Latest news with #designerclothing
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Blairs' discount designer clothes deal caused No 10 concern, files show
Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie received tens of thousands of pounds in discounts on designer clothing while in Downing Street, documents July 2001 and December 2002, Mrs Blair bought clothes worth more than £75,000 – equivalent to £150,000 today – but paid just £31,000 for them, newly released papers from the National Archives Street officials were worried these benefits would have to be declared under a new ministerial code, which was then coming into effect, and advised the Blairs to repay thousands of is not clear from the papers if this happened. From fashion designer Nicole Farhi alone, Mrs Blair bought clothes worth nearly £21,000 for herself and the prime minister, paying just over £8, also had substantial discounts from Burberry, James Lakeland, Ungaro, Joseph, and Maria Grachvogel, amongst "wholesale" discounts had been negotiated by Carole Caplin, Mrs Blair's trainer and personal Tony, who was prime minister between 1997 and 2007, also benefited from a 25% discount from Paul Smith, famous for his freshly released documents reveal how the optics of the discounts and spending was a concern for Downing Street officials at the time."In terms of public perception," wrote No 10 private secretary Clare Sumner, "the amounts involved are quite large".Along with the cabinet secretary, she recommended that the Blairs should pay back part of the discount, though Cherie was entitled to divide her purchases into two, on the basis that half the clothes were required for her role as a "career woman".They would say the Blairs had "commercial terms" from the designers, which were usually a discount of about 10 or 15%.She suggested other options, including saying that Mrs Blair had the same treatment as other high profile individuals with a personal shopper, and that she needed the clothes for public engagements of her said Mrs Blair sometimes gave her outfits to charities or exhibitions after use: "So it is difficult to see how anyone could seriously allege she is acquiring a clear personal benefit out of your position as PM." According to the memo, the discounts had been in place for several years, and dated back to before Sir Tony was prime Tony himself scrawled "Speak to me" on the memo, dated 19 February 2003. Later that day, Mrs Blair spoke to Ms note to the cabinet secretary, dated 4 March 2003, says Mrs Blair agreed to speak to Paddy Campbell, Paul Smith and Nicole Farhi to "ask them to set out in writing their terms of trade, confirm that these terms are available to others (with personal shoppers or as individuals) and to provide an estimate of the numbers of people who bought their clothes in a similar way".She would also confirm that "confidentiality agreements" were in place with these intent was to "satisfy" Sir Andrew Turnbull, the cabinet secretary, that "no preferential treatment had been given".There is no mention of gifts of clothes discounts in the ministerial gift list in the file – which was published on 14 March behalf of the Blairs, the Tony Blair Institute said: " We have nothing to add to what has already been disclosed which shows that advice was sought and followed." As prime minister, Sir Tony received some extremely generous presents from famous people and world leaders.U2 lead singer Bono had given him a guitar – as had Bryan Berlusconi, the then Italian prime minister, offered multiple designer watches, including timepieces from Piaget, Corum, Jaeger-Coultre, and prime minister asked Ms Sumner to make the list "more boring" – so the published version did not include the type of watch, which can retail at many thousands of pounds wrote: "I have taken out details of individuals, removed the valuations for all items except those which have been purchased and minimised the descriptions of items."The concern over discounted clothes has similarities with criticism faced by Sir Keir Starmer and his wife. Last year he accepted more than £18,000 for spectacles and work clothing from the Labour peer Lord Alli, who also paid for some clothes for Sir Keir's wife Victoria worth just over £6,000.
