Senin, 25 Juni 2012

Duchess of Cambridge has spent £35k on her wardrobe this year

Duchess of Cambridge has spent £35k on her wardrobe this year

  • Prince picks up the tab through his official Household budget
  • Large number of recycled outfits keeps down the final bill

By Rebecca English

PUBLISHED: 06:14 EST, 25 June 2012 | UPDATED: 19:53 EST, 25 June 2012

While other newlyweds may hide their more lavish purchases from their husbands, it seems there is no such burden on the Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate is thought to have spent at least £35,000 on high-end and couture clothing since the beginning of the year â€"  but neither she nor the Duke of Cambridge is footing the bill.

Instead, her father-in-law, Prince Charles, will meet the cost.

High end fashion: Over the Queen's jubilee weekend, the Duchess of Cambridge wore dresses by designer Alexander McQueen High end fashion: Over the Queen's jubilee weekend, the Duchess of Cambridge wore dresses by designer Alexander McQueen, which sell for £1,185

High end fashion: Over the Queen's jubilee weekend, the Duchess of Cambridge wore dresses by designer Alexander McQueen, which sell for £1,185

The future king has agreed to pay for any dresses the Duchess wears for ‘work-related’ engagements through his official household budget.

And this week, the public will get an insight into the real cost of Kate when Charles opens up his accounts for the first time since she joined the family.

Prince William does not fund his wife’s wardrobe because, ostensibly, he earns only £44,000 a year as an RAF helicopter pilot.

The £10million he inherited from his late mother’s estate on turning 30 last week, for example, is considered to be his private income.

Charles funds his public work â€" as well as that of his wife, Camilla, and both his children â€" through the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate of land and property holdings which last year provided a bumper pay pot of £19.7million.

His official expenditure â€" out of which will come Kate’s clothing allowance â€" amounted to £11.4million of that.

Royal watchers will be scanning the new accounts eagerly to see how much that has risen by â€" and whether his personal spending, which last year came to £2.5million, has also gone up as a result of paying for his son’s wedding.

Glamour: Kate looked stunning when she joined Prince William at the Our Greatest Team Rises Gala dinner earlier this year. But the bespoke Jenny Packham dress (similar Jenny Packham dresses cost £2,050) and £450 Jimmy Choo heels were lavish choices

Glamour: Kate looked stunning when she joined Prince William at the Our Greatest Team Rises Gala dinner earlier this year. But the bespoke Jenny Packham dress (similar Jenny Packham dresses cost £2,050) and £450 Jimmy Choo heels were lavish choices

A quick glance at Kate’s recent purchases suggests the increasingly glamorous Duchess has spent more than £35,000 on designer outfits in the past six months alone. Quite a turnaround, then, for the woman who went on her honeymoon in a £49.99 Zara dress.

Senior royal sources insist, however, that the Duchess chooses her outfits ‘to fit the occasion’ and will continue to wear more affordable frocks as well as ones that she already owns.

One added: ‘The Duke and Duchess have attended a couple of black tie events recently but there will continue to be more daytime and low-key engagements in future which will involve her wearing appropriate lower cost.

Charles is extremely fond of his ‘darling daughter-in-law’, as he likes to call Kate, and â€" for the time being at least - does not mind indulging her in the slightest.

But he may yet live to rue his generosity for it is a bill that is rising by the day, not least because the Duchess insists - rightly so, in the opinion of many - on paying full price for all her garments.

While most celebrity clients can expected a substantial discount in return for their endorsement of a particular product, Kate has instructed her staff to never pay less than the going rate.

She also point blank refuses to accept any of the hundreds of free garments sent to her by designers each month, desperate for a piece of what has been dubbed ‘The Kate Effect’.

If a particular piece catches her eye she will instruct her Private Secretary cum Girl Friday Rebecca Deacon, or another member from her small team of private office staff, to buy it instead.

It’s not s urprising that designers are so keen to see Kate appears in one of their outfits. A £600 suit she wore recently sold out within just half an hour.

