From Net-a-Porter to the courtroom: When luxury turns into dirty laundry
I first encountered Natalie Massenet in the nascent days of Net-a-Porter. This was long before she was made a Dame_ long before the merger with Yoox or the sale to Richemont_ and well before the scandal that now has the fashion industry_s tongues wagging. Back then she hand-picked pieces herself: runway and campaign looks_ labels like Missoni_ Moncler_ Alberta Ferretti_ exacting taste_ confidence.
Later I met Erik Torstensson and Jens Grede_ of the Saturday Group_ over coffees at Shoreditch House. My agents thought our collection might benefit from their branding and PR savvy. What struck me: Natalie was precise_ forceful_ warm; Jens inquisitive; Torstensson charismatic_ with an edge.
What makes their current legal clash all the more dramatic is that they were once the high-flying couple of fashion. The pair met in 2009 when Torstensson reportedly pitched her the idea that became Mr Porter; by 2012 he co-founded Frame Denim. For years their lives_ their homes_ in London_ New York_ California_ were photographed_ their entertaining on display. In 2016_ Architectural Digest featured Natalie Massenet_s 1880s mansion in South Kensington_ remodelled by designer Michael S. Smith_ showcasing art_ library-spaces_ interiors that bespoke refined_ conspicuous taste.
They did not shy from the limelight. Invitations_ events_ parties: always with pizzazz. When Massenet turned 50_ reports suggest the gathering was nothing if not lavish. It is clear they were among the few in luxury who made no effort to conceal their glamour. Unlike some heirs or executives of conglomerates such as LVMH_ they appeared to court public visibility.
In August 2025_ Natalie Massenet filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Torstensson of breach of contract_ fraud_ emotional distress_ among other claims. She alleges that over their 14-year relationship she invested or expended 95 million dollars (approx. 71 million pounds) on a shared lifestyle_ real estate_ travel_ and supporting his business ventures_ all under promises of repayment and shared returns.
Torstensson responded earlier this month_ filing a counter suit in New York that accuses Massenet of heavy drinking_ drug use_ and physical aggression_ claims her side has dismissed as part of a smear campaign.
Surface & substance
Fashion_ at its best_ is about surface and substance_ about the crafted projection of identity. In the world of luxury e-commerce_ branding_ celebrity_ it is also about performance. Like a modern day "War of the Roses_" the narrative that has formed around Massenet and Torstensson is no less than the unfolding of a bitter performance: passion_ betrayal_ power_ money.
Whatever the court may decide_ one must reflect that even if there is a legal winner_ something deeper has been lost. The aura of glamour_ the illusion of seamless success_ trust_ discretion_ all have been torn. In luxury_ when what is supposed to be aspirational becomes sordid_ everyone loses more than money. When luxury becomes your dirty laundry_ the stains linger far longer than any verdict.