Another Talented Brick Lane Customer - Melissa Morgan

One day about a year ago a lovely family walked into my store on their way to dinner elsewhere on the Kinney. They were that type of family of people who were friendly, outgoing, personable with whom I had an instant connection to so I automatically and correctly ascertained that they must be East Coast people! After a lovely conversation and shopping experience where the whole family walked out each with (or wearing) a beautiful article of clothing from Pringle of Scotland (yes they have impeccable taste as well) I found myself thinking "I hope they come back"

Come back they did - and over the past year plus their beautiful daughter Melissa has continued to come in and shop, with friends, with mom and dad when they visit her here, has attended events and has - as the way with so many lovely people I have been fortunate to meet over the years - become someone I consider a friend.

Melissa is low key and un-assuming for a tall willowy beautiful girl and it did not really surprise me when she admitted she was in the entertainment industry. What did surprise me as my first assumption would have been that she was an actress - but no she told me, she was a singer. Not just a singer, a jazz singer no less! A jazz singer with a beautifully smooth rich voice that brings you back to a time of the past. A time of dark and smoky jazz clubs on Saturday nights where exquisitely dressed women and sharply dressed men clustered around small cloth covered tables sipping Manhattans and smoking cigarettes while watching a jazz diva on a small stage belting out tunes lamenting of love lost, exulting love found and of all things between.

One of Melissa's last shopping trips in here - we got her to try on a very sexy ISSA dress that draped perfectly and was the color of an Iris. Today she sent me the link to see the dress as she used it in a photo shoot. (We hope it makes her album cover but we will see!)

Just another wonderful and amazing experience on this long road for me - getting a chance to meet and befriend talented people and then to be able to celebrate with them their triumphs. Way to go Melissa!

To hear a few of her tracks you can check out her myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com:80/melissamorganjazz

Personally I can't wait to hear more!

Cheers Luvs
X's
Amanda

London Fashion Week - ISSA Catwalk Show

Fashion week kicked out Saturday night with a few shows and I got to attend one of the hottest tickets in town ISSA of London. Her Spring Summer 2008 Collection Runway show took place at Lindley Hall in Victor Sq. London. A Glittery, paparazzi joined red-carpet event with English celebrities I did not really recognize (the flash bulbs of the paparazzi gives away when someone of note is in the front row) and our own stateside "sweetheart" Tara Reid was in attendance. (Note that is English Sarcasm I am using)

So I had a great seat - unfortunately I was facing the camera pit so their flashes would make my camera go berserk and the shots are blurry and not that easy to see - therefore I have only put a few up including ones of the spectacular finale with a Cirque du Soliel type performance with a girl riding silks with ISSA print and flying high above the crowd to make the shape of a butterfly - ISSA's apparently new favorite print. She has also launched a new couture underwear collection with her new print the ISSA horny little devil.

This S/S 2008 collection is inspired by the ISSA girl in Ibiza. Calling it the Summer of Love and Freedom for ISSA girls here is an excerpt from the company description of the collection inspiration story:

"Wearing printed dresses or dungarees to cocktail parties or to the beach, the ISSA girl is active and sporty. She can be whoever she wants to be, never afraid to try new things. After all she is on holiday and she deserves it. She makes the world become a Fellini Movie, DOLCE VITA is her motto. Her life is full of love and in her world, naughty is just another adjective for love"

"ISSA is the signature of love, summertime and easy weather. So come and be that woman. With perfect cuts and easy to wear dresses, chic, elegant and eclectic. ISSA's classic jersey dresses and some cotton to match the hot, hot heat of the summer. Yellow, red, turquoise, gold, pearls and crystals. ISSA is every woman. In the day easy and adventurous, the dresses and cuts are short (very short). And because the night is always young with ISSA, cuts are long (very long). The look is clean and still quite open which gives you a matter of choice, because the ISSA woman is first of all free."

Designer Daniella ISSA Helayel of ISSA London pictured in RED.

Interested in getting vintage ISSA London dresses?

New ISSA of London Collection

Stunning new dresses from ISSA of London. These fabulous silk jersey dresses can be worn from day into evening with ease! This is a must see collection by the designer-in-demand ISSA!

New Arrivals - Week of August 5th

New Fall arrivals on tap at Brick Lane this week for men and women:

John Smedley, ISSA of London, Orla Kiely, Ted Baker, Anya Hindmarch, Babette Wasserman.

Orla Kiely brown cashmere cardigan, Laminate Purse collection in "tumblers"
print

Ted Baker angora short sleeve toggle clasp wrap
sweater in Navy with Anya Hindmarch metallic leather clutch in Amythest

ISSA of London silk jersey short sleeve mini kimono top
in Black

Ted Baker wool cape with belt in Silver
Grey

ISSA of London silk jersey mini dress with Anya Hindmarch "The Jourdan" bag in leather naplak
Ted Baker shirt in Silver/Grey, Babbette Wasserman silk skull tie in Black and Silver, Buckler denim in Smoke