A British reality star has billed over $23,000 in lost earnings from a leading fashion designer after she was unable to wear the risque dress to an event because it was too revealing, it has been claimed.
Maura Higgins was due to wear a custom made gown created by Scott Henshall to the British Fashion Awards earlier this month, but she pulled out last minute because she felt it was “inappropriate”.
After failing to appear on the red carpet, the former Love Island star took to social media in the plunging silver dress to describe her wardrobe “nightmare”, stating the skimpy outfit “wasn’t something I’d wear”.
Now, sources say the reality TV favourite has sent Scott, the former creative director at fashion label Mulberry, an invoice for £12,810.72 ($A23,100) – including £675.60 ($A1200) for her hair stylist.
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“Maura is attempting to charge Scott over £12,000 for loss of earnings after she skipped the British Fashion Awards,” an insider said according to a report by The Sun.
“It’s turned into a complete disaster. Scott’s PR team arranged for him to dress Maura and he agreed to pay for her ticket to the ceremony after seeing a pretty picture of her.
“But now his generosity has totally backfired and she’s even trying to charge him for hairstyling when she insisted on having her own glam squad on the day.”
Maura was initially thrilled to reveal hours before the event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, posting on social media that the respected designer Scott had created a custom-made gown for her.
“BFA tonight … first time to have zero control on my outfit … excited to see what @scott_henshall has designed for me,” she proudly posted on Instagram.
Yet within hours Maura pulled out of the event.
“So obviously you can see I am fully ready,” she posted on Monday.
“Glam team are on point as usual. Basically … the dress, the shoes, everything wasn’t something I’d wear.
“I don’t really know what to say, it’s like, I just feel it’s not very appropriate for the Fashion Awards.”
The Sun later revealed that Scott was due to dress Maura, British socialite and aristocrat Lady Victoria Hervey and model Talulah Eve.
However, things turned sour as the dress was not as Maura expected and she felt she had come second to Lady Victoria.
“Maura’s gown was meant to resemble Paris Hilton’s chain mail dress from 2002,” a source said at the time.
“Ultimately, it looked nothing like it and she wasn’t happy.
“Scott was also supposed to arrange a selection of shoes for her to wear, which he didn’t do.
“He then left Maura waiting in her room alone for over three hours to go to help dress Victoria. It was mortifying.
“Poor Maura was so patient and she ended up being totally stood up.”
“To add insult to injury, Victoria ended up leaving with a bag which was meant to be for Maura. It was a mess,” the source continued.
“Scott’s team have repeatedly apologised to Maura but the damage is done.
“It was a nightmare.”
But Maura’s reported disappointment over the dress has been slammed by many, with some labelling the spat “ridiculous” especially as families around the world are struggling through the cost of living crisis.
Scott shot to fame in the early 2000s, dressing fashion royalty including Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton (pictured in 2008) and Victoria Beckham, and quickly became known for his daring red carpet looks.
Maura is no stranger to wearing bold and revealing outfits, recently attending a separate television awards show wearing a white floor-length gown with cut-outs that exposed her midriff and underboob.
Parts of this article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission