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Fashion Friday: the powerful Kate Effect strikes again
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Fashion Friday: the powerful Kate Effect strikes again

A very special interview with Sophie McGown of EAR SASS

Danielle Stacey's avatar
Danielle Stacey
Feb 23, 2024
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The HELLO! Royal Club
The HELLO! Royal Club
Fashion Friday: the powerful Kate Effect strikes again
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Kate Middleton wearing EAR SASS Issy Star earrings in Marlow.
Kate wearing EAR SASS’ Issy Star earrings in Marlow. Getty

The Princess of Wales's outfits are analysed every time she steps out but on World Mental Health Day 2023 back in October, she chose her accessories with particular care.

Kate kept a promise as she donned a very special pair of star-shaped earrings given to her by a grieving mother at Maidenhead Rugby Club last June.

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Sarah Renton's daughter, Issy Phipps, tragically took her own life at the age of 17 last April, having struggled with depression.

The teenager's cousin, Sophie McGown, owner of EAR SASS, created the pair of earrings in honour of her "shining star" Issy.

Sophie has been donating £5 from every pair of the Issy Star earrings that are sold to a wonderful mental health charity, Brave Mind.

EAR SASS Issy Star earrings
Issy Star earrings, £25.50

The Kate Effect struck once again with sales soaring after the Princess' first outing in Birmingham last October and orders being shipped around the world. The Princess wore the Issy Star earrings for a second time just days later at a SportsAid mental fitness workshop in Marlow. In January, fundraising hit over £10,000 for Brave Mind, and since then, Sophie has created a special new pair of earrings, named in honour of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, which launched this week - and have already sold out!

During a very moving conversation, Perthshire-born jeweller designer Sophie spoke to me about the impact the Princess of Wales has had on EAR SASS and what it was like to be invited to her Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey last December.

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