The White House today issued an angry denial following claims that Michelle Obama indulged in a $50,000 shopping spree at a luxury lingerie boutique in New York.  According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, Agent Provocateur’s boutique in Madison Avenue, New York, was partially closed off for the U.S. First Lady.   But Kristina Schake, Director of Communications for First Lady Michelle Obama told MailOnline this morning:  ‘This story is 100 per cent false.’

I wonder how many people could drop fifty large on their underwear?   Probably far less than 1%..

(Telegraph) — Agent Provocateur saw sales jump by more than 12pc, helped by US First Lady Michelle Obama spending $50,000 (£31,794) in one shopping spree.

The First Lady – better known for shopping at more modestly-priced High Street stores – along with the Queen of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah, closed off part of Madison Avenue to spend time in the luxury lingerie shop. Their purchases contributed to a market-spanking 12.5pc lift in sales.

Agent Provocateur, which is styled on vintage Hollywood glamour, sells handmade Calais lace corsets that sell for up to £900, which could ruffle the feathers of more than just President Barack Obama in an election year.

Gary Hogarth, Agent Provocateur’s chief executive, refused to be drawn on the store’s closely kept “secret client list”. But he admitted the brand had attracted a high number of “unexpected famous names” – especially in the US, where sales have overtaken the UK.  (read more)