Category: Juicy Couture

January 10th, 2012

Issa London Among Kate Middleton’s Favorite Fashion Designers

Already a fashion icon, the clothing of princess-to-be Kate Middleton is often analyzed. Whether the outfits are praised or criticized, it can easily be said that the clothing and styles worn by Middleton are some of the most sought after in the world.

In fact, after the release of Middleton and Prince William’s engagement photos, the blue Issa wrap dress she wore in some of the pictures quickly sold out in stores not a cheap buy, at about 395, or $535, according to the Daily Mail. Before long, a more inexpensive version of the dress was produced, the imitation selling for only 16.

Whatever the cost, the royal blue Jersey wrap dress worn by Middleton for the photos likely will become a piece of fashion history. Created by Brazilian fashion designer Daniella Helayel, the dress is just one of many in Helayel’s collections worn by Middleton.

The founder of Issa London, Helayel first gained her experience working as a buyer and consultant. Before long, she began showing the Issa label at London Fashion week,Replica Bape jeans, and within the first year, the first Issa collection was picked up by Daslu in Brazil. The second Issa collection was picked up by Maria Luisa in Paris, and by 2003, just three years after Helayel began promoting the label, the Issa brand could be found in Barney’s New York.

Today, the Issa label can be found in most upscale stores around the world, including Harrod’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

Some time along the way, Issa gained a fan in Middleton, who has been wearing the label for at least five years. Issa is a favorite of Middleton, who can often be seen wearing the trademark silk, solid color dresses. Becoming a favorite of the future queen of England in such short time is not bad work for Helayel and the Issa brand, which is less than a decade old.

Helayel began her line because she could not find a dress to wear, according to her website.

“I wanted a dress that made me feel comfortable and glamorous at the same time, one that could take me anywhere, from work to play, from the bedroom to the boardroom” Helayel says on her site.

Perhaps Middleton is a fan of the dresses for many of the same reasons as other well-to-do women around the world: The timeless pieces are feminine, yet realistic and functional. The solid colors, fun prints and flowing fabric helps to hide imperfections while often helping the person wearing the dress to look or at least feel sexy and sophisticated.

January 5th, 2012

China mulls plans to boost domestic consumption report

SHANGHAI (Reuters) The Chinese government is planning new policies to boost domestic consumption, especially of vehicles and appliances, in a bid to offset the effects of sagging export demand, the China Daily reported on Wednesday, quoting a government official.

With tax rebates on vehicles and domestic appliances either having expired or due to expire, the government is working on new measures, said Huang Hai, former assistant minister of commerce and a member of the economic and trade policy consulting committee linked to the Ministry of Commerce.

These may include subsidies for families living in affordable housing that buy electrical appliances and for consumers planning to change cars, the paper said.

The daily also quoted a Ministry of Commerce spokesman as saying that the ministry was considering new programs to expand consumption, with details to be announced next week.

Huang also said over 10 government agencies,Replica Bape jeans, including the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, are expected to cooperate and propose concrete plans to boost consumption at a meeting slated for April.

China’s exports have steadily fallen over the past few months on the back of economic woes in the European Union. Exports in November expanded 13.8 percent from a year ago, the most sluggish rate in more than two years.

Europe remains China’s single largest export market, but export growth to the continent slowed to just 5 percent in November from a year ago, the third straight month of single digit growth and the smallest expansion since February 2011.

(Reporting by Fayen Wong and Lu Jianxin; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)