Rebecca Minkoff says awkward run-in with Anna Wintour may have got her banned from Met Gala
Real Housewives of New York star Rebecca Minkoff has opened up about an awkward encounter she had with Anna Wintour.
The fashion designer, 43, told Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge about it Two T’s in a Pod podcast in which she thinks making a big mistake in front of Wintour could be the reason she was never invited to the Met Gala.
Minkoff explained that she made the “big mistake” of getting into an elevator with Vogue’s editor-in-chief “about fifteen years ago.”
What she didn’t know at the time was that Wintour reportedly has a rule about not being spoken to in the elevator — and that most people are not supposed to go in there with her at all.
“I was like, ‘Hi! How’s everyone feeling today?’ She just looked down. It became quiet, it was uncomfortable. I thought, yeah, I missed the memo somewhere,” Minkoff said.
‘That was the end of my relationship with Anna. You’re not allowed in the elevator with Anna,” she continued.
‘I still think about it fifteen years later. Maybe that’s why I never got invited to the Met Gala!’
Despite Minkoff being ignored, her future RHONY co-star Jenna Lyons was in the elevator with Wintour that day.
Real Housewives of New York star Rebecca Minkoff thinks she may have been rejected from the Met Gala after accidentally stepping into an elevator with Anna Wintour
According to Minkoff, Lyons was co-hosting an event with Wintour that evening and was working as the creative director of J Crew at the time, giving her a lot of influence in the fashion industry.
Minkoff recently defended herself after RHONY rival Brynn Whitfield threw shade at her discounted designs on the show.
On a recent episode of the Bravo series, Whitfield made a comment about how Minkoff’s self-titled brand is offered at Nordstrom Rack, which is known for selling labels at discounted prices.
After hearing that the 43-year-old Minkoff had left a party early to attend a fashion show, Whitfield said mockingly, “Oh!” I didn’t know Nordstrom Rack gave out prizes.”
Erin Lichy later told Minkoff about the shady comment, to which a stunned Minkoff replied, “Oh wow, that’s a good one.”
She continued, “Listen, she doesn’t have to like my stuff. That’s fine. I built a $100 million company.”
Minkoff later called Whitfield’s comments “distasteful” while speaking to producers in her confessional.
“Honestly, I think it’s quite distasteful for her to come over my career, or anything I’ve done,” she said. ‘I’m not sure what she did. It’s like a little yap dog trying to bite you. I’ve been bitten by real sharks. So this isn’t for me.’
‘That was the end of my relationship with Anna. You’re not allowed in the elevator with Anna,” Minkoff said
Minkoff founded her self-titled brand in 2005 with the help of her brother Uri.
While it has been incredibly successful, Whitfield is right to point out that the affordable label is indeed available at Nordstrom Rack.
According to Parade, one of its famous tote bags is currently on sale at the discounted price of $99 at the outlet.
Minkoff joined the Real Housewives of New York City this year for the show’s 15th season.
The show was rebooted last year with an entirely new cast after declining ratings and viewer backlash.