By LIZ JONES
Sell out: Demand has surged for bridal dresses like the Alexander McQueen gowns Kate wore
All eyes have swivelled to the new Duchess of Cambridge to take up the baton and help our fashion industry limp out of the recession.
Becoming the unofficial style ambassador is the best job Kate can be doing for our morale and the economy.
But every brand (and they were all British) involved in the wedding, in however small a way, has seen sales go through the roof.
By far the biggest surge in orders has come from the U.S. We can expect these to increase when Kate goes there on her first official tour in the summer.
In demand: The perfumee Kate wore was Illuminum's White Gardenia Petals
THE FRAGRANCE
On her wedding day, Kate wore White Gardenia Petals from Illuminum, created by British ‘nose’ Michael Boadi.
The clean, fresh scent has a note of coconut bursting into ylang ylang, lily of the valley and jasmine, with amber wood as the base note.
Demand is so high there is a waiting list of customers longing to smell like the royal bride.
White Gardenia Petals costs £70 and is available exclusively from roullierwhite.com
THE EARRINGS
While Kate’s tiara was made by Cartier and borrowed from the Queen, her stunning earrings were a gift from her parents.
The diamond-set oak leaves with a pear diamond drop and pave-set diamond acorn were inspired by the new Middleton coat of arms.
Unavailable: Robinson Pelham won't be making anymore earrings like the Duchess', despite requests
BRIDESMAID DRESSES
Having designed children’s wear for 30 years, Marlborough-based Nicki Macfarlane is renowned for her exquisite outfits for bridesmaids and pageboys. She made the four young bridesmaids’ dresses: ballerina length, box-pleated ivory silk satin gazar, layered over organza, wild silk and petticoats.
They were handmade in Wiltshire and Kent, given an English lace trim and embroidered with the child’s name.
Pretty: The young bridesmaids, pictured with Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton in an Alexander McQueen design, wore handmade dresses by Nicki Macfarlane while their shoes were by the Rainbow Club
BRIDESMAID SHOES
Rainbow Club, based in Exeter, has been designing, making and hand-dyeing wedding shoes since the mid-Eighties.
Kate’s bridesmaids wore classic Mary Janes in satin, embellished with a Swarovski crystal buckle. Sales manager Richard Coles says: ‘We’ve been run off our feet, with people calling from all over Europe and the U.S.’
Why did Kate choose this little firm of 30 employees?
‘For the quality. We guarantee we will dye a shoe to match the exact colour of the dress. The Royal Wedding shoes were a special shade of ivory.’
Children’s bridesmaid shoes start at £30, rainbowclub.co.uk
THE HATS
Vivien Sheriff is a milliner who has her atelier in a decidedly unglamorous farm building in Wiltshire.
She made the famous fascinator worn by Kate on her first royal engagement in February, and was commissioned by 53 guests to make bespoke pieces.
Every piece is handmade by a team of six. An elaborate headpiece can cost up to £1,000. Since the wedding, online sales have doubled.
Best foot forward: Kate stepped into married life wearing LKBennett wedges
'The Kate': The shoes have been re-issued in her name
COURT SHOE WEDGES
The day after the wedding, Kate teamed a wintry blue Zara dress with a cropped black blazer and LK Bennett Greta wedges, £150. This prompted the chain to reissue the style, renaming it the Kate. It will be available in June, but already has a waiting list.
The Kate effect has meant sales of all wedges have soared at Topshop, Hobbs and even Christian Louboutin.
source: dailymail
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