foggy with a chance of missoni
a guide to microclimate dressing + 20 curated picks in the secondhand sonar doc
Thanks to everyone who came to the ice cream hangout this week! Loved meeting you IRL and chatting all things secondhand, vintage shops, journaling, fashion tech, and perfume. I feel grateful to have such thoughtful, smart and kind readers <3
While most of the country is roasting in heat right now, the Bay Area is having its coldest summer since 1965.
I mean, summer here is always such a catfish—it doesn’t feel properly HOT until September/October—but this year especially I feel like I’m waking up in Scotland or something.
I took this picture of the Berkeley hills around 5pm yesterday leaving dance class. Absolutely blanketed by Karl the Fog (yes, we have a name for the fog here). Very moody and mysterious. The Big Little Lies soundtrack hits harder in the car, neon signs look more cinematic in the floaty mist. Also, it’s good writing weather.
Do I wish it were warmer? Yeah. But also, I can’t complain too much—a coastal 65 degrees is damn near perfect “fashion weather.” You get to wear layers but don’t need a bulky jacket. Socks are optional, I could do a sandal or a boot. The fog does burn off for a few hours in the afternoon, so tank tops and shorts are on the table.
So, what’s a Bay Area girl to wear for foggy microclimate summer?
My answer is Missoni, the Italian fashion house known for its colorful zigzag knitwear. I’ve given this plenty of thought, especially in the broader context of “Pucci summer,” a celebrity style-driven trend taking over this summer:
“Pucci has officially emerged as the print of the summer […] judging by the spike in By Rotation searches— +186.36% in the past year and a massive +200% increase in Pucci listings for 2025 compared to 2024 [….]”1
I love my psychedelic swirly Pucci as much as the next fashion girl, but it doesn’t quite “fit” the spirit of our foggy city in summer, you know what I mean?? Pucci is silky and slippery and braless, vividly hi-fi, it captures the feeling of a Palm Springs/LA sunset sitting by a Hockney-esque blue pool.
In the Bay, I feel more…Missoni. Colorful, but in a more earthen, compost-y way. Like tea leaves in a moss-glazed ceramic mug, instead of a berry swirl Erewhon smoothie or a campari-based cocktail. The brand’s signature striped zigzag weave feels like Karl the Fog, a soft and atmospheric blending of elements. Finally, lightweight knitwear is just the ideal fabric for our climate. It keeps your skin insulated from the moisture of the fog mist, and the fibrous texture mirrors the granola bitch mentality out here. (If you have a good comparison for Missoni vs. Pucci, I’m dying to hear your take in the comments!).
Here are four microclimate Missoni looks from the past week.
*contains some affiliate links above the fold
All my Missoni is secondhand and/or vintage from Japanese eBay (best overall prices), American eBay and TRR.
I layered a plain gray cotton crewneck tee under this vintage Missoni Sport merino wool V-neck sweater. The colors are very 70s: mustard, rust, umber, adobe. Paired it with these awesome jeans I don’t wear enough!!! They’re vintage (purple label?) Levi’s and one of the only things I bought IRL on my Japan trip last year. The fading and distressing drew me in.
Good jeans.
To tie in the earthy mustard colors, I wore my chartreuse Freda Salvador woven ballet flats (this specific colorway is sold out but there are other shades of green online).
And this is how I styled a Missoni square neck tank top. I talk a lot about how silk is one of my favorite fabrics, and this is a reminder that silk doesn’t just have to be a smooth charmeuse weave. It can be a lightweight knit like this—and the texture feels sooo good.
I forgot who posted this Note on Substack (it’s so hard to keep track…) but a girl wrote something about wanting to dress like Rainbow Fish this summer. This is definitively a Rainbow Fish top. That is, rainbow not in a “crayola” way but in a shimmering aquatic refracting light through a prism way. Like that tiny colorful part of a soap bubble.
Fully leaning into Karlcore with the foggy gray tones. I wear this cashmere RE/DONE cardigan (a bunch secondhand online) when I want something warm but open in the front, and doesn’t sit too low on the hips. The gray bias cut silk skirt is from an Italian label called Renato Nucci (also a jp ebay discovery!). To keep this outfit from looking too prim or stuffy, I wore my blingiest Barbie heels, from LPA via TRR. They’re a patent pink thong heel with a giant rhinestone heart in the middle. I should wear these more.
Detail shot of the jewelry with the gorgeous rainbow fish colors:
NEXT, a truly microclimate look.
A knit zip-up mockneck knit jacket with…denim shorts! These are from Moussy (plenty pop up on TRR for under $100), I went one size up from my normal jean size because I didn’t want them to be entirely formfitting, and I like where they sit (very secure bum coverage!).
This jacket has the proper Missoni zigzag pattern and it reminds me of a gelato shop. Pastel hues but still earthy. I felt really sporty and cute in this outfit, it’s one I’ll be repeating. The technical Miu Miu bag, bandana, and green suede sneakers bring together a gorpy cohesion.
You can’t tell from the way this is styled, but the top I’m wearing is a halter cut that’s just a giant “X” of two straps in the back. Versatile, right?
I was drawn to the colors (magenta, yolk yellow, piercing black). It feels like wearing a cool rug or textile, not just a t-shirt or whatever. I styled it with navy blue Kamm sailor pants to complement the retro feel.
My favorite thing about the pants is the round white button at the top of the fly, which inspired me to button-match with a red cotton cardigan. With the embroidered mules (old Rachel Comey), the overall effect is something folksy and a bit kitschy.
I have one more Missoni sweater not pictured here, but you get the idea. These pieces are highly conducive to our regional climate and cultural ethos :)
Below the fold, you’ll find 20 vintage Missoni pieces in the secondhand sonar google doc.
For some reason, a lot of vintage Missoni stock is held in the Japanese secondhand market, and that’s why you’ll see many pieces from jp ebay proxy sites. Here is a small preview of what you can expect—
