Throwing on the thrown-out

Summer may be around the corner, but you never know what the weather may bring in these trans-seasonal times. So a review of a book about quirky jumpers is never out of vogue…

From Kanye to Gaga, retro style has become very much of the moment. So while it is true that we are moving towards a brave new world of technology, our taste in clothes is not so much for the far-out as it is for the worn-out.

In to this old-as-new world of fashion comes Simone Bennett’s latest book, Retro Jumpers, guiding would-be fashionistas through the potential minefield of trends, and taking the guesswork out of finding that perfect piece of knitted garment.

Leafing through the images in the book, one might be forgiven for thinking that this is all part of a sartorial take-down rather than a genuine pump-up – so ridiculous-looking are some of outfits. But this playful, ironic approach is perfectly in keeping with the modern attitude to fashion, where looking ridics is all part of the fun.

So if you want to be on the cutting edge in 2017, be careful with what you throw out: it might just be the next in-thing.  Chris Prindiville

‘Retro Jumpers’ by Simone Bennett is published through Hardie Grant Books, available in hardback, RRP $19.99.