Princess Kate's $385 Cowboy Boots Are Not the Royal Re-Wear They Appear
After wowing in yet another radiant red outfit in Canada on Wednesday, Princess Kate changed into some western footwear for the latter part of the day – ditching her burgundy Tods stacked-heel pumps for a pair of cowboy boots.
The brown suede boots from British brand R.Soles London appeared to be a re-wear from the couple's previous tour of Canada in 2011 – but not so, says the designer.
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"It's a different pair – the design is the same but the heel height is higher," R.Soles designer Judy Rothchild tells PEOPLE, adding that Kate's $385 Virgi Chocolate Suede handmade boots completely sold out overnight, mainly to customers in the U.K and the U.S. The suede-and-leather style, which has a nearly three-inch heel, is now on an eight-week waiting list.
Rothchild, who has been in business since 1975, remembers well the day the then-Kate Middleton strolled into her King's Road store boutique six years ago. "She used to come into the store before she got married – she really is such a lovely girl."
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Rothchild, who is running the company on her own since her partner retired last year, sells her shoes online only since shuttering the store last June. But that hasn't stopped her many royal customers from coming back for her unique handmade designs. "A lot of the royals have my boots – Zara Tindall has quite a few pairs and so does her husband," she says. " Princess Beatrice has a pair. We serve lots of celebrities."
But of course, nothing compares to Kate when it comes to boosting a brand's profile – and Rothchild's phone has not stopped ringing in the last 24 hours. "It's such a buzz to have someone as beautiful as her wearing my boots, and they look amazing on her," says the designer. "She looks beautiful and she really shows how chic cowboy boots can be."
