Baby It's Cold Outside

Burlingame PopUp Store

January 13, 14, 15, 10am - 6pm
319 Primrose Rd, Burlingame, CA UPSTAIRS

This sale will have my cashmere and  alpaca sweaters.  Plus there will be seven other vendors with unique merchandise.  All will be available at 50% off and more.

Bears In Mind

 

 

Bear collectors come see our new collection of classic alpaca fur teddy bears.  Buy a unique bear for your collection.  Not collecting, buy a warm, silky alpaca fur bear to cuddle up with on a cold night.  You're warm enough at night? Buy a soft, adorable bear for your favorite young visitor.

Supplies are limited so no matter how a bear will satisfy your needs,  shop now to make sure your bear is available.

Three Bags Full

We are extremely appreciative when one of our customers creates a store window featuring Sweater Art.

Please patronize Three Bags Full at 500 Sutter Street, San Francisco.   And thank you to Susan Goldstick for sending us the picture.

It's So Hot You Probably Wish Your Were A Polar Bear

Surprise!  I am not going to blog about sweaters except to say  I hope yours are stored well  so they will be fresh when it gets cooler.

I am going to tell you some interesting facts about polar bears and if you feel inspired your can purchase one at Hallet Huggables.

Female polar bears like to build their dens with old snow, not snow that is freshly fallen. They often add rooms and and construct a ventilation system in the roof.  They are not hibernating, just escaping from bad weather with their cubs.

Artistry in Fashion: September 25, 2010

"Practice what you preach".  After reading my last post you  may have agreed with idea of shopping off-season for sweater deals, but hestitated to purchase a "final sale" item online.

I am going to make it easy for Bay Area residents with a booth at Artistry in Fashion, September 25, 10am - 5pm.  There will be a mirror!

Cañada College
4200 Farm Hill Blvd.
Redwood City, CA 94061

Save the date!   And check their website to see other purveyors of art to wear clothing, accessories and jewelry.  And yes, there will be reminders.

Summer Sweaters - Be a Contrarian and Shop For Deals Now

Summer sweaters can define oxymoron, especially if you consider the traditional fibers of alpaca and cashmere.  Sweaters that would actually provide warmth, look wrong in the summer.  Of course there are feather weight cashmere sweaters that  work when the air-conditioning is too high, but choices are limited in scope and usefulness.  Shawls are a better value.

What is not contradictory about summer sweaters is that they are bargains.  Buying off season is smart. We are offering significantly reduced prices on sweaters now.  Don't miss this opportunity and shop now.

So What is Designer Clothing?

Really what's in a name?  The most sought after designer looks, may not look the best on you.  So why do you want them so badly?  Advertising, celebrity endorsements, and peer pressure give prestige brands cache. And of course everyone will know that you spent the big bucks. Or did you?  If you did not buy couture, the "designer" clothing you purchased has the designer's name on it as the result of a licensing agreement, not necessarily because the designer had anything to do with the creation of the garment. Make sure your purchases of designer clothing merit the increased price with better fabric and and fit, and that you are not actually paying more to wear a designer label.

Or, choose to wear garments from local and emerging designers that personally stand behind their labels. Look for one-of-a-kind handbags from Victoria Chulay, gemstome jewelry from Kneckknacks, and cashmere and alpaca sweaters from Hallet Sweater Art on our website.  Sale in progress.

Trends: Color Blocking

I love reading fashion news that validates my own design ideas.
Recently in About.com , Cynthia Nellis wrote about color blocking as a key trend for 2010.  She mentioned several famous designers and how they interpret this technique.

My personal take on color blocking is all about optical illusion.  I like to use blocks of color to define the body, making waists, slimming hips, narrowing the torso.  Side panels, vertical lines, and the proper combination of light and dark colors all work to camouflage the less than perfect figure.  And at a certain age, even thin women may need to define themselves with color and line.

We have many styles that use this technique. Refer to our website for a  list of retailers that will have our product in the fall.  I am adding product to complement the sweaters. KneckKnacks - gemstone jewelry by my Mom, and one-of-a-kind handbags by my friend Viktoria Chulay can be seen soon.

Why Buy More of the Same Old Thing

Aren't you getting a little tired of going into your favorite store and seeing the same  merchandise that is in every other store?  Agreed the economy really hasn't recovered and stores are playing it safe, but is fashion redux at the top of your must have shopping list for the season?  If you want to recycle, you can shop your closet.

This is a great opportunity to explore the possiblities from Hallet Sweater Art.  Purchase one of our alpaca or cashmere sweaters, on sale now, and look like you are no longer dressed in the uniforms of the masses. Your friends will admire you as a fashionista.

What is Intarsia Knitting and Why is it Superior?

Intarsia Knit Floral Shawl

In very simple terms, intarsia knitting is the creation of pattern in a knit by adding colors from bobbins. This method produces a single layer of fabric, unlike fair isle knits where the thread is carried at the back of the fabric, or jacquard knits which are actually wovens. Intarsia knitting is done by hand. It is laborious and time consuming because the ends of each color have to be woven back into the fabric at the end of the knitting process.

The advantage to the consumer is that intarsia knitting allows for unlimited color changes within a pattern so beautiful knits can be created.  Our Floral Shawl is a complicated example of the intarsia technique.  See simpler patterns on sweaters  in our Hallet Sweater Art online shop.

SOFT GOLD - The finest cashmere

I was at the Atelier Designers Show in NYC last week waiting for an appointment when a gentleman came into the room representing a company selling cashmere. He could not get over the quality and price of my products and wanted to know where I bought them.

That's a trade secret of course, but I would like to share with you that 2 ply, 12 gauge is only meaningful in the context of fiber length and density.

The best is called Erlangshan cashmere and is well known for its softness, whiteness, fineness and length. In China, this special cashmere is referred to as "soft gold" because it is rare and sold in grams.

At Hallet Sweater Art: "We Dress You in Business Class".

Valentine's Day - Express the Sentiment with a Sweater

Through the centuries Valentine's Day has been celebrated with gifts of love. What started as a pagan festival in Rome, with animal sacrifices and fertility rites, was Christianized in the third century by a Father Valentine who secretly wed couples when marriage was banned.

Love may be all you need, but Valentine's Day gifts are what makes romance. From simple cards, to flowers, chocolates, expensive dinners and diamonds, there is no boundary to express the sentimental.

At Sweater Art, our Valentine to you is red cashmere for $99.