Kate Middleton Dress Déjà Vu: Her Orla Kiely Frock is Back
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, may have stepped out of the public eye a bit since the birth of her son, Prince George, but when she does resurface the world remains fascinated with her attire. The style icon is known for her extreme brand loyalty (her faves include British labels like Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham, Reiss, Issa, and L.K. Bennett) and for frequently shopping her closet. Sure, many women re-wear their favorite pieces, but when you're a member of the royal family with access to the greatest designers in the world, it's refreshing to see the Duchess reach for the same simple frock again and again. What's even more surprising: when she also pairs it with her same few go-to accessories.
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Earlier this morning, Middleton attended an event for Only Connect, a crime prevention charity, in London and opted for the identical head-to-toe look she wore back in February 2012 when she visited Rose Hill Primary school and Oxford Spires Academy, in support of the The Art Room. The dress, boots, and clutch were the exact same items donned last year, and she even wore brown opaque tights on both occasions. Her brown printed Orla Kiely Birdie coat dress was originally $485 but then on sale for $242 and sold out in minutes once the Duchess was spotted wearing it. The memorable jacquard print is accentuated with a self-belt, button-front placket, side pockets, and Peter Pan collar. (Those seeking a similar style may like the Orla Kiely Posie Print Collar Dress for $518.) Middleton paired the look with her beloved brown $475 Aquatalia ankle boots. In 2012 the brand renamed the shoe the "Royal," and this year they updated the ankle embellishment and call them "Royalty." (The originals are still available in the UK on the Russell & Bromley website.) The Duchess also toted along her favorite $467 Emmy suede clutch, completing the outfit repeat.
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Is style the same pieces in the same exact way boring? Perhaps, but it's also quite practical. Middleton knows what flatters her figure, and on an early, blustery autumn morning why not reach for an ensemble guaranteed to look great.
As for Orla Kiely, Middleton also wore a steel grey dress from the designer's fall 2011 collection to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in March 2012. At the time, Keily told Grazia, "When Kate wears one of your designs you get a boost. The phone was ringing off the hook - email went, and one of my team counted over 800 Google alerts in that time! The only thing was, it was the end of the season so we didn't have so many of the dresses in stock. But it's a nice thing to happen."
And the Duchess isn't the only royal fan. Carole Middleton, Kate's mother, wore a blue printed Dancing Girls tea dress by the London-based Irish designer for her visit to St. Mary's Hospital in London to meet her new grandson for the first time back in July. "It was out of the blue we didn't know!" Kiely told InStyle of Carole's dress at the time. "It's all quite nice, and now we're crossing the generations. I think is a lovely thing to be ageless." The print-happy designer created a line of tech accessories for Target earlier this year, and a line of bedding for Bed, Bath & Beyond in 2012.
We have no doubt we'll be seeing Middleton's Orla Kiely dress once more. If it ain't broke...
Related links:
Kate Middleton Recycles Outfit for Royal Birthday
Orla Kiely Talks Dressing Kate Middleton's Mom and Her New Target Team-Up
Middleton-Loved Designer Orla Kiely's Bedding Collection
