The Untold Story Behind Arielle Charnas, Brandon Charnas, and the Dramatic Downfall of Something Navy

Something Navy, the apparel brand founded by fashion influencer Arielle Charnas, has faced various challenges in recent years. Despite a successful first three years since its launch in 2020, the brand is now encountering issues such as fluctuating sales, delayed payments to suppliers, and employee resignations. Adding to the chaos, CEO Matthew Scanlan announced his departure in June, which led to further disruptions. Consequently, Something Navy had to make the tough decision to close two stores, halt production on future clothing collections, and postpone customer orders.

The Something Navy website is undergoing construction and displays a "Be right back" message on its homepage. The website is being refreshed, and customers are advised to check back soon to shop their favorite styles.

The difficulties faced by the business have brought scrutiny upon Arielle and her husband, Brandon Charnas. According to a press release from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Brandon, aged 38, is allegedly not cooperating in a potential insider trading violation. The Commission states, "Charnas has improperly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and failed to fulfill the document production requirements of the subpoena."

Scroll down for everything we know about Something Navy.

Who is Arielle Charnas?

Arielle Charnas, a fashion influencer and blogger, has amassed over one million followers on Instagram. She began her journey in 2009 by creating her own lifestyle blog. In 2017, she introduced a clothing line with the same name, which was subsequently sold at Nordstrom.

Aside from her involvement in drama with Something Navy, she garnered attention in 2020 for disregarding COVID-19 isolation guidelines. Via Instagram, she shared that she had left her Manhattan residence to travel to the Hamptons. Fans criticized her for being insensitive to those affected by the virus, prompting her to issue an apology on the social media platform.

"I would like to take this moment to express my sincere apologies," she expressed regretfully. "I deeply apologize to anyone I may have offended or caused harm to in the past few weeks... I truly regret disappointing my community in any manner."

Arielle has refrained from making any comments regarding the company's decline.

Who is Brandon Charnas?

Branson Charnas, a real estate agent and entrepreneur, came under investigation in December 2022 for purportedly engaging in stock trading activities prior to Staples' announcement of its intent to acquire Office Depot. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stated in a press release that he generated at least $385,000 in combined profits from these trades in 2021.

Reports had previously emerged in December 2022, claiming that Brandon was involved in embezzling funds from Something Navy. The couple's representative categorically refuted these rumors, stating that Arielle and Brandon were happily married and there had been no instance of embezzlement. They further denounced these accusations as part of a vile, orchestrated smear campaign intended to tarnish the reputations and lives of Arielle and Brandon.

Scanlon, in a statement to Women's Wear Daily during the same month, also dismissed these allegations by clarifying that Brandon Charnas did not have any access to the company's bank accounts. Highlighting that he was not an employee of the company, Scanlon emphasized that he had no means or opportunities to access such accounts.

When Did Arielle Charnas and Brandon Charnas Get Married?

The duo tied the knot in 2014. They share three children, Ruby Lou, 7, Esme Rae, 5 and Navy Bea, 2.

Arielle regularly updates her followers on her relationship with Brandon, occasionally sharing adorable photos of her family. In June, she took to Instagram to share the celebration of Navy Bea's birthday. The couple placed a cake in front of the two-year-old and sang "Happy Birthday" as they placed a crown on her head. They helped her blow out the candles and both showered her with kisses on the cheek. Arielle captioned the post, "The perfect ending to a very special birthday. We love our baby so much."

In December 2022, Arielle once again used Instagram to share a casual date with Brandon. The lovebirds snuggled up in the car, wearing puffy jackets and winter hats, while happily posing for the camera. Arielle captioned the post, "Morning coffee date. ☕️"

Was Something Navy Successful?

In 2021, Insider reported that Something Navy has achieved remarkable success over the past three years, boasting a valuation of $100 million. With an impressive following of nearly 320k on Instagram, the brand offers a diverse range of products including jackets, loungewear, shoes, dresses, blouses, and much more. Excitingly, Something Navy recently announced a collaboration with American Girl, resulting in a charming doll line featuring mini dresses, frilly skirts, accessories, and more.

Something Navy initially introduced its clothing line exclusively through Nordstrom in 2017. However, following two immensely prosperous years (with the brand revealing to Insider in 2020 that they achieved sales exceeding $1 million on the launch day alone), Charnas departed Nordstrom and established Something Navy as an autonomous entity.