We all know artistic people can be very eccentric, but there are few industries filled with more unconventional individuals than the world of fashion. When so many artistic minds and big egos meet, sparks are bound to fly. The following stories are about feuds, scandals, and WTF moments that have become part of the history of style. They prove how even the most elegant can fall prey to their passions.
Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli
The most recognized fashion designer in history, Coco Chanel, didn’t get along with her Italian counterpart, Elsa Schiaparelli, who found inspiration for her clothes in the work of the surrealist artists, most of whom were her personal friends. Their rivalry was so profound that it led to a legendary confrontation at a party celebrated right before the start of the Second World War. In it, Chanel approached Schiaparelli and asked her to dance, when she accepted, the French designer intentionally guided her partner into a chandelier, which set her dress on fire. Schiaparelli wasn’t hurt in the incident, but the event lives in infamy ever since.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana almost go to jail
Back in 2014, newspapers around the world announced the famous Italian designers were found guilty of tax evasion and sentenced to 18 months in jail by a court in Milan. They were accused of owing over $300 million USD in unpaid taxes after they sold their highly profitable fashion firm to a Luxembourg company named Gado Srl. They were acquitted a few months after that, but for a moment, the court’s verdict threatened to ruin Dolce & Gabbana, with Domenico declaring it would be impossible for them to continue their operation if they were put behind bars.
Zahia Dehar becomes Karl Lagerfeld’s protégée
In 2010, Zahia Dehar made headlines in newspapers around the world when it was revealed that she was hired as a prostitute by French soccer superstars, Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema. Since se had been between the ages of 16 and 17 at the time of the encounters, she was considered to be under the age of consent in France, where prostitution is legal for people over 18. The trial ended with both players cleared of all charges, as they were supposedly unaware of Dehar’s age at the time. The former underage sex worker went on to make a career as a lingerie designer under the guidance of Karl Lagerfeld, who —according to an article published by WWD— described her as a “very French courtesan” when he photographed her in 2012.
John Galliano’s antisemitic insults
The British designer found himself in the eye of a media hurricane after he was accused of spewing anti-Semitic insults to a Jewish woman at a Parisian bar. To make matters worse, a video featuring the designer saying he loved Hitler while insulting another bar patron at another time, was also released. He was eventually found guilty in French court and forced to pay the legal fees of his victim. Besides his legal troubles, he was fired from his job as head designer at Christian Dior. He would later claim that he suffered from drug and alcohol addiction at the time, caused by the amount of pressure he faced while working at the French fashion giant. His career has recovered and he’s currently head of the high couture firm, Maison Margiela.
Naomi Campbell does community service… twice
The British supermodel is known for her fiery temper, which has gotten out of hand on more than one occasion. When her maid lost a pair of jeans in 2006, Campbell got so mad she threw her cellphone at her. This resulted in the woman unintentionally needing stitches. She was sentenced to five days of community service and anger management classes. Later on, in 2008, she was banned from British Airways after her violent reaction after being informed that one of her suitcases hadn’t arrived with the plane at Heathrow Airport. The officers pressed charges after she kicked and insulted them. This incident resulted in 200 more hours of community service.
These are but a small handful of scandalous headlines this industry has provided throughout the years. Expect more to come as long as there’s eccentric designers making high-end clothes.
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