Fiber-watching During Fashion Week

Hello my fellow fiberistas - it's Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday. I'm doing something a little different this week. As you may or may not know, fall is one of the high seasons in the fashion industry. Throughout September, major cities hold "fashion weeks" when all of the major fashion designers show their designs for the next season. In September, several of these were held, and if you want to get a bird's eye view of street fashion, there's no better time to carry your camera and take photos. 

I have a Pinterest board dedicated to street fashion around the world, mostly curated through the lens of Women's Wear Daily. While the board has only a handful of followers, it's been getting some play, especially in the last two weeks. I thought I'd show you what (at least a handful) of people repinned from my curated street fashions. Take it with a grain of salt (or a stray piece of fiber, as the case may be). It nevertheless is interesting to see what outfits some people around the world are hanging out in. All photos from Women's Wear Daily, photographer for all shots (except New York Fashion Week) Kuba Dabrowski, New York Fashion Week photos snapped by Ryan Kibler.

The first from London's Fashion Week.
I loved the jacket as well as the
photo backdrop.

Again from London Fashion week. A
lovely, soft longer jacket and a great
overall palette.

I love this black and white pattern
against the leather (again, in London).

Doesn't this seem slightly out of season
during London's fashion week? Never-
theless, it was snapped and then repinned. 

The one outfit from Milan Fashion
Week that's been repinned. I like
this well enough, but others on my
board are far more interesting.

New York Fashion Week, of course.

Also from New York. Love the
glasses.

Do you think she had fun shopping
in Manhattan?

The last two looks are from Paris
Fashion Week. So classy in a muted
palette - and isn't that scarf felted?

What's a little military-inspired wear
along the Champs Elysee?

I hope you definitely head on over to Andrea's at Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see what everyone else is wearing on the street ... and maybe they even made the outfit by hand?!!!

My Fantasy Crafty Fiber Day

Well, it's day 6 of this year's Knit and Crochet Blogging Week, and I'm officially exercising my wildcard right to fill you in on my perfect crafting day.  Remember, it's my fantasy.

Where: NYC (it could also easily be Paris or Milan)
When: Probably fall
With Whom: My guy (when is he going to show up, anyway?)
                      and then meet up with 4 of my fibery gal pals

Morning: My guy and I have a leisurely continental breakfast in bed, delivered by room service at our boutique and oh-so-fashionable hotel. We listen to NPR, he reads or gets updated on his electronic device of choice and I get some comfy crafting done on my latest project.

After dressing, my guy goes his separate way (hey, he's entitled to his own fun) and I meet up with the 4 crafty gals - it's time for fiber shopping. We take a quick horse  'n buggy ride through the park to get our green fix, then head first to the LB store - the window is always so enticing, and I can stock up on some of their LB Collection fibers. Next up: Purl Soho for more yarny fun (as well as some serious button stash enhancement). Finally (before lunch): Habu Textiles, for my fix of fiber inspiration.

Lunch: In Chinatown or Tribeca, me and the crafty gals enjoy great food and even better conversation during which we revisit our purchases and oogle over all manner of stash enhancement. Oh yeah.



Afternoon: We head to Brooklyn for a visit with Jared Flood (who has graciously agreed to see us), so we can get a tour of the studio (because he gives tours all the time), pick up some yarn (because of course he's got some at the studio just waiting for us) and we get a sneaky peek at what the studio is working on. Perfect. Then, back to the hotel.

Evening: Drinks with my guy and the gals (with their SOs) where we all compare notes on the day. Dinner someplace relaxed and very leisurely, sans electronic devices. A nightcap in the oh-so-fashionable boutique-y bar or perhaps a blues club, if one is close by.

My fantasy crafty day is filled with fiber, friends and city fun - not to mention good food and no chores whatsoever. Now that's inspiring.

Fashion Reflection

Well, I've finally developed my film and had a chance to otherwise process the four days spent in New York for VK Live. Here are my highlights:

1. The Gallery: I was scheduled to help out in the Gallery as part of my volunteer duties during the Market Preview Friday evening. I must say it was one of the highlights of my weekend. Let me give a huge shout-out to the five artists that made those two hours just fly by lickity-split: Ben Cuevas, Alyssa Ettinger, Anna Hrackovec, Ruth Marshall and Hannah Haworth. Each artist brought something unique to the gallery, but far and away the most impressive was the oversized beluga whale likeness hanging from the ceiling. Hannah knit it from roving and other thick types of fiber, and it presided over the Market like a giant knit blimp, only way cooler.

2. My fellow volunteers: What a standout group of individuals! From our introductory meeting on Thursday (when I was bleary-eyed from my overnight flight to the Big Apple), we were friendly and helpful to and with each other. Nothing more to say but thanks for a great volunteer experience.

3. The designeratti and editorial mavens: I could ask for nothing better than to see Doris Chan striding through registration, sun glasses on, hair waving behind her. Or providing an identification badge to Melanie Falick on Saturday. Or having a really fun conversation with one half of Mason Dixon Knitting. Or not letting Cirilia Rose slip through the registration area unnoticed. Or seeing Franklin Habit conducting an impromptu discussion with participants. Or watching Vickie Howell teach the knit basics at the Beginners' Bar. Each of these individuals, as well as the rest of their milieu, was genuinely kind and giving of their time and good nature during the entire event. Whoooah! And we won't even discuss the transfer of all that knowledge.

4.  The Magic of Mohair: Indeed! As a lover of what some might consider "the devil's fiber," I was thrilled to see it everywhere. It was a mohair celebration, and I was right on time, wearing my own mohair and mohair blend FOs. The South African Mohair representative and I had a nice chat about the country (I've lived there, briefly, in 2000), and she even took a photo of my shawl (my self-designed Rustic Elegance shawl, no less!). How is it? It's mohair, baby. More whooooah.

5. The attendees: There were approximately 3,000 pre-registered for the event, and another few thousand registered for Market entrance during the event. It could have been a long, nasty weekend. But no. Most were willing to help their fellow fiber enthusiasts (unless they were within eyesight of a yarn sale bin), and class participation was just, well, enjoyable.

6. Finally, New York, herself: Yes, it was cold. Yes, it did snow. But New York in the snow (before the slush kicks in) is magical. I couldn't wait to get out of my hotel room on Friday morning to take photos. I'm only sorry I didn't have enough time to quickly get to Central Park during the morning prime time snow photo-snapping window. 

Were there hotel logistical issues and snafus? Absolutely. Are there things I would have liked to see go differently? You bet. At the end of the day, however, the first VK Live event was a success. I will eagerly await the preview for the next event.

I've set up a separate page for my photo show of the event (4/5/11 update: the slide show of my photos can now be viewed on the Photography page). Please enjoy one person's view of the weekend, and I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to leave a comment either here, or on the photo page.