Angela Missoni has done so well by the surfer nomad who presided over her past few collections that she wisely stuck with the idea of the traveling man for her Fall outing. Only this time he was on a train—the Trans-Siberian Railway to be precise. And right outside the window of that train was a world of wonders for Missoni to draw on.
It made for a strong collection. In fact, it's clear by this point that Missoni does best when making clothes for a defined character. Here, that man had an appetite for the exotic. The best pieces in the collection combined Missoni's unique artisanship with the rich, deep colors and decorative elements of the clothes worn by the tribes a traveler might encounter as he rolled across Asia in a train. Like the fringed tunic in a cashmere plaid, or the long shawl-collared cardigan in a collage of intense reds and blues.
Missoni said she'd been looking for more structure in the collection, so there were more suits and coats than before. But they were cut from a hybrid cloth, knitted and woven, which gave them an appealing softness. And there were tiny secret details, like private pleasures: gold braiding sealing internal seams; subtle smatterings of floral embroidery. Footwear was similarly garnished, adding a seductive finishing touch.