She wore this dress by Irish designer Orla Kiely, whose designs retail at £355, when visited an art gallery with her father-in-law in March

She wore this dress by Irish designer Orla Kiely, whose designs retail at £355, when visited an art gallery with her father-in-law in March

Jeweller Links of London estimated it had missed out on around £8.2 million in sales by not acting fast enough when Kate wore its topaz earrings for her official engagement photograph.

But Kate has privately made clear that while she is keen to champion British design around the globe, she does not want to become a ‘rent-a-royal’ fashionista.

Indeed such is Kate’s growing sartorial confidence that she has refused all offers by the Royal Household to provide her with a stylist or a dresser, their female equivalent of a valet.

Although she has, on occasions, sought the advice of Camilla’s own much-trusted dresser, Jackie Meakin, Kate hunts out and chooses all of her outfits herself.

And while much research is conducted over the internet, Kate is still not above browsing the rails herself.

Kate wore this £1,089 Matthew Williamson dress, left, while in May she wore a RM by Roland Mouret dress from the 2009 autumn collection (this season's dresses cost around £1,320) Kate wore this £1,089 Matthew Williamson dress, left, while in May she wore a RM by Roland Mouret dress from the 2009 autumn collection (this season's dresses cost around £1,320)

Designer duchess: To a film premiere in April, Kate wore this £1,089 Matthew Williamson dress, left, while in May she wore a RM by Roland Mouret dress from the 2009 autumn collection (this season's dresses cost around £1,320), again with her £450 Jimmy Choos

One of her fashion secrets is a small boutique called Moda Rosa, in the market town of Alresford, Hampshire, close to her parents’ Berkshire home.

Owner Rosie Wild stocks a number of her favourite designers including Libelula and has become such a good friend that she was invited to Kate’s wedding.

‘The Duchess has barely put a foot wrong since she got married so why does she need anyone to do it for her?’ said an impeccably-placed source.

‘Catherine has an innate sense of style and, almost as importantly, knows what is appropriate for the occasion.

‘She might not choose the most cutting edge designers, but she know what looks good on her and that’s what counts.

This £290 Rebecca Taylor jacket was worn in April while the teal peplum suit by L.K. Bennett, right, consisted of the £395 'Jude' jacket and £225 'Davina' dress This £290 Rebecca Taylor jacket was worn in April while the teal peplum suit by L.K. Bennett, right, consisted of the £395 'Jude' jacket and £225 'Davina' dress

Smart: This £290 Rebecca Taylor jacket was worn in April while the teal peplum suit by L.K. Bennett, right, consisted of the £395 'Jude' jacket and £225 'Davina' dress

‘Plus she is acutely conscious that she is not yet a full-time working royal and feels it is pretty pointless, as well as extravagant, to have her own dresser.’

Her faultless metamorphosis from Chelsea show pony to a royal thoroughbred has, unusually, been greeted with almost universal praise by the notoriously back-stabbing fashion world.

Rebecca Taylor, a New-Zealand born designer, was so delighted that Kate chose to wear her £600 indigo blue tweed suit to an event at Goldsmiths Hall recently that she refused to bank the cheque the palace sent her â€" instead pinning it up pride of place on her wall.

Stewart Parvin, the Queen’s favourite couturier has welcomed Kate’s transformation from High Street Queen to Designer Duchess.

He believes that whatever is spent on her wardrobe is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the business she brings in to the fashion industry.

‘I think she is looking fabulous,’ he said.

High Street bargains: These dresses, both from Zara, cost £49.99, left, and £69, and sold out thanks to the 'Kate effect' High Street bargains: These dresses, both from Zara, cost £49.99, left, and £69, and sold out thanks to the 'Kate effect'

High Street bargains: These dresses, both from Zara, cost £49.99, left, and £69, and sold out thanks to the 'Kate effect'

‘I understand with the way the economy is at the moment that she feels a needs to be seen in High Street clothes [but] I think people also want to see her in things that are slightly more unattainable.

