What knot to wear

IN: Knots are no longer a not.

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Wearable styles come with a hot new twist, writes Rachel Wells.

It occurred to me the other day that people are often ostracised just as much for being fashionable as they are for being unfashionable.

How many times have you nudged a friend and sniggered at a young girl in short denim shorts and thigh-high boots or skinny jeans pulled up to her armpits? Probably as often as you've giggled at the middle-aged man in his loud paisley shirt and flared trousers that went out of fashion with mullets and moustaches.

It seems people are as amused by those who jump on board the latest fashion craze as they are by those trapped in some kind of fashion time warp. This only really struck me when I caught myself chuckling at a young guy on his way to work wearing a pair of black leggings, a tailored sports jacket complete with a hood and an oversized woollen snood. He was the most "on-trend" guy I'd seen in weeks, yet there I was giggling like a schoolgirl.

I guess I have always been subconsciously aware of the ridicule you risk when you are among the first to step out in a new trend. See, I'd prefer to let other people be the fashion guinea pigs - to catch the train in their drop-crotch trousers or double denim ensemble - while discreetly observing people's reaction to them from a safe and inconspicuous distance.

I don't want to be the one that people point at or, worse still, laugh at behind my back. I'd prefer to let others test the fashion waters and then jump on a proven winner, or at least adopt a more divisive trend once the novelty factor has worn off and people aren't sneering at your pointy-shouldered jacket, because every other woman is wearing one too.

As a result, while I often identify emerging fashion trends early on, I'm not always the first to adopt them. Though there are some exceptions and they are for less conspicuous, slightly more user-friendly trends.

 
Take the growing trend for twisting and knotting, for example. This is a fashion I could happily introduce into my wardrobe without fear of attracting unwanted attention. In other words, it's an easy way to look on-trend without having to wriggle into a stupidly short bodycon dress or a ridiculously wide-shouldered jacket.

The trend for twists and knots is likely to hit full stride for summer. While some garments have been fashioned entirely from twisted and knotted fabrics, others come with just a subtle knot at the bust or neckline.

Sydney designer Dion Lee, who was either a boy scout or undertook a quick lesson in knot-tying before putting together his spring/summer collection, has twisted and knotted lightweight silks into a series of stunning shift and pleated cocktail dresses.

Fellow Sydney designer Gary Bigeni has strategically placed twists and knots to give drape and dimension to his summer garments.

Melbourne label Friend of Mine uses giant knots to add texture and movement to its mini skirts, while Mela Purdie creates interest on draped jersey dresses with a highlight twist at the neckline.

- © Fairfax NZ News