Copy Kate: The Duchess looks to Hollywood fashions as she ups the style stakes

By Sadie Whitelocks


Hot gossip: American websites have already started to ask 'Who Wore Jenny Packham Better: Kate Middleton or Leighton Meester?'


Her sophisticated style is revered by millions.

And it appears that the Duchess of Cambridge is taking lead from Hollywood to add a touch of glamour to her once demure wardrobe.

Snapped at recent events Kate Middleton has been spotted in designs previously worn by Queen of Pop Madonna and Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester.

In the past the Duchess has been criticized for her safe fashion choices but she is now being applauded for more eye-catching designs.

Starry night: Kate opted for £3,800 Jenny Packham dress for last week's charity event, a label favoured by stars such as Emma Watson and Paris Hilton


Accompanied by her husband Prince William to Prince Philip's 90th Birthday celebrations in Berkshire yesterday the Duchess opted for a coral silk design as worn by Madonna to the amFAR gala in Cannes three years ago.

She was seen purchasing the spring/ summer ’09 Stella McCartney dress with her sister Pippa at the Joseph sale shop on the Kings Road before her wedding in March.

On the lookout for a bargain the Duchess bought the dress, which originally priced at £1425 for a reduced £308.

And last Thursday she outshone A-listers at the 10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) Gala Dinner event held at Kensington Palace in a floor-length, jewel-encrusted Jenny Packham gown.

Celebrity style: The Duchess wore a Stella McCartney dress to Prince Philip's Birthday celebrations as worn by Hollywood star Madonna


A label favoured by stars including Emma Watson and Paris Hilton, the £3,800 dress came from the British designer's Mayfair boutique.

This is an almost identical design to the Jenny Packham gown modeled by Leighton Meester in the U.S drama Gossip Girl.

The 25-year-old actress, who plays Blair Waldorf can be seen wearing a knee-length version of the embellished slip when she gets engaged in the episode titled 'The Princesses and the Frog'.

Kate has had a phenomenal impact on the fashion industry boosting sales for a range of British High Street brands.

When she was pictured wearing the pale camel Reiss £175 ‘Shola’, dress to meet the Obamas at Buckingham Palace last month the design sold out instantly, causing the website to crash.

David Reiss said: 'We’re really proud that Kate is a Reiss customer.

‘She has the eyes of the world on her and is an incredible ambassador.’

It has emerged that Kate is having a greater influence on retail sales than Michelle Obama who is heralded as fashion's $3billion woman.

Numerous U.S. websites such as usmagazine.com have already started asking: 'Who Wore Jenny Packham Better: Kate Middleton or Leighton Meester?'


source:dailymail