Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Fight: Why the Dolce & Gabbana Feud Was Never Really About Clothes

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian Fight: Why the Dolce & Gabbana Feud Was Never Really About Clothes

Let’s be real. If you’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians—whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone who can't escape the TikTok clips—you know that the Kim and Kourtney Kardashian fight isn't just a "fashion tiff." It’s basically the Cold War of Calabasas.

We’ve seen them throw salad, throw punches, and lately, throw some of the most passive-aggressive shade in reality TV history. But that 2023-2024 blowup over Dolce & Gabbana? That was different. It wasn’t just about who wore what. It was about two sisters living in entirely different universes while sharing the same payroll.

What Actually Happened with the Dolce & Gabbana Feud?

The timeline is kinda wild. In May 2022, Kourtney married Travis Barker in Portofino, Italy. It was a massive, gothic, "La Dolce Vita" dream. The whole thing was hosted and curated by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. It was Kourtney’s "thing." Her brand. Her vibe.

Then, literally four months later, Kim signed a deal to be the creative director for the Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2023 show in Milan.

Kourtney lost it.

She felt Kim was "legitimately copying" her wedding vibe for a paycheck. Kim, on the other hand, felt she was being "mindful" by avoiding specific looks Kourtney wore. Honestly, watching them argue about who "owns" 1990s Italian archives is like watching two billionaires fight over a parking spot. But to Kourtney, it felt like her "personal life" was being mined for "Kim’s business."

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The "Witch" Phone Call Heard 'Round the World

If there’s one moment that defines the Kim and Kourtney Kardashian fight, it’s that Season 4 premiere phone call. You know the one. Kourtney basically told Kim, "You’re a different person. You’re just a business person."

Kim fired back by claiming Kourtney’s own friends and children were complaining about her to Kim.
Ouch.
That’s not just a sister fight; that’s a "we need therapy and a lawyer" fight. Kourtney ended up calling Kim a "witch" and a "narcissist." It was raw. It felt less like a scripted show and more like years of resentment finally boiling over.

It’s Not About the Lace, It’s About the Work

Why does this keep happening?

Basically, they have two completely opposite philosophies on life. Kim is the queen of "get your f-cking ass up and work." She values the hustle above almost everything. To her, turning down a creative director role at D&G is insane. It's business. It's iconic.

Kourtney is the president of the "I have boundaries" club. Ever since she started Poosh and married Travis, she’s been vocal about wanting to be a "mom" first and a "character" second. She views Kim’s relentless drive as a lack of soul.

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The Physical Fight: A Quick Trip Down Memory Lane

We can't talk about the current tension without mentioning the literal brawl in Season 18 of KUWTK. Kim was criticizing Kourtney’s work ethic (surprise, surprise), and it ended with Kim getting slapped into a wall and Kourtney digging her nails in.

That wasn’t a one-off. It set the stage for everything we’re seeing now. Kim thinks Kourtney is "lazy" and ungrateful for the platform Kim built. Kourtney thinks Kim is "greedy" and can’t let anyone else have their moment.

Where Do They Stand in 2026?

You'd think after the D&G x SKIMS collaboration launched in late 2024, everything would be fine. They did the campaign together. They looked like "Italian girls on the street," as Kim put it.

But the "weirdness" is still there.

Reports from late 2025 and early 2026 suggest that Kourtney is still keeping a massive distance. She’s focused on her son, Rocky, and her life with Travis. While they "show up" for the cameras to film The Kardashians Season 6, the deep-rooted issues—like Kim’s interview on Call Her Daddy where she addressed those old Travis Barker rumors—keep the fire simmering.

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What Most People Get Wrong

People think Kourtney is just being "sensitive" or that Kim is just being "ambitious."

It's actually more of a power struggle. Kourtney was the first-born. For years, she and Khloe "ganged up" on Kim. Now, the tables have turned. Kim is the undisputed mogul, and Khloe has largely sided with Kim’s "work-first" mentality. Kourtney is the odd one out, and that’s a lonely place to be in a family that operates like a Fortune 500 company.

Actionable Insights for the Rest of Us

You don’t need a private jet or a shapewear empire to learn from the Kim and Kourtney Kardashian fight. Their drama is actually a masterclass in what not to do with your family.

  • Define "Business" vs. "Family": If you work with family, you need a hard line. Kourtney felt her wedding (family) was used for Kim's deal (business). That crossover is where the poison starts.
  • Validate, Don't Fact-Check: During their fights, Kim often tries to "win" with facts ("I pushed the deal back a year!"). Kourtney is looking for emotional validation ("It hurt my feelings"). If you’re arguing facts vs. feelings, nobody wins.
  • Respect the "Quiet Period": Sometimes, the best way to save a sibling relationship is to stop talking for a while. Kourtney’s "semi-retirement" from the spotlight has probably done more for her mental health than any filmed "peace talk" ever could.

The reality is, they’ll probably always fight. They’re the Kardashian sisters. But as long as the cameras are rolling, we’ll be watching to see if they can ever actually bridge the gap between "La Dolce Vita" and the "American Dream."


Next Steps for Your Own Relationships:
If you're dealing with a "Kim" or a "Kourtney" in your own life, try a "No-Work Zone" during family dinners. Stop discussing career moves or side hustles for at least two hours and see if you actually still like each other as people. It might just save you from a "witch" phone call of your own.