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Influencer and designer Danielle Bernstein<\/a> is certainly no stranger to controversy<\/a>, and she\u2019s once again found herself at the center of a heated round of discourse. Over the weekend, Bernstein hosted a lavish engagement party<\/a> \u2014 which looked a lot like a wedding, but was, indeed, just an engagement party \u2014 with her fianc\u00e9e 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\u2019s gown, which one commenter said looked like it belonged to the \u201cShein costume section.\u201d Let\u2019s unpack why people are mad at Bernstein this time, shall we?<\/p>\n For the way-too-online set, influencer and designer Danielle Bernstein<\/a> 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<\/a> 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<\/a> People, she\u2019s \u201csorry 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\u201d). Luckily for Bernstein, she\u2019d been adept at escaping scandals big and small relatively unscathed.<\/p>\n The drama began back in September, when Bernstein revealed<\/a> in a TikTok video that she had wanted to try something \u201ca little bit different\u201d for her and Weisman\u2019s engagement celebration. \u201cI actually curated shoppable links to dresses that were so perfect for our theme and dress code \u2026 to make it easier for my guests,\u201d 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 \u201cmatching moments.\u201d\u00a0\u201cDid the shopping for my guests if anyone wants something new!\u201d she captioned the post. \u201cShould I share the curation publicly?!\u201d<\/p>\n Naturally, commenters<\/a> were not impressed. Most were offended by the implication that guests should shell out for a new garment just for the occasion: \u201cGod forbid someone wears something they already own,\u201d one asked, while another pondered, \u201cWhat if we just embraced individuality?\u201d And then there\u2019s the peak late-stage neoliberalism of it all. \u201cDid you profit off the affiliate links too?\u201d another user commented.<\/p>\n A few days later, things escalated further when fashion TikToker Massa Marjoe caught wind of the controversy. In a video<\/a> 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\u2019 budget or sizing. \u201cThey\u2019re not your bridesmaids,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re not in your wedding party.\u201d (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.)<\/p>\n Things mostly quieted down until this weekend\u2019s engagement party, which involved a couple\u2019s photoshoot, toasts, and an after-party<\/a> to boot.\u00a0On Sunday, Bernstein posted footage<\/a> 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 \u201ca cheap costume\u201d and \u201ca Victorian nightgown,\u201d per WWD<\/a>. Designer Dor Yaakov, who created the dress, was seemingly unbothered by the less-than-favorable feedback. \u201cI\u2019m not watching media too much, or reading critics\u2019 negative reactions,\u201d he told the outlet Monday. \u201cI am treating myself as an artist so I prefer to only focus on my designs, as I should. I\u2019m staying true to myself. I\u2019m doing what I think I should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n So, it seems, is Bernstein, who seems to have really enjoyed\u00a0 her huge engagement party. She may not be great at wedding-guest etiquette, but one thing she\u2019s really good at is surviving controversy. What kind of discourse do you think her actual wedding will start?<\/p>\n Stay in touch.<\/p>\n Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n