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Controversy continues to swirl around the stunning dress worn by Lupita Nyong’o at last week’s Oscars. As Gossip Cop previously reported, the pearl-studded Calvin Klein gown was stolen from the actress’ room at the London West Hollywood Hotel on Wednesday, and then returned by the thief to the same location on Friday.
The culprit told TMZ the pearls were fake, leading many to question the $150,000 value placed by authorities on the dress. But now law enforcement officials tell the outlet no one at Calvin Klein ever said the pearls were real, and that the only person who did make such a suggestion was the stylist working for Nyong’o.
“Did anyone ever say they were real from Calvin Klein? I always assumed everyone knew they were fake, but I guess not,” a Calvin Klein source is quoted as telling TMZ. In any case, the company and the actress are both thrilled about the return of the garment, even if it was found stuffed in a trash bag beneath a hotel bathroom sink.
In a new statement, Nyong’o says, “Collaborating with Francisco for my Oscar dress this year was such a special and unforgettable experience. I’m happy that it has been potentially recovered. It is a timeless and priceless piece of art.”
Meanwhile, Francisco Costa, the Calvin Klein creative director, says, “All of us at Calvin Klein are thrilled to know that the dress has potentially been located. This was an amazing collaboration between the brand and Lupita and the dress looked truly exquisite on her. Once it’s returned to us, we will be able to have the dress restored and archived, as it now represents an important moment for the brand.” Fake pearls or not, the dress certainly made a mark.
