Kate Middleton kicks Lady Gaga off top fashion spot

KATE Middleton has dethroned Lady Gaga as the top fashion buzzword for the upcoming season.

Prince William's fiancee has proved a hit with style-watchers and the public alike after she was photographed in a blue dress by the Brazilian-born designer Daniella Issa Helayel on the day her engagement was announced.

The outfit by Helayel, who set up her Issa label in London, sold out at many exclusive outlets within days of the wedding ceremony being announced.

The blue dress also inspired a number of gowns sold by high street retailers which also proved popular.

Fashion supremo Bruce Oldfield is the favourite to create the royal bride-to-be's wedding gown.

The designer predicted last week whoever gets the coveted commission would have to make a "modest" outfit with sleeves and a veil but it would still provoke a strong reaction from the watching world.

Lady Gaga, famed as much for her unusual costumes and stage outfits as her music, came second in the survey, by the Global Language Monitor organisation, of fashion buzzwords and phrases in magazines, newspapers and on the web.

In third place was "sheer", the trend for see-through fabrics, next came "shirt dresses", and then "sustainable style", highlighting the interest in using old fabrics to make new outfits.

The words were chosen from the global fashion media and nominated by important individuals from the industry.