Bethenny Frankel refused entry to designer store for not ‘looking wealthy’

A TV star who was turned away from a designer store while wearing a T-shirt went back the next day dressed “wealthy” to prove a point.

Bethenny Frankel claims she’s been “banned” by a luxury fashion brand after she exposed its “insane” dress code.

The former Real Housewives of New York star says she was recently refused entry to a Chanel store in Chicago because she was dressed too casually.

At the time she’d been told “no”, Frankel was wearing “a sweaty T-shirt” and pointed out she was “not dolled up or looking wealthy”.

However the store’s staff insisted it was about the way she looked, but claimed it was because the star hadn’t booked an appointment.

Frankel, 53 – who has become an influencer who likes to keep it real since quitting reality TV – was not impressed, so the following day she returned to the store.

This time she was dressed very differently, wearing head to toe Chanel along with a full face of make-up, and her hair styled in perfect waves.

“If they let me in because of how I look, Christmas is cancelled,” she said.

On this occasion, Frankel breezed in with “no problems”, despite the fact she didn’t have an appointment.

The mum-of-one later shared her experience on social media, declaring not only is it “rude and elitist” to refuse entry to someone because of the way they look, it’s also “exclusionary”.

“In business, first impressions are lasting. I would never want anyone to feel lesser than, particularly from a luxury brand making billions off of people buying into the hype,” she said.

“Chanel is a beautiful brand with timeless classic pieces. Being kind to customers of all socioeconomic backgrounds is also timeless and classic.”

Bethenny Frankel wanted to prove designer stores have an unspoken dress code after being turned away by Chanel while dressed in casual clothing. Picture: Instagram/BethennyFrankel

Her videos quickly went viral, with many divided over their thoughts on the situation.

Some said it proved that designer brands have secret dress codes, and will “discriminate” anyone who doesn’t appear a certain way, by not letting them into their stores.

“It’s horrible to be judged because of the way you look, the fashion industry still has a long way to go,” one remarked.

“Ugh, this makes me sad. Now… imagine this same thing occurring all the time because you’re brown,” another shared.

As one raged: “That behaviour is just terrible and elitist but sadly it happens everywhere.”

“This is insane, to turn you away because you’re dressed casually. The richest people in the world rarely drip themselves in designers,” someone else scoffed.

“Same person different day…… same bank account. I’m glad you exposed this,” another declared.

While one mused: “That’s crazy, I like to dress casual when I shop in case I want to try something on. Shouldn’t be judged. Do better @chanelofficial.”

She returned the next day dressed ‘completely differently’ and had no problem getting in. Picture: Instagram/BethennyFrankel

She accused the designer store of being ‘rude, elitist and exclusionary’. Picture: Instagram/BethennyFrankel

Others suggested the rising robbery rates in the US city could be behind the refusal of entry, while some said Frankel simply had a taste of regular life, without her celebrity privilege.

“So let me understand this: you were treated like everyone else?” a user remarked.

“They told you it’s because you need an appointment,” defended one.

There were also heaps of comments comparing Frankel’s experience to the famous shopping scene in the 1990 film Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts.

“Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now,” one commented, quoting the movie.

“No appt needed when you dress the part I guess,” snarked someone else, as one added: “I’m living for this social experiment OMG.”

As one concluded: “This whole saga is insane.”

Frankel, whose videos documenting the Chanel scenario have been viewed tens of millions of times across Instagram and TikTok, has since updated those following along, claiming she has been “banned”.

“POV: Banned from Chanel for life,” she wrote on a video which showed her quoting a famous line from cult-movie The Devil Wears Prada.