Victory for the brunette brigade as Duchess of Cambridge and Pippa Middleton are named top beauty icons of 2011

By Deborah Arthurs

Last updated at 1:01 PM on 27th December 2011


Kate Middleton has been voted the top beauty icon of 2011 - beating sister Pippa into second place.

Kate, who became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William in April, came out top in a poll of 3,000 women.

The 29-year-old Duchess has become recognised as increasingly style savvy throughout the year, appearing impeccably turned-out at various public occasions over the year.

Brunette brigade: Kate won over the 3,000 women polled with her trademark glossy brown locks and heavy eyeliner, while Pippa's perfect tan and natural make up earned her second place

Always immaculately groomed, Kate has remained true to the make up and hair style she has always favoured - albeit with a little more polish as her profile grows.

Her glossy brunette locks - tended to until recently by stylists from the Richard Ward salon in London - tumble about her shoulders with a subtle curl to the ends, and her dark eyeliner, which the Duchess famously applies with her own confident hand, completes her trademark look.

In second place was Kate's younger sister Pippa, 28, who shot to worldwide fame after images of her derriere in her Sarah Burton maid-of-honour dress were circulated globally in the days following her sister's nuptials.

Like Kate, she was hailed for her signature look of dark tan, glossy lips with fresh faced make-up.

Third place in the Superdrug poll went to last year's winner Cheryl Cole, who continues to win admirers despite having kept a low profile since her departure from American X Factor.

Sara Wolverson, Superdrug Director of beauty, who commissioned the research, said: 'What is fascinating is that four of the five celebrity women to appear in the top five are brunettes, which would indicate that while blondes may have more fun, brunettes are seen to be more beautiful.

Topping the polls: Last year's winner Cheryl Cole came in third place, while Rihanna's exotic beauty won her fourth place

'Everyone in the list has a distinct look, whether it's natural beauty, full octane glamour or a love of beauty trend-hopping.

'While the majority of ladies in the list are natural beauties, we also see the TOWIE effect with Amy Childs appearing on the list for the first time with her Essex tan, hair extensions, and false nails.'

The study also found Cheryl managed to nudge her replacement on the UK X Factor, judge Tulisa Contostavlos, down into sixth place.

Pop princess Rihanna and This Morning television presenter Holly Willoughby completed the top five beauty icons of 2011.

TOP 20 BEAUTY ICONS OF 2011

1. Kate Middleton
2. Pippa Middleton
3. Cheryl Cole
4. Rihanna
5. Holly Willoughby
6. Tulisa Contostavlos
7. Beyonce
8. Emma Watson
9. Katy Perry
10. Victoria Beckham
11. Kelly Rowland
12. Lady Gaga
13. Amy Childs
14. Katherine Jenkins
15. Nicole Scherzinger
16. Adele
17. Pixie Lott
18. Angelina Jolie
19. Keira Knightley
20. Scarlett Johannson

Seventh in the list is mother-to-be Beyonce who appears on the list for the first time, while Harry Potter's Emma Watson appears at number eight on the list.

With her pixie haircut, the young actress is the only woman in the top ten with short hair.

American singer and Mrs Russell Brand Katy Perry takes the number nine spot, cited for her quirky style, while mother-of-four and fashion icon Victoria Beckham completes the top ten.

New entries for 2011 include singers Lady Gaga at 12, Katherine Jenkins at 14 and Vogue cover girl Adele at 16.

Some who appeared in last year's list failed to appear this year, with Kylie Minogue, Fearne Cotton, Leona Lewis, Michelle Obama and Gemma Arterton all falling out of the top 20.

Sara Wolverson added: 'As always our Beauty Icons survey gives a snapshot of the changing face of British beauty.

'A key change for us is the continued rise of the brunette with three quarters of the top 20 sporting brown hair.

'We can see directly how changing celebrity trends affect our sales, from the 'Duchess effect' on sales of black eyeliner, to the 'Gaga effect' causing crazy nail art and our brightest cosmetics being a huge hit all year long, and Rihanna and Cheryl Cole's flirtation with vibrant red hair causing sales to rocket.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2078984/Duchess-Cambridge-Pippa-Middleton-named-beauty-icons-2011.html#ixzz1hlU8hxKp

Now you can wear that backless dress with confidence: Ultimo unveils 'miracle' bodysuit

By Katherine Faulkner

Last updated at 7:23 PM on 14th December 2011


It’s a party season dilemma that fuller-chested women are all too familiar with.

You splash out on a fabulous backless dress for a Christmas do – only to find unsightly bra-straps ruin the effect.

But now a new ‘miracle’ bodysuit has been launched to allow women to wear backless dresses with confidence whatever their bra size.

