Kate’s see-through dress sold at auction

Kate Middleton's style has been a big subject of intense interest lately. One look that only she could pull off is a see-through dress she wore at a charity fashion show in 2002 -- it was auctioned off on Thursday. The winning bid: $125,871. Wearing a dress that won over a prince: priceless.

Here's the story. Back in 2002 at St. Andrew's University, Middleton agreed to model a student-made outfit for charity. The "dress" was a piece of sheer black silk that was intended to be a sheer skirt. The fashionista-in-training wore it hiked up as a strapless cover-up, though it didn't cover much up.

Prince William, also a student at St. Andrew's and a pal of Kate's, had a front-row seat at the college fashion show. This is the moment that is widely believed to be the instant that his fashionable friend -- suddenly seen from every angle -- was viewed in a more romantic light by the royal spectator.
The see-through shift went up for auction at Kerry Taylor Auction -- and was initially valued to go for £10,000. The jumper was in good company: Two dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, were at the same auction. We assume they're not see-through.

The dress worn by Middleton was purchased by an unidentified male British buyer. "He thinks it's an iconic piece," said the buyer who represented him at auction. "He's very happy."

By the way, the mesh dress designed by textile student Charlotte Todd for about $48 was titled "The Art of Seduction." Mission very much accomplished.


Interest on the infamous frock caused searches on Yahoo! for "kate middleton see-through dress" to spike 1,400% in the last week.