After six long years, Kate Middleton’s blue silk wrap-style ‘engagement dress’ is finally available for commoners to purchase! The Gisele dress is very affordable – don’t you feel lucky? The Gisele dress is part of the new Monsoon Collection created by Daniella Helayel. In case you have forgotten, Helayel is the founder, and former creative director, of Issa. The blue wrap-style silk-jersey worn for Kate’s engagement announcement was from the Issa collection.
For the bargain price of $175, Kate Middleton wannabes can have a version of the Duchess of Cambridge’s dress. The wrap-style blue Monsoon Collection version is navy blue, not Kate’s $575 Royal blue version.
The neckline plunges a bit deeper than the dress Kate wore for the engagement announcement. There are a few other differences as well. But hey, the dress is affordable and is close enough to the original, right? If you don’t like the navy blue, then the Gisele dress is also available in pink.
Photos of the dress in both colors are shown on the website. There’s even a handy video that shows how the skirt can twirl around as you walk.
Kate Middleton wore many an Issa dress designed by Daniella Helayel before her engagement to Prince William. There were probably a few Issa dresses here and there after the Royal wedding, but nothing past 2012. Why? The Brazilian-born designer sold the Issa label to Camilla Al-Fayed in 2013.
Yes, the daughter of Mohammed Al-Fayed, the father of Dodi Al-Fayed. Yes, the boyfriend who died in the horrific Paris tunnel car crash that took the life of Princess Diana. It would have been quite uncomfortable if Kate were to continue to wear Issa fashions, don’t you think?
This is the first fashion line Helayel has designed since selling the Issa brand. The Monsoon Collection is meant to appeal to every woman, Royal, or commoner. We wonder if we’ll see the Duchess of Cambridge donning designs from Daniella Helayel again.
The Monsoon Collection features several lace-inspired dresses. We all know how much Kate loves lace – maybe Kate Middleton will include a few of Daniella Helayel’s new creations as part of the wardrobe necessary for the Cambridge’s trip to Canada in October?
Image credit to Monsoon Collection
