The Kate Effect is alive and well.
It’s a well-know (and documented) fact that Kate Middleton has the Midas touch. Since her engagement to Prince William was announced way back in 2010, anything she’s spotted wearing has flown off store shelves faster than retailers can handle.
In fact, when she wore the infamous Issa dress during her engagement announcement, it nearly caused the company to crumble, as the demand for the piece was much, much higher than they could handle. But after that boost from Kate, three year’s later they’re opening store world-wide.
Now, Italian footwear retailer Aquatalia is re-issuing their Rhumba boots, which are a stale in The Duchess’s wardrobe during the fall and winter months. Kate has been a patron of the brand since 2006 and, according to Creative Director Rena Krasnow, doesn’t use a stylist.
Of Kate’s personal style, and her “icon” status, Krasnow said,
“In my opinion, the most influential style icons today are women who buy their own clothes and wear what they like, not what they are told. Kate Middleton is the quintessential style icon, and her love for the brand comes from a very genuine place. It’s an incredible compliment and endorsement.”
The decision to re-issue the boot was an easy one for the brand. It’s been unavailable for some time, as Kate purchased her pair a few seasons ago (as is usually the case with staples in her wardrobe), however according to Krasnow, every time Kate is photographed wearing them, the brand gets huge spikes in traffic to their site.