Online shoppers keep Catherine in front
The Duchess of Cambridge has been crowned the top royal style influencer, reports Laura Elston, of BPA.
CATHERINE, Duchess of Cambridge has taken the crown as this year’s top royal style influencer.
The duchess, rather than royal newcomer Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had the biggest impact on shopping habits, according to eBay’s annual UK Retail Report.
Her maternity style while pregnant with Prince Louis ensured she generated more online searches on eBay than any other royal over the past year.
Searches for tailored maternity coats more than tripled in November 2017, while the duchess was expecting her third child.
In April, searches for designer Jenny Packham more than doubled when the duchess appeared outside the Lindo Wing in a red Packham smock holding her newborn son.
Throughout the year, the duchess’ goto choices Jenny Packham, Alexander McQueen and Seraphine had a 20% upsurge in searches yearonyear, with as many as 43 searches every hour.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who is known for her signature boatneck necklines, came a close second.
Her fashioninfluencing power peaked at her wedding in May, when the Givenchy dress she wore to marry the Prince Harry led to a more than 60% increase in searches for the designer on eBay, hitting 55 an hour.
The former Suits star’s Stella McCartney halterneck evening wedding dress doubled searches for the brand.
The duchess’ icepink offtheshoulder Carolina Herrera dress at Trooping the Colour in June was also popular, and searches for the designer almost doubled.
Princess Charlotte, who was top in 2017, came third, with the flower crown she wore as a bridesmaid at Meghan and Harry’s wedding prompting a 60% increase in searches for similar products on eBay.co.uk.
There was almost a 40% spike in searches for floral print dresses after she wore one to a polo match in June.
Her older brother Prince George was fourth, and his trademark Peter Pan collar shirts inspired searches throughout the year.
There was a 30% spike in searches for similar outfits on eBay after he appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony in June.
The Queen also made it into the top five royal style influencers.
Media attention on the meaning behind her brooch selections contributed to a renaissance for this traditional piece of jewellery in 2018, according to eBay.
As many as 16 brooches are sold every minute on the site, with an almost 20% increase in searches in February.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who wore demure headwear to the royal wedding, were not placed in this year’s rankings.
Eugenie’s pale blue Fiona Graham pillbox hat and Beatrice’s teal Stephen Jones headband did not spark a discernible rise in searches or sales, eBay said.