British brand’s blue shirt is a red-hot hit with Kate and Meghan
What do the Princess of Wales and the editor of American Vogue have in common this week? It isn’t a glamorous gown or a statement piece of jewelry. Both women were photographed wearing the same item: a classic blue Oxford shirt.
A Rising Star in Wardrobe Staples
The shirt, it turns out, is from With Nothing Underneath (WNU), a London-based brand founded in 2017 by Pip Durrell. Durrell’s background includes experience at both Tatler and British Vogue, giving her a keen understanding of the fashion landscape.
High-Profile Endorsements
Chloe Malle, the head of editorial content for American Vogue, was seen wearing WNU’s £95 fine poplin boyfriend shirt during a recent interview with Dame Anna Wintour for The New York Times. Just two days later, Kate, 44, styled the same shirt under a £1,163 Petar Petrov blazer during a visit to Castle Hill Academy in Croydon.
This isn’t the first time the Princess of Wales has showcased the brand. Last September, she wore a boyfriend shirt in off-white to the Natural History Museum and in November, she was spotted in WNU’s coffee Jura cardigan during a visit to Northern Ireland. The Duchess of Sussex also wore the brand’s linen boyfriend shirt in her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan.
Filling a Gap in the Market
Durrell founded WNU after identifying a gap in the women’s shirt market. She explained last year that options were limited to either low-quality high street brands or expensive designer labels. She began wearing men’s shirts, noting the frequent inquiries about their origin, which ultimately inspired her to create WNU.
The “Kate Effect” and Beyond
The brand’s success is also linked to what’s known as the “Kate effect,” with the royal’s wardrobe choices estimated to boost the British fashion industry by approximately £1 billion annually. The popularity of the WNU shirt has already sparked similar offerings on the high street, with M&S offering a comparable style for £30 and Uniqlo’s version currently priced at £19.90, down from £29.90.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded With Nothing Underneath?
Pip Durrell founded With Nothing Underneath in 2017, after working at Tatler and British Vogue.
How much does the WNU boyfriend shirt cost?
WNU’s fine poplin boyfriend shirt costs £95.
Has the Princess of Wales worn WNU before?
Yes, the Princess of Wales wore a WNU boyfriend shirt in off-white last September and the brand’s coffee Jura cardigan during a visit to Northern Ireland in November.
With increased visibility from high-profile figures, will WNU continue its rapid growth and become a mainstay in wardrobes across the globe?