The £42 bodysuit has a corset-style front to provide maximum support, but is cut low everywhere else, leaving the back exposed

The bodysuit has a corset-style front to provide maximum support, but is cut low everywhere else, leaving the back exposed.

The suit’s makers claim the front provides just as much support as an ordinary bra – while ensuring that no straps make an embarrassing appearance at the back.

The underwear brand Ultimo said the suit also ‘transforms the silhouette’ by controlling the tummy and smoothing the hips, at the same time as boosting and shaping the bust.

And the £42 suits will be available in cup sizes A to G – catering for even the most voluptuous.

Celebrities have led the trend for backless dresses this year, with both Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole recently spotted on the red carpet in backless styles.

Victoria Beckham wore a backless dress from her own collection at the Fashion Awards last month

But they can be among the most difficult styles to wear for all but the thinnest women because they are difficult to combine with underwear.

‘Fuller-chested women tend to stay away from backless styles because they feel apprehensive about going without a bra,’ said Michelle Mone OBE, founder of Ultimo.

‘Miracle shapewear has been engineered to change that by providing all the support of a bra yet leaving the back exposed.

‘This will allow women to feel much more confident stepping out in styles they may have previously avoided.

‘Backless styles are very much in vogue this party season.

‘We hope that we can help take a lot of the hassle out of party dress shopping for women by giving them all the secret support they need for their perfect dress.’

Cheryl Cole shows off her tattoo in a LBD at the National Television Awards

The body suits are part of a range of 12 'Miracle Shapewear' inventions released by the British underwear brand designed to combat love handles, muffin tops and bulging tummies.

Ultimo have also come up with a new ‘frontless’ bodysuit for dresses cut low at the front.

This features a gap between the breast cups – which are held together by an invisible strap – to ensure that no bra fabric is visible when wearing a cleavage-revealing dress.

The styles will be available in Debenhams from today and can also be purchased on the Ultimo website.

Clothing that controls the body shape first appeared in the US, becoming popular with the Spanx pants launched in 2000.

It has since spread to the UK, where a recent survey by market researchers Mintel showed that one in ten British women have worn ‘shapewear’ to improve their figure.

British stores like Asda and Marks and Spencer have been quick to cash in on the trend, and have even launched ranges of aimed at men.

Asda’s range includes a vest aimed to deal with ‘man-boobs’ – the first batch of which sold out in just four minutes - and high-waisted pants which aim to control a beer belly.

You can buy a backless body at Ultimo.co.uk


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2074159/Ultimo-unveils-miracle-bodysuit-time-Christmas-Now-wear-backless-dress.html#ixzz1gYM9w9gU

Cheryl Cole shows off her healthy new figure after gaining 7lbs

I feel sexier than ever... I've got my curves back': Cheryl Cole shows off her healthy new figure after gaining 7lbs

 

By Sarah Bull and Sara Nathan

Last updated at 12:29 PM on 6th December 2011


She left fans worried about her health when she dropped to a tiny size six earlier this year after battling malaria.

But now Cheryl Cole has revealed her curves are back, after gaining 7lbs in the last six months, and said she feels sexier than ever with her new figure.

Cheryl, who is now a size eight, made the admission as she showed off her new figure in a sexy sparkly blue catsuit and pink tutu-style dress in the page of Grazia magazine.

'I feel sexier than ever': Cheryl Cole shows off her curves after gaining 7lbs and getting her 'boobs and bum back'

Healthy: Cheryl has gained half a stone and looks much healthier than she did last year (right)

She said: 'The curves are back, well and truly. I’ve got my boobs and bum back and, yeah, I like it. I think it’s sexy.

'When I’m really thin is normally when I am working non-stop. I don’t put any emphasis on thinking, ‘Oh, I’m thin at the moment.’

‘Right now I’ve got my curves back because I’ve had time off, I’m at home cooking, I’m more relaxed. I’m not defined by being seven pounds heavier than I was two months ago - I think it is really unhealthy to go there.'

Extra inches: Cheryl shows off her peep toes and monochrome heels, which she loves for extra height

Meanwhile, Cheryl also revealed that she is such a huge fan of high heels that she owns an astonishing 2,000 pairs, adding: ‘I hoard them all over the house: in cupboards in the kitchen, in the bathroom – every room.

‘There is a big chance when you open the fridge in my house there will be a pair of shoes at the bottom.’

Read Cheryl Cole's full interview in Grazia, on sale now

The former X Factor judge, 28, said: ‘I’ve always, always loved shoes but over the past few years I’ve definitely developed a proper fetish.

'I actually own about 2,000 pairs of shoes – and that’s after giving quite a few away.’

