The trend reports, such as Fashion Box, forecast the trends about 18 months in advance. So when you're right in the middle of a completely different trend, it's always a little hard to imagine that the trends they forecast will really come to life. The one trend that really grabbed my attention in the forecast for the fall/winter 2008/2009 season was the oversized sweaters, or something I've been thinking should be called "the sack trend."

Fashion Box forecasted huge, billowing sweaters, sweater jackets, ponchos, and wraps. Sleeves extend past the fingertips, collars come up to the eyes, sweater lengths reach the knees, and sweater coats sweep the floor. You would think all this excess knit fabric wouldn't be too flattering, but the forecasts presented it in a really intriguing way, paired with very sleek separates. If the sweater is huge, the pants are skinny and flattering. Belts are used, even over the knitwear, to remind us of the female form under all that knitwear. Somehow it was all presented in a way that makes oversized knitwear desireable. I wondered if this trend would actually come to life on the runways. As if there was any doubt. In real life it's not quite as extreme as forecasted, but it is oversized nonetheless.

Here's an oversized, chunky sweater from Cher Michel Klein:

And a chunky poncho with a huge collar:

An off-the-shoulder sweater from Julien Macdonald:

The true test of this trend will be whether it shows up in mainstream retail. Will we be able to find sack sweaters at Macy's? How about Target? Will we all buy them? Will we spend all winter using 20 skeins of yarn to make one? Maybe this is the next huge trend! If you spot a sack sweater in mainstream retail, I want to hear about it. Leave a comment here with the link, or email robindodge@metapostmodernknitting.com.

-Robin