Chic new knits for women — and men

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 10

Chic new knits for women — and men

The New Zealand Wool Board is touring the country giving retailers an insight into what is in store for the consumer next winter. Last week I talked about the general fashion trends for winter 1981. This week I thought we

could look at what we can expect to see in knitwear. Knits for woman are sophisticated and elegant, although there is nothing very different or outstanding in the Wool Board’s showing. The looks could probably be best described as a return of past ideas. Remember when the OpArt cult took off in the sixties in anything from decor to clothing? A time when some mini dresses resembled Piet Mondrian abstract compositions. Well, knitwear manufacturers have picked up the threads again ami are incorporating op-art in to their geometric designs. Fortunately, the interpretation is less loud than in the sixties, but it does leave me wondering what’s happened to originality. Back-buttoning is also returning. I recall (as I am sure many of your do)

wearing sweaters buttoned down the back — or were they cardigans worn back-to-front. Never mind — we thought they looked marvelous . over those pointed-cup bras. Manufacturers in Europe this year have been using clever stitch structures and wool textures so our knitwear producers are expected to follow. And there will be more collar and cuff detail Shoulder buttoning will be popular and a general tailored look will add a little more' dressed up styling for women’s knits. Colour includes clever combinations like slate, grey and burgundy. Men’s knitwear has been designed to give them clever alternatives to woven fabrics. The fact that knitwear can imitate outerwear trends so well means the same shape and styling can be ■ carried through wovens and knits.

“These days, no-one can afford to discard one season’s garments in favour of the next,” says Vera Dreyer, of the New Zealand Wool Board. “People want to buy quality garments that will last for more than one season. Clothes that can be co-or-dinated with new garments each year.”