Love it or hate it, there’s something interesting about the parade of zigging, zagging, and color-blocked classic Missioni prints. The Spring 2011 Missoni collection was full of zeal and energy, and while the brand delivered some of the expected, there was a distinctly bold attempt to take the collection in a modern and new direction.
This season, we saw a number of designers continue to play up their heritage, so it was fairly surprising to see the Missoni collection go in a number of unexpected ways. There were still many classic prints in the runway show, but among the many looks that veered off the signature path of billowy, beach-chic, and 70s silhouettes done in geometric patterns were graphic African and South American-inspired prints.
Many of the tribal effect prints, done in blue, orange, green, and black, were finished with words and phrases, like “baby” and “raw like sushi,” boldly sprinkled on them – a style reminiscent of Moschino, and a sharp contrast to the stripes and abstract florals many might have expected.
More classic caftan and dress silhouettes in painterly zig-zag patterns made their way down the runway, but were often off-set by oddball styling choices that included nun-like, semi-floppy square hats. Other looks had hints of classic patterns mixed with saggy, apron-like dresses done in black for a folksy effect.
