A few days officially past the winter season and though spring-like temps are five months from sight doesn’t mean you have to become fashionably challenged in order to stay warm.

With top designers, including Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren, devoting a section of their runway to highlighting hand-crotched, cashmere knit cropped jackets and cardigans in their women’s 2007/2008 fall and winter collections earlier this year, it seems adding hand-made crochet knits to the wardrobe has become the trendy new necessity.

However, you don’t have to travel to the top fashionista capitals of the world or shop Neiman Marcus to pick up these fashion-forward digs.

Already ahead of couture schedule, native Detroiter Lacresha Easterling has been styling her own knits for over nine years, inspired after the same run-ins of listlessly patterned and manufactured winter knit-wear available at designer department stores.

Officially launching Cre Collection earlier this year, Cre’s fall/winter line includes a limited design of ladies’ hand-crafted, crochet sweaters.

Using a light, durable cotton yarn, her collection ranges from long-sleeved midriffs, sexy, cropped button-ups and stylish tube-top sweaters embroidered with a scalloped base that accentuates the hips, coming in solid or a multiple blend of bold, cool, and neutral colors, handcrafted with a hint of spring season flexibility.

Remaining fashionably innovative, Cre Collection also includes optional accessories like crocheted neck wraps, wristbands, and leg warmers to match the sweater design. And though her sweaters are exclusively designed to meet her clients’ individual fashion desires, a few special pieces from her line are also retailing in Spectacles, Detroit’s essential clothing boutique, starting at $135.

Already blueprinting her intimate apparel line for the ’08 summer collection, Cre also caught the early spring worm with her clothing logo imprinted on short-sleeved lady tees mounted with a touch of encrusted gems.

So whether it’s boutique unique or custom-designed, Cre Collection has everything to do with being fashion forward for the winter.

For more information or for your next exclusive look, visit myspace.com/crelove or call 313-447-7507.

Contact Deanna Dunham at deannadunham@yahoo.com or visit her website www.deannadunham.com.