Ottavio Missoni died on the morning of May 9 at 92. The brand released a statement, saying, “The Missoni Family announces that Ottavio Missoni passed away peacefully at home at the age of 92, surrounded by his Family.” Ottavio was in Sumirago, Italy at the time of his death. The sad news comes months after the family was rocked by the disappearance of Ottavio’s eldest son, Vittorio, and his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni.

Vittorio Missoni Missing:

Vittorio, 58, and Maurizia were aboard a twin-engine Britten Norman BN2 Islander aircraft along with another couple and two crew members when they went missing on Jan. 4. They have yet to be found. The six passengers were traveling from the resort islands of Los Roques to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. They disappeared in an area known as ‘Los Roques Curse,’ a phenomenon similar to the Bermuda Triangle. Since the ’90s, at least 15 aircrafts have crashed or gone missing in the 87-mile journey — with Missoni’s plane being the most recent to pass through the infamous area. Vittorio’s sister, Angela, broke the news to the family patriarch.

Ottavio Missoni Dead:

Ottavio was hospitalized on May 1 for cardiac impairment, where he was treated and released later that day. He is survived by his wife, Rosita, his two other children, Luca and Angela, and his grandchildren, (including Margherita who serves as the brand’s ambassador).

He was born in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on February 11, 1921. His wife’s family owned a textile factory that crafted shawls. Together Ottavio and his wife, Rosita, founded the Missoni brand in 1953. The fashion house, known for their bold prints and knitwear, is most famous for introducing chevron stripes in the ’70s. They first showed their collection in Milan, in 1966. In 1996, the couple passed the business onto their children. Their daughter, Angela, took over designing. The iconic brand continues to find success under the direction of their children. The label has expanded beyond ready-to-wear into other areas, such as home goods. In 2011, they launched a major capsule collection with Target that was widely successful, quickly selling out both in stores and online.

Katrina Mitzeliotis

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Chief administrator and heir to the Missoni fashion house Vittorio Missoni, 58, and his wife, Maurizia Castiglioni, are still missing, after their private plane vanished on Jan. 4. Another couple and two crew members were also aboard the twin-engine Britten Norman BN2 Islander at the time of the dissapearance. The six passengers were traveling from the resort islands of Los Roques to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas — and they disappeared in an area known as ‘Los Roques Curse,’ a phenomenon similar to the Bermuda Triangle. Since the ’90s, at least 15 aircrafts have crashed or gone missing in the 87-mile journey — with Missoni’s plane being the most recent to pass through the infamous area.

Los Roques Curse:

Believers in ‘Los Roques Curse’ offer multiple suggestions as to what might happen to its unfortunate victims. Some say they are abducted by aliens, kidnapped by the remaining residents of Atlantis, or hit by large amounts of methane gas, which is released from the sea floor.

Just like the Bermuda Triangle, there is no concrete evidence to support these theories — although there are multiple incidents of people, (and their planes), simply vanishing without a trace. For example Volaren Venezuela, a website on civil aviation on the country, reports that in 2008, 14 people died when a plane made the exact journey the Missoni plane embarked on. No wreckage has ever been recovered from the plane and only one body was ever found.

The Missoni Family Reacts To Vittorio’s Disappearance:

Vittorio is the eldest son of Ottavio, 92, and Rosita Missioni, 81, and the chief administrator of the Milan luxury brand. The couple founded the iconic Missoni fashion house, which is known for their bold prints and knitwear in 1953. While they are well known for their use of geometrics and abstract florals, they are most famous for introducing chevron stripes in the ’70s.

“The Missoni family has been informed by the Venezuelan consulate that Vittorio Missoni and his wife are missing, but we don’t know any more,” a spokesman for Missioni, Maddalena Aspes, said in a statement on Jan. 4. “The authorities will resume their search for the plane in the morning.”

Vittorio’s sister, Angela Missoni, told Italy’s La Repubblica: “Our hope is that he is still alive … We want to hope, because for us it is important.” Angela was on vacation in Oman with her parents, Rosita and Ottavio, when she heard the unfortunate news — and she had to break it to her parents. According to the Telegraph, she told her mother immediately and the two broke the news to the patriarch of the family the following morning.

