On January 24, Angelababy appeared in a livestream for Red Dragonfly, a domestic Chinese footwear brand known for its affordable pricing. During the broadcast, she wore a Fall/Winter 2024 Haute Couture gown by Ronald van der Kemp, paired with budget-friendly red sneakers from Red Dragonfly.
The strapless evening dress featured an elegant blend of purple and pink tones, accented with polka-dot straps and a coral-red layered skirt, making Angelababy stand out with striking visual appeal. Her long, straight black hair and cool-toned smoky eye makeup further highlighted her sharp brows and deep-set eyes, reinforcing her image as a cross-cultural beauty icon.
Following the livestream, online discussion quickly erupted as netizens questioned the appropriateness of using Haute Couture fashion to promote mass-market products. The controversy intensified when Ronald van der Kemp, founder and designer of the eponymous couture brand, publicly voiced his disapproval. He questioned why a couture gown was being used in a commercial livestream for another brand and strongly objected to the pairing of his design with what he described as “cheap shoes.”
According to the designer, while the brand had agreed to lend the dress to Angelababy, it was under the assumption that she would wear it to an official event not for livestream commerce. He emphasized that “Haute Couture and low-priced footwear should never be combined,” and stated that he had directly contacted Angelababy’s team to express his stance.
The backlash quickly spread across Weibo, with multiple related hashtags trending and accumulating tens of millions of views. Many users criticized Angelababy and her styling team for what they perceived as a lack of professionalism and disrespect toward a luxury fashion house.
However, the situation took a turn on January 26, when the brand’s representative in China responded, explaining that the controversy stemmed from “cultural differences and miscommunication.” Shortly afterward, Ronald van der Kemp himself released a video stating that the misunderstanding had been resolved within 48 hours, effectively softening his earlier position.
A highly upvoted comment on Weibo summarized public sentiment, stating: “In Western haute couture culture, garments like these are typically reserved for red carpets and editorial shoots, which clearly differ from livestream commerce. The founder’s clarification shows that Angelababy was not at fault the issue arose because the stylist team failed to fully explain how the dress would be used.”
Following the clarification, Angelababy shared photos of herself wearing the Ronald van der Kemp design on social media on January 26, signaling a calm resolution to the incident. While the controversy has subsided, the incident has reignited broader discussions about luxury fashion etiquette, celebrity endorsements, and the evolving role of livestream commerce in the global fashion industry.
Sources: Ngoisao