On Saturday night Cheryl Cole wore her best dress since the beginning of the show. The strapless maxi dress by Roberto Cavalli worked like a dream for her inverted triangle body shape and her warm colouring. It was classy, current and worked her body. What didn’t work was her choice of earrings, because they interfered with her hairstyle . The earrings looked clunky . They were too close to her hairstyle and they put too much distance to her decollete line. It looked too disconnected. She should have chosen discreet drop earrings that would have looked effortless and closed the gap between her hair style and decollete line. On Sunday Cheryl was back to some unfortunate style choices. The dress style was not ideal for her body shape with its features on top, but since it had a full A-line skirt that went out wider than her shoulder it kind of looked alright. The feel about the dress was a bit Gothic and pairing it with a kind of medieval hairstyle it looked quite scary altogether. Having said that it would have been a good look for Halloween night. As well her choice in earrings didn’t work in style or theme. It looked again all very clunky.
Though Danni’s style choice and look rocked again on Saturday it wasn’t a hit for me. Yes, the style of her dress fitted her body shape perfectly, her earrings looked perfect in colour choice with the shape and style for the dress and her hair style brought the whole outfit together. What didn’t work for me was that the colour white. It is not close enough to Christmas and combining this white drapey dress with turquoise/gold earrings it feels more appropriate for summer or a warmer climate than for cold English November in the UK. The theme is too breezy and has more of a ” hot summer night” feel about it. On Sunday she was back by going for an animal fitted dress that worked her full hourglass shape to perfection. She kept the whole look current by wearing an animal printed dress in the current fashionable 50s style, combining it with a hairstyle that picked up on the edgy feel of the dress but keeping it classy at the same time. But what I liked best about it that the dress had a a bit of a “dress for success” feel about it. Since it was eviction night I thought that style of dress and theme was most appropriate for the occasion. She turned this day dress to an evening one by wearing metallic Christian Louboutin heels and wearing earrings that went with the theme without overpowering or competing with the animal prints.
Rebecca Ferguson dress was a perfect fit for her pear body shape and for her style personality. But it didn’t work with her colouring. The neutral or nude colour of the dress is washing her out. But her make up, hair style and accessories were absolutely spot on and worked like a dream.
Dress suggestions for Rebecca:
Kate Waissel look and style on Saturday was reminding me of the movie Grease . To me it was all too much of everything from her headband to studded leather jacket, printed cropped T-shirt, washed low rise jeans combined embellished belt and key ring to the studded biker boots. Every single inch of her body was decorated.
Cher Lloyd style is getting better and better. Since she is a lean column in her bodyshape she needs to add fullness and roundness to her body shape. Her slightly oversized metallic blazer with its metallic features and the metallic printed trousers did that. The nude, metallic and black combination worked for a deeper colouring -even though she wore a nude colour on top-, because she wore her long, full dark her open. My only dislike is that she is styled like the MINI CHERYL COLE rather going for her own identity.
I am starting to be at my wits end when watching the styling on the X-factor. As previously reported by MailOnline, Cheryl Cole is styled by Frank Strachan, known as the ‘Ferrari of stylists’, with her budget for hair and make-up said to be an astonishing £80,000 and clothes £70,000. How come that a young beautiful,successful woman with such a budget for a wardrobe is getting it wrong every single time she is taking to the stage. The only time she nailed her look when she was performing her new single. No surprise that her dress choice was black- again- but what did she wear and with what did she accessorise it with? Her Emilio Pucci short asymmetric hemline and lace paneling failed to impress. It was the right choice for her inverted triangle body shape but her look can’t be described as anything but tacky. This fluffy hairband with her open hair doesn’t go with such lace paneled lingerie dress- it is a look that you want to go for when being private than public on stage. As well the earrings are not only wrong in style but really over kills her look. She could have safed the dress by wearing her hair up, keeping the earring loosing the hairband and wearing red killer heels! Unfortunately nobody asked me, but maybe she will listen what Coco Chanel has to say:
“When accessorising always take off the last thing you put on”
Sunday was as well not a great fashion outing for her when she stepped out in a gold, short asymmetrical Bodyamr dress. The metallic look in her dress and shoes was perfect. It is great for her colouring. Also, her hair do was super. But the style of the dress was completely wrong for her body shape. She needs to keep the drama and attention to the lower half of her body and not visa versa otherwise her shoulders are simply looking broader. Plus wearing these “look at me” earrings are not helping her shape. But the worst fashion offence was wearing these earrings in the first place! Why would you add any attention seeing earrings to a dress that has a turtle neckline? Anyone knows you never layer sparkle on sparkle! It really ruined her look and made it look tacky again.
Dannii Minogue didn’t get it all right as well on Saturday. The colour of her Philip Armstrongdress was spot on fashion dress but the attached oversized bow was killing it. It is the perfect example why a full hourglass can’t wear a high neckline as well can’t cope any fuzz and details on the bust. It makes her top heavy. Plus the oversized bow shows as well that this detail is overpowering her short height. Details need to stay in tune and proportion with her height in order to create the illusion to make her look taller. Having said her hairstyle was again so spot on. Its playfulness played down the dressiness of her dress.
Sunday night Dannii came back fighting and totally rocked in her black black three-quarter-length corseted Dolce & Gabbanadress. It is absolutely perfect for a full hourglass body shape, because it is simply following her curves. Combined with her relaxed hairstyle she played down the “sexiness” of the dress and made it look classy and fabulous! When looking at Dannie Minogue past fashion style it embodies what Coco Chanel meant when she said:
“Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress.“
I am not sure as well what the X-factor stylist were thinking when styling the contestants.
