Being a lady who's life is sprinkled with plenty of colourful grandad knits, chevrons & zigzags and a great believer in strong, loving relationships with family and partners, todays news came with great sadness, as I'm sure it did for everyone.
From being a prisoner of war in Egypt as a youngster, becoming a Olympic hurdler and falling into the fashion world after meeting a shy Italian girl in London named Rosita, it's impossible to imagine Milan Fashion Week without the huge powerhouse that it has become today.
He was a true patriarch of Italian style, with both Rosita and himself making a big stamp during the late 60's and 1970's. When reminising the waves of the beautiful imagery seeping from the pores of 1970's fashion houses and being recreated now, alongside Pucci & Ossie Clark, Missoni were the kings of the chevron, stripe and the psychadelic print.
Print was simply a segment of their house stylings that seem to have remained a constant throughtout the families generations. In 1958 the first dress was sold under the name Missoni. It was a knitted shift dress with a really complex and detailed weave intermingled with a immeasurable array of colours flowing through the garment. After laying eyes on it, Diana Vreeland was quoted as saying "Who said there are only colours, there are also tones!"
From their humble beginnings, set up in the basement of their first home, the ethics, style and imaginative collections have remained the same. I love the real warmth you get from a fashion house that is family based. The fact the youngest lady and Ottavio's granddaughter Margherita cities her grandmother as her biggest influence holds such weight with people like myself who is lucky enough to think just as highly of my immediate family.
For me, appearing on the catwalk with Angela in 2011 at Milan Fashion Week spoke volumes of how the house operates and helped bring back Grandad chic, I've always described my fashion style as a schoolgirl who's got locked in her grandad's wardrobe.
"Mix & Match became our look and we experimented with all sorts of weaves and methods - space dyeing, tie dyeing..." - Rosita Missoni
Knitted dresses & Missoni coats have remained the must have staple in a range of different fabrics and textures like rayon, silk, cotton & wool. As a duo their experimentation with knitting techniques have revolutioned modern fashion. What I've always admired about Missoni is their steady foundations and the ability to not break their backs over regimentally sticking to every current trend.
He very much reminds me of my own lovely Grandpa in appearance and attitude and I'm a complete sucker for old love stories, similar to my own Gran & Grandpa. Whether it was being an author at 90 or being a father he was a completely timeless character. Ciao Tai!
"Our philosophy since we wnt into business has been that a piece of clothing should be like a work of art. it should not be bought for a special occasion or because it's in fashion, but because a woman likes it... and feels she could wear it forever" - Ottavio Missoni
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