Introduction

Audrey! What can I say? Effortless style, charisma, coquettish charm, poise, timeless beauty, the perfect designer’s muse. From Hubert de Givenchy to Ralph Lauren, Audrey’s slender shape was an inspiration to artists, photographers, directors and designers worldwide for nearly half a century. She was the perfect clothes horse.

When Steven Meisel photographed her for the cover of Vanity Fair, he was amazed to find her just as gorgeous at sixty-two as she was in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Obviously, inner beauty must eventually work its way out, and over time, her youthful dewiness was replaced by an assured radiance which in later years emphasized her loveliness.

More than just a big screen icon, what I love about Audrey is that she was real – a multi-facetted personality with opinions, obsessions and convictions. Overwhelmed by the desperation and helplessness of the developing world’s children, she became a volunteer and ambassador for UNICEF. She was a committed and passionate humanitarian. Her work with children in places like Somalia, Sudan and Bangla Desh gave her great fulfilment and satisfaction and was just as important to her as being in the limelight.

I was delighted to be asked to design a book of sweaters inspired by Audrey. As Ralph Lauren famously said, Who wouldn’t want to drop everything and design for Audrey Hepburn? I embarked on some serious Audrey immersion therapy, devouring anything I could get my hands on about her – biographies, posters, quotes, websites and, of course, films. I settled into re-viewing them all, discovering that whilst she was not an outstanding actor, she exuded quirky Englishness, naïve sexuality and innate style, imbuing each of her roles with a piece of herself which was able to illuminate even the most mundane script.

Audrey’s Hollywood heyday was the fifties and sixties. However, in Classic Knits you won’t find slavishly reproduced retro knits. What you will find are twenty-four pieces which Audrey might have worn today. My aim is to capture her unique magic and knit it into each design. Of course, in setting the scene, there’s a nod to the clichés like Hermes headscarf and large sunglasses, but importantly, the sweaters should also stand alone as chic, simple and elegant - the epitome of Audrey style.

Wear your clothes, don’t let them wear you was her philosophy. Bearing this in mind I’ve designed a versatile collection of sweaters to get you through each day, no matter what the occasion. There is an upsurge in the popularity of all things handmade, as people become tired of the homogenous nature of shop-bought items. There is a fresh appreciation of originality and making your own clothes is one way of expressing your creativity.

Knitting is relaxing, sociable and connects people. If you’re new to knitting, don’t be afraid to pick up your pins and go down to your local yarn shop, where you’ll find lots of friendly knitters only too pleased to share their knowledge and get you going.

Classic Knits is chockful of straightforward patterns, designed to empower new and improving knitters with stylish and knittable classics. You won’t feel intimidated by complicated intarsia or intricate cables – you need only the basic knit and purl stitches to master most of the designs. My brief was to create sweaters that could be knitted up in three weekends, so even the time-poorest career girl can find projects to fit her busy schedule. Many designs can be completed by beginners, whilst the average knitter will find all the designs within her/his capabilities.

I’ve always been seduced by yarn, being a profligate and promiscuous yarn consumer, finding it nigh impossible to resist the temptation of a sumptuous new fibre. There’s never been a more exciting time to visit a yarn shop. You can find every possible blend and composition from the traditional wool, alpaca, cashmere, cotton and silk to the new and innovative yarns made from fibres like bamboo, soya and hemp, with many exciting blends in between. Research is going on all the time. Where will it all end – I hope it never does! It provides a stimulating and inspiring yarn experience which today’s knitter demands.

Choosing yarn is a sensual experience - a yarn needs to feel good and look good and that’s why I’ve always loved natural fibres. However, there are now so many interesting and beautiful man-made fibres that it’s not so clear cut any longer. One of the most thrilling jobs of a designer is selecting the perfect yarn for a design. Swatching helps to get the handle right, but it’s only when the sweater is knitted that you know for sure that you’ve made all the right decisions. When a new sweater arrives, hand knitted by one of my team of studio knitters, I’m like a child at Christmas! In Classic Knits you’ll find yarns by Rowan, Jaeger, Artesano, Debbie Bliss and Sirdar, each quality yarn chosen to complement a specific sweater.

It’s been a fabulous project to work on and a privilege to get to know Audrey intimately - in fact for the past few months she’s been my new best friend. I like to think that she would have enjoyed these designs, both knitting and wearing them. There’s a lovely picture of her sitting on a wall with large sunglasses, trenchcoat and Yorkie dog, engrossed in her knitting.

Though tragically she died prematurely in 1993, her spirit lives on through her films and charity work. I hope that in this collection each of you will be able to find your own piece of Audrey style. To quote Stanley Donen, who directed Audrey in Funny Face, Audrey makes my soul fly. She opens me up to beautiful feelings. In this hectic world, we could all do with some of that!

Jean Moss
October 2006