Cannes 2025 has become a hotspot for Indian celebrities, with stars descending on the French Riviera to showcase glamour and talent at the prestigious film festival. Among them was influencer and fashion content creator Nancy Tyagi, who made headlines not just for her dazzling outfit, but for the debate that followed.Known for stitching her own red carpet looks, Nancy walked the Cannes red carpet in a glittering corset mini dress paired with a dramatic cape. On social media, she described the outfit as a labour of love, claiming it took her an entire month to create, with finishing touches done at the last minute. She also revealed the soft blush tone was chosen in honour of her mother’s favourite colour.
But the celebration was soon shadowed by allegations. Singer Neha Bhasin took to Instagram to question the originality of Nancy’s dress, pointing out striking similarities to a design she had worn earlier. Bhasin posted comparison images, including a screenshot from The Source Bombay’s website, a well-known Mumbai-based fashion rental and resale store, captioning it with: “I rest my case.”Following the stir, Surbhi Gupta, founder of The Source Bombay, confirmed that the dress was indeed purchased from her store. In an interview with the Free Press Journal, Gupta stated, “She bought the outfit – it’s our design. She’s free to wear it however she likes, but we weren’t involved in a collaboration or barter. The cape seems to be her own creation, but the corset dress was not self-stitched, as she claimed.”
(Image Credits: Instagram)
The controversy gained further traction when Diet Sabya, an anonymous Instagram account known for calling out fashion copycats, weighed in. The account clarified that The Source Bombay often stocks both first-hand and second-hand designer copies and rentals. They also traced the corset’s original inspiration to the New York-based label The Blonds, noting that Nancy didn’t copy the design directly but did source it without giving credit.Still, Diet Sabya offered a measured perspective, writing:
(Image Credits: Instagram)
“Anyway, I don’t remember the moral of the story now, but Nancy’s story and hustle is valid – and there’s nothing that can diminish it.”As the dust settles, the incident opens up bigger conversations about authenticity, transparency, and the blurred lines between inspiration and originality in influencer fashion. While Nancy Tyagi’s dedication and rise as a self-made fashion figure remains admired, this episode serves as a reminder that in the world of viral fashion, credit matters as much as creativity.