Miss Cole, who boasts that she can walk and dance in shoes ‘of any height’, told Grazia magazine: ‘Because I’m quite small, to me getting dressed is all about the heels.

'I have a pair of Louboutins that are so cripplingly painful – but I’m trying to ease myself into them gently, wearing them for a few minutes every now and again.’

The singer, who was sacked from the X Factor USA in May dashing her Hollywood dreams, said: ‘For me, all shoes have memories - wearing them on a certain occasion like that means the shoe gets that memory.

‘If I can’t wear them again I also can’t get rid of them because they are so linked to that emotion. I’m probably a bit bonkers like that.’

She added: ‘My absolute aim is killer shoes that don’t kill your feet. I can walk in heels of any height and I can dance in them because I’ve just been doing this for so long,’ she says.

‘As a kid I was a ballet dancer and I always had really sore toes.

Setting the trend: Cheryl in a pair of leopard-print and black boots from her range at Stylistpick.com

Night on the town: The range also includes some more glamorous heels, perfect for the Christmas party season

‘I had to have them broken and re-straightened, which sorted them out.

And her shoe fetish has spanned into her work life, as the singer has designed a range of shoes for stylistpick.com.

Within her debut shoe range, two of her styles include the ‘Ri Ri’ in honour of Rihanna and ‘Byker Groove’ boots as a nod to her Geordie roots.

Read Cheryl Cole's full interview in the latest issue of Grazia, on sale now.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070595/Cheryl-Cole-gains-7lbs-weight-gets-boobs-bum-back.html#ixzz1fnlBLelu

Cheryl Cole promotes her new range of footwear for www.stylistpick.com

'I've got 2,000 pairs of shoes', says Cheryl... who even hoards them in the fridge

By Sara Nathan

Last updated at 8:50 AM on 6th December 2011


She's only 5ft 3in tall, so you’d expect Cheryl Cole to have a few pairs of high heels.

Actually, she has more than a few...

The singer has owned up to owning 2,000 pairs, adding: ‘I hoard them all over the house: in cupboards in the kitchen, in the bathroom – every room.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Shoe queen: Cheryl Cole promotes her new range of footwear for www.stylistpick.com in this week's Grazia Magazine

‘There is a big chance when you open the fridge in my house there will be a pair of shoes at the bottom.’

The former X Factor judge, 28, said: ‘I’ve always, always loved shoes but over the past few years I’ve definitely developed a proper fetish.

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'I actually own about 2,000 pairs of shoes – and that’s after giving quite a few away.’

Miss Cole, who boasts that she can walk and dance in shoes ‘of any height’, told Grazia magazine: ‘Because I’m quite small, to me getting dressed is all about the heels.

Extra inches: Cheryl Cole shows off her peep toes and monochrome heels, which she loves for extra height

'I have a pair of Louboutins that are so cripplingly painful – but I’m trying to ease myself into them gently, wearing them for a few minutes every now and again.’

The singer, who was sacked from the X Factor USA in May dashing her Hollywood dreams, said: ‘For me, all shoes have memories - wearing them on a certain occasion like that means the shoe gets that memory.

‘If I can’t wear them again I also can’t get rid of them because they are so linked to that emotion. I’m probably a bit bonkers like that.’

Shoes make the outfit: Cheryl is rarely seen in the same pair of heels twice, which is no surprise if she has 2,000 pairs

She added: ‘My absolute aim is killer shoes that don’t kill your feet. I can walk in heels of any height and I can dance in them because I’ve just been doing this for so long,’ she says.

‘As a kid I was a ballet dancer and I always had really sore toes.

‘I had to have them broken and re-straightened, which sorted them out.

Read Cheryl Cole's full interview in Grazia, on sale now

The star said she was pleased to have a fuller figure again after losing weight earlier this year.

She is now a size eight after putting on seven pounds in the last six months. Doctors had advised her to put weight on after she battled malaria.

And the petite singer said: ‘The curves are back, well and truly. I’ve got my boobs and bum back and, yeah, I like it. I think it’s sexy.”

She said: ‘When I’m really thin is normally when I am working non-stop. I don’t put any emphasis on thinking, ‘Oh, I’m thin at the moment.’

‘Right now I’ve got my curves back because I’ve had time off, I’m at home cooking, I’m more relaxed. I’m not defined by being seven pounds heavier than I was two months ago - I think it is really unhealthy to go there.'

And her shoe fetish has spanned into her work life, as the singer has designed a range of shoes for stylistpick.com.

Within her debut shoe range, two of her styles include the ‘Ri Ri’ in honour of Rihanna and ‘Byker Groove’ boots as a nod to her Geordie roots.

