Imagine you're a real-live Duchess readying to sit for your first-ever official portrait. A portrait destined to one day grace palace walls, nestled between the likes of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. What would you wear? Chanel couture? Head-to-toe vintage Balenciaga? A Nicki Minaj wig and a Pam Hogg bodysuit? Or simply some strategically placed Crown Jewels? The options are truly endless.
It seems Kate Middleton was not feeling quite so "experimental" when deciding what to wear for her own sitting with artist Paul Emsley. Yep, she played it safe and looked to her old amigo, the Great British high street. It's been revealed that K-Middy chose to wear French Connection's 100% polyester Sub Silky Tie Top, which retailed for a truly un-princess-y £57 before being reduced in the sales to an outrageously un-royal £28.50. While we admire the Duchess for keeping it real, we do wish that just once she'd rock up to a royal engagement wearing a Gaga meat dress or a JPG cone bra. (Okay, okay, pipe dreams, we know. But still.)
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Of course, we know Kate’s love affair with the high street is no fling. Things are serious: She wore a Whistles dress for the official unveiling of the portrait last week. And who can forget the Testino official engagement portraits featuring a Reiss-clad Duchess? In fact, such is her infatuation, we're beginning to think that the royal baby might just be given a high street-inspired name. Zara, perhaps? Although, Laura Kate Bennett has a delightfully regal ring to it.
If you've got designs on recreating the Twilight franchise-inspired portrait in your own home (yeah you do), we're sorry to reveal that the cap-sleeved blouse is currently sold out in navy, as worn by the Duchess. On the upside, at the time of writing, the red version was available at full price, so get busy!
Photo via the Guardian