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Designer Philip Plein is facing backlash for fat-shaming a journalist after she wrote a negative review of his fall 2019 fashion show.
Fashion writer Alexandra Mondalek published a critical review of Plein’s recent New York Fashion Week show on Fashionista , where she described the show as “tragic” and the collection as “disappointing.”
According to Mondalek, of the numerous issues with the show, the first was a lack of appearance by Kanye West - who Plein had reportedly been scammed into believed would be performing.
Mondalek also described the German designer’s “dinner show” as “disorganised” and explained that there was “seating for, at most, two-thirds of the guests.”
As for the clothes, Mondalek referred to the collection as a “regurgitated tasting of other designers’ hits from recent seasons past” and recalled one “particularly awful costume” of “a matching black leather corset and ruffle mini skirt and suede-fringed Yeti boots.”
Show all 54 1 /54New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Olivia Palermo is a fashion month regular. She was spotted outside the Michael Kors show on Wednesday morning wearing a polka dot jumper with black skinny jeans.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Puffer jackets are having a moment, and this candy-coloured style is an apt illustration as to why. Adding both volume and joy to an otherwise fairly conventional outfit with minimal effort? Yes please.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Bella Hadid wrapped up warm for the cold weather in a beige aviator-style jacket paired with super-slim red sunglasses.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Stunning florals, chic boots and a classic trench coat - what’s not to love? These two guests attending the NYFW Carolina Herrera show struck a stylish pair outside the New York Historical Society by Central Park West.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This guest was wearing tassels for days as she made her way across a road crossing to the Carolina Herrera fashion show. Paired with a pair of cool sunglasses, a matching black clutch and high boots, this fashionista looked every inch a style queen in her striking ensemble.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style 'Mission Impossible' actor Michelle Monaghan brought a touch of sparkle to the streets of New York, when she attended the Carolina Herrera show wearing a multicoloured, high-neck dress by the Venezuelan designer. “I like to sparkle on Mondays,” the star wrote on Instagram.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Just because the February skies are grey, that doesn’t mean you have to dress to match, as ‘Marvel’s Runaways’ actor Virginia Gardner demonstrated at NYFW. The 23-year-old wore a bright yellow, off-shoulder tiered Carolina Herrera gown to the designer’s show, which she accessorised with gold strappy heels.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Dressing in all-black simply never goes out of fashion when it’s done right. This guest proved just how to pull off a look that lacks colour, wearing a long skirt with a similarly coloured jacket, black gloves, stiletto boots, a flat-brimmed hat and carrying a Dior Oblique Saddle Bag.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This guest made a bold statement on the streets of New York in a stunning black-and-white polka dot dress, completing the look with a thick black belt and her hair tied up in a tousled bun. She was accompanied by a friend wearing a modish tan ensemble, accessorising with a Blair Waldorf-esque headband and black kitten heels.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style 'Big Little Lies' actor Shailene Woodley shone brightly at NYFW wearing a marigold coat by Carolina Herrera, with lime green shorts and a white patterned shirt.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Double denim is continuing to have its moment, as shown by this guest who wore a hybrid faux fur-denim jacket while attending the Carolina Herrera show.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style ‘Diablo’ actor Camilla Belle stood outside at NYFW in a wide-legged Carolina Herrera jumpsuit, complete with blouson sleeves and a colourful feather design. She completed the look with a long, black tailored jacket.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This stylish black-and-white look was made even more eye-catching by the addition of the fashionista’s gold accessories as she crossed a New York road on her way to the Carolina Herrera show.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This guest took a leaf out of Britney and Justin’s book, donning a denim-on-denim ensemble as she arrived at Spring Studios in New York. The floppy hat and cropped, flared jeans give this look a very 1970s vibe.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style The matching of this guest’s red-orange lipstick to the lettering on her trousers gives this outfit an extra edge. Not to mention her chic faux fur coat, ideal for a cold winter’s day out in the Big Apple.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style If you’re going to attend one of the most coveted fashion events of the year, you might as well make a strong impression while doing so. That’s exactly what this guest did, turning up in a bright yellow jock-inspired jacket, a colourful jumpsuit, black combat boots and a multiple-ringed gold necklace.