A Rio vibe reached WC2 today as Brazilian-born designer Daniella Helayel showed her dynamic label Issa London at London Fashion Week. Dancing up the catwalk hand-in-hand with a swimsuited model shaking her feathered headdress, it was clear that Daniella does fashion week quite unlike anybody else.
The show itself was a riot, sparking applause and hoots of approval from the usually cantankerous photographers' pit and excited cheers from the crowd, who grew more animated with each look.
Going back to its Brazilian roots, the spring/summer 2012 collection was rich in tropical tones and prints, samba-inspired fringing and jewel-encrusted fabrics, tempered with pastel hued or innocent white cotton and broderie anglais summer dresses that would be, said the show notes, 'sensational for Ipanema or Le Blon beach, or barefoot on a yacht, cruising round the islands.'
It was fun, vibrant - and appealed to the women in the room as much as the men, which is a nice benefit for Daniella.