleeves and put it together).  Caterpillar was worked in KSH, Kid Classic and Lurex Shimmer, and had just a bit of glitter -- it was also in very rich shades.  Earth Stripe is, well, earthier -- paler colours, no glitter, just KSH.  I will confess I didn't like the sleeves -- as I recall, they had a bit of a gather at the wrist, and if I were to make this, I'd change them, but I liked the colour sensibility of the garment.


• the Sage Tunic Dress (actually a jumper) designed by Sally Melville for Needful Yarns (and worked in their London Tweed).  Being a member of the same knitting guild as Sally, I'd already seen this jumper and fallen in love with it, as she's worn it to a couple of guild meetings.  I just thought it was something she'd made for herself, but no, it's actually a pattern, and I have my own hot copy signed by Sally herself.  It's so new it's not even on their website, and I can't wait to make this (BTW, the pattern is actually for the jumper, a fine mohair blouse and a tie.  I love the whole outfit, but the mohair blouse would just be too hot for me.  It is gorgeous, though.)

As for the VK Anniversary garments, they were all pretty typical VK fare, and not one of them has a mark next to it.  There was one head-shaking moment when a model came down the runway in a huge silver satin ball gown topped with a basketweave cape designed by Vladimir Teriokhin.  It was worked in (wait for it) Lion Brand Yarns Wool-Ease Thick & Quick.  Now, I can tell you one thing -- if I'm going to knit something to wear to a fancy dress party, and I need something to match my ginormous silver satin ball skirt, I'm not going to think to myself, "Damn, what I really need to go with this is a basketweave cape in Wool-Ease Thick & Quick."

No, I am not.  Also incomprehensible was the commentary for the garment, which ended with "You'll be the queen of the jungle in no time."  Huh?  Wha?

(Another garment was described as something you could go to mardi gras in.  Unless I'm specifically planning on something to wear to mardi gras, I don't think that's something I want to hear about something I'm wearing...)

Apart from that though, there wasn't much in the way of interesting or strange commentary (oh, wait, there was a strange Rolling Stones reference), and the ghastlies were few and far between.  A lot of stuff that didn't catch my knitter's eye as something I'd want to make, but certainly would appeal to others, and I could at least understand why that would be, even if it wasn't something I'd hanker to throw on the needles.

So that's that for the Fashion Show.  Soon to come will be some commentary on some of the books I've brought home, as well as some notes on other things that struck me or caught my eye while I was there.  All in due time.