// LovetheSales said the Duchess of Cambridge is continuing to influence its shoppers
// The clothing Kate Middleton wore on Zoom in April & May saw searches for rose print dresses rise 42%
Discount fashion retailer LovetheSales has said that the Duchess of Cambridge is continuing to influence its shoppers who are still buying fashion during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The retailer said it compared the demand from Kate Middleton’s eight outfits worn in lockdown to the previous eight looks she wore before lockdown started in March.
It found that on average, Middleton’s lockdown outfits would attract 58 per cent more online searches than one of her “normal stately looks”.
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The clothing that Middleton wore on Zoom during April and May include the Beulah London Calla Rose dress that saw searches for rose print dresses rising by 42 per cent in 24 hours.
A Sandro scalloped white cardigan she wore drove searches for ‘scalloped neckline clothing’ 29 per cent higher since last Friday.
“We’re already seeing a huge surge in sales online, and we’ll see the same in store when they reopen,” LovetheSales co-founder Stuart McClure said.
“Under the circumstances retailers find themselves in, we expect this to be a record-breaking summer sales period for retail discounting.”
McClure added that so much that has happened globally linked to this pandemic has undermined fashion sales.
“Initially, China’s shutdown meant chaos for orders and deliveries of goods that led to delays in arrival to the UK — this meant reduced selling time for those goods,” he said.
“Then stores closed in the UK, meaning further loss of opportunity to sell.
“UK shoppers have been unable to hit the stores for two months now and more women than ever are turning to Kate for fashion inspiration.
“Kate’s popularity and global appeal is so significant, there isn’t another public figure out there that can match her influence in the virtual space.”
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