The Duchess of Cambridge’s new go-to designer reveals the key to dressing our future Queen
telegraph.co.ukAlessandra Rich’s showroom means getting a glimpse of the future. Yes, it’s a relatively limited glimpse (one where your powers are limited to predicting what the Duchess of Cambridge will wear next year), but it’s the future nonetheless.Our future Queen tends to spread her love liberally when it comes to fashion, typically wearing a mix of British designers, with some tactical high street pieces thrown in.
But this year she has been unusually monogamous; everywhere from Prince Philip’s memorial service to Royal Ascot, Kate has been spotted (sorry) in Alessandra Rich polka dots.
Flicking through the rails of Rich’s upcoming collection and seeing a strawberry print dress, I make a mental note of what the Duchess may be wearing to next year’s Wimbledon final, while a red and white number with an oversized collar must be a contender for the annual Christmas card.Since Rich’s polka dots emerged as Kate’s all-but official uniform for 2022, the designer has been thrust into the spotlight like never before. “It was a huge surprise for me,” says Rich in her strong Italian accent. “We only know she’s wearing one of the dresses when we see her in it - we’re never told anything in advance.
We don’t ask and they don’t say.”The particular silhouette that Kate is currently so wedded to - long-sleeved, ending just above the ankle, with a cinched-in waist - is now indelibly linked to the brand, so much so that when I arrive at Rich’s glossy Mayfair studio I am momentarily surprised to find her opening the door in a baggy black t-shirt and boyfriend jeans.The second surprise comes from looking through her collections which - strawberry-prints aside - seem rather too racy for our future Queen.
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