CelebriTea: Dolce & Gabbana

They are the founders of one of the most well-known fashion brands in the world. The likes of Madonna, Katy Perry, Daniel Craig , and Naomi Campbell have all donned their pricey threads, but the couple has a big problem on their hands. According to UK's Daily Mail, a Milan judge ruled that fashion power couple failed to report an income of about  €1billion $1.3 billion USD) and evaded taxes totaling to  €408 million ($540 million USD). The case dates back to 2004 when two of D&B's main brands were sold to a Gado, a holding company based in Luxembourg. 

Prosecutors alleged that the sale was made in an attempt to avoid declaring taxes on royalties deriving from the two brands' activities. Under Italian law, the pair wouldn't go to prison because sentences of less than three years are served with house arrest or community service. And the designers have the right to appeal the verdict twice, and Italian courts often take years to reach a final decision. Corporate tax rates in Luxembourg are close to zero, while Italy the rate is a hefty 28%. We see what you did there fellas *side eye* 

While this may be one of the most high-profile cases pursued by Italian tax authorities, Dolce & Gabbana is not the only fashion group to have been in the hot seat. In 1996, Giorgio Armani received a nine-month suspended sentence and was fined $64,000 for paying off tax authorities in exchange for favorable audits. Armani later admitted that he had, in fact, paid those bribes. So with all this hoopla can a weary-eyed, shopaholic soul like myself hope for a downward spiral in D&G apparel prices? No? Well, one can hope. If jail time was awarded I would tell the unbelievably posh couple to be strong and don't drop the soap, but we know how they roll.