DRESSCODE: MAD FOR MISSONI

 

It's finally sweater weather here in Los Angeles, and there's nothing we love more than a chance to cozy up in our favorite knits. Missoni's wonderfully colorful Italian fabrics feel right at home in LA, a brand built on Mediterranean glamour, bohemian luxe, and timeless styles. Inspired by Missoni's recent Los Angeles book launch for their first publication, "Missoni: The Great Italian Fashion," here are our fave six picks, looks to get ready for fall's arrival and beyond.

 

“In Los Angeles, I find the best Missoni vintage from the Seventies, even end of the Sixties,” said Angela Missoni. “I always felt that there is something about Missoni rooted in L.A.” 
-Angela Missoni, WWD

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Rainbow Dress

MISSONI
Rainbow Static Knit Dress

 

We'll let you in on a little secret: this rainbow-hued knit dress is just as easy to wear as your favorite t-shirt, but far more fun and put together! One could almost consider Missoni knitwear to be the official beginnings of "athleisure," starting with knit tracksuits by Olympian Ottavio "Tai" Missoni and his wife Rosita for his team members. The couple's passion for print and color runs throughout the spirit of the brand, now continuing under daughter Angela's helm- and under her daughter Margherita tasked with rebranding M Missoni. The couple's innovative knitting techniques (fiamma knit!), iconic patterns (chevron stripes! space dye!), and expressive color palettes (hello rainbows and pattern mixing!) revolutionized ready-to-wear fashion and knitwear. They took an artsy-craftsy, handmade medium associated with lambswool jumpers and grandma blankets, and transformed it into something stylish, and sexy.

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Peasant Boho Knit Dress

MISSONI
Belted Knit Peasant Dress


This solid colored nubby knit peasant dress appears to possibly pre-date Missoni's introduction of the Raschel knitting machine in 1962, which allowed Tai to create the original flames, wavy stripes, chevrons, and space dye knits iconic to the brand. Full of Missoni's signature bohemian luxe, this peasant-style knit dress includes a matching belt with frosted buckle and scarf that be draped around the neck or wrapped into a matching turban for a complete look. That "complete look" is now a signature of the brand, with the layering and pattern mixing of fine gauge knits that is so deliberate that while none of it matches, it all goes together. 

 

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Long Duster Vest
MISSONI
Long Striped Sweater Vest

 

We're loving this long duster vest knit from varying yarn weights that create a sophisticated chunky, nubby striped sleeveless sweater in a length that embodies the bohemian glamour that is Missoni. Tai and Rosita took works of art and translated them into fabrics full of life. We easily see this piece with a turtleneck sweater and striped knit pants as easily as over an iconic zig zag bikini and headscarf as the sun sets on a late afternoon pool party.

No strangers to shaking things up, the Missonis caused a scandal with their first collection presentation in 1967 when Rosita had the models remove their bras as they detracted from the thin lamé knit blouses modeled. Under the strong show lights at the Pitti Palace, the blouses became completely transparent. At their second show, the Missonis inadvertently created a fashionable pool party at Piscina Solari: the innovative inflatable house that showcased the models collapsed, and all of the models went tumbling and laughing into the water.

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Sequin Geometric Sweater Jacket Swacket

 MISSONI
Sequined Knit Jacket

 

This sweater-jacket covered in clear sequins takes a sensible jacket body and gives it the Missoni treatment. Geometric pattern with contrast zebra space-dye trim is at once soft, vibrant, and glittery, while maintaining clean, classic lines. The timeless, well-designed aspect of the brand has repeatedly earned the support of esteemed designers, editors, and collaborators. From the early partnership with Emmanuelle Khanh and unwavering support of Anna Piaggi, to Diana Vreeland's Vogue nod, Missoni was cemented into Italy's fashion royalty. Immediately recognizable signature fabrics in enduring styles keeps the brand thriving year after year. Nothing appears dated, and each piece is truly an investment.

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Skirt Space Dye

MISSONI

Wavy Stripe Knit Skirt

 

Wavy striped skirt in a wonderfully warm palette embrace the 70s era in which they were born. Evocative of popular upholstery fabric, but with none of the stiffness, this fine gauge midi skirt softly moves with the body. It's no surprise that Rosita went on to create Missoni Home- in the same colorful, brightly patterned knits. 

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Stripe Grandpa Dress
MISSONI
Teal Dobby Stripe Sweater Dress

 

Wavy rainbow stripes, dots, and rectangles cover the entirety of this menswear inspired v-neck sweater dress. All of the comfort of a big, oversized sweater that's begging to be given a full Missoni makeover- a sash belt, headscarf, turtleneck, long skirt, and poncho complete the layered print-on-print look- but if we only had one piece to play with, it would be this sweater dress.

 

Recess DressCode Designer Consignment Vintage Missoni Knit Knitwear Sweater Weather Fabric

Photography by Justin Guthrie
Copy & Art by Erica Sanae

 

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