Photo: Nina Fernandez/BFA.com/Shutterstock
Influencer and designer Danielle Bernstein is certainly no stranger to controversy, and she’s once again found herself at the center of a heated round of discourse. Over the weekend, Bernstein hosted a lavish engagement party — which looked a lot like a wedding, but was, indeed, just an engagement party — with her fiancée and real-estate analyst, Cooper Weisman. As over-the-top as it was, the event itself seems to have been overshadowed by its dress code and criticism over Bernstein’s gown, which one commenter said looked like it belonged to the “Shein costume section.” Let’s unpack why people are mad at Bernstein this time, shall we?
For the way-too-online set, influencer and designer Danielle Bernstein is a household name. Better known as the woman behind the WeWoreWhat account and accompanying fashion brand, the 33-year-old has become somewhat of a magnet for controversy, like the time she got COVID while vacationing in the Hamptons in the thick of the pandemic, or when she was called out for heavily Photoshopping images of herself (for this, she told People, she’s “sorry that there was a time where I was not even remotely close to comfortable in my own skin and was sharing highly Photoshopped images of myself”). Luckily for Bernstein, she’d been adept at escaping scandals big and small relatively unscathed.
The drama began back in September, when Bernstein revealed in a TikTok video that she had wanted to try something “a little bit different” for her and Weisman’s engagement celebration. “I actually curated shoppable links to dresses that were so perfect for our theme and dress code … to make it easier for my guests,” she explained. The idea, supposedly, was that her guests could save time by following the recommendations if they happened to be in the market for D.B.-approved cocktail attire. Once a guest bought one of the dresses, they would be removed from the registry to avoid any “matching moments.” “Did the shopping for my guests if anyone wants something new!” she captioned the post. “Should I share the curation publicly?!”
Naturally, commenters were not impressed. Most were offended by the implication that guests should shell out for a new garment just for the occasion: “God forbid someone wears something they already own,” one asked, while another pondered, “What if we just embraced individuality?” And then there’s the peak late-stage neoliberalism of it all. “Did you profit off the affiliate links too?” another user commented.
A few days later, things escalated further when fashion TikToker Massa Marjoe caught wind of the controversy. In a video that currently has over 114,000 likes, Marjoe pointed out that as a former bride, she found it strange that Bernstein would assume her guests’ budget or sizing. “They’re not your bridesmaids,” she said. “They’re not in your wedding party.” (To give Bernstein the benefit of the doubt, she did not say she required her guests to purchase a dress in order to attend the event, positioning the move as more of a suggestion.)
Things mostly quieted down until this weekend’s engagement party, which involved a couple’s photoshoot, toasts, and an after-party to boot. On Sunday, Bernstein posted footage of herself in her vintage Kim Kassas Couture gown, and while much of the commentary was supportive, several commenters noted that the corseted dress with an asymmetrical balloon skirt looked like “a cheap costume” and “a Victorian nightgown,” per WWD. Designer Dor Yaakov, who created the dress, was seemingly unbothered by the less-than-favorable feedback. “I’m not watching media too much, or reading critics’ negative reactions,” he told the outlet Monday. “I am treating myself as an artist so I prefer to only focus on my designs, as I should. I’m staying true to myself. I’m doing what I think I should be doing.”
So, it seems, is Bernstein, who seems to have really enjoyed her huge engagement party. She may not be great at wedding-guest etiquette, but one thing she’s really good at is surviving controversy. What kind of discourse do you think her actual wedding will start?
Stay in touch.
Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily
Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice
Related