Fashion Legend Missoni Dies...

SHREWSBURY, U.K. - May 24, 2013 - PRLog -- It's been a sad week in the world of fashion with the news that one of the founders of the great Italian fashion house, Missoni, has died.  Ottavio Missoni died recently at the age of 92 - he co-founded the fashion house with his wife Rosita in 1953. Also known as Tai he and his wife's label became known for its colourful knits and zigzag patterns and here and MizEllie we love their distinctive style.

So how was the famous fashion brand born? Well Rosita and Tai started out with just a few knitting machines making designs for other labels. So the first Missoni collection didn’t appear until 1958 with two of the striped dresses they created being sold in Milan stores. However, in 1963 the now famous zigzag lightweight knits were born. By 1966 they had created their first fashion show, having caught the eye of US Vogue editorAnna Piaggi, but in 1967 they caused a frenzy when the models bare breasts were shown up by the camera bulbs of the photographers. This was because the model’s bra straps could be seen through the models lame tops so they were ordered to remove them causing the scandal!

During the 70s the brand grew in popularity - with their designs championed by Vogue’s then editor Diana Vreeland they opened their first boutiques one in Bloomingdales and one in Milan.  Their bright intricate zigzags, waves, multicolour stripes, checks and patchwork were perfect for the feel of the 1970s and meant that women could mix, and maybe not match as such, their boldest and most daring patterns. Thanks to Missoni it became acceptable to wear a striped skirt with a bold chequerboard jacket and patchwork neckscarves (http://www.mizellie.co.uk/).

Potty Dot Scarf £8.00          Butterfly Scarf £18.00          Frilly Garland Scarf £12.00

The design duo worked perfectly together with Tai working on the colours and Rosita turning them into easy to wear clothes. And now the company archives includes an eye watering 7,000 designs of stripes, zigzags, tartans, patchworks and mélanges in a variety of stunning fabrics. And thanks to Tai and Rosita’s hard work the brand has now grown to be a global phenomenon with a number of celebrity followers including the ever fashionable and stylish Duchess of Cambridge.

Get the look the less

If you want to pay tribute to Missoni then you need to embrace bright colours and patterns and don’t be afraid to mix patterns together as that will encompass the Missoni ethic. One perfect way to pay tribute to the Missoni label is with women’s scarves (http://www.mizellie.co.uk/scarves-for-women-s/2229.htm). Look for bright and bold colours and patterns like stripes, zigzags even tartans and chequerboards to nail the look.

Sweet Bohemian Scarf £12.00          Silk Chiffon Scarf £13.00          Peacock Scarf £12.00

Bright and bold neck scarves (http://www.mizellie.co.uk/scarves-for-women-s/2229.htm) from MizEllie will be the perfect way of channelling that iconic Missoni look and a great way of paying tribute to a great legend in the fashion world - Tai Missoni.