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Apparently, even jaded New York girls want to dress up like a princess-in-waiting.
Copies of the fetching, cream-colored frock that Kate Middleton wore for her official engagement photos with Prince William have just been rushed onto the racks in the Big Apple — but fashionistas better hurry if they want to snatch one up.
British retailer Reiss — which first began selling the dress two years ago — reissued the $310 draped, knee-length number this week, and it’s already flying off the shelves in the store’s Manhattan outposts.
The company’s SoHo store received a shipment of 18 dresses on Tuesday, but had only five left yesterday.
After the photos of Kate and William were released in mid-December, the dress quickly sold out in England, and Reiss rushed into production to accommodate US shoppers, who were willing to prepay for it.
“One man wanted second-day delivery to receive the dress in time for his wife on Valentine’s Day,” said Dahiana Pena manager at Reiss’ Bleecker Street location.
“It was supposed to come in March or April, but they rushed it over because of high demand,” said Saeida Hmidan, a sales associate at the SoHo store. “People just started calling and asking for the Kate Middleton dress.”
Many of those were so eager to get their commoner hands on the dress worn by a woman who will likely become queen of England, they prepaid for it before even knowing when it would come in, said Hmidan.
The latest version of the dress is dubbed the “Nannette” and is the same cut as the original version released two years ago, but is made in a more lightweight, silky, high-quality fabric.
Aside from having its moment in the royal spotlight, part of the dress’s popularity might be the fact that it is flattering for most body types, very comfortable, easy to wear all year round, and reasonably priced. Only the ruffle across the chest makes it a little more ladylike.
This week’s rush on the dress marks the second time Middleton’s style has sparked a frenzy.
A blue dress designed by Issa that the brunette wore to announce her engagement to Prince William, the oldest of the late Princess Diana’s two sons, also quickly sold out in stores and on the Web.
Clearly, a world of women is waiting anxiously for a look at her wedding gown in April.