Another day, another Kardashian scandal. Today's piping hot tea: An indie designer is claiming that Khloe Kardashian copied her original designs… and she has the receipts to prove it.
Last week, Khloe posted this campaign video promoting her Good American clothing line, asking fans to count how many "beautiful, kickass ladies" they could spot. But one designer spotted something totally different.
According to indie fashion designer Destiney Bleu, Khloe Kardashian has blatantly ripped off her designs for the new Good American line.
And believe me, guys, the tea gets HOTTER.
You may not know Destiney's name, but you DEFINITELY know her work. Through her label, Dbleudazzled, she's created the sexiest sparkly bodysuits, tights, and performance outfits for some of the world's biggest names.
Her sheer bodysuits — which come in a range of shades to match a range of skin tones — with nipple "starbursts" are her signature piece.
And I when I say big names, I mean HUGE — Destiney created the tights and bodysuits for Beyonce's Formation World Tour.
Here's Our Queen wearing a pair of custom Dbleudazzled fishnets. Destiney has also worked with Serena Williams, Pitbull, and Lady Gaga — her resume is the stuff of legends.
She even counts the Kardashian-Jenners as clients. Kylie has worn — and posted about — Dbleudazzled tights before.
According to Destiney, ALL the sisters have bought Dbleudazzled pieces — which she handmakes, btw, to ensure that everything comes out perfectly.
Anyway. Our story begins a few days ago. Khloe tweeted the promotional video for her Good American Jeans, which Destiney retweeted with the following commentary:
"When someone buys 1 of everything on your site, has you make them custom @dbleudazzled work, never posts it or wears it, then copies it."
The item in question? This Good American bedazzled bodysuit, seen at :44 in the original video.
Looks kinda familiar, doesn't it?
Destiney then started bringing RECEIPTS in an epic tweet storm.
"Every sister in the fam owns all of my tights. Khloe literally bought one of everything and had me personally make her custom items too."
"I was so excited to make a custom Cavs jersey for KK cuz Im from there, I bought crazy inventory because I knew theyd sell when she wore."
"I was also super excited when her sisters used my pieces in their lookbook, not realizing they were also passing it off as their own."
"Last week that clothing line [Good American] hit me wanting a nude bodysuit w/nipple bursts. I asked them what it was for cuz Kk had copied one….."
"Of course they went ghost. Just like Khloes assistant when I sent an email calling her out."
"These purchases were made in December, I thought she was holding out to wear for NBA Finals. Nope. It was all being sent away to copy."
"I had stylists friends working on the Good American set and they told me they were shook when they saw her black x nude @dbleudazzled copies"
_"I know its prolly unprofessional of me to spill the tea but I've had it with these non creative millionaires stealing from indie designers."_
"I have an epic resume and have outstanding relationships with my clients. Im not sitting back and letting this snake shit slide."
And Destiney made it clear WHY she's not letting this go — her designs are her damn life. A bigger brand allegedly copying her stuff is threatening her livelihood.
"Dazzle is my livelihood. I pay 3 rents, 5 employees & handmake everything. I did it w/no investment or guidance, I'll always fight for this."
She also brought some comparisons. The model and Khloe are in the Good American alleged copies; the others are the Dbleudazzled originals.
*scratching chin emoji*
While neither Khloe *nor* Good American have responded to these allegations, someone on the GA social team went ahead and uploaded three #inspo photos that reference the controversy.
AND IT GETS PETTIER, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT. The caption on the Cher photo reads "Here’s our forever inspo — Cher photographed by Henry Langdon, 1978. Important to know your fashion history #nofrauds"
#nofrauds, if you remember, was the hashtag Destiney used to call Khloe's company out by comparing her original designs to the alleged Good American rip-off.
Also, at no point in this did Destiney say that Dbleudazzled invented sparkly bodysuits. She just called attention to the fact that a now-former client, who had bought pieces from her before, suddenly released an item that looked eerily similar. So. Fashion history THAT.
For now, Destiney is taking the high road...
"You can post all the inspo photos you want but we all know what the real deal is."
"You will not bully me into shutting up. Im not the one."
Indie designers like Destiney — who make their living off their creativity — DESERVE recognition for their work. When bigger brands (allegedly) copy that work to make absolute piles of money, that's not OK.
Remember when Kylie Jenner, Khloe's half-sister, got in major legal trouble after *allegedly* copying the original work of makeup artist Vlada Haggerty? Yeah, it's like that.
And we as consumers have to continue calling out predatory BS like this when we see it.
For better or worse, the Kardashians are a cultural juggernaut — and their associated brands, like Khloe's Good American, have a LOT of power. If these brands *allegedly* take ideas from less well-known designers and artists, that's uncreative AT BEST and an abuse of power at worst. It's not OK. And we need to hold them to account for that.
Luckily, if you want something super-sexy and incredibly sparkly, Dbleudazzled is open for business.
The Dbleudazzled store is literally a treasure trove of sexy magic — check it out, and support Destiney's original work!
I've reached out to Destiney, Khloe, AND the Good American press contacts for comment, and I'll update this post if/when I get an official comment. In the meantime, Destiney is hinting at legal action...
"Im trademarked already and lawyered up."
Like I said, I'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: Reps from Good American have responded with the following official statement.
Ms Bleu’s claim that Good American and Khloe Kardashian copied or stole her designs is flagrantly false and little more than a cheap publicity stunt and an attempt by Ms Bleu to get her 15 minutes of fame. Ms. Bleu did not create the concept or design of a bodysuit with crystals – a fashion style that has been around for decades as evidenced by the fact that Cher has been wearing these styles for over 25 years. The Good American design team designed a range of eleven bodysuits and had never heard of Ms. Bleu or seen her designs. The letter from her lawyer -sent to the press for no legitimate reason – is outrageous, defamatory and misleading in the extreme. Good American will absolutely not stand for anyone trying to damage its reputation and plans to deal with this through the proper legal channels.