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style If someone were to imagine Elsa from 'Frozen' as a modern-day sartorial queen, this is probably what they’d come up with, minus the ice blonde hair. The bright blue 1980s-esque prom dress, white jacket, Gucci belt and animal print high heeled boots make for a very dramatic overall look.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This guest displayed the power of subtlety with his NYFW look, matching the bronze buttons on his pea coat with the cuffs on his sleeves.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style A white beanie, colourful tartan jacket, cropped jeans and dazzlingly white trainers - this guest is definitely à la mode.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Cheetah print is continuing to reign supreme in the fashion world. This guest donned a classic cheetah print coat at the Dion Lee show, completing her look with bubblegum pink high-waisted trousers, a bronze handbag and navy boots.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style It may not be spring yet, but this guest was bringing the warmth at the NYFW Tibi show in a sunset orange coat. She accessorised with a forest green purse and black ankle boots.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Fashion and interior design blogger Aimee Song was the picture of elegance at NYFW, wearing a garish long blue coat with blue snakeskin boots. Song was featured in Forbe’s 30 under 30 Art and Style list in 2016.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Social media influencer Camila Coelho looked like she’d stepped right out of the 1970s when she attended the Tibi show in an orange ensemble by the American designer, finishing off the look with a pair of classic round sunglasses.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Entrepreneur Babba Rivera wore a navy-coloured trench coat and high-neck dress from Kate Spade for her outing in New York City during fashion week.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Soft nude tones are in for spring as perfectly highlighted with this laid-back athleisure look.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style One street style expert paired a cream-coloured skirt and a white polo neck jumper with a perspex Fendi jacket with a brown trim and pockets.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Clashing textures such as leather and wool compliment each other superbly in this terracotta and blue-hued winter ensemble.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Sequins, feathers, plastic, leopard print come together in perfect harmony in this mismatch spring look courtesy of blogging sisters Charlotte and Sophie Bickley.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Model and rapper TK Wonder rocked a Noughties-inspired look on the streets of NYC, pairing a pair of feathery pink stiletto boots with a baby pink coat and light denim jeans.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Camel-coloured coats show no sign of going out of fashion and this is a sentiment clearly shared by this fashion expert. The satorial star teamed her look with a pair of black brogues, a wide black belt and grey roll neck jumper.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This all-black outfit was given the perfect hint of playfulness with a pair of turquoise-coloured drop earring, turban, and matching eyeshadow.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Influencer Oriane Adjibi brought the sunshine to a cold, wintery New York weekend in a bright orange-hued cropped jacket, white pointed-toe boots and a sheer lilac skirt with a feather trim.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Red and pink have long been viewed as fashion "frenemies" but their feud has finally been put to bed thanks to fashion blogger Opal Stewart. She finished off her bold look with a cobalt blue fluffy jacket and a pillar box red bag.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style "Be uniquely you. Stand out. Shine," wrote model Alicia Burke on her Instagram to describe her look. The long raindbow-coloured puffer jacket was the perfect pop of colour to her otherwise all-black outfit.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Patrick Amara and Dustin Rogers showed their love of designer labels and the high street in this Gucci, Dior and Asos fashion mash-up during NYFW.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Nothing shouts "sartorial swagger" louder than a tonal look featuring two different types of animal print. The beach hat adds a pleasing bohemian touch.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Man Repeller founder Leandra Medine is renowned for her comfy, cosy-chic style, and this look illustrates why. A cropped polo-neck jumper might look ridiculous on most, but Medine wears hers here with aplomb by adding a grey cardigan and pale blue jeans.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This look is very Britney Spears circa the Oops I Did It Again music video, and we're into it. The full-length floral coat is a practical and elegant addition.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Karlie Kloss knows a thing or two about the colour blue, so it seems. The American supermodel's outfit is the perfect example of how slick tailoring and a fitted coat render the need for tonal variation utterly obsolete.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style In case you missed it, camel is back in and few items of clothing look better in this neutral shade than a classic trench coat. This one has pouffed-up sleeves to give a edgier silhouette, it works a treat.