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Tony and Cherie Blair advised in 2003 to pay back designer clothing discounts
Tony and Cherie Blair were advised by senior officials to pay back thousands of pounds they received in discounts on designer clothing to avoid public scrutiny while he was prime minister, newly released documents reveal. Just as questions were raised over donations of designer attire to Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, No 10 suffered headaches over the Blairs' wardrobe. Officials were concerned about 'public perception' if details of the Blairs' discounts – of up to 60% from designers including Nicole Farhi – became known. The deals were arranged by Carole Caplin, a controversial fitness adviser to Blair and style adviser to his wife. Over a period from July 2001 to November 2002, the couple benefited from £46,000 of discounts on clothing, which would have retailed at £76,000, but for which they paid about £30,000. Files released at the National Archives on Tuesday show the then No 10 private secretary, Clare Sumner, wrote to Tony Blair in February 2003 stating Caplin had said most of Cherie's clothes were 'bought at wholesale price', which translated into 'basically a 60% discount'. 'For you [Blair] Nicole Farhi is at wholesale price (60% discount) and Paul Smith is a 25%. In terms of public perception the amounts involved are quite large. 'From July 2001 to December 2002 you and Cherie bought clothes from Nicole Farhi at a cost of £8,021.50. The retail price would have been £20,855. So that gives a benefit of £12,834, more than the total amount you actually spent. 'In addition, from July 2001 to November 2002, for Cherie from the credit card statements she bought £21,746.50 of clothes wholesale from James Lakeland, Paul Smith, Paddy Campbell, Tanner Krolle and Janet Thurston and from Barbara Bui at a 30% discount, that would have cost £55,149.23 retail, if Carole's figures are correct. That is a discount of £33,404, more than was spent.' Blair could argue Caplin was paid a salary, and any 'discount' should be calculated after deducting that. The couple could also argue that other people with public profiles had similar arrangements. While a 10-15% discount might be defended, 'it is more difficult to make the case for general discounts of 30% to 60%', Sumner said. While not arguing that anything had been done wrong – 'indeed nothing has been' – Sumner said paying back in full 'would mean nothing to declare in the Register, or publish in the gifts list'. After discussions with the then cabinet secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull, Blair was advised to write cheques for his clothing of £1,116 to Paul Smith and £6,532 to Nicole Farhi. 'This provides you with the protection of the cabinet secretary. Nothing is put in the public domain, and we have a firm position to take with the press if this ever comes up,' Sumner wrote in April 2003. 'Obviously the downside is the amount of money to be paid back and we would need to take care that this did not generate a story in itself.' While it was agreed Cherie Blair, a high-profile barrister, did not receive any 'preferential or beneficial treatment' in her role as prime minister's wife, she was advised to divide her purchases into two on a 50/50 basis 'part spouse of the PM, part career woman' and pay in full on the 'public' half. She should also require designers to sign confidentiality agreements to ensure there was no incentive for them to provide goods cheaply in order to exploit the fact that the prime minister's wife wore their clothes, it was advised. Sumner added: 'Cherie is happy about what we propose for her, but does not agree with our advice in relation to you and will talk to you separately.' In 1999 Cherie was reported to have complained in private to friends that she was having to fork out tens of thousands of pounds from her own pocket when she accompanied the prime minister on overseas tours. A spokesperson for Blair said there was nothing to add to what has already been disclosed which shows that advice was sought and followed. A spokesperson for Cherie Blair said: 'Mrs Blair has nothing further to add to what is already on the public record. Advice was sought and followed at the time.'
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Kris Jenner, 69, is selling her size 10 clothing now that she has her size 6 bikini body from the '80s back
Kris Jenner is selling her size 10 designer clothing online. The 69-year-old reality TV star has listed a number of bigger pieces - some are size large and a few XL - on her Kardashian Kloset website for fans to snap up at a discounted price. The sell off is due to her weight loss, has learned. 'Kris is no longer a size 10 so she has no need for those clothes, she is a size 6 these days and thrilled about it,' a source told 'It's the same size that she was in the 1980s. 'Her closet is completely different now - the items are so much smaller - and it makes her very happy to get back to the body that she had in her younger years.' Jenner has yet to share how she lost the weight but fans think it is due to taking Ozempic. The momager has always maintained that her healthy eating habits and keeping track of calories plus daily gym workouts have kept her lean. