Celebrity fashion designer Kelly Nishimoto is speaking out about what she says is a familiar frustration in the fashion world: stars attempting to keep designer pieces without paying for them.
Many viewers may know Nishimoto from her role as host of TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New, but her work in fashion extends well beyond television. Behind the scenes, she has built several brands, including the cult-favorite athleisure label Cute Booty Lounge.
On her Hairbrush News podcast, Nishimoto claimed that several celebrities have tried to obtain free clothing through their stylists, naming pop icon Paula Abdul among those she says attempted to hold on to items without immediately paying.
“I’ve had a few celebrities that just don’t like to pay,” Nishimoto said during the podcast discussion.
She then recalled an incident involving Abdul, saying, “Paula Abdul. Her stylist pulled some pieces for her to wear on American Idol and she wore them.”
According to Nishimoto, the request came after the garments had already been used. “And before they were returned, the stylist called and said, ‘Paula would really like to keep these three pieces.’ And I said, ‘No problem, I’ll send you over the invoice.’”
Celebrity fashion designer Kelly Nishimoto has claimed that Paula Abdul and Kate Hudson tried to obtain free clothing from her in the past
Nishimoto is also known to fans for hosting TLC’s Something Borrowed, Something New
‘And then she was like, “Oh, she was hoping you would gift them to her.” I’m like, she’s filming American Idol for who knows how much she’s getting an episode. I’m over here struggling, can barely pay my rent and my employee, my one employee and my one sewing lady. And you want me to give you a thousand dollars of the clothes for free?’
She added, ‘How about she pays me the thousand dollars and then pays me another thousand dollars for letting her borrow the rest of the stuff that I have to dry clean.’
Nishimoto then claims that the stylist sent all the items back once they realized they couldn’t get them for free.
‘They sent everything back. I thought that was so tacky,’ she said.
Nishimoto then accused Kate Hudson’s stylist of calling her to try and get a free pair of her Cute Booty leggings, despite the fact that Hudson had just launched her own athleisure brand, Fabletics.
‘And I thought, “Oh, well she can buy them. What would she like and I will send over the invoice.” And then I never heard back. I mean, c’mon. Really?’ she said.
Despite Nishimoto’s claims, a number of fans and fashion industry insiders defended Abdul and Hudson on social media.
‘To be fair, the assistants job is to try and get it for free. So she may have spoken for Paula. Paula could have easily stated she wanted the pieces, and the assistant took it upon herself to ask for it for free,’ wrote one person.
‘This is on the stylist, not the client. They don’t wanna chip into their own budget,’ commented celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas.
A number of people jumped to Abdul’s defence, including designer Michael Costello, who said that it may have been Abdul’s stylist who tried to get the freebie without her knowledge
Nishimoto also accused Hudson’s stylist of calling her to try and get a free pair of leggings, despite the fact that Hudson had just launched her own athleisure brand, Fabletics
Celebrity fashion designer and Project Runway star Michael Costello also defended Abdul.
‘Paula is exceptional. I say that not just because she’s a friend, but because she’s always conducted herself with professionalism. In fact, Paula has always paid in full for anything she’s ever worn from our company,’ he wrote.
The Daily Mail has contacted both Abdul and Hudson’s management for comment.
Nishimoto is best known for hosting TLC’s bridal reality series Something Borrowed, Something New, which ran for three seasons from 2013 to 2014.
In February, she announced that she was closing down her fashion brand after 22 years to pursue other projects.
She now hosts her own podcast called Hairbrush News.
