The Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a ?175 bandage-style Shola dress from Reiss, eclipsed First Lady Michelle Obama, who was in a patterned prom-style dress by Barbara Tfank, costing at least ?1,400.
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has managed to crash a retailer’s website with the 175 pounds dress she wore while meeting Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace.
Kate, 29, outshone the US First Lady and Samantha Cameron, who both wore expensive designer labels, by wearing a bandage-style Shola dress from Reiss.
And the dress caused such a frenzy after she appeared in it, that the retailer’s website crashed, and Reiss shops across the country were selling out.
An assistant at the Kensington High Street store said 20 dresses were sold online within two minutes of Kate’s appearance, and a spokesman for the firm described it as “Shola-mania”.
“We are thrilled that Kate continues to be a customer of Reiss, and that she has chosen one of our dresses for such an important occasion,” the Daily Mail quoted David Reiss, founder and MD of the company, as saying.
Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly been told not to meet up with celebs such as the Beckhams when they visit California.
It had been claimed the newlyweds would meet up with David and Victoria Beckham, who were guests at their wedding in April, but reports now suggest they have been advised against it.
They have reportedly been told by palace officials that it could give off the wrong impression on their first official overseas trip as husband and wife.
A source said to UK newspaper The People: ‘It is important that William and Kate set the right tone on what is their first ever official visit abroad as a married couple’.
‘It would be an absolute disaster if their time in Los Angeles saw them becoming wrapped up in some kind of Hollywood celebrity publicity whirlwind’.
‘For this reason it has been decided a meeting with David and Victoria Beckham is not something that should be given the green light this time’.
‘They are going to California to undertake some engagements involving the Duke of Cambridge’s charities. All other invitations from celebrities living in Los Angeles are likely to be turned down for the same reasons.’