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Frenzy after Kate Middleton wears Irish designer Orla Kiely dress - VIDEO

Web site stormed after Kate’s outing in the Irish $260 dollar creation

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:22 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 11:35 AM

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Duchess Kate Middleton wearing Orla Kiley's 'birdie' dress
Duchess Kate Middleton wearing Orla Kiley's 'birdie' dress
Photo by Google Images


Thanks to Kate Middleton's decision to wear one of Orla Kiely's creations during a visit to Oxford this week, the young Irish fashionista has been catapulted to the top of the fashion heap.

Following Kate’s choice, every copy of the ‘Birdie’ dress the duchess wore sold out in minutes on Kiely's website.

A startled Orla Kiely spokesperson told the Irish Independent: 'The dress coat sold out within minutes of her public appearance,' adding that there was an absolute frenzy on the website to secure a copy.

Selecting an elegant, tailored $260 dollar jacquard dress by the Irish born designer and pairing it with matching brown suede ankle boots the duchess arrived in Oxford this week to visit The Art Room, an organization that helps disadvantaged children.

Many British designers have already experienced what they call the 'Middleton Bounce' when the duchess wears their creations, leading to a very welcome boost in their profit margins each time.

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Read More:
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Irish designer set to knock off Kate Middleton’s dress- VIDEO

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But Kiely isn't the only Irish designer the duchess has championed, a hat by the genius Irish milliner Philip Treacy that Middleton wore at an official royal function last June caused a sensation in the press and made the designer an instant favorite with the royal.

Like Treacy, Kiely has other famous fans including Alexa Chung, Keira Knightley and Samantha Cameron. But they have never propelled the kind of widespread public interest that Middleton's endorsement resulted in.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Middleton's sought after dress was its price tag. Middleton bought it as an a sale item, underlining that a royal wardrobe needn’t come with a royal price tag. Half price sale items have never previously been a part of a royal family wardrobe and it signals Middleton's desire to maintain a common touch.

Middleton spent the day touring two schools in Oxford that use art to help young students with behavioral problems. In the afternoon she participated in a discussion at the Oxford Spires Academy as part of her role as Art Patron, to talk about training of the charity’s staff.

Here's CelebTVs report on the dress:

​
See more: News from Ireland , Fashion Advice , Orla Kiely , Kate Middleton , Irish Arts
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10 Comments

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IrelandNorth | Feb 24, 2012, 08:33 AM EST
I think she look better if she went naturist. She's a good loookin' girl. Why concela what is beautiful. I ya got it flaunt it. P.S. Ciara[fl]exy! I'm a young 55 as a Dublin male. Though I might just try a little cross dressing this weekend. Haven't been OUT of the wardrobe in quite a while. If Kiss me Kate isn't waearing Irish, he bashful beau is wearing Irish Guards uniform at his grandma's insistence. What's with all this very conspicuous British Royal Hibernophilia. Are they trying to hoodwink poor old Erin back into a constitutionally dodgy Comonwealth or Union. Worse still, will we dewey-eyed romantic Darby O'Gill's fall for it. Shure 'n' faith 'n' begorragh, give us an auld gooser (old kiss) Kate.

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ciaradexy | Feb 23, 2012, 10:54 AM EST
George, if 35 is middle aged in America, then youre just about to drop dead Id imagine. I still have about 45-50 years left!

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barneyjo | Feb 23, 2012, 06:46 AM EST
A point of clarification to the author of this piece. Kate Middleton is no more. Strictly speaking she is Kate Windsor, ever since she married the bloke who is second in line to the British Throne last year.

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borefield | Feb 23, 2012, 03:13 AM EST
Kate Middleton could wear a sack on her body and still look stunning. She is beautiful inside and outside, she is cultured, polite, educated and an asset to Britain. Women everywhere should support and applaud her.

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joycean | Feb 22, 2012, 07:50 PM EST
Kate Middleton is a beautiful woman and can wear anything. This dress looks a little schoolgirlish, though.

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GeorgeDillon | Feb 22, 2012, 03:56 PM EST
Curdexter: Let's hope you dress like a 50 year old. You're not young-- live with it.

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beachcomber | Feb 22, 2012, 03:41 PM EST
What isn't age appropriate about this dress? It's classic, and she looks stunning. A 50 year old in a dress cut above the knee like this would not be "age appropriate", lol! (No disrespect to 50 year olds, please wear whatever you like, you've earned that privelege)

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ciaradexy | Feb 22, 2012, 03:25 PM EST
Kate dresses like a 50 year old! Shes young! She should dress age appropriately!

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hyattsville | Feb 22, 2012, 01:09 PM EST
Lovely dress. Kate Middleton always dresses appropriate to her age and the duty which she happens to be performing. I also like the fact that she frequently wears clothes from high street stores, and from designers that are not completely unaffordable to everyone.

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Nicoletta | Feb 22, 2012, 10:26 AM EST
Orla Kiely is a brilliant designer. She's been going for a while though - I have a couple of gorgeous handbags from her days designing for Marks and Spencer's Autograph range. I still use one of them most days - a large leather tote for carting around my teaching stuff! I dropped the other bag - a cute little blue one in Lake Geneva whilst in a peddle boats with the kids - managed to fish it out and still love using it, watermarks and all. Good on you Orla!

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