Table of Contents

  1. Stylist's Lawsuit Against Harvey Nichols
  2. Stylist's Experience and Claims
  3. High-Profile Clients and Spending
  4. Harvey Nichols' Response

A celebrity stylist who dressed Princess Diana and Liz Hurley is suing Harvey Nichols for age discrimination, alleging he was prevented from serving Premier League footballers.

Furious Dean Aslett, 55, claims that stars were among the top clients at the luxury department store, spending up to £35,000 during extravagant shopping sprees.

Dean Aslett, wearing a black blazer and t-shirt, against a hillside village background.Celebrity stylist Dean Aslett, 55, who dressed Princess Diana and Liz Hurley, is suing London store Harvey Nichols for age discriminationCredit: Supplied Elizabeth Hurley in a black Versace dress with gold safety pins and Hugh Grant in a tuxedo at the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" premiere.Dean was nicknamed ‘Mr. Safety Pin’ for selecting actress Hurley’s iconic Versace side-fastened dress in the 1990sCredit: Alpha Photo Press Agency Diana, Princess of Wales, in a purple Versace gown and Jimmy Choo shoes, arrives at a gala dinner at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.Dean once collaborated with Princess DianaCredit: Getty

Dean was affectionately called “Mr. Safety Pin” for selecting the iconic dress for actress Hurley in the 1990s.

However, the personal shopper states that winger Bukayo Saka, 24, former striker Ivan Toney, 29, and other football stars were routinely assigned to younger colleagues.

Dean expressed: “I’ve been working as a stylist for 35 years, and I believed I had valuable experience to contribute. Yet, it seemed my experience worked against me.

“Management assigned me all the challenging, much older clients that no one else wanted to handle, while lucrative appointments with affluent young individuals were given to others, effectively penalizing me.”

“Premier League footballers frequently visited and were among the biggest spenders.

“They could spend anywhere from £10,000 to £35,000 in one go.

“I recall Saka spending over £10,000 on clothing for a Halloween party in October 2024.

“He was also purchasing clothes for his girlfriend but was assigned to a young personal shopper immediately.

“Ivan Toney arrived with around ten members of the Brentford team — they also spent a five-figure sum. Yet, they refused to assign any of the high-net-worth footballers to me.”

Dean previously worked with and styled Hurley while at Versace.

In 1994, he was tasked with selecting a dress for Hurley for a film premiere. The black dress he chose became famously known as “that dress”—held together by large safety pins, propelling her to stardom.

However, he claims he experienced discrimination from his first day at Harvey Nichols in London in January 2024, and he was dismissed in December of the same year.

His tribunal case against the company is scheduled for April. Harvey Nichols stated they are unable to comment prior to the hearing.

Bukayo Saka attends the Burberry Winter 2024 show.The personal shopper claims Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, 24, and other football stars were routinely assigned to younger colleaguesCredit: Getty Vick Hope and Ivan Toney on stage during the BRIT Awards 2024.Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney was also taken away from Dean, according to the allegationCredit: Getty Harvey Nichols store exterior with illuminated Christmas decorations at night.
Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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