Replicas of Kim Kardashian’s wedding dresses designed by Vera Wang will still be sold to the mass market at David’s Bridal — despite fears the dresses are “cursed” by Kim’s disastrous 72-day marriage.
The dresses, based on the three gowns Kim ordered for her wedding day Aug. 20, are well into production, “and it is too late to stop,” sources said. But they couldn’t get them to market before Kim filed for divorce from Kris Humphries last week. They are due in stores in February.
Insiders say even Wang was shocked by the sudden divorce filing. A source close to the designer said, “Vera cultivated the relationship with the Kardashians years ago. Everyone was taken for a ride on this one.” Another source said, “Some on the sales side worry the dresses are cursed.”
The collection includes a “Kim-inspired tulle ball gown” similar to her dress for the ceremony, and a “mermaid gown” from the reception.
When asked if the replica dresses would be ripped from the collection, David’s Bridal executive VP Brian Beitler told us, “The entire White by Vera Wang spring 2012 collection will be available exclusively at David’s Bridal stores next season.”
A rep for Vera Wang had no comment, but insiders say that despite being surprised by the divorce, she isn’t too distraught, since other celebrity marriages that ended still resulted in strong sales of their wedding dresses. Wang-designed dresses for Jessica Simpson’s marriage to Nick Lachey and Mariah Carey’s wedding to Tommy Mottola are still top requests.
The gowns, which will come in two designs inspired by Kim’s “fairy tale” nuptials, were going to sell for $1500 each.
After filing for divorce, Kardashian fled to Australia to promote her handbag line. But Humphries is “in the process of figuring out how to return wedding gifts to their guests,” said a friend, who added he doesn’t want the $2 million specially-designed engagement ring back: “He’s a gentleman. He would not ask for the ring back. Gifts that he gave to Kim were out of love.”
Kim Kardashian, 31, flew to Minnesota on Sunday to see Kris Humphries, as they squeezed in a four-hour meeting with Pastor Joel Johnson, the minister who officiated their Aug. 20 wedding ceremony in Montecito, Calif.
Kim was quick to defend her quickie divorce filing last Tuesday, after critics alleged their wedding was all for show. “I married for love. I can’t believe I even have to defend this,” she wrote on her blog. “I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show!”
Meanwhile, the new season of “Kourtney and Kim Take New York” is still scheduled to premiere on E! network on November 27, and a preview clip may hint at problems in the Kardashian-Humphries relationship. Reportedly, a factor in the divorce was Kim’s refusal to relocate with Kris to his Minnesota home.
The preview shows Kim and Kris (her estranged husband) sharing an apartment with sister Kourtney and her baby’s father Scott Disick. At one point, Kris and Kim talk about their living arrangements, with Kim asking how she was going to maintain her career if she has to relocate to Minnesota with her new hubby. Kris responded: “By the time you have kids and they’re in school, no one will probably care about you.”
We don’t know if that little remark was an issue or not, but Kris says he’s still trying to work things out with his wife.
