Meryl Streep was “dressed down” by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld for reportedly canceling an order for a gown for Sunday's Academy Awards, but the actress' representatives are vehemently denying the story that's making the media rounds.
The designer was in the midst of prepping a couture gray silk gown for Streep to wear at the Oscars, where she's up for Best Actress for her role in "Florence Foster Jenkins." According to Women's Wear Daily, Streep canceled the custom order after learning Chanel would not pay her to wear the dress.
“‘Don’t continue the dress. We found somebody who will pay us,’” Lagerfeld told WWD of what a Streep rep reportedly told him,
According to Lagerfeld, Chanel policy does not allow the company to pay celebrities to wear its clothes. However, he said the whole process of customizing a dress for someone of Streep’s stature is costly enough.
“After we gift her a dress that’s 100,000 euros [$105,000], we found later we had to pay [for her to wear it],” he said, according to WWD. “We give them dresses, we make the dresses, but we don’t pay.”
Despite Streep reportedly changing her mind about the dress, Lagerfeld said it’s hers to keep if she wants it.
“She could keep the dress because of the size,” he said. “It’s couture. It’s perfect for her . . . A genius actress, but cheapness also, no?”
Streep's reps vehemently denied the reports to multiple media outlets.
“This is a completely untrue story. Ms. Streep would NEVER wear anything in exchange for payment,” a rep told ET Canada. “This can be corroborated by Nancy Walsh at Chanel.”