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Meghan Markle’s Fashion Choices Cause Controversy and Accusations of Fraud
Bottega Veneta's CEO has taken aim at Meghan Markle, accusing her of promoting knockoff earrings and seeking damages amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The controversy arose after the Duchess of Sussex made an appearance at the Invictus Games 2023 in Dusseldorf, where she sported a stylish ensemble that included a Zara-belted short jumpsuit in ecru, layered with a cream blazer.
To complete her look, she accessorized with black-glazed leather mules from St. Laurent, Bottega Veneta chain hoop earrings, and a leozodiac diamond pendant from Brilliant Earth.
Accompanying Meghan was her husband, Prince Harry, who opted for a semi-formal attire, featuring a pale blue button-up shirt, dark-washed denim jeans, a brown belt, sunglasses, and green suede lace-up sneakers.
However, the brands associated with their outfits did not experience the expected boost in sales or positive feedback from customers.
In fact, many retailers failed to grasp the negative impact Meghan had on their products, and it wasn't long before fraudulent activities targeting these brands were exposed.
The Bottega Veneta earrings that Meghan wore at the Invictus Games quickly became highly sought after, but this surge in popularity came at a cost to the brand's reputation and sales.
It was discovered that a questionable website called Meghan's Mirror, known for featuring photos of Meghan wearing the latest fashion items with purchase links, was associated with the sale of knockoff products.
These items, although resembling the authentic ones, were identified as fake products of varying quality.
This raised questions about the identity of the individuals behind this suspicious website and their motives for consistently featuring new or rare photos of Meghan before they appeared in tabloids.
Bottega Veneta alone suffered losses of $500 per item, thanks to Meghan's association with the knockoff earrings, even though she does not officially represent the brand.
The total damage inflicted on Bottega Veneta and other affected brands could potentially reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Many have speculated that Meghan herself may be behind these fraudulent websites, profiting personally from their activities.
During her six-day presence at the Invictus Games, Meghan Markle showcased a mix of high street and high-end fashion, with her wardrobe and jewelry collection amounting to nearly 300,000 pounds.
While she opted for expensive brands like Givenchy, Chanel, and Hermès, she also embraced a more affordable approach by incorporating pieces from retailers such as Zara, Banana Republic, J.Crew, as well as mid-range designers like Ralph Lauren and Totem.
The majority of her expenses were attributed to her jewelry collection, which included notable pieces such as Princess Diana's 17,800-pound Cartier watch, a 50,000-pound Lorraine Schwartz pinky ring adorned with diamonds from the Middle East, and a 2,260-pound 1972 tennis pinky ring from Chiffin & Co.
Meghan's presence at the Invictus Games has undoubtedly shifted the focus away from the athletes and onto herself.