Osipi said:
I think no matter how much money one has, that to feel the need for a new outfit every time they turn around, is someone with more money than brains.
Somehow I think that Kelly was speaking on the assumption that the clothes would be free. Catherine does not accept free clothing, but actors and actresses in Hollywood have almost infinite access to free clothing, accessories, gadgets, etc.
I think it's a bit simplistic to say that a new dress a day is necessarily wasteful. Kate is the most effective walking billboard on earth and there are many innovative and revolutionary ways she could harness that power.
Of course, she may not (yet) feel fully comfortable transforming herself into a product, but she could wear a new dress a day and provide unparalleled economic and social benefits through her clothing alone.
Imagine, for example, if she wore pink dresses everyday for one week during Breast Cancer Awareness month and the retailer agreed in advance that profits from all dresses in that style in the color pink were donated to Breast Cancer Research. Or if she wore bracelets made from stones only found in Wales or Cornwall. She could generate lots of awareness around her chosen issues, and also bring regional products and industries to the world stage.
Even on a very basic (non issue driven) level, whether or not Kate did receive free clothing, it wouldn't be a waste because she would generate a substantial economic benefit for each label she wore. If, for example, she wore a high street dress instead of DVF for a second time, that dress would have sold out immediately and possibly launched a new brand to the international market.
The UK and most of the world are entering periods of deep austerity. It is useful to think creatively in all areas, including in how to commoditize that previously unquantifiable power of extreme international celebrity. How wonderful would it be to attract international companies to the UK to produce textiles using a competition to design dresses for her? Really, the possibilities are endless.
Or, despite her luxurious (private) lifestyle, she can wear LK Bennett nude pumps a gazillion times to express some vague notion of being thrifty and winking at the same, tired, insular Sloane Ranger brand while missing out on an extraordinary and unprecedented opportunity.