By Eliza Scarborough
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Anything the Duchess of Cambridge wears flies off the shelves. The young royal has been credited with boosting the British economy by a staggering £1billion - and there are entire websites devoted to her style.
But now it seems ‘the Kate Effect’ is making real waves in the world of fashion, causing what is being dubbed ‘Kate-flation’.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore her favourite LK Bennett sledge shoes for the Jubilee flotilla, right, and a Buckingham Palace garden party. She paired the shoes with the Natalia clutch, also by LK Bennett
LK Bennett 'Sledge' court shoe - Kate-flated from £175 to £195, left. 'Natalie' clutch bag, increased to £160
Several of the pieces the princess in waiting has worn seem to have risen in price since they first made their debut in the duchess's wardrobe.
Her beloved LK Bennett ‘Sledge’ shoe has gone up by £20 (from £175 to £195) since she first wore them 18 months ago.
The ‘Natalie’ clutch from the same High Street Store is also up £20 (to £160), and the blue Issa wrap dress made famous when she wore it for the announcement of her engagement in November 2011 has since risen by an astonishing £110 (from £385 to £495).
November 16, 2010: The bride-to-be with William on the day they announced their engagement. left. Right, the Issa wrap dress she wore, now on sale for £495
Whereas it was noted the UK inflation rate for food and clothing rose by 3.5 per cent earlier this year, items with the Middleton stamp of approval have gone up by anything from a startling 12 per cent to an eye-watering 28 per cent.
So what’s behind this Kate-flation? Spokespeople for LK Bennett say their price rises are anything but a cynical way to exploit shoppers eager to recreate the Duchess’s stylish look.
Instead, they claim that rising costs have forced them to put up the prices of certain key items in their collections.
Soaring costs or not, one thing is certain: it will be the shoppers who are the real victims of Kate-flation.
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Say "nude heels", or better still "pumps". That's what the Americans call them.
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Eliza, you don't half come up with some tripe. What will you come up with during "The Silly Season" in August?
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I was behind somebody on an underground escalator who looked exactly like Kate from behind. Either it was a massive coincidence or she had gone out of her way to dress like her, wear the same shoes and have the same exact hair. It didn't look good, it looked silly. Fair enough take inspiration from some of Kate's pieces, but dressing as her clone like these 'copy-Kates' do is weird!
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They are businesses after all, so if demand increases, then they will increase the price. Either people could choose their own clothes and accessories, or buy cheaper alternatives. Surely Kate can't be blamed for this!
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They're not nude they are boring beige, the colour that my granny says is safe and goes with any outfit.
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More fool the shoppers, cant they pick their own clothes instead of copying the royals These fashion houses are relying you to be like sheep and follow the leader
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@Nicki, Edinburgh me too ! They look great and such a bargain at under £20 :-) Have tried on the LK Bennetts that Kate wears and I know which is the most comfortable ............ MS defo !!!
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Iconic is one of the most misused and overused words in the English language.
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I think its great she wears high street stuff instead of spending loads of money on designer gear. The nude shoes? They're great, yes I'd love a pair of LK Bennett shoes but I can't afford them so where did I find a very similar pair? MS for £20. If you love her style you'll find similar on the high street to suit every pocket. Surely even if you don't like the royals you have to applaud her for not wanting everything designer!
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Tell these shops where to stick their overpriced goods!
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