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Published on January 20, 2008

Cat says 

Every year, celebrities, fashionistas and those of us who love to gossip look forward to Mr Blackwell's Fabulous Fashion Independent List. Frankly, the worst-dressed list is far more interesting than the best-dressed. Poor Victoria Beckham was No 1 on the worst list. Personally, I am not sure if she really deserved it. While I am no fan of hers, I definitely admire the confidence she carries wearing the clothes she does. I personally wouldn't have put her on my list for the worst-dressed in 2007.

Most of the others on the list really deserved it with the exception of Eva Green and Alison Arngrim do we even know what they are wearing?

In my opinion, the best-dressed list only managed to name less than a handful of really well-dressed celebrities, why Beyoncé, and all those Kates? (I don't mean Cate Blanchett, who is definitely one of the most stylish women around!)

Yves Saint Laurent once said "Fashion fades, style is eternal". I believe personal style and image are far more important than just being fashionable. Image includes everything that is in your appearance - your makeup, hair style, items of clothing, shoes and accessories, it is vital how well you put everything together. Sometimes a tiny flaw can ruin a carefully concocted look.

To create a stylish image and avoid being named the worst-dressed by anyone, this is my list of fashion don'ts:

l Don't wear a skirt that rises up to mid-thigh when you sit down.

l Don't bother with frilly blouses or tops, the simpler the better.

l Don't over do the accessories.

l Don't show too much skin, especially between the low-cut jeans and top. If you absolutely need to show a bit of your belly make sure it's flat and tanned.

l Don't reveal your underwear, it is meant to be under your clothes.

l Don't wear trousers that are too long or too short, separate them for different heels.

l Don't look too casual, unless you can achieve the effortless casual chic.

l Don't forget to pay attention to your hair colour and style.

l Don't try to experiment with the no makeup look, unless you think you have a perfect face. Always wear an appropriate amount of translucent powder, blusher, mascara and lipstick.

l Don't believe that money can buy style - you don't need a wardrobe full of designer labels to make you look good or stylish.

Whether you are born with beauty, or not, you have to maintain yourself. Appearances are everything. Remember that nobody can look perfect, so strive to find your own personal style. Effortless chic is what marks fashionistas from the wannabes. The key, I believe, to helping anyone to achieve their "perfect" look is to achieve maximum impact with minimum work. Start with a great hair cut, it is life transforming. Be careful when you pick jewellery, remember that it is used to enhance the look, not distract attention from you. Take really good care of your skin, when you have beautiful skin, a small amount of makeup will make you glow night or day.

There are two types of fashionistas. The ones that can make anything work (Kate Moss) and the ones who pick classic pieces that are timeless (Gwyneth Paltrow) and turn it into their look. Identify which sort you are. And while its fun to be adventurous with fashion, again remember, not everyone can throw a sack on and still look good in it, like Kate Moss.

Nat says

 The infamous Mr Blackwell has come out with his list

of worst-dressed women in the world and Victoria Beckham, better known as Posh Spice, has come in at No 1. Poor thing.

Being a fan of Victoria and her beautiful footballer husband David is one of my guiltiest pleasures. I love the fact that they are a modern couple. He helps with the children and she's purportedly richer than he is - the true breadwinner in the family, a true modern woman. David's a straight man who's made it okay to use cosmetics and wear pret-a-porter. Victoria's a middle-class girl who can get away with calling herself Posh. I love them so much I even bought her book on women's fashion and style called "That Extra Half an Inch".

So needless to say, I don't agree with Mr Blackwell.

Not that I disagree with him either. After all, I did say being a fan of the Beckhams is a guilty pleasure. I'm afraid that, for all their metrosexual modernity, the Beckhams are often shocking victims of fashion and their hunger for fame can be a bit too blatant. But who cares? I love them anyway.

I suspect the only reason Mr Blackwell made Victoria Beckham the worst-dressed woman in the world is that he hasn't spent much time in Thailand.

Without a doubt - at least in my mind - the worst fashion victims in the world can be found in the ranks of Thailand's high society. I'm not talking about Thailand's decrepit aristocrats. No, the term hi-so doesn't refer to any members of the Democrat Party or their wives. I'm talking about our own version of the Beckhams, the new generation of successful business-people who rejoice in their wealth by flaunting it in the society pages and on television. Surely no one deserves to be on Mr Blackwell's list more than them.

I won't name names, however. I love life too much.

I will, however, make the following suggestions:

l Make a Match

Make sure that, whatever the function, you match your friends, your spouse or your children. I don't mean wearing a yellow polo shirt. If you want to go to a hi-so event and look like you belong there, get together with your friends and wear the same designer dress. If it is all the same monogram logo, so much the better. If you are attending with your spouse, it creates even greater impact if both husband and wife are wearing the same thing.

l Bigger is Better.

This is for both men and women. I understand that nutrition may not have been on top of the list when struggling to make one's fortune but, if your growth was stunted by a diet of instant noodles and tinned fish, you can always add a few inches in height by adding volume to your hair. Combined with a good pair of platforms, big hair can make you as much as 25 centimetres taller.

l Bling is the Thing

Again, this tip is unisex. Wear as much ostentatious jewellery as possible. For women, there is no limit. Three or four white gold chains with a couple of good diamanté pendants might pass for diamonds, especially if you use the sparklers to reflect an expertly made-up face. Never underestimate the power of false eyelashes to distract paparazzi from jewellery that is less than important. For men, I would say a gold, diamond-encrusted watch needs a good diamond stud in the ear to be truly effective.

In three easy steps, you, too, can become hi-so. Now go out there and get someone to take your picture.

Want an opinion on something? Cat and Nat can be contacted at

NnaSWild@aol.com.