If the bold print is good enough for the Duchess of Cambridge, it’s good enough us (BBC/iStock/The Independent)
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The Duchess of Cambridge’s fashion choices never fail to impress, with the royal having an unquestionable influence on how people dress and accessorise. Key pieces, particularly from the high street, often sell out fast, in a phenomenon dubbed the “Kate effect”.
As such, we’re always excited when our favourite high street stores deliver budget-friendly alternatives to her dreamy designer numbers. Stalwart brand, M&S, has done just that, bringing us a dupe of the duchess’s Emilia Wickstead polka-dot shirt dress that she wore in July.
She wore the fitted midi dress with a pair of her trusty Castañer wedge espadrilles to endorse the launch of Tiny Happy People, a BBC Education project providing resources and support to parents and caregivers.
Upon pictures being posted on the Kensington Royal official Instagram account, fans went wild for the dress, which features a structured collar, buckled belt and fluid silhouette. Originally retailing at a hefty £1,565, it was later reduced to £469 in the sale, and it has now sold out in all sizes.
But, the good news is we’ve spotted that M&S has just dropped a designer dupe, which costs less than £40 and is perfect for the fast-approaching warmer weather.
With the same button-up style, midi length and print, it really is an unmissable number, and you’ll want to act fast as we’re touting this to be a popular choice for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.
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M&S polka dot midi shirt dress
Emilia Wickstead’s Anatola pleated polka-dot crepe shirtdress (£469, Matchesfashion.com) is currently sold out and was originally priced at £1,565 – so this £40 dupe from M&S is music to our ears.
Featuring the same midi length, collared neckline, button-up detailing, and of course, the bold polka-dot print, it’s everything you’d want and more in a spring-ready shirt dress. While the Duchess of Cambridge’s number did feature long sleeves, we think this one from the high street stalwart is perfect for balmy days in the sun.
Kate wore hers with some trusty Casteñer wedge espadrilles (£85, Net-a-porter.com) – a pair she’s worn time and again – so it may be worth considering a splurge so you can finish the look perfectly. With an airy silhouette, just looking at this the get-up is giving us picnic-in-the-park vibes.
