SPRING 2014 FASHION TREND REPORT

We are in the grips of a cold and snowy winter which feels to me like an excellent time to start looking at the emerging fashion trends for Spring 2014 and dreamily imagine what we'll be wearing and what we'll want to add to our wardrobe once the warmer weather returns. 

The overall theme for the coming season is feminine, sexy, chic, relaxed and sporty.

Floral Patterns

Pretty floral patterns are a major trend for spring 2014. They have been prominently featured on the runways in flouncy skirts and dresses in feminine silhouettes. The floral patterns are seen in all-over prints as well as floral collages set against a plain background.

Oscar de la Renta

Exposed Midriffs

Bared midriffs were a big trend on the runways which featured cropped tops and bralets as well as inverse buttoning where the top few buttons of a top are buttoned and the rest are left undone allowing the top to float open. 

Diane von Furstenberg

Sheer Fabrics
The sheer trend continues this season with the use of peekaboo panels, sheer stripes, sheer fabrics over opaque undergarments, as well as semi-translucent layered fabrics giving dimension to garments.

Cushie et Ochs

Word Play

Text with a play on words were featured as statement pieces on garments and accessories. The text tends to be witty and clever words and statements rather than logos.

Alexander Wang

Sports Luxe
The sports luxe trend continues in its popularity this season in styles that are chic, relaxed and casual. An athletic aesthetic of sport-chic included exaggerated v-neck tennis sweaters, racing stripes, perforated fabrics and varsity jackets.

Ralph Lauren

Fringes 

Fringes made of leather, silk and beading were used in a variety of ways from evening to casual wear. The embellishment is modern and adds to the overall feel of fluidity this season. 

Emilio Pucci

Wide Leg Pants
The ultra-chic, easy to wear wide leg returns in a billowy silhouette for trousers, Bermuda shorts and culottes.

Daks

BASKETWEAVE STITCH

STITCH OF THE MONTH – January 2014

The Basketweave stitch creates a beautiful textured pattern giving the fabric a woven appearance. The stitch pattern uses only knit and purl stitches where the purl blocks appear to wrap around the knit blocks producing the resemblance to basketweave.

Although the pattern is not a truly reversible stitch; however, the ‘wrong side’ also has a nice appearance. This stitch pattern has been is often used for washcloths, blankets and scarves. The pattern looks complicated but is quite simple to work and easy to remember.

Basketweave Stitch

(Multiples of 8 stitches + 5)

Row 1 (RS):    Knit 

Row 2:            K5, *p3, k5; rep from * to end

Row 3:            P5, *k3, p5; rep from * to end

Row 4:            K5, *p3, k5; rep from * to end

Row 5:            Knit

Row 6:            K1, *p3, k5; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1

Row 7:            P1, *k3, p5; rep from * to last 4 sts, k3, p1

Row 8:            K1, *p3, k5; rep from * to last 4 sts, p3, k1

These 8 rows form the Basketweave stitch pattern.

Abbreviations

rep     repeat

RS     right side

st(s)  stitch(es)