Read the true story that inspired The Bling Ring
How did a group of teenagers steal more than $3 million in clothing and jewelry from Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and more?
In 2010, E! Online aired an episode of the reality series Pretty Wild in which the show's central figure, Alexis Neiers, left a tearful, screaming voicemail for Vanity Fair writer Nancy Jo Sales. "I'm calling to let you know how disappointed I am in your story," said Neiers. "There's many things I read in here that were false. Like you saying I wore six-inch Louboutin heels to court with my tweed skirt when I wore four-inch little brown Bebe shoes."
But the story in question was about much more than footwear. Alex Neiers' tantrum was inspired by Nancy Jo Sales' 2010 Vanity Fair article The Suspects Wore Louboutins, which recounted the story of the so-called "Bling Ring" — a group of fame-obsessed teenagers who allegedly stole more than $3 million worth of clothing and jewelry from celebrities including Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Orlando Bloom. Sales' story was adapted into the Sofia Coppola film The Bling Ring, which hits theaters in limited release today.
Before you see The Bling Ring in theaters, refresh your memory by reading the original article that brought this stranger-than-fiction story to the mainstream:
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Read the rest of the story at Vanity Fair.
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Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.
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