Labor splurged $60,000 on a stylist and new wardrobe for Chloe and Bill Shorten during last year's marathon federal election campaign.

But the party has defended the spend, saying their glossy advertisements turned out "a hundred times" better than the Coalition's and reflected Labor's "high-quality campaign".

A highly placed Labor Party source confirmed the figure, which is the equivalent of a year's salary for many grassroots party members.

Former national secretary George Wright approved the expenditure which was in addition to childcare costs Labor also picked up on behalf of the Shortens. Party officials have refused to confirm the value of the childcare.