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Why wear one jacket when you can wear two? That's what this street styler thought when she woke up one morning. If you're going to try out this style move, it's best to follow to use something neutral, like the denim jacket seen here, so as to avoid aggressive colour clashes.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style There's nothing more satisfying than throwing a baggy sweatshirt on over an ankle-grazing skirt. The tie-dye clash works a treat here, particularly with the chunky navy blue headband.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style This might just be the best Legally Blonde impersonation yet, at least, sartorially speaking. Aside from the clutch and the boots, everything about this look is a bright shade of bubblegum pink, and on a grey, miserably New York day, what a wonderful thing it is to see so much radiance in one hit.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Yellow and orange might sound like a colour combo made in hell, but when the tailoring is razor-sharp and the accessory is a strange square-like shape, it's a sunny and optimistic look.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style White boots have had a resurgence in recent months thanks to their versatility, which is aptly demonstrated here. Neither plaid nor wide-leg trousers can detract from their stylishness.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Plaid is clearly here to stay on the ever-changing fashion trend circuit. This suit is very well coordinated, thanks to white cat-eye shades and beige heeled booties. The Gucci bag adds a splash of sophistication.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style All beige everything is the underlying lesson in this look. There's no reason not to embrace the shade of the moment with such vigor, as you can see.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Fendi's logo can be spotted from a mile away, and when combined with these two-tone floral trousers, you could spot this street styler from much further. The pink polo-neck jumper tones things down, but only by a smidgen.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Jumpsuits are having a moment, and this grey, workman-style variation explains why. Cinching it in at the waist with a wide belt adds a feminine silhouette while the rounded sunglasses give the look a retro flair.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style It's a good idea to wear a warm coat to fashion week, as this street styler is clearly aware. It's the perfect burnt autumnal hue too.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style When a jacket just won't do but you can't decide which shirt to wear, why not wear a jacket that doubles up as a shirt? That's what this street styler seems to have done, giving her cream dress a slouchy but stylish feel.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Why not wear a bright tie-dye top underneath a pink suit? Clearly, it looks more elegant than it sounds, especially when accessorized with oversized square sunglasses and a blue box bag.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Tiny sunglasses continue their reign on the street style scene, as spotted here adding drama to a sportswear-inspired look.
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New York Fashion Week 2019: Best street style Those sleeves are quite something. Pairing this lime green dress with kitten heel shoes and a dark, cropped jacket allows the melodrama of those feathery cuffs to stand out in the way that they should.
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The writer concluded the review by referring to the Philipp Plein brand as a “tacky joke.”
Plein fat-shamed her for writing the negative review (Instagram) Plein attacked the journalist on Instagram (Instagram) In a series of Instagram stories which have since been deleted but which Mondalek shared to her own social media, the designer responded to Mondalek by publicly criticising her appearance and questioning her trustworthiness.
On a photo of the fashion editor’s review, Plein wrote: “I like it when journalists are objective and trustworthy…especially if they write bad after a fashion show just because they did not get paid with food...”
The designer also uploaded a photo of Mondalek on Instagram, where he has more than 1.6m followers, and wrote: “Next time I make sure that you will get enough food. I promise…”
The designer's response has since been deleted (Instagram) Mondalek shared screenshots on her own social media (Instagram) In response, Mondalek shared screenshots of Plein’s attack and said: “He found this photo of me on BFA 25lbs ago.
She criticised the designer for his unprofessionalism (Instagram) “Talk about professionalism! Plein attacked me on such a disgusting personal level because I said his event was mishandled and his clothes are ugly,” she continued. “Body-shaming is NEVER okay and especially not from someone with a platform like his.”
Mondalek also criticised the designer’s inappropriate response in an article for InStyle
The fashion writer, who'd previously reviewed Plein in 2017, concluded her posts on the incident by referring to Plein as a “misogynist with a fragile ego.”
“I hope you’re proud of yourself for fat-shaming someone who struggles with body image,” she wrote.
On social media, people have expressed their support for Mondalek - and urged her to ignore the designer's comments.
Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "This is absolutely disgusting and I'm so sorry that he is speaking to and about you like this," one person wrote.
The Independent has contacted Philipp Plein for comment.
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