Banana Republic Kate Middleton Dress Inspired By Reiss Original (PHOTOS)

Want to relive one of the most awesome moments of 2011?

The May 2011 meeting of the Duchess of Cambridge and Michelle Obama, two HuffPost Style faves, was one of our favorite photo opps of the year because it revealed just how distinctive each of the women's personal style is.

The contrast was day and night: Michelle wore a typically bold, playful outfit, choosing a swingy, colorful and print-covered look by Barbara Tfank; Kate went for youthful yet quiet elegance in a neutral-colored, body-conscious sheath by Reiss.

Now that oh-so Middleton dress can be yours. Banana Republic is now selling a dress dubbed the "Kate sheath," retailing online for $130. According to InStyle, it's a great deal cheaper than the Reiss original, which sold for $340.

Then again, it's also missing the layers of fabric around the skirt that gave it that sexy, bandage effect.

The original, called the Shola, sold out immediately and crashed the Reiss website, obvi. But Banana's brought it back. See the pics below -- how did the American retailer do? If you approve and so desire your own "Meet the Obamas" moment, you can find the Kate sheath at BananaRepublic.com.

PHOTOS:

Comments

[noudidnt]

07:38 PM on 01/29/2012

Both dresses and the women in them look cheap.

[Matick]

02:47 PM on 01/27/2012

What in a difference in class and style between these two. M looks like an oversized baby doll.

[TheBestPatriot]

07:03 PM on 01/27/2012

One is a highly educated lawyer from the US, and the other married into the royal family and never had a position.

So what the fu/ k c are you taking about?

[ABXNOMORE]

07:57 PM on 01/27/2012

Kate no role model for young women. Mrs. Obama is.

[Matick]

12:14 AM on 01/28/2012

Just what I said. One was brought up very classy and elegant the other not so much. You can't teach class and dignity, you either have it or you don't. Michelle always looks like she is dressed to go to a cocktail party out with the girls. By the way how many cases did M.O. try in court? The people are still asking to see Obamas writings in college and transcripts.

[hamrick4]

01:37 AM on 01/27/2012

Different lighting and backgrounds is the reason the copy looks so much paler in comparison. Also, it's not a complete copy. Kate's dress has folds across the bottom, making it look much dressier.

[njtopit]

12:03 AM on 01/27/2012

It may have been inspired by Kate's dress but they didn't take much of an inspiration because it is hideous compared to kate's dress which is beautiful.

[Nan9]

10:20 PM on 01/26/2012

Copy is too pale. Can't compare the two dresses. Looks great of Kate

[gar susie]

12:01 AM on 01/27/2012

And the copy looks cheap, cheap, cheap!

[ABXNOMORE]

08:20 AM on 01/27/2012

Leaving off the detailing on the skirt was a big mistake. It's what makes the dress interesting. The copy looks quiet dull and boring without it and, yes, very cheap.

[Nan9]

10:06 PM on 01/26/2012

The picture of the copy doesn't do the dress justice, for comparing. The model is too fair and with a white background, the dress almost disappears. In the picture of the original on Kate you can see and almost feel the texture and movement of the fabric. The dress was designed with Kate in mind and looks nice on her figure. I think it's pretty,

[jasflalmt]

02:43 AM on 01/27/2012

And Kate has a figure.

[ABXNOMORE]

08:20 AM on 01/27/2012

A stick figure of skin and bones.

[Recie Blackwell Smith]

10:06 PM on 01/26/2012

I don't like either one of them, blah color and blah style.

[stenvor]

10:00 PM on 01/26/2012

What was FLOTUS thinking? She sometimes dresses like a little girl, and on a tsll woman it looks terrible. I often wonder if Her Mother influences her to this :little girl: look. She has been dressing muce more sophisticated lately; must have a better consultant, I hope.

[happyone6470]

10:10 PM on 01/26/2012

I have to agree with you about Michelle Obama's outfit in this picture . The look is much too young for somebody her age . Not age apporopriate at all . .

[Nan9]

10:18 PM on 01/26/2012

Pink with blue are princess colors. Anyone who has a little daughter or granddaughter will tell you, that combination is often seen on princresses in fairy tale books, movies, and dolls. Maybe Michelle Obama's designer was going with that thyme, because of Kate's meeting. It's okay but she often wears that style with the flouncy skirt. But most of her clothes of late, have been nice. Doesn't matter to me, it is her choice.

[hamrick4]

01:39 AM on 01/27/2012

She's rarely dressed age appropriately. She either looks much too young or she has on something her Mother or Grandmother would wear! Who dresses her anyhow?

[equestriancool]

09:44 PM on 01/26/2012

Looks better on Kate

[Lisa1129]

09:42 PM on 01/26/2012

I like the one Kate is wearing.

[Tesla Coil]

03:30 PM on 01/26/2012

One can always argue the merits of this style of "journalism" but I draw the line at an article that uses the word "obvi." Lazy writing if you ask me.

[imoverit]

12:57 PM on 01/26/2012

The real interest in the original is in the skirt and yet it's been left absolutely plain in the BR version. Makes no sense.

[Redsoxgirl207]

07:01 PM on 01/26/2012

I agree. I mean I'm sure they had to make it a little different so as to avoid a lawsuit but the should have picked something else on it to change.

[ABXNOMORE]

08:34 PM on 01/26/2012

I agree, too, and posted this at least five times but the moderators keep pulling my post. Strange?

[lee4713]

08:57 PM on 01/26/2012

Costs a lot less to make, though. A trade-off.

[lilbunnyfufu]

09:47 AM on 01/26/2012

really bad knock off

[yougogirl1948]

09:32 AM on 01/26/2012

I guess it is a GENERATIONAL thing, but I really DON'T see the fascination with this average-looking young woman. The Queen has more charisma, IMO, but in the end if William is satisfied, that is all that matters. I hope this young couple break the royal "curse", and they have long AND happy marriage like his grandparents.

Makes you miss Princess Diana even more.

[ABXNOMORE]

09:25 AM on 01/26/2012

Has Kate been in hiding? It's been a while since she they featured a piece or her and what about Pippa? This is going to cause withdrawal for some.

[lilbunnyfufu]

09:45 AM on 01/26/2012

She is with her family on vacation. There will be more features once the Queen's jubilee celebrations begin.

[ABXNOMORE]

10:23 AM on 01/26/2012

Oh thank god my world has now been made brighter........(snark).

Thanks for the reply.