Fashion designer Kelly Nishimoto is speaking out about what she says is a common frustration for independent labels: celebrities allegedly seeking free clothing. Viewers may know Nishimoto from her role hosting TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New, but she has also built several fashion ventures behind the scenes, including the cult athleisure brand Cute Booty Lounge. On her Hairbrush News podcast, Nishimoto claimed that some well-known names attempted to obtain complimentary pieces through their stylists, naming pop icon Paula Abdul among them. “I’ve had a few celebrities that just don’t like to pay,” she said.
Paula Abdul accused of ‘tacky’ behavior
Nishimoto alleged that Abdul’s stylist borrowed clothing for the singer to wear on American Idol. “Paula Abdul. Her stylist pulled some pieces for her to wear on American Idol and she wore them,” Nishimoto recalled. She said that before the items were returned, the stylist asked whether Abdul could keep three of the pieces. Nishimoto said she responded by offering to send an invoice, only to be told Abdul had hoped the items would be gifted. The designer said she was stunned by the request, noting that she was running a small business at the time and struggling to cover basic costs, including rent and payroll. “And you want me to give you a thousand dollars of the clothes for free?” she said, adding that Abdul should have paid not only for the pieces she wanted to keep, but also for the cost of cleaning the borrowed items.
Kate Husdon claims
According to Nishimoto, the stylist ultimately returned every item after learning the pieces would not be provided at no charge. “They sent everything back. I thought that was so tacky,” she said. Nishimoto also claimed that Kate Hudson’s stylist contacted her about receiving a free pair of Cute Booty leggings, even though Hudson had recently launched her own athleisure company, Fabletics. Nishimoto said she was prepared to invoice Hudson for the leggings, but never received a follow-up. “I mean, c’mon. Really?” she said.
Fans defend Abdul and Hudson
Nishimoto’s comments prompted a mixed response online, with some social media users and fashion professionals arguing that the blame may lie more with stylists than with the celebrities themselves. One commenter suggested that an assistant or stylist may have made the request independently, writing that Abdul may simply have said she liked the pieces while someone on her team tried to secure them for free. Celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas also weighed in, commenting, “This is on the stylist, not the client. They don’t wanna chip into their own budget.” Designer and Project Runway alum Michael Costello also came to Abdul’s defense.
“Paula is exceptional,” Costello wrote, saying he was speaking not only as her friend but as someone who had worked with her professionally. He added that Abdul had “always paid in full” for anything she had worn from his company. The Daily Mail said it contacted representatives for both Abdul and Hudson for comment. Nishimoto rose to wider recognition as the host of TLC’s bridal series Something Borrowed, Something New, which aired for three seasons from 2013 to 2014. In February, she announced she was closing her fashion brand after 22 years in business to focus on other projects, including her podcast Hairbrush News.
