Fashion Flash

A trend in 60 seconds

KNIT PICKS
Once the domain of bad Christmas jumpers, knitwear is back in a big way. The new generation of knits will allow us to stay warm in style over the holiday season and well into the new year. This winter, we’ve been seeing exotic animal prints like leopard spots, zebra and tiger stripes leap onto jumpers and cardigans. For those that like their animals a little less wild, there are plenty of knits sporting cute pet motifs such as sausage dogs, too – head to www.topshop.com for a browse. Or look sharp in a knitted sweater with a geometric pattern, like the one we saw Gwen Stefani (pictured) out and about in recently.

Anyone who was gripped by the hit Danish TV crime series The Killing will know that its fictional heroine Sarah Lund scored plenty of column inches for the Faroese jumpers she wore throughout the first series. Sticking with a good thing, she debuted a new, chunky orange number for series two. Now the high-street stores across Europe are full of Scandi-style knitwear, so you can easily find your own signature sweater or two.

If you’re likely to be slamming some tequila shots this party season, we suggest you rug up with a Mexican-themed knit; from ponchos at Zara to Aztec shawl cardigans at Urban Outfitters. Slim ladies will look great in a tight motif jumper paired with a pencil skirt and ankle boots; adding a slim woven belt will accentuate your waist. Voluptuous girls will look foxy, 1950s style, in a leopard-print cardigan worn with a simple black top, cigarette pants and loafers (think Katy Perry). And ladies of all shapes and sizes will feel cosy and be bang-on-trend in a big Navaho-inspired knitted shawl, worn over skinny jeans or leggings.

If you want some high-end knitwear inspiration from the catwalks, check out Bella Freud’s autumn/winter Fetish capsule collection at www.bellafreud. co.uk. This range of knitwear has motifs featuring four different shoe design drawings by Christian Louboutin. The dresses and jumpers are made from super-soft Merino Cashwool with hints of Lurex. Toasty! At £400 (€467), we can only fantasise about the red-knit leotard with a black slinky stiletto. One for the racy ballerina in all of us.