Looking Royal: Itching for ISSA!!!!

Hello Again My Fellow Fashion Fiends,


Now that we have the wretched spectacle known as Kim Kardashian's Wedding, behind us, it is time to move back to talking about real fashion and actual stars!  Something has been on my mind for months now.  Actually, it all started when Kate Middleton, my favorite style icon, sported that spectacular navy dress to formally announce her engagement to Prince William. 

I had seen ISSA Dresses before 2010.  In fact, I had been lucky enough to wear ISSA Dresses before 2010.  See. . .I moved back to Scottsdale from Los Angeles, around 2005, and was dreading the, "True Fashion Death," that results from living in Scottsdale, a town best known for tube tops and Teflon tatas!

Now I had a real dilemma!  The year was 2007. . . I had one charity event and two hot suitors in attendance (both ended up being Mr. Wrong, but that is not the point of this tale).  I needed a dress. . .NO. . . a fabulous frock, FAST!  But in Scottsdale, Arizona?!  Where would I find such a creature?!. . .When suddenly, out of the blue, I stumbled into Estilo Boutique, a true oasis in the desert!  Estilo was a shining style star in a sea of sequined tops and bedazzled bustiers.  The owners, Kelly Dixon and Gina Pedrojetti Cooper were acquaintances from my days at The Arizona State University (not that lesser institution in Tucson).

For the first time in several months, I saw my old friends, pieces by, Rachel Pally, T-bags, and most importantly, a little known brand called, ISSA!  On a boring work day (most work days in Scottsdale), I entered their Waterfront Location in search of the perfect party piece.  Misty Guerriero, a dear friend, and stylist extraordinaire, (since turned owner of, "Vintage By Misty," in Phoenix AZ ), recommended I try on this fabulous black halter dress! 

The only problem. . .the patterns were not matched at the seams. . .The Horror!!!!  See, as a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology (she says with her nose in the air), this mismatching seemed very wrong and quite counterintuitive.  We were taught that you could identify well made clothing, by checking to see if the patterns matched at the seams, if not, well than, tisk tisk on the designer!. . . I was in a state of disbelief, until I slipped on that ISSA Halter!  My breasts looked higher, my waist looked smaller, and my legs longer.  My ISSA Halter was a miracle worker, and I was forever a changed woman.  ISSA is one of those labels that makes every body look better; real bodies, skinny bodies, Christina Hendrick's type bodies.  I was officially addicted to ISSA!

A few weeks later, I returned to Estilo and purchased a fabulous yellow silk printed halter, also by ISSA.  To this day, I only have one regret (OK, I have more than one,but. . .), not purchasing more ISSA Dresses.  They now have a much steeper price tag.  The day I purchased that yellow dress was the last time I saw stunning staples from ISSA . . .sigh. . .Until that glorious day in 2010 when Princess Catherine began rocking the frocks all over town.  ISSA was back baby, and better than ever!. . .The only problems with the brilliant brand's revival? . . The steep retail price tags and finding the dresses in stock anywhere!

In early 2011, I began a mad, never-ending hunt for ISSA, and am ready to share my findings with you!  If you are obsessing over owning your own piece of fashion history and promise not to go into sticker shock over the substantial expenditure . . .Here are some places you might want to look:


1. Neiman Marcus.com (they even go on sale from time to time)
2. Evesapple.com (a small, but nice selection)
3. Net-A-Porter.com (great service, but only a few pieces)
4. Shopbob.com (A nice selection)
5. Shopstyle.com (A nice preview of different retailers selections)
6. Polyvore.com (Nice, but not always up to date)
7. Joseph.com (lots of dresses, many out of stock)




If you are on a tight budget, and who isn't these days, EBAY has a nice selection of ISSA dresses, but beware of ISSA Impostors!  If a price seems to good to be true. . .IT IS!  Also watch out for sites passing off dresses as ISSA-like.  I assure you my friends, there is only one ISSA!

Happy shopping until next time. . .



Your Duchess of Designer Duds,

Boldbroad xoxoxoxo





pictures listed in order of appearance courtesy of fashionfolio.wordpress.com, kitmeout.com, thisnext.com, gotfreeshipping.com, bizarrebytes.com, josephm,com, nicolerichiefashion.blogspot.com, and shoplesnouvelles.com.