Camila Lincowski did not walk into Kleinfeld dreaming of white. The former Celebrity Big Brother houseguest arrived in 2018 with her mother Oniria Correa and two friends, knowing exactly what she wanted: a black wedding dress, “to match my black little heart.” Her mother panicked. It is one of the most argued-over appointments in Say Yes to the Dress history. Watch TLC’s black-dress compilation below.
The Black Dress She Wanted
On the show, Cami tried on an all-black ensemble — a dark, dramatic look that stopped the whole salon. WatchMojo later ranked it the second-craziest moment in the show’s history: onlookers compared the look to a dead bride, her mother disapproved, and even Randy Fenoli looked frazzled. Cami did not flinch: white would make her “basic” — black was the dress that actually looked like her.
The practical problem was real too. Randy and consultant Michele told Cami that Kleinfeld had only two black gowns in the entire store — and nobody mentioned that some designers will custom-dye a white gown black. Cami learned that only years later: “If I’d known that, I probably would have picked a black dress [for the reception].”
Her mother went further than fashion advice. When Cami pushed for black, Oniria told her: “The day that I die, you will remember this day.” Cami later joked her mom was pulling out “the non-existing heart I have” — and admitted she was shocked at how hard her mom freaked out, “especially knowing who her daughter is.” It happened in the same salon where, last night, Randy Fenoli walked out when a mom mocked her daughter’s dream dress — but a guilt trip about the grave is its own line.
The White Dress She Said Yes To
In the end, Cami said yes to white: a $5,300 embroidered mermaid gown by Alessandra Rinaudo. She was blunt: to make her mom happy, and for her fiancé Brent’s family, “from the Midwest, super traditional.” Her tattoos had already shocked them enough. A black dress, she figured, would have guests asking, “Are we coming to a funeral?”
The silhouette she fell for — a fitted, embroidered mermaid — is the same drama as a champagne sequin-lace mermaid gown, the kind that turns a classic shape into a statement. The white gown won them both over in the end: Cami fell in love with it, and so did her mother — both in tears.
YOU MAY LIKE‘Say Yes to the Dress’ star Monte Durham on how he overcame childhood bullyingThe story did not end at the fitting. Cami returned to Kleinfeld in the Season 17 premiere, “Hell Yes to the Dress,” for her final fitting — and admitted her heart was still set on the all-black dress. Years later she still has the white gown, and her plan says everything: a photoshoot with her 3-year-old daughter in it, then pass it on — and “dye it black or whatever we’ve got to do.”
Fans Are Still Split
Team Tradition has a real case. Wedding photos last forever, and Brent’s family was never going to cheer for black. Cami picked the dress that made her mom cry happy tears. Compromising for the people you love is not losing.
Team Cami says it was never a fair fight. Kleinfeld stocked two black gowns and never told her a white dress could be dyed black — the one fact that would have ended the argument on the spot. The black dress was the one that matched who she is, tattoos and all. Just this morning, Bayleigh Dayton’s family scored her mermaid dress a 2 out of 10 — and fans are still arguing over whose vote counts.
So where do you land? If the dress that feels most like you is the one your mom calls a funeral dress, do you wear it anyway — or fold, like Cami, and save black for the reception? And be honest: did Kleinfeld owe her the truth about custom dye?
More Say Yes to the Dress drama
Say Yes to the DressShe Went Dress Shopping With No Fiancé — Then She Tried On Her Mom’s Wedding Dress and Said Yes
Say Yes to the DressTracy Had an Unlimited Budget and a $32,600 Dress — Then She Said Yes to the $8,500 One
Say Yes to the DressBayleigh Dayton’s Family Called Her Mermaid Dress a Prom Dress — Then a Slip Gown Flipped the Room
