Apprentice candidate Ruth Whiteley has exclusively hit back at haters after being mocked over her garish rainbow tartan suit in this week’s show.
It wasn’t Lord Sugar, his new sideback Claude Littner or rotten squid that was the talking point on Wednesday’s opening episode of the new series of the BBC boardroom reality show.
Instead, thousands took to Twitter and other social media to take the mickey out of 47-year-old Ruth’s bright pink tartan jacket and skirt which stood out against the sea of muted black, navy and grey suits donned by the rest of the wannabe candidates.
But in an exclusive interview with Fashion North today, Ruth, a sales training consultant from Harrogate. North Yorkshire defended her fashion choices, saying: “It’s my favourite suit!
“I bought it from Moschino in Manchester about two or three years ago. I only wear colours.”
And speaking of her Apprentice journey, she added: “I have lots more to show. I’m not really supposed to talk to journalists.”
Ruth’s tartan suit was the main talking point of the show last night – and Twitter haters derided her wardrobe choice on Twitter.
One, Pablo Dillon, said: “London looks lovely. That pink tartan suit does not.”
Another, Dan Blagden, tweeted: “Why is that woman dressed in a rainbow tartan suit?”
Some even compared it to children’s cartoon Elmer the elephant, or flamboyant artist Grayson Perry.
In her Apprentice CV, Ruth describes herself as ‘positive, colourful and driven’ in the boardroom and her bright suit clearly showed on the show.
Even former Apprentice star, Katie Hopkins, took to twitter saying: “Why has an Apprentice turned up dressed as a clown? Is this a children’s party?”
Ruth has a background in property sales, radio presenting and consulting, and has now worked in her own company for over three years as a sales trainer.
Ruth outshone many of her competitors in last night’s first episode selling fish-based lunches such as tuna nicoise salad, fish finger sandwiches and calamari to London City folk, after Lord Sugar’s advisor, Karren Brady, dubbed her sales technique as ‘creepy’ but effective.
But here at Fashion North, we’ll be glued to the show to see what she’ll be wearing next, rather than how she does in the tasks!
Here are some pink tartan favourites Fashion North have selected that are in the shops NOW:
