Robbins Consulting can't be found in the phone book. It has no address, occupational license or corporate listing in Florida.

Nonetheless, County Commission candidate Kevin White has paid thousands of dollars from his campaign funds to Robbins Consulting in the past two years, according to his treasurer's reports.

What he got for that money was not political advice but a snazzy wardrobe: imported $500 Italian suits, tailored slacks, dress shirts and stylish ties.

"Robbins is my fashion consultant, which provides me a fashionable wardrobe so that I can make a good impression during the campaign,'' White explained. "I don't see anything wrong with it because I'm using the items as I'm campaigning.''

"My experience with election laws would lead me to conclude that the Florida Elections Commission would have a problem both with the expenditure of campaign funds for these clothes as well as the listing of the clothier as a consultant," said Mark Herron, a veteran elections law lawyer in Tallahassee. "On campaign reports, you are supposed to list the correct vendor who sold the goods or services, the correct address and what was actually purchased with campaign money.''

In campaign reports, White lists three expenditures to Robbins Consulting totaling $6,100. In each case, the purpose of the expenditure is "consulting.''

Robbins is actually Robert Ulysses Robins (with just one b), a clothier who runs a small store called BC Men's Wear at 1903 E Hillsborough Ave.

While he said he considers himself a fashion consultant, Robins said he knew nothing about any Robbins Consulting.

"I've been dressing Kevin since he was in high school,'' Robins said last week.

Florida law generally says acceptable personal expenses for a candidate are confined to travel, lodging and meals.

Victor DiMaio, a political consultant for White, said he had researched the wardrobe issue and believed it was a legal expense.