Rebecca Ferguson blew us away again with her singing and make up, but the choice of dress was a crime for her pear body shape. A total misfit that accentuates her lower half and keeps no attention to her top. It should be completely the other way around.
Katie Waissel outfit and look flattered her shape and colouring on Saturday. The thing that didn’t look right was her wig. Not only was she seen in it the week before but the wig looked as well too obvious. Also her dress on Sunday looked good on her. It was just again the wig that made it look all messy and dated.
Treyc Cohen outfit never matches her shape, fashion and occasion. First of all white clothes and “snow white” looks are reserved in the UK only for summer and Christmas. Plus two nights in a row wearing the same colour? Not to mention it really doesn’t work at all for her colouring at all. She looks better in deeper and darker colours rather in lighter colours that are close to her face. It is washing her out. Her Saturday night gown worked for her petite height and short neck. The solid colour made a her look longer and her strapless dress that kept the attention away from her short neck. They shouldn’t have skipped as well the necklace for the same reasons. Unfortunately the style was completely wrong for her body shape. They should have chosen an Empire line dress that would have been more flattering for her thighs rather than going for a waist dress with its panels going out on her fullest part of her body and adding negative attention on it. As well her Sunday outfit was a total misfit for her body shape. Firstly it had far too much clutter for her short height with the result it made her look fuller, because it overpowered her but as well it was not complementing her thighs.
Cher Lloyed looks on Saturday night were a mixture of the old Cher and what she is turning into : A copy of Cheryl. Her make up and her hairstyle is complete copy of Cheryl. I liked the idea of leather trousers but not in white for the reasons above. I loved the pink leather jacket and her ovesized blue necklace but her trainers are really not working with the theme and colour palette. I get the part of opposite attracts but that is simply a style clash! Her Sunday look was so much better, because it was more of a credible choice for her age and style personality. Plus the colour choices and style fell into place for her. The only thing which didn’t work for me was her hair- too grown up – too much Cheryl- and not enough Cher!
On a personal I was very disappointed about the whole conduct on Sunday by most of the judges. Simon Cowell always said in the past that the X-factor was a singing competition but last Sunday he said word for word on Sunday night, that Treyc Cohen was the better singer and Katie Waissel the better performer. Staying in tune with his previous comments he should have stayed by his guns and voted Katie off. Though I understand Cheryl’s motive not to vote, but rules are rules and can’t be bent to ones favour otherwise we got the situation one rule for one and one rule for others- how can be that fair and just?
Each area of London has its own chic, look and style personality. They live, eat, drink, buy and listen to different music as well they have different style icons they look up to.
Here is a fashion compass of what to wear where from the East to the West, from the North to the South of London:
East London Girl
It it the living ground of creative minds like artists, architects, fashion designers, musos. The aim is to be someone with an individual look and their own unmistakable style personality. This is the group that starts trends. They have an undying love for printed T-shirts, leather or biker jackets.
Style Icons
Fashion buys:
West London Girl
Quite the opposite is here the case. Most important thing is to show and let everyone know that you are part of a selected group-”the it” group. It is the the playing ground of all ” limited editions” in fashion! Therefore you need to apply the key looks to be recognised as such- e.g.the glossy long hair, legs, latest “it” bag and sunglasses. This is the group that adds the polished “it” stamp on a trend.
Style Icons
Fashion buys
North London Girl Their look is dressed down, no fuss or attention seeking. It is about tuning in rather standing out- being part of a tribe. Though not recognisable from the outside the clothes are from expensive labels. It is about conscious living. Mantra: “A healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. This is the group that takes a trend to the “streets of London”- make it wearable in our daily lifes. They are inseparable from their skinny jeans, boots and trainers.
Fashion buys
South London Girl
Think bohemian, avant-garde fashion and vintage clothing. Retro is king and making it to your daily staple wardrobe is queen. Simply it is the breeding ground of the English eccentric. This is the group that mix matches old with new trends. Embellished tops, double breasted jackets or coats, floral print and horizontal stripes can be always found in their wardrobes.
It is a style trend in ’09 you can’t ignore and there is a leather look for you no matter what your size, shape or budget. Work this look by dressing it up or down or combining it with other style trends. Wear it with the colour red, studs or with leggins . Alternatively wear a biker jacket or biker or ankle boots. If you have got the legs wear the the over the knee boots.
Kate Moss leads the way … (Please note clicking on the celebrity pricture will take you to our picture partner , all product pictures will lead you to our shop):
Think leather, printed rock T-shirt, studs, biker jackets, leather boots, rayban glasses, leggings, leg warmers, waist belts and over – the knee boots. Keep it current by mixing it up with day and night items, high street and designer labels , old and new.
Click on the clothes below to findwhich rock chic items work best for your body shape:
Michaela has a unique range of experiences from the fashion , media and design industry in London , New York , Milan and Prague . She was the MD of Cosmopolitan in Prague where she deepened her passion for colour and style. In 2005 she founded one of the leading colour and style consultancies Joy of Colour www.joyofcolour.com . Joy of Clothes aims to share her experience with a wider audience.
Michaela believes that everyone is different and they should build on their own unique DNA rather than try to be a bad copy of someone elses. Nowadays there are so many fashion trends co-existing that there is something suitable for everyone. Michaela advises against following every single fashion trend . Dressing with style needs strategy and an understanding of your colouring and body shape . Joy of Clothes aims to make it easy for you to identify the fashion that works for you and your life style.
