Fashion boss ‘sacked’ after claiming dress is not for lesbians
A boss for French fashion house Hervé Leger has been reportedly sacked after he claimed that his dresses shouldn’t be worn by “voluptuous” women or lesbians.
Patrick Couderc, the UK head of the company, made the controversial remarks earlier this week, about the chain’s signature skintight bandage dresses.
He said: “If you’re a committed lesbian and you are wearing trousers all your life, you won’t want to buy a Leger dress. Lesbians would want to be rather butch and leisurely.”
The fashion boss also claimed that “voluptuous” women and those with “very prominent hips and a very flat chest” would want to stay away from the clothing line – and urging older women against “displaying everything like you’re 23”.
However, after sparking fury with his comments, the designer was reportedly asked to leave the company.
A statement to US Weekly allegedly confirmed his departure, adding: “The Herve Leger by Max Azria brand and its parent company, BCBGMAXAZRIA Group, are shocked and appalled by Patrick Couderc’s comments made in The Mail on Sunday.
“The statements made by Mr Couderc are not a reflection of Herve Leger by Max Azria or MJH Fashion ideals or sentiments. The Herve Leger by Max Azria brand celebrates sensuality, glamour, and femininity without discrimination.”
Prior to the announcement, out comedian Amy Lamé hit out at his comments on Twitter, writing: “As a voluptuous lesbian, this dress most definitely isn’t for me, because @herveleger is a lesbophobic body fascist.”
Tennis star Martina Navratilova also branded him a “total and utter idiot”, while comic and fashion designer Margaret Cho tweeted: “Fuck fashion and ‘designers’ that body shame.”
