Weather Tonight: 9°c Light showers Morning: 14°c Overcast

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Issa that a freebie frock, Kate? There's an awful lot of giveaway dresses in Brazil for designer's 'muse'

Last updated at 00:19am on 03.08.08

 Add your view

 


As one of the most photographed women in the world, fashion houses everywhere have been desperately fighting to get Kate Middleton into their creations.

But it seems Kate has now put an end to the frantic scramble – by clearly opting for Issa as her label of choice.

Prince William’s 26-year-old girlfriend is so closely affiliated with the label of Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel that she is being treated as an unofficial muse.

Kate wears a sparkling blue number as she leaves home
Pink lady: Kate stole the show at the Boodles charity ball

Kate (left) leaves home wearing a sparkling blue number. Right: She steals the show at the Boodles charity ball in this £1,000 gown from Issa

Kate enjoys a VIP service from the firm and receives a complimentary wardrobe, with ‘bag-loads’ of Issa frocks being sent to her home.

‘Kate must have thousands of pounds worth of gifted dresses,’ said a source.

‘Issa is incredibly generous with her.’

Miss Middleton, who is known for her conservative yet stylish sense of fashion, chose an Issa outfit for Peter Phillips’s recent wedding, giving the brand invaluable publicity.

The eye-catching label is stocked at exclusive department stores including Harrods and Harvey Nichols, where the clothes retail from £400 for a short printed frock to £1,000 for a full-length gown.

Kate wore a white ‘Lucky’ dress from Issa to Wimbledon and has the style in every colour.

She was also draped in Issa when she appeared on the newspaper front pages in a stunning floor-length £1,000 coral gown at the Boodles charity Boxing Ball in June.

kate
kate

Fashion parade: Kate (left) steps out in an Issa printed dress and (right) in the 'Lucky'

Issa, which counts Madonna, Sharon Stone and Scarlett Johansson as clients, already has Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed’s daughter Camilla as its muse, but fashion sources say Kate is being seen as an ‘unofficial ambassador’.

Issa not only sends items to her Chelsea home, but Kate is also a regular client at its top-floor studios in Fulham, West London.

The source said: ‘Issa is one of Kate’s favourite labels and she is always at its offices choosing dresses. They also courier bag-loads of frocks to her house for her to try on in her own time. There is no limit on what she is allowed to take.

‘Daniella is a very flamboyant and lovely woman and an incredibly sharp business person. She knows the value of having celebrities step out in her label and Kate is very much on Issa’s A-list.

‘Kate gets sent so many clothes from other labels but many go back unworn. Her taste is quite classic and that’s why she goes for Issa’s print wrap dresses. She loves their floor-length gowns for black-tie events. She’s a size six and the dresses all look great on her.

Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel

Brazilian designer Daniella Issa Helayel

'She often lets her sister Pippa wear them, too. When Issa sent her the floor-length pink gown to wear to the Boodles do, she absolutely loved it and knew it would be a showstopper.

‘Kate actually loves all the attention of being photographed and she knew she’d steal the show in that gown. It worked – she outshone everyone in the room, even Chelsy Davy.’

Kate, who is currently helping with her parents’ internet party-planning business, has told friends she is keen to move into the fashion industry but she has yet to get a job.

She has not worked since she quit as a fashion accessories buyer for High Street chain Jigsaw last November.

The Queen has advised William that it would be favourable for Kate to have a career in place before they announce an official engagement.

It is understood that Kate has been offered an ambassadorial role by a London-based fashion house although Issa last night denied it had approached Kate to work for it.

Daniella Issa Helayel said: ‘Kate is not an ambassador for Issa. We love it and are very flattered that Kate wears Issa.

'We do have some friends in common, but that’s as far as it goes at the moment. She’s a private client and we never make any comment on our private clients.’

A spokesman for Clarence House declined to comment.


Bookmark and Share
 
 

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 
 
 
London's Weather
Tonight
Light showers
9°c
Morning
Overcast
14°c
5 day forecast
 




 
 

Daily Mail Mail on Sunday Travel Mail This is Money Metro

Loot | Jobsite | Homes & property | London jobs | FindaProperty.com | Primelocation.com | Educate London | Holiday Villas