‘She can’t go walking into a function and bump into a woman wearing exactly the thing. People want the Royal Family to be slightly unreachable, it’s part of the magic they have.

‘Princess Diana always wore couture clothes and it will become the norm for Kate as time goes on.

‘The reaction that she has already received should give her the confidence to wear more.

‘Especially in this day and age, people just want to be dazzled.’

LIZ JONES: £35,000? I wish Kate would spend MORE on her wardrobe

Worth it: Liz Jones thinks Kate should wear more designer dresses like this one by Temperley, which costs around £1,000

Worth it: Liz Jones thinks Kate should wear more designer dresses like this one by Temperley, which costs around £1,000

Our style guru reveals why the Duchess deserves to dress well...

Normal 0 false false false IT JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:IT; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} So, the Duchess of Cambridge (or, more accurately, her father in law) has spent £35,000 so far this year on clothes. While this is encouraging, as she has pretty much abandoned dresses along the lines of the blue Zara she wore the day after her wedding, I wish Kate would spend more.

Never mind quantitative easing, injecting Kate into the economy is far more of a boost. Every time she steps out in an outfit, it sells out, and spawns a million high street copycats.

Of course, Kate will have her detractors. ‘How can she possibly justify spending over a £1000 on a dress by McQueen or Emilia Wickstead during a recession?’

I find this argument both sexist (men are never lambasted for their cars, houses or football season ticket) and short sighted.

The fashion industry is THE most important industry in this country because it not only employs the largest number of women, but because it cheers us up.

Kate is a princess, and it is her job to look a certain way, just as it is President Obama’s job to appear at a lectern in an impeccable black suit by Ralph Lauren or Giorgio Armani.

This sort of inverse snobbism is never placed at the (large) feet of Michelle Obama because Americans, unlike we British, know that dressing for the job you wish you had, not the one you are in, is all about living the dream, and achieving what you want.

Kate dresses impeccably not because she is vain and shallow, but because she believes to do so is respectful to US, the people who look up to her.

She has already had an effect not just on sales, but on the WAY young women dress: there is a shift towards looking smart and elegant, not looking like a prostitute.

I wish Kate would spend MORE on her wardrobe. She needs dedicated couturiers who will create gowns for every occasion.

She is creating history, and what a poor result it will be if, in a hundred years’ time, the VA is full not of incredible craftsmanship, beading, imagination and one of couture creations, but a creased dress from Next and that well worn pair of LK Bennett nude courts.

Senior royal sources insist, however, that the Duchess choses her outfits ‘to fit the occasion’ and says she will continue to wear more affordable frocks as well as ones that she already owns.

‘The Duke and Duchess have attended several keynote and black tie event recently but there will continue to be more daytime and low-key engagements in future which will involve her wearing appropriate clothing,’ said one.

Aides also confirmed that although Charles is able to write-off much of his official expenditure against tax, the cost of Kate’s outfits is not applicable.

But at least she wears outfits more than once...

Recycling: Kate has worn a pink Emilia Wickstead dress twice this year, at a reception at Windsor Castle, left, and a Buckingham Palace garden party Recycling: Kate has worn a pink Emilia Wickstead dress twice this year, at a reception at Windsor Castle, left, and a Buckingham Palace garden party

Recycling: Kate has worn this £1,200 Emilia Wickstead dress twice this year, at a reception at Windsor Castle, left, and a Buckingham Palace garden party

Thrifty: Kate wore her blue M Missoni coat dress, which originally costs £650 but she bought second hand, to Harrods earlier this year and then in Nottingham last month Thrifty: Kate wore her blue M Missoni coat dress, which originally costs £650 but she bought second hand, to Harrods earlier this year and then in Nottingham last month

Thrifty: Kate wore her blue M Missoni coat dress, which originally costs £650 but she bought second hand, to Harrods earlier this year and then in Nottingham last month

Favourite shoes: She's also worn her £185 LK Bennett heels on numerous occasions Favourite shoes: She's also worn her £185 LK Bennett heels on numerous occasions Favourite shoes: She's also worn her £185 LK Bennett heels on numerous occasions

Favourite shoes: She's also worn her £185 LK Bennett heels on numerous occasions


Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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And how did Charles accumulate all this so called private wealth in the first place?? By seizing land and taxing subjects?? This is and never was rightfully earned wealth from hard work or merit. Dont kid yourselves. This family is always laughing all the way to the bank.....

