Who pays for the clothes of world leaders and their spouses?

Sir Keir Starmer and his spouse Victoria accepted donations of clothes so they may “look their best” to symbolize the UK, David Lammy has mentioned.

Requested in regards to the donations, the overseas secretary recommended different nations had beneficiant taxpayer-funded budgets for leaders’ clothes.

Lammy was responding to stories Sir Keir might have damaged parliamentary guidelines in failing to declare garments purchased for his spouse by Labour donor Lord Waheed Alli.

He informed Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “US presidents and first ladies have a huge budget, paid for by the taxpayer, so that they look their best on behalf of the US people.”

In fact, the US first lady does not have access to a specific clothing budget – and many have shared frustration at the cost of staying fashionable in the White House.

In some countries, taxpayers contribute to living expenses for their leaders – and this can include clothing.

US presidents have an expenses budget of some $50,000 (£38,000), which can be used to purchase clothing and other items, on top of an annual salary of $400,000.

But the US president’s spouse – historically, always a first lady – does not receive an annual salary or fixed expenses budget, though they have paid staff and an office.

That’s despite the US first lady’s fashion choices attracting immense scrutiny and attention.

Notable examples have included Melania Trump’s Zara jacket emblazoned with “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?”, on a go to to a migrant detention centre, and the placing scarlet Alexander McQueen costume worn by Michelle Obama whereas assembly former Chinese language President Hu Jintao.

Some first ladies have said that, in general, they were expected to pay for their clothes themselves.

Laura Bush, the wife of George W Bush, wrote in her 2010 memoir that she was “amazed by the sheer number of designer clothes that I was expected to buy… to meet the fashion expectations for a first lady”.

“After our first year in the White House, our accountant said to George, ‘It costs a lot to be president,’ and he was referring mainly to my clothes,” Mrs Bush wrote.

Michelle Obama’s press secretary, Joanna Rosholm, told CNBC in 2014: “Mrs Obama pays for her clothing.”

US first ladies can also accept clothes as gifts, often on behalf of the government.

Some designers welcome the publicity their clothes being worn by the first lady offers them.

With the price tags of designer dresses easily running into the tens of thousands, donations are the only way comparatively less wealthy occupants of the White House can afford to wear star designers.

“For official events of public or historic significance, such as a state visit, the first lady’s clothes may be given as a gift by a designer and accepted on behalf of the U.S. government,” Mrs Rosholm said.

The Smithsonian Museum lists the dress current first lady Jill Biden wore at her husband’s 2021 inauguration as a donation of designer Alexandria O’Neil “in honour of first lady Jill Biden” – an indication the designer lent her the dress.

By contrast, it appears that her predecessor Melania Trump, whose husband’s wealth made him the richest president in history, donated her inaugural dress, designed by Hervé Pierre, herself. That may be because she paid for it.

In the UK, Sarah Brown, wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown, has spoken of the difficulties around accepting gifts – including clothing – while in Downing Street.

“As I rapidly uncover,” she wrote in her 2011 book Behind the Black Door, “there isn’t any scarcity of designers and retailers who will give you free garments.

“However, there are many rules that govern what MPs (and spouses) can do with free gifts – not to mention the moral aspect of using your position to grab freebies.

She explained the solution: “No 10 advisers and I determine a approach that works for everybody. Any garments that I need to hold, I should buy.

“Any freely offered clothes or jewellery, I can effectively ‘rent’ for about 10 per cent of the retail value, then return.”

Spouses of world leaders elsewhere typically seem to depend on donations for his or her type selections.

France’s Brigitte Macron doesn’t have a state-funded finances for garments and is believed to be lent outfits by Parisian excessive trend homes similar to Louis Vuitton.

In accordance with the 2019 guide Madame La Présidente, her workplace retains a file of which garments have been donated to her and that are her personal.

However her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, has been criticised for his personal profligate spending. This yr, a newspaper revealed that his workplace reserved a enterprise class seat on a flight from Paris to Brazil solely to move two of his fits, at a value of practically €4,000 (£3,380).

In Germany, ministers had been criticised for spending €450,000 on hairdressers, make-up artists and photographers within the first six months of 2023, although there doesn’t seem like a selected fund for clothes.

Requested about Lammy’s remarks, a Overseas Workplace spokesman declined to remark additional.

Downing Road mentioned of Sir Keir’s declaration of clothes donations: “We sought advice from the authorities on coming to office.

“We believed we had been compliant, nevertheless, following additional interrogation this month, we now have declared additional gadgets.”