The story goes… Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari showed up for the 19th Annual Pan African Film Festival this February in Los Angeles in a jaw-dropping, form fitting black and red beaded gown. Heads turned as she dazzled the red carpet, and inquiring fashionistas wanted to know who designed the gorgeous gown.
Buari was quick to credit Oscar de la Renta as the designer, thinking that everyone would nod in awe, marvel at her good taste, and move onto the next star.
Not exactly…
Fashion bloggers buzzed about the gown — no one could recall seeing it during Oscar de la Renta fashion week collections. Calls to the company confirmed that the dress was not in recent fashion week collections. In fact, it was not part of ANY Oscar de la Renta collection. Ever.
More digging proved that the dress belonged to Alyce Designs — specifically to their Black Label couture line. The stunt has brought big business to Alyce Designs — the “fake de la Renta” is now their second best-selling frock.
But Buari has received negative publicity following the lie. She’s been dropped by her U.S. based PR firm JMG Media Relations. The scandal may also result in the Oscar de la Renta company suing Buari or her former PR firm.
The lingering question is: Why would Buari lie about a designer? It’s true that Oscar de la Renta gowns generally run in the 10,000 USD range while Alyce Designs Black Label price range is 250-350 USD.
Could it be that Buari is ashamed that her pockets don’t run so deep? Or do we all have a need to make people think we can afford more than we actually can?
Yah. Why couldn’t it have been just an old school prank she was playing? I mean, can’t people just say whatever they want? If the Oscar de la Renta sues her I will find that obnoxious. And what with the PR JMG dropping her anyways. They need to understand that people can say whatever they want.
In China, people put Sony signs on locally manufactured gadgets all the time and we are here talking about suing someone for just talking. Is this what society has come down to? Money? And we shouldn’t be ashamed if everyone is buying in to this craze of having money or being able to afford something expensive.
This is not China. This is America. Welcome back.
She’s misrepresenting the Oscar de la Renta brand with the lie, so I can see why they think it’s a big deal. But really Nadia? You fine, so if you wear Alyce, I’m sure other people will copy it too. Be a trendsetter.
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I in finding It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offer something again and aid others such as you aided me.