London Fashion Week: Issa’s jersey princesses
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With whimsical hats atop models’ heads, and her signature silk jersey dresses done in flirty, shorter lengths, it seemed as if designer Daniella Helayel was winking at famous fan Kate Middleton, even though the future-royal was not in the house.
Issa has made a name for itself on stretch dresses that magically whittle the waist, courting fans such as Madonna and Cameron Diaz. But when Middleton wore an Issa royal blue, long-sleeve jersey dress to announce her engagement, suddenly, the label was thrust into the spotlight like never before. The dress has sold out several times, though my sister was able to score one on Saturday at the London department store Fenwick.
As for Helayel’s fall collection, it was a greatest hits of sorts, with feather prints similar to ones she has used before, and the Middleton dress done in firecracker red (a popular color with designers this season). What looked most fresh considering fashion’s current obsession with all things 1970s, were maxiskirts, one in a sparkly disco metallic. They were worn with simple turtlenecks, which seem to be showing up on a lot of runways. Turtlenecks were even layered under some of the dresses.
-- Booth Moore in London
Top photo: Kate Middleton and Prince William. Credit: Sang Tan / Associated Press
Bottom photos: Looks from the Issa fall-winter 2011 runway collection shown during London Fashion Week. Credit: Leon Neal / Getty Images
