Ricki-Lee Coulter's wedding dress: Designer says it 'wasn't a collaboration'

Ricki-Lee Coulter got into a public spat with bridal designer Johanna Johnson earlier this week over just who created her 2015 wedding dress.

The singer, 35, had told fans on Instagram she'd 'designed' the gown herself and 'worked with an amazing French atelier to bring it to life' - claims Johanna disputed.

Ricki-Lee's representative later told Daily Mail Australia the dress 'was always a collaboration' between the Australian Idol star and Johanna, which was made clear in a New Idea article six years ago.

But the argument escalated on Tuesday when Johanna insisted 'there was never a collaboration' between the pair, and instead claimed she had created the 'exclusive design' entirely herself. 

'The gown was never a "collaboration". We do not work that way,' Johanna wrote on Instagram Stories.

'It was an exclusive design, developed and created in detail by myself, and laboriously produced by my team.'

Ricki-Lee's representative also said: '[Ricki-Lee] had one fitting in Sydney with Johanna and further fittings in LA and Paris by herself.'

But Johanna alleged: 'We organised Ms. Lee's further fittings for her in LA, not Paris.'

New Zealand-born, Australian-based designer Johanna continued: 'This statement by Ms. Lee's team is a poor attempt at deflection, instead of addressing the truth. 

'It does not explain her written statement that she "designed it" and worked with an amazing French atelier to "bring it to life".

'This incorrect response leaves us no other recourse than to explore all other legal options available to us.' 

In response to Johanna's claims, a rep for Ricki-Lee told Daily Mail Australia 'the facts are below' and shared a snippet of her New Idea wedding interview from 2015.

The article read: 'The 29-year-old hitmaker glowed in a custom-made ivory sulk and tulle gown with a full skirt and cascading train, designed in collaboration with couturier Johanna Johnson.

'"'I knew exactly what I wanted," smiles Ricki-Lee. "I've had the image in my head of what my dress would look like ever since I can remember. I've sketched it a million times."' 

Johanna had earlier responded to Ricki-Lee's claims she'd designed the dress herself, writing on Instagram: 'It was a pleasure to create this for you. It would also be nice to receive the credit for the gift.'

'It took us many weeks to create this for you. This was also in LA?' she added, claiming the location was her American studio, not Paris as Ricki-Lee had stated.

She added: 'This is highly unprofessional, untrue and frankly unkind. You are well aware I designed this custom gown. My team and I spent many weeks creating this exclusive gown for you.

'Your fittings were also in LA - not Paris - where we arranged them for you. This beautiful gown was one of my favourites we had the pleasure of making over many long hours.'

Johanna went on to say she was saddened the pop star hadn't acknowledged her 'world-class, Australian-made gown'.