Is Bethenny Frankel seriously charging us $900 for what amounts to glorified flip-flops, or are we just not rich enough to understand true luxury?
The Real Housewives of New York City alum and Skinnygirl mogul has done it again, darling. While the rest of us are sweating through our Old Navy clearance rack finds, Bethenny is out here serving summer looks that scream “I have generational wealth and zero cares.” Her latest Instagram Story had us doing a double-take, though—and not because of her spray tan, honey.
Our eagle-eyed fashion detectives spotted the entrepreneur flaunting a pair of designer sandals that carry a whopping $900 price tag. Yes, you read that right. NINE. HUNDRED. DOLLARS. Now, we’ve seen luxury goods before, but something about these particular strappy beauties had us absolutely gagging. That’s when we discovered the tea that would make even the most devoted Bravo fan clutch their pearls: the exact same style is available at a fast-fashion retailer for a mere $26.
Can we just pause for a moment and absorb that? We’re talking about a $874 difference for essentially the same aesthetic. The designer pair boasts that coveted logo moment and the prestige of a luxury label, sure. But the dupe? It’s giving the same effortless summer elegance without selling a kidney to finance it.
Bethenny has built an empire on selling us the lifestyle fantasy—from Skinnygirl cocktails to her relatable entrepreneur persona. But this sandal situation is peak privilege, and the internet is having a full meltdown about it. Fashion influencers are already posting side-by-side comparisons, and trust us, unless you have a magnifying glass, you’re not spotting a difference. One commenter even joked: “Bethenny walked so Walmart could run.”
The best part? Bethenny probably knows about the dupe. These wealthy women aren’t stupid—they’re just making a statement. Designer labels aren’t always about quality; they’re about the prestige of the name. It’s essentially paying $874 for a brand name and the ability to say you’re wearing something “exclusive.”
But here’s where we have to give Bethenny some credit: at least she’s showing us that you don’t need to spend a fortune to look like you have one. That’s basically been her entire brand message since day one. So maybe the real question isn’t why she’s wearing expensive sandals—it’s why anyone would choose the pricey version when the cheap one looks identical?
What do you think? A) Designer logos are worth every penny and the dupe doesn’t compare B) Save your money and rock the $26 version with confidence