Ricki-Lee Coulter has come under fire from Australian bridal designer Johanna Johnson over just who created the singer’s 2015 wedding dress.
The Australian Idol star, 35, shared a gallery of black and white photos to Instagram on Friday showing a fitting she claims took place in Paris in 2015, when she was preparing to get married to Richard Harrison.
She was asked in the comments section who designed her fairytale gown.
Bride wars: Ricki-Lee Coulter (pictured) has come under fire from Australian bridal designer Johanna Johnson over just who created the singer’s 2015 wedding dress
‘Me! I designed it and worked with an amazing French atelier to bring it to life,’ she responded to the fan.
New Zealand-born, Australian-based designer Johanna, who also has a studio in Los Angeles, then replied in the comments: ‘It was a pleasure to create this for you. It would also be nice to receive the credit for the gift.
‘It took us many weeks to create this for you. This was also in LA?’ she added, claiming the location was her American studio, not Paris.
Fitting: Ricki-Lee, 35, shared a gallery of photos to Instagram on Friday showing a fitting she claims took place in Paris in 2015, when she was preparing to marry Richard Harrison
The fashion designer added: ‘This is highly unprofessional, untrue and frankly unkind. You are well aware I designed this custom gown. My team and I spent many weeks creating this exclusive gown for you.
‘Your fittings were also in LA – not Paris – where we arranged them for you. This beautiful gown was one of my favourites we had the pleasure of making over many long hours.’
Johanna went on to say she was saddened the pop star hadn’t acknowledged her ‘world-class, Australian-made gown’.
Claims: Ricki-Lee was asked in the comments section who designed her fairytale gown. ‘Me! I designed it and worked with an amazing French atelier to bring it to life,’ she replied to the fan
War of words: Australian-based Johanna, who also has a studio in Los Angeles, replied in the comments: ‘It was a pleasure to create this for you. It would also be nice to receive the credit for the gift. It took us many weeks to create this for you. This was also in LA?’
Ricki-Lee did not appear to respond, and within hours had deleted the post – and Johanna’s comments – from her Instagram.
An angry Johanna then shared a series of posts on her own account, describing her hurt over what she claims is the singer’s refusal to credit her for the design.
‘The only part of Paris in this gown is the hand beaded Parisian lace at the neckline. From my own collection, which I personally selected in Paris,’ she said.
Upset: After Ricki-Lee seemingly did not respond, an angry Johanna then shared a series of posts on her own Instagram account, describing her hurt over what she claims is the singer’s refusal to credit her for the design
Dispute: Johanna claimed the wedding dress fitting photos were taken in her seamstress studio in Los Angeles – not in Paris
‘I adore this gown and our work on it. It saddens me greatly that in this day and age some women still cannot support others. I thought we were past that?’
The designer then uploaded a photo of Ricki-Lee in the wedding dress, alongside a long caption which read: ‘Thank you to all the genuine and professional artists we have had the pleasure of working with who always give credit where due.
‘They most definitely would not create untrue narratives as to the location of their fittings/designer etc, purely for their own ego.
Hurt: The designer then uploaded a photo of Ricki-Lee (left) in the wedding dress, alongside a long caption which read: ‘Thank you to all the genuine and professional artists we have had the pleasure of working with who always give credit where due’
‘This industry needs to be cleaned up from artists who use and abuse the creative talents of others. I ask who is going to want to dress/spend weeks working on an exclusive garment for an artist for them only to create a delusional narrative about its origin? Beware who you choose to look after. Choose wisely.’
She concluded: ‘It also saddens me greatly that someone could risk putting a “cloud” over their own special gown and day? Why not apologise, and set things straight’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ricki-Lee Coulter for comment.
At the time of her nuptials, publications including Daily Mail Australia, New Idea, The West Australian, Mamamia and Yahoo! Lifestyle reported Johanna Johnson had designed the dress.
Press reports: At the time of her nuptials, publications including Daily Mail Australia, New Idea, The West Australian, Mamamia and Yahoo! reported Johanna Johnson had designed the dress
Ricki-Lee had posted the throwback photos to Instagram on Friday so her 277,000 followers could view the beautiful dress she wore for her special day.
The first picture was a mirror selfie that displayed the gown’s plunging neckline at the centre, while the second image showed off the full tulle skirt.
‘Six years ago in Paris…my final wedding dress fitting,’ the TV personality wrote before describing the ‘three parts’ that made up the dress in detail.
Married: The Do It Like That singer tied the knot with Richard Harrison (right), who is also her manager, in a chateau in France in August 2015
‘The under part was the slimline dress with a silk base and a soft tulle overlay and a split up the centre so I could party and dance in it,’ she explained.
‘Then there was a beautiful big tulle layered skirt that went over top and was belted at the waist. THEN there was a big tulle train that hooked on to the back of the skirt under the belt for the drama for the ceremony and photos.’
Ricki-Lee jokingly added that she ‘whipped that thing off when the party got started.’
The Do It Like That singer tied the knot with Richard, who is also her manager, in a romantic chateau in France in August 2015, surrounded by close family and friends.
Fancy: Ricki-Lee had posted the throwback photos to Instagram so her 277,000 followers could view the beautiful dress she wore for her special day. Pictured on Australia’s Got Talent