'Classy and a little bit rebellious': Gosia Baczynska on making a dress for the Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge began her visit to Poland yesterday with a rather blatantly diplomatic fashion gesture, dressing in the white and red colours of the country's flag. But for a party last night hosted by the British ambassador to Poland in celebration of The Queen's birthday, the Duchess opted for a more subtle - but no less striking - nod of fashionable diplomacy. 

Kate selected a white midi-length cocktail dress with architectural black detailing by one of Poland's best-known designers, Gosia Baczynska, to wear for the evening's festivities.

"Until the last moment, I didn’t know which outfit the Duchess was going to wear," Baczynska exclusively told The Telegraph today, adding that she'd barely slept thanks to her emotionally charged 24 hours. "I had some expectation that she would wear it but I couldn’t be sure so was extremely happy and excited when I saw her in my dress."

Unlike many of the designers Kate chooses, Baczynska was - fittingly - present at the reception to which the Duchess wore her dress. "It is an honour and privilege to dress such a style icon," she says. "Moreover, I had a chance to meet Kate and speak to her. It was a privilege to meet and talk to the Duchess."

This week's trip is designed to be a masterclass in soft diplomacy, strengthening ties between the UK and Poland ahead of Brexit. So while the dress is an undoubtedly glamorous statement, it is also a symbol of respect and support for the Polish fashion industry from one of the world's most famous women. "I’m really happy and proud that Kate has chosen a Polish brand,"  Baczynska acknowledges. "It means a lot for me and I think for Polish fashion industry as well."

The dress is a bold choice from the Duchess who has shown greater willingness to experiment with her style over the past year. The jagged, black-edge pleats on the bottom part of the dress offer a playful contrast to the delicate floral black applique at the waist while the deep v-neckline framed her pearl necklace - debuted during a visit to Paris in March - elegantly. 

The dress was a bespoke creation for the Duchess, which Baczynska and her team have been working on for the past four weeks after Natasha Archer, the Duchess's PA and stylist, got in touch asking for a lookbook.

"I got excited and started preparing the selected looks. I also knew I should keep this information a secret. I stayed in touch with Kate’s assistant and we were contacting each other about details," she says, clearly mindful of the discreet operations behind Kate's meticulously planned tour-drobes. 

"The collection is inspired by myths and legends from Polish culture and folklore,"Baczynska adds. "The dress's folds in particular are made to remind of thistles. The dress was personalized especially for the Duchess after they were interested in this sample from our lookbook."

The 51 year-old designer, who says that she prefers to work on a body or mannequin rather than sketching, emphasises that her design approach combines cultural references with what will feel right for her clients. "I was inspired by art, craft and tradition. The most important thing for me is quality which means really good fabric and realisation," she says. "I would like women who wear my outfits to feel special and modern. Classy and a little bit rebellious."

Although Baczynska is now well-and-truly Warsaw based and a go-to designer for many of Poland's wealthiest and most famous women, she does have ties to London. Her biography reveals that she gave up studying Fine Arts to move to London in 1991. She then spent time working for a seamstress and honing her dressmaking skills in the city before returning to her hometown of Wroclaw to begin her business. 

Baczynska - who also recently dressed Halle Berry in a silver sequinned mini dress - describes on her website how her fashion ethos is a "a revolt against the greyness that surrounded me" in the post-Soviet era. It will surely have impressed the Duchess that Baczynska began her business with very little funding, finding success through hard work and good reputation. 

The sophisticated, modern look is one of the Duchess's standout diplomatic fashion choices, pitching perfectly to Baczynska's chic yet slightly rebellious intentions. It rivals the tweed Chanel suit which she selected in Paris in March or the blue and white patterned shift dress by Mumbai-born Naeem Khan which she chose for an historic photograph in front of the Taj Mahal last year.

Last night was undoubtedly a royal fashion moment and for Baczynska personally,  it will be an evening to remember forever.