Before the recession hit, Ugly Betty’s wardrobe department had an unlimited budget. Now, however, Wilhelmina Slater’s outfits have to be carefully considered in terms of their price.

“With the economic situation what it is, we scaled down in terms of the type of clothing that we’re getting,” said Vanessa Williams, the actress who plays Wilhelmina Slater. “There was a Naeem Khan dress that went for £1,500 and they watched it and watched and by the time we got it, it was, like, £450. So we are being mindful of the budget and waiting for markdowns on Ugly Betty,” she added.

Although, with Williams recently wearing Rachel Roy, Giambattista Valli, Dolce & Gabbana and vintage Thierry Mugler, things don’t look too bad.