Surely there can be no greater satisfaction than watching someone excel at what they were born to do. Call it the American Pharoah effect: Whether or not we have an actual horse in the race, we like to see winners win. Which made tonight’s tour de force and return to form of a Missoni show—one of Angela Missoni’s finest in seasons—something of a victory lap. This is not to say that the clothes were necessarily complex or thought-provoking or provided some greater narrative through line to the season; they were simply great Missoni clothes, fun and sexy, sort of seasonless, and vaguely aspirational (in the way that horizontal stripes and zigzag knit pants are; they require a very specific type of lifestyle). Which, by the way, is exactly what they’re supposed to be.
Sure, there’s an argument to be made that a certain eclecticism and luxe bohemianism has been really “in” since Alessandro Michele took the helm over at Gucci, but it’s hard to disagree that Missoni was there first. “There” in a different way, sure, but these were contemporary takes on the hippie-with-a-black-card looks that put the label on the map in the first place back in the early 1970s.
Among the hits, chunky cool-girl-on-campus beanies; thick, handmade sweaters worn sans trou but plus expansive scarf, which bounced along ebulliently like the arms of a Dr. Seuss character; slim-cut disco dresses; easy suiting; and lighter-than-air plissé maxi dresses. This collection proved once again that, at its best, there are few things more inviting than a really good knit. And isn't it such good news to find so many more?
