Missoni, the iconic fashion house, brought the 2009 Missoni Summer Collection to San Diego for two days. The first was a private event on Dec. 10 chaired by Joan Waitt and underwritten by Nordstrom. The evening began with an elegant cocktail party at Waitt’s La Jolla home. An on-site boutique was set up with shopping for all the guests. The tent was filled with a sea of vivid colors and designs, as many of the shoppers were all decked out in Missoni. The evening culminated with a well-orchestrated runway show that was identical to the one shown in Milan, including the same music and lighting. It was a thrill to have such a high-caliber show in San Diego. This Italian fashion house is a family affair consisting of three generations. Rosita and Ottavio (Tai) Missoni began this fashion dynasty more than 50 years ago. The factory is one hour from Milan, and everything is made in Italy. They have developed a successful business by specializing in knitwear. Each garment is a work of art and no two are identical. The fabric, which is light as a feather, takes approximately an hour to produce two meters and then is finished with intricate handwork. Their craftsmanship is impeccable. Missoni’s signature palette looks like a kaleidoscope of color and geometric designs. Proceeds for the night went to the Center for Community Solutions. This nonprofit agency offers a complete range of sexual assault and domestic violence prevention and intervention services. For more information visit www.ccssd.org. On Dec. 11, the Nordstrom department store in Fashion Valley held a trunk show with the Missoni 2009 Summer Collection. Ambassadors Vittorio and Margherita Missoni were on hand to greet all the shoppers. Vittorio is the son of Rosita and Tai Missoni and is in charge of institutional affairs. Margherita is the granddaughter and muse of Missoni. You may have seen her face in the perfume ads, Missoni Acqua Fragrance. Many celebrities have been sighted sporting Missoni, such as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz. Most recently, Nicole Kidman was pictured in an Italian newspaper wearing Missoni. If you missed any of these events, stop by Nordstrom and take a peek at Missoni’s innovative designs.