“We decided to let him rest, he was very tired,” Angela told La Repubblica. “When, at 5.30 in the morning he saw us all standing and he looked at our faces and said ‘what happened? I am 92, but I’m not stupid.’ And so we told him the truth.”

The plane vanished just a half hour after take off on Jan. 4, and days later there is still no trace of the aircraft — or any of the individuals that were on board.

Katrina Mitzeliotis

The launch of the Missoni for Target collection is almost here — and if you can’t wait, you’ll love this video!

Margherita Maccapani Missoni takes you behind the scenes, sharing the history of her family and their iconic design house in this video, where you can also see a slew of looks from the Missoni for Target collection! Margherita opens up about the importance of family and the history of the iconic prints that are set to hit Target on Sept. 13.

Katrina Mitzeliotis

Rachel Zoe’s hubby Rodger Berman says his baby boy’s nursery will be luxurious and this picture proves it!

Rachel Zoe is known for her extravagant fashion sense and expensive taste, so of course the stylist to the stars would only be shopping for the best crib in town for her expectant little boy. Rachel, 39, and her husband Rodger Berman stopped to do some baby bassinet shopping in West Hollywood on Saturday (Jan. 22) and we must say, that crib looks divine!

Rachel’s outrageous nursery!

“I won’t be surprised if our baby has Chanel diapers, Missoni blankets, and an Hermès bassinet,” Rodger told the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar. “People say he is going to be the most fashionable baby ever. And I believe them.”

Rachel is not giving up her sky-high heels!

And it looks to be that the baby shopping isn’t the only thing that’s moving along nicely. Rachel’s pregnancy has come a long way — she looks pretty bumpy! For such a skinny woman, we’re happy to see she’s embracing pregnancy and not only spoiling herself, but also her baby boy.

–Leigh Blickley

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We wouldn’t expect anything less than Chanel for Rachel, so of course her son-to-be’s nursery is filled with designer duds!

Ah, the wonderful life of a future tiny trendsetter. Rachel Zoe and her hubby Rodger Berman are expecting their baby boy this spring and that little guy will slumber peacefully in a lap of luxury. “Hermès has to be in there,” Rodger says of the nursery to HollyBaby.com at the Weinstein Golden Globes party. A couple of Chanel pillows perhaps?

Rachel wants to start her own maternity line

Rachel, 39, is known for being quite the celebrity fashion guru, so we only assumed her little guy would be wearing, and sleeping in, the best. “I won’t be surprised if our baby has Chanel diapers, Missoni blankets, and an Hermès bassinet,” Rodger told the February issue of Harper’s Bazaar. “People say he is going to be the most fashionable baby ever. And I believe them.”

All these stars are expecting babies!

Rachel tells us that the baby is “good,” and everything is going well, besides the fact that she can’t stay out late any more. “I go for an hour, say hi to my friends, and then go to bed,” Rachel says of her pregnancy lifestyle. “No partying!” Well Rachel, soon enough you’ll be too busy to even wish you were out at an event!

–Leigh Blickley

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The Gossip Girl goes high fashion for the brand’s spring 2011 campaign!

Rather than smoldering in something sexy, Leighton Meester looks absolutely adorable in the Missoni spring 2011 ads! I love the direction the campaign takes, with the Gossip Girl propped up on a rocking horse sporting a printed dress with sheer trim — she’s like a breath of fresh air!

It was only a matter of time before the Gossip Girl‘s landed major campaigns — and Leighton definitely doesn’t disappoint. It seems like scoring a high fashion ad is becoming a prerequisite on set — after all, Blake Lively is the new face for Chanel and renowned bad girl Taylor Momsen posed for Galliano’s latest fragrance.

What do you think of Leighton’s new gig?

Katrina Mitzeliotis

Do we feel some real life rivalry going on between the Gossip Girl fashionistas?

Just weeks after the news broke that Blake Lively is set to be the new face of Chanel, rumor has it that Leighton Meester, 24, will now be fronting the new campaign for Missoni, which will launch early next year. Leighton seems to be in high demand, serving as the celebrity face of Vera Wang‘s fragrance, and has a contract with Herbal Essences.

What do you think of Meester for Missioni?

–Ashleigh Lytton