‘Fashion Whisperer’ or Fraudster? Indian American Elite Stylist Accused of Stealing $429,000 From Saks Fifth Avenue

For nearly two decades, Suhail Kwatra built a glittering reputation as Saks Fifth Avenue’s go-to stylist for Boston’s wealthiest socialites, earning the moniker “Fashion Whisperer” and “stylist to Boston’s most fabulous socialites.” He dressed the ex-wife of Red Sox legend David Ortiz, attended the Red Sox Foundation’s annual “Fenway to the Runway” event, and became a fixture at city fundraisers. On his website, he promised clients “curated, high-impact wardrobe solutions” with an unapologetic declaration: “I don’t follow trends—I edit them… If you’re looking for ordinary, you’re in the wrong place.”

Now, the 43-year-old faces larceny charges after allegedly stealing $429,400 from the luxury retailer through an elaborate returns scheme—and his defense hinges on a stunning claim: that Saks is retaliating against him for declining a retention bonus and considering a job with another global retailer.

The Alleged Scheme

According to a criminal complaint filed in Boston Municipal Court and reported by The Boston Globe, police were called to the Saks store in Boston’s Prudential Center last month after Tim Wade of the company’s loss prevention division detained Kwatra following an internal investigation.

Prosecutors allege that when wealthy clients ordered luxury goods but didn’t pick them up, Kwatra processed returns anyway, then converted the refunds into Saks gift cards that he used to buy items for himself, according to multiple outlets including the Boston Herald and Boston.com. The scheme allegedly netted him over $400,000 worth of merchandise between September and November alone, with fraudulent returns totaling more than $11,000 during that period.

According to NBC10 Boston and The Boston Globe, when Kwatra was called in for his separation meeting, he provided a handwritten letter admitting to mishandling $429,400, breaking it down into: $375,000 in fraudulent returns, $50,000 in mismanagement of promotional cards, $3,400 in unpaid merchandise given to clients, and $1,000 in corporate card abuse. He also signed a promissory note agreeing to pay the money back.

The Boston Globe reported that police were shown photos from Kwatra’s now-deleted Instagram account showing him “wearing some of the articles of clothing that had been fraudulently purchased.” The Wall Street Journal noted these posts featured Kwatra posing with luxury accessories, including a Louis Vuitton handbag shaped like a lobster.

Kwatra, who grew up in Burlington and Weston and graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in economics, styled high-profile clients.

“Forced and Coerced”: The Defense

Kwatra’s attorney, Jennifer Furey, flatly denies the allegations and claims the confession was obtained under duress. “Less than two months ago, Saks offered Mr. Kwatra a significant retention bonus if he would stay at Saks,” Furey told Boston.com. “When he turned that down as he was contemplating another offer from a global retailer, Saks launched these baseless and vindictive charges against Mr. Kwatra.”

According to The Boston Globe, Furey claims the promissory note is “unenforceable” because Kwatra signed it under pressure. “Mr. Kwatra believed that he was not free to go or seek legal advice before signing the document. He felt he had no other option but to sign the Promissory Note, which he did not draft or fully understand,” Furey wrote.

She further alleged that Kwatra’s supervisors “condoned and encouraged” his distribution of gift cards and other perks to clients as standard business development practices. “None of this was secretive, and all of it was aimed at benefiting Saks and the brands,” Furey told Boston.com, adding that Saks gave Kwatra “wide latitude to satisfy his clients and enhance his profile.”

In a statement to The Daily Beast, Kwatra said: “In my professional career over the last twenty years at Saks, I have always strived to adhere to company policies and provide the very best service to my clients. I am confident that when the legal process plays out, it will be shown that Saks retaliated against me for considering a global position with another large retailer.”

The Rise of the “Fashion Whisperer”

The charges represent a dramatic fall for someone who had become synonymous with luxury retail in Boston. According to The Boston Herald, Kwatra was called the “top salesman” for the Back Bay Saks store where he worked for 20 years. Boston Magazine in 2015 dubbed him “stylist to Boston’s most fabulous socialites.”

The Boston Globe reported that Kwatra, who grew up in Burlington and Weston and graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in economics, styled high-profile clients including Brazilian swimwear designer Sinesia Karol and Tiffany Ortiz, then-wife of Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. In 2014, he told The Globe his secret was personal connection: “I have the name of the dog, what biscuit they like, what wine the women drink. There’s so much homework and research.”

In a 2014 profile, The Globe described Kwatra’s “big brown eyes and effervescent personality” that charmed his clientele as he helped them build wardrobes for everything from everyday wear to red carpet events.

The Broader Context

The case comes amid what fraud experts describe as a rise in “insider” theft at luxury retailers. According to Newser, fraud analyst Karisse Hendrick says employee schemes have become more common in recent years, sometimes with workers recruited by outside criminal networks—a phenomenon known as “inny” fraud.

Kwatra is scheduled to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on December 18. He faces charges of larceny over $1,200 by single scheme, which carries a potential sentence of five years in prison and a $25,000 fine, according to The Boston Herald.

Saks Fifth Avenue declined to comment on the charges, with spokesperson Nicole Schoenberg telling The Boston Globe: “Given the nature of your inquiry, we must refer you to local law enforcement.” The complaint states the company has imposed a no-trespass order against Kwatra.

As the case heads to court, it raises questions about oversight in luxury retail, the latitude given to high-performing personal shoppers, and whether a star employee crossed ethical lines—or was scapegoated for practices his employer once encouraged. For now, Boston’s “Fashion Whisperer” faces a legal battle that will determine whether his two-decade career ends in vindication or conviction.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.