11 Celebrities Who Refuse To Work With Specific Designers (And Why)
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An upsetting number of celebs have encountered designers who refuse to dress them simply because of their size, race, etc. This is one of many reasons some celebs have specific designers they refuse to work with.
Here are 11 celebs who refuse to work with certain designers (and why):
1.In 2024, Zendaya's stylist Law Roach told The Cutting Room Floor podcast that, when they first started working together, "I would write [to] the big five…and they would all say no. 'Try again next year,' 'She's too green,' 'She's not on our calendar.'...By the time she got to American Vogue, she still had never wore any of those designers. She still hasn't."
He continued, "She still has never worn Dior on a carpet. She still has never worn Chanel on a carpet. She has still never worn Gucci on a carpet — any press, any appearance, never. Never. The first time she wore Valentino in public is when she had a contract, so when I said, 'If you say no, it'll be a no forever,' that rang true for a long, long time."
Previously, in 2018, Law told the Hollywood Reporter, "She only wore Dolce [& Gabbana] when she got a Dolce [& Gabbana] campaign. We built that girl's career and my career using smaller brands and emerging designers to prove a point that it can happen! ... It's a big fuck you because we all know the [public relations] want to bring someone to you because, 'oh she can get her in Valentino,' but what I wanted to prove was that she doesn't have to be in Valentino to become a fashion girl. So now that everybody wants to dress her, I go back and say, 'Not this season!'"
2.In 2022, Sheryl Lee Ralph told the Hollywood Reporter, "I really do remember a time in my career when a design house told me that I was not the body that they wanted to dress, with its vulgar in and outs. To this day, I do not wear that line every time I see their name."
She continued, "I will never wear their line. I’m sure they’ve changed since then, but that’s what they said."
3.In a 2019 Instagram video, Bebe Rexha called out brands that refused to dress her for the Grammys because she was "too big" in their eyes. She said, "If a size six/eight is too big, then I don't know what to tell you. Then I don't want to wear your fucking dresses 'cause that's crazy."
In the caption, she added, "If you don’t like my fashion style or my music that’s one thing. But don’t say you can’t dress someone that isn’t a runway size. Empower women to love their bodies instead of making girls and women feel less then by their size. We are beautiful any size! Small or large! Anddddd My size 8 ass is still going to the Grammys."
She ended up walking the red carpet in a Monsoori gown.
In an Access Hollywood interview, she addressed the brands who turned her down, saying, "You wish you would've dressed my fat ass!"
4.In 2016, Dascha Polanco told Vogue, "I had a situation with a high-end brand the other day where I had personally invested so much money purchasing their items, and I love what they do, so I had my publicist reach out to their PR team. Their response was, 'Oh, you're not the sizes we have, not right now, maybe in the future.' Now, even if they want me to [wear their designs] down the road, I will not give them the pleasure."
"It's disappointing, but I try to work with up-and-coming designers who will make things for me and who will collaborate with me. People who love my curves and embrace them as much as I do," she said.
5.Ahead of the 2016 Ghostbusters premiere, Leslie Jones tweeted, "It's so funny how there are no designers wanting to help me...Hmm, that will change, and I remember everything." In a follow-up post, she added, "Hmm, what a difference a tweet makes...Should I name the designers that didn't look out? Put y'all ass on blast. You will not get my love later."
Designer Cristian Siriano offered to dress Leslie for her premiere.
After receiving praise for the move, he tweeted, "It shouldn't be exceptional to work with brilliant people just because they're not sample size. Congrats aren't in order, a change is."
6.In 2019, Lizzo told Allure, "If you're not making clothes for me, and if you don't want to make clothes for me, I don't want to wear your [designs]."
"I look good in other [things] anyway. But call me if you want to dress me. If you want to change the game and dress a fat body, call me," she said.
7.In 2021, doctor/influencer/sexual health educator Dr. Tanaya Narendra, a.k.a. Dr. Cuterus, said on Instagram, "There is SO much pressure on people to lose weight before their wedding — I had that too. Family friends would ask why I wasn't 'dieting' before my wedding (in a span of one month lmao). Some even went out of their way to send me 'slimming teas.' Bridal stores would body-shame (looking at you, Ambawatta [Tarun Tahiliani] {yeah, that was a massive shame, because I'd wanted to wear a Tarun T to my wedding since I was 12. Never going there again."
8.In late 2018, Prada was criticized over a trinket design that resembled blackface imagery. The brand apologize and pulled the product. Then, in 2019, Gucci pulled a sweater after criticism that its design resembled blackface. The brand released an apology statement. In response, on Instagram, Spike Lee wrote, "I, Spike Lee Of Sound Mind And Body Will No Longer Wear Prada Or Gucci Until They Hire Some Black Designers " To Be In Da Room When It Happens". It's Obvious To Da Peoples That They Don't Have A Clue When It Comes To Racist, Blackface Hateful Imagery. [sic]"
"WAKE UP. Ya-Dig? Sho-Nuff [sic]," he said.
9.T.I. also called for a boycott of Gucci 2019. Tagging the brand on Instagram, he wrote, "As a 7 figure/yr customer & long time supporter of your brand I must say... Y'all GOT US fucked UP!!! APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED!!!! We ain't going for this 'oops my bad I didn't mean to be racist and disrespectful towards your people' shit!!! Y'all knew wtf y'all was doin and WE AINT GOING FOR IT!!! We ALL GOTTA Stop buying, wearing, and supporting this piece of shit company And ALL PIECE OF SHIT COMPANIES UNTIL THEY LEARN TO RESPECT OUR DOLLARS & VALUE OUR BUSINESS!!!! [sic]"
He continued, "Our culture RUNS THIS SHIT!!! We (People of color) spend $1.25 TRILLION/year (but are the least respected and the least included)and if we stop buying ANYTHING they MUST correct any and ALL of our concerns. That's THE ONLY WAY we can get some RESPECT PUT ON OUR NAME!!!! I Don't Give a Fuck if I gotta wear Target brand shit.... #FuckGucci. [sic]"
10.In 2011, Christian Dior suspended John Galliano following an online video that emerged showing the designer going on an anti-Semitic rant against a couple in a cafe. In a statement, Natalie Portman said, "I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way."
"I hope, at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful," she said.
11.And finally, in 2019, model Robyn Lawley started an online petition against the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. On Instagram, she said, "Until Victoria's Secret commits to representing ALL women on stage, I am calling for a complete boycott of this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It's time Victoria's Secret recognized the buying power and influence of women of ALL ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities."
"The female gaze is powerful, and together, we can celebrate the beauty of our diversity. It's about time Victoria's Secret celebrated the customers that fuel its bottom line. Will you join me?" she said.
There was a significant decline in viewership, and the following year, Victoria's Secret canceled its fashion show and shared plans to reevaluate its marketing.
