Frenzy after Kate Middleton wears Irish designer Orla Kiely dress - VIDEO

Thanks to Kate Middleton's decision to wear one of Orla Kiely's creations during a visit to Oxford this week, the young Irish fashionista has been catapulted to the top of the fashion heap.

Following Kate’s choice, every copy of the ‘Birdie’ dress the duchess wore sold out in minutes on Kiely's website.

A startled Orla Kielyspokesperson told the Irish Independent: 'The dress coat sold out within minutes of her public appearance,' adding that there was an absolute frenzy on the website to secure a copy.

Selecting an elegant, tailored $260 dollar jacquard dress by the Irish born designer and pairing it with matching brown suede ankle boots the duchess arrived in Oxford this week to visit The Art Room, an organization that helps disadvantaged children.

Many British designers have already experienced what they call the 'Middleton Bounce' when the duchess wears their creations, leading to a very welcome boost in their profit margins each time.

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But Kiely isn't the only Irish designer the duchess has championed, a hat by the genius Irish milliner Philip Treacy that Middleton wore at an official royal function last June caused a sensation in the press and made the designer an instant favorite with the royal.

Like Treacy, Kiely has other famous fans including Alexa Chung, Keira Knightley and Samantha Cameron. But they have never propelled the kind of widespread public interest that Middleton's endorsement resulted in.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Middleton's sought after dress was its price tag. Middleton bought it as an a sale item, underlining that a royal wardrobe needn’t come with a royal price tag. Half price sale items have never previously been a part of a royal family wardrobe and it signals Middleton's desire to maintain a common touch.

Middleton spent the day touring two schools in Oxford that use art to help young students with behavioral problems. In the afternoon she participated in a discussion at the Oxford Spires Academy as part of her role as Art Patron, to talk about training of the charity’s staff.

Here's CelebTVs report on the dress: