WRITTEN BY KELSEY MCKINNON. PHOTO: NUNU FOR NUNUPICTURES.COM. HAIR/MAKEUP: FABIO LO COCO FOR FABIOLOCOCOART.COM. CLOTHES: MISSONI. JEWELRY: DAMIANI. COORDINATION: WENDELL FIGUEROA
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Earning her Stripes In dramatic fashion, Jennifer Missoni steps out from her sartorial lineage
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ontrary to popular belief, not every member of the Missoni clan is tied to the family business. While Jennifer Goldie Diamante Missoni grew up in Varese, Italy, where the knitwear brand is based and where her father Luca was the menswear designer, her future would be on the stage and on screen. Missoni attended drama camps in the U.S. before entering the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy at 17. She finished her musical theater degree at The American School in Switzerland. Now, the 26-year-old actress splits her time between L.A. and New York with appearances in Off-Broadway productions and television shows such as “Damages,” “Law & Order” and “Gossip Girl.” Missoni also recently wrapped her first feature film, Playback, with Christian Slater. “My character’s name is Dee Dee. She’s very proper and responsible,” explains the actress. “What attracted me to this role was the opportunity to portray someone so unlike myself.” Missoni may be the kind of girl who does her shopping in town (usually at Coquette Atelier on Melrose Place), but she’s definitely got a Westside vibe: “I go to the beach at sunset when it’s chilly and almost deserted. I put in my earphones and dance as if no one was watching.” • Missoni, photographed at the Milan apartment of her grandparents, Ottavio and Rosita.
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