Real Housewives of New York star Rebecca Minkoff has opened up about an awkward run-in she had with Anna Wintour.
The fashion designer, 43, told Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge on their Two Ts in a Pod podcast that she believes making a major faux pas in front of Wintour may be the reason that she’s never been invited to the Met Gala.
Minkoff explained that she made the ‘huge mistake’ of getting into an elevator with the Vogue 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 supposed to avoid getting in there with her altogether.
‘I was like, “Hello! How is everyone feeling today?” She just looked down. It got silent, it was awkward. I was like, right, right I must’ve 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’m still overthinking it 15 years later. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been 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 believes that she may have been snubbed from the Met Gala after accidentally getting into an elevator with Anna Wintour
According to Minkoff, Lyons was co-hosting an event with Wintour that night and was working as the creative director of J Crew at the time, giving her plenty of clout 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 remark about how Minkoff’s self-titled brand is stocked at Nordstrom Rack – which is known for selling labels at marked down prices.
After learning that Minkoff, 43, had left a party early to attend a fashion awards show, Whitfield snidely commented, ‘Oh! I didn’t know Nordstrom Rack gives out awards.’
Erin Lichy later told Minkoff about the shady remark, 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.
‘I think it’s pretty distasteful for her to come for my career, or anything I’ve done, frankly,’ she said. ‘I’m not sure what she’s done. It’s like a little yap dog trying to bite you. I have been bit by real sharks. So, this is nothing to 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’s been incredibly successful, Whitfield is correct in pointing out that the affordable label is indeed available at Nordstrom Rack.
According to Parade, one of her 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 with a completely new cast last year following decline ratings and viewer backlash.