Princess Kate and Princess Beatrice's wardrobe is set to lose some shine. The Wife of a vampire, a label specializing in dark and glamorous evening dresses that both women have worn over the years, announced on May 21 that it has been shut down.

Susie Cave founded Vampire's Wife in 2014, drawing the brand's evocative name from the title of an unpublished novel by her husband Nick Cave. Over a decade in the business, the brand has created a range of high neckline, ruffled sleeves, floor by combining them with flashy, shimmering lame fabrics and rich jewel tones, including Princess Kate (who has also worn some Gothic chic gowns) and Princess Beatrice (fans of both dresses and on-the-go tops). The a-listers' favourite and even more famous fans ranged from Kate Moss and Florence Welch to Rachel Weisz and Sienna Miller.

Despite building a fan base of actors, musicians and royalty over the past 10 years, Cave said the "wholesale market upheaval" — a huge aspect of its business — had had disastrous consequences for the brand. In the US, vampire wives are carried by retailers such as Net-A-Porter and The Outnet.

Cave wrote an emotional farewell to her customers in a post on Instagram. "I would like to say this with great sadness and express my eternal gratitude to all of you for your support. I want to thank my large family with a vampire wife who helped me create such a beautiful thing. I can't explain how much you mean to me," she wrote.

Kate Middleton and Beatrice gave the Vampire Wife some of the most meaningful styling arrangements of its 10-year run. Princess Kate wore a version of the shimmering floor-length dress with two state visits: an emerald green dress to Dublin, Ireland, in 2020 and a brilliant pink dress for a trip to Cajalpek, Belize, in 2022.2 Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice chose another emerald green gown to attend Ellie Golding's 2021 wedding (Kate's outfit for her royal trip is seen by millions of people around the world, providing a huge signal boost for the designers who make them). She also wears a pink top of the brand for an evening in London.

It was a difficult week for an independent designer. The day before the Vampire's wife announced the closure, Sustainable label Mara Hoffman shared that it was also closing. Its namesake designer, Mara Hoffman, explained that it was ultimately impossible to bear the cost of holding ownership of her business, and that it was also true to its eco-friendly size inclusive values.

The vampire's wife is quickly shutting down. The remaining pieces can be sold at discounted prices online at their physical London retail locations as well as partner retailers. (The one-piece included in the Net-a-Porter sale is the dress Kate Middleton wore to Dublin in 2020.

It is likely that Princess Kate and Princess Beatrice will continue to wear the label: both royals are known to re-wear some of their favorite clothes for special occasions. And what makes the piece more special than knowing that it is the last 1?

For a slice of royal fashion history, buy some of the Vampire Wife's final designs below.