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why the hell are we paying for this and please will the yanks stop commenting on a British newspaper. Our politics and the royal family is none of your business and your opinions don't count for toffee. Most are delluded by misinformation and fantasies which Hollywood has a lot of accountability for - Steve Skeggs, English and darn proud, 25/6/2012 10:08 Mr. Skeggs: In case you have not noticed, the DM is an INTERNATIONAL newspaper, with an American edition as well as a British one. I also note that 'misinformation and fantasies' abound here - from readers who are clearly Britons. For one, many respondents are obviously under the impression that taxpayer money goes directly to fund the Duchess's wardrobe, and that £35,000 is a remarkable amount of money for someone making daily public appearances to spend. That's a newsreader's clothes budget, mate. Last, I see any number of DM stories about American issues which get plenty of comments from Britons.

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The Duchess of Cambridge's clothing budget is very much worth it. One very positive benefit is that across the U.K. - and the world - young women are rethinking their own wardrobes and the images they present to the outer world. The Duchess of Cambridge displays a very welcome and refreshing modesty with her clothes choices - she is an excellent role model with her good taste and her choice to not "let it all hang out."

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I don't know why it might be 'news' that the wife of the second in line to the throne might actually rack up a bit of money on her outfits......Outfits that she wears to her many formal engagements!? It would seem that this girl cannot win where the press and some people are concerned. She's been criticised for wearing more 'high street' clothing, and now she's back in the frame for the cost of her designer clothes.....even though she wears them several times. One thing is for sure, and that is that Kate's clothing budget is most certainly in line with the rest of the women in the Royal family. Kate does not need to go more exclusively designer. She has her own style, and she knows how to put together a great look.

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Lazy girl who loves the limelight and dressing up but doesn't like the work and duty that comes with it. Looks like the queen has her worked out already. Can I point out if this girl was genuinely recycling outfits then surely after the huge wardrobe she bought last year she would have spent zero for the first six months of this year. I cannot believe this girl doesn't already have several wardrobes full of clothes.

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A very good investment and modest costs, in my opinion, given the bang for the buck.

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Liz Jones comment that Kate dresses impeccably because it is respectful to us, the people who look up to her. I wish Liz would not generalise all the time and speak for others when she has no right to. Yes Kate looks good sometimes, but it costs a lot of money and time. I get the feeling Liz will be appearing in another Duchess of Cambridge inspired photo shoot soon. I can't wait.

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Let's not forget that an awful lot of her outfits will be given to her for free. The publicity the designer will get from Kate wearing one of their outfits is much more powerful than any advertising campaign. DM alone in this article has mentioned several designers, and have introduced us to their clothes. Of course some of the clothes are paid for, but I'm sure a lot will be given to her. - Raechel, Runcorn, England, 25/6/2012 .************************************ So you read the designer names but not the fact (quite CLEARLY stated in the article) that she does NOT accept anything sent to her 'for free'? That's jolly intelligent 'Raechel' (which I must say is a spelling of the name I have NEVER seen before - if you don't want to give your name, it's fine, but why don't you just use one that you can actually spell - perhaps 'Ann' - that's fairly simple!!)

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Hope we find out what Camilla's tab runs at.

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If it was anyone else spending that money on clothes everyone would be outraged.- Lucas, Scotland, 25/6/2012 ============================== WHY ON EARTH should anyone be outraged? I couldn't care less what anyone spends on clothes to be honest - the MORE THE BETTER. it is providing income for the people who sell the clothes, the people who transport them, the people who package them, the people who make them. We NEED people with money to spend it - if they don't the economy really WILL grind to a halt!

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