10 of the best 2011 style makers
December 30th, 2011True style comes from within and these 10 celebrities and their stylist teams have managed to inject personality into their looks. Take note.
10. Romula Garai
We have been treated to some of the best writing and most beautiful looking television this year and Romula Garai has been at the heart of it. From her haunting period glamour in The Crimson Petal and The White to the post-war 1950s The Hour. She made the clothes ‘your-grandma-may-have-worn’ jump out from our screens and possibly polish off a few heirlooms we’ve had hidden away.
9. Alexa Chung
She is the fash pack darling, bringing student fashion on a few leaps and bounds. Her ability to wear the simplest of items in the coolest of ways has us all scratching our puzzled heads, it’s been a long time since any of us can make layered denim work (if at all). But she has set us free from following any singular trend and teaches us to embrace a personal look, creating trends of our own.
8. Kristen Stewart
Another teen star who is morphing into a grown-up sex symbol. She dons outfits that flaunt her best assets but without baring all, part of the new ‘taste not flesh’ generation of starlets. Although she’s already established on the red carpet, this is definitely a budding style mistress to watch for 2012.
7. Samantha Cameron
It’s been a long time coming but finally we have some style at Number 10, unfortunately it’s the first lady, not the policy making. SamCam has stepped away from the dutiful dowdy wife and mother look of politicians’ wives, even distanced herself from the frazzled ‘I’ve got a life too’ Cherie Blair school of dressing. She’s been papped in jeans and trainers plus on-trend colourful numbers but also tailored formalwear emulating a fun mummy but serious wife when she needs to be.
6. Miss Piggy
Hurrah, she is back on our screens in a blockbuster movie bringing all the excesses of puppet princess glamour with her. She’s one of the ultimate blonde bombshells who’s not afraid to flaunt her womanhood and show us how to enjoy being a gutsy girl. Hiiiiieee-yah!
5. Emma Watson
This year we said goodbye to the Harry Potter film franchise but hello Emma Watson, woman and style icon. Her pixie crop was named the most influential hair do of the year by the Wall Street Journal, her choice of designer gowns for the red carpet have almost booted the memory of Hermione out of our minds.
4. Rihanna
It’s been the year of the songbird, with the sad loss of Amy Winehouse but the multiplication of her clones. Amidst the furore of popstrels (that frankly confuse me) Rihanna sits high, not only for her talent but her fashion singularity. With each hit single, we are left hungry for her next style invention.
3. Lady Gaga
She is almost certainly the Madonna for this generation and the Madonna generation alike. Her attitude spills over into her music and fashion sense. She blurs the line between theatre and catwalk, showing us all we can have fun with our unique features. Some people write her off as eccentric, I say she’s the future.
2. Victoria Beckham
Whatever we think about the Beckhams, it takes hard denying that Victoria’s own range of clothes shows talent, flair but most of all and understanding of what is practical and stylish for the every day woman. What better way to prove that? By modeling one of her designs heavily pregnant at the Royal Wedding.
1. Kate Middleton
Forget the macho press’ comments about Pippa, she may have won attention with the lean, clean bridesmaid dress showing physical assets but it was Kate who stood timeless at her wedding. Fashion is sentimental and her channeling the iconic princesses of the past through her very real and adult relationship with a prince gave us all hope of a decent happy ever after. She showed grace and demure in that McQueen dress by Sarah Burton, but by insisting on doing her own make-up, she was sending a message to the nation that this generation of royals were moving with the times. While others rounding up the year will still be droning on about Pippa’s bottom, the savvy style hunters are noting the smart, stylish occasion wear she is sporting on her subsequent engagements after the big day. She is indeed a duchess for our time and our fashion influence.