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kris Jenner is selling her size 10 designer clothing online after losing weight; seen left last week and right in 2015 The 69-year-old reality TV star has listed a number of bigger pieces - some are size large and a few XL - on her Kardashian Kloset website has reached out to Kris' representative for comment but has not heard back. In the past Jenner told fans that she starts her day at an early 4 a.m. drinking coffee and working out. 'I get up really early every morning at about 4 or 5, I don't sleep a lot so I'm trying to get a lot done early morning,' she said, according to IOL. 'I plan everything, make sure everything is fine all the way [while] I'm on the treadmill, I drink lots of coffee to get me going. In one episode during season 12 of Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kris said she did Pilates to build strength. Judging from Kris' Instagram page it seems she eats a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy grains. Jenner told The New Potato, 'My ideal food day is just to stick to my diet! But in a dream world, I would probably start with a waffle or French toast, have a Chinese chicken salad from Chin Chin for lunch and end it with beef tacos, cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, and margaritas at Casa Vega, my favorite Mexican restaurant.' This comes after news she had another facelift. The reality TV star's representative confirmed that she's sought the expertise of Dr. Steven M. Levine - known as the 'facelift maestro' - to help her achieve her fresh-faced look, according to Page Six. While the exact procedure the momager underwent remains unclear, the New York based plastic surgeon specializes in 'natural-looking enhancements of the face, breasts, and body' as per his website. Levine is 'one of the youngest leaders in the field of aesthetic surgery.' They clothing is for fans to snap up at a discounted price This minidress from Andrew GN is a size 10 With Kim Kardashian, left, in 2009 and with Kylie Jenner, right, this week. 'It's the same size that she was in the 1980s. 'Her closet is completely different now - the items are so much smaller - and it makes her very happy to get back to the body that she had in her younger years' It was noted that Dr. Levine's 'subtle improvements grace some of the most famous faces and figures in the world' in a 2020 interview with People. His patient list reportedly includes 'A-list actors, supermodels and more.' Internet sleuths claim Levine has also performed recent facelifts on Brad Pitt, Lindsay Lohan and Demi Moore. All three have been hailed for their stunningly youthful appearances in recent years, but none of the A-Listers have commented on allegations that they've been worked on with Levine's scalpel. His expertise encompasses a wide range of procedures, including facelift, rhinoplasty, eyelid rejuvenation (both lower and upper blepharoplasty), body contouring, and breast augmentation and reduction. Levine's price for a face procedures can run $45,000 and up. Levine offers different facelift procedures, including a 'Mini Facelift' and a 'Full Facelift.' A mini facelift 'restores youth and shape to the lower part of the face and neck' and has a shorter recovery time. It also leads to 'subtle, extremely natural results.' A Full Facelift transforms the patient 'into a more youthful and rejuvenated version of themselves' and helps 're-suspend the deeper tissue in its correct anatomical position and remove any excess skin.' Jenner's fans have been remarking on her glowing and youthful appearance in recent sightings and social media posts. Last Saturday they did a double take after hairstylist Chris Stapleton shared a series of photos of the reality star on social media. The Kardashians star, who was in Paris to support daughter Kim Kardashian as she testified about being the victim of a brutal armed robbery, looked remarkably like her second-oldest daughter in the new pics. 'Just a Kris Jenner appreciation post,' Stapleton wrote on Instagram on Friday. 'I thought that was Kim posing as Kris at first… for the first photo,' claimed one amazed fan. 'Thought that was Kim! She looks INCREDIBLE' exclaimed another. Fans have also been begging Kris to name her doctor. 'Dont be shy, I needa know who to go to in 30 more years,' one wrote on a recent Instagram snap of Jenner. 'Who's your doctor???? AMAZING,' another added. 'The doctor deserves an award! Wow!' 'The fountain of youth. I want some of the water she's drinking.' In 2011, a terrified Kris was filmed being wheeled in for a facelift on her reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Jenner was 55-years-old at the time, and going under the knife a month prior her daughter Kim's wedding to NBA star Kris Humprhies. Video footage of Kris before and after surgery was published on the E! website. It shows Kris in tears as she sits in the waiting room surrounded by her children. 'I don't want to die,' the nervous star said. After she recovered from the operation, Kim assured her the results were already positive. 'Mom, you look fab,' she said. 'So gorgeous.' Jenner also previously admitted she had a breast augmentation in the '80s after having four kids, but later revised the procedure for 'smaller' implants and a 'lift.' Her earlobe surgery was also featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians back in 2018. The star has also had 'Botox and fillers and lasers and things like that.'