Read Cheryl Cole's full interview in the latest issue of Grazia, on sale now.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070457/Cheryl-Cole-Ive-got-2-000-pairs-shoes-hoard-fridge.html#ixzz1fkUXfkjl

Why last year's X Factor hopeful Gamu is glad she was abandoned by Cowell and Cheryl

By Alison Boshoff

Last updated at 8:02 AM on 2nd December 2011

Not once has Gamu Nhengu been seen to rejoice over the accusations of sleaze, strife and crisis which have engulfed this year’s series of The X Factor; she’s far too nice a person to kick Mr Cowell in the shiny white teeth when he is down.

But, in her own quiet way, it’s clear that she is having the last laugh.

Gamu was, of course, last year’s cannon fodder: everyone was astonished when Cheryl Cole sent her home at the judges’ houses stage in favour of her ‘mini-me’ Cher Lloyd.

Now and then: Gamu has a much more sassy style for her new album, left, and right, appearing on last year's X Factor

In the days that followed it emerged that Gamu’s family were staying in the UK on an expired visa.

The Home Office moved to expel them and it looked as if Gamu’s bid for fame was to cost them everything. She said that if she was sent back to Zimbabwe she’d face Mugabe’s firing squads.

It was the cause celebre of the series — thousands signed Facebook petitions to support her. Simon Cowell said that he would help every way he could.

But, having kept her own counsel since then, Gamu now reveals that actually after Cheryl dismissed her from the competition she never heard from her or Cowell again.


The idea that Cowell was going to lend the family the free services of his legal team to fight for her right to remain in the country also seems to have been a complete invention.

‘But then, why would they remain in touch once I’d been evicted from the show?’ asks Gamu. ‘It wasn’t an easy experience but I’m able now to look back on it from a distance and see what it gave me, and I’m grateful for that.’

What it gave her, she says, is a better understanding of the way that showbusiness works — which you may well decode as an understanding that there may be a show of sympathy, but it’s still just a business.

Perhaps this philosophical bent is possible now because the crisis is coming to an end — she’s getting her passport and her musical career without Cowell.

After she left the X Factor, her family was told that they would have to leave the UK as their visa had expired.

After various twists and turns in that saga, her manager John Richardson now confirms to me that Gamu’s right to stay has now come through. She will be a full British citizen.

She must be delighted, I suggest. ‘The matter is closed, so I won’t comment,’ she replies, wary of causing a fuss.

Campaign: Thousands signed Facebook petitions to support Gamu when the Home Office moved to deport her - she eventually won her appeal to remain in the UK

It’s a rare piece of good news for the singer, now 20 years old, who suffered an emotional collapse after her X Factor disaster.

She had been led to believe that her performances had been enough to keep her in the competition. Indeed she had seemed to be one of the very strongest contenders with her powerful voice.

But Cher Lloyd, who snuffled and trembled through her song, laid low with a throat infection, was preferred. Gamu says that at the time that she was completely dumbstruck and believed that her dreams of making it as a singer were at an end. She wept for weeks.

But now she feels that the rejection makes sense — and she understands that it might be possible to make it as a singer without being an X Factor artist.

She tells me: ‘I can see now why it happened. I didn’t have the right street image like Cher. I just didn’t fit the bill for Cheryl.

'It’s not easy but I understand that it’s a competition and that is the way it goes. I hold no ill feeling.’

But although she was told in the initial weeks after losing out that many major record labels wanted to sign her up, nothing came of it. Instead she has sat by and watched all of her peers on the show release records.

‘I can see now why it happened. I didn’t have the right street image like Cher. I just didn’t fit the bill for Cheryl.'

She was, like all contestants, compelled to sign a management agreement with the company which manages all X Factor artists. Which meant that she could be kept in obscurity by the Cowell machine.

John Richardson says: ‘They tell them to sit there and shut up. I think that for six months she was basically waiting for something to happen.

We sent her management dozens of emails and didn’t get a single response. We had a proposal which would have netted her £25,000 but we didn’t hear a peep back.

‘Earlier this year Gamu asked to be released, and now at last she is free.’

Since escaping the clutches of the show she has got a publishing deal, and a record deal, and has spent the past couple of months in the studio making an album.

About half of the songs are written by her, and she describes them as ‘pretty old school, with a very classic Motown feel’.

One of her collaborators is Lamont Dozier, a Motown legend who wrote for The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas and the Four Tops. He has written a song for her, which is quite a coup.

The album should be released in March next year. It’s a long time, of course, since October 2010 when she was big news, but Gamu’s big break might be finally about to arrive.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2068886/X-Factors-Gamu-Nhengu-glad-abandoned-Simon-Cowell-Cheryl-Cole.html#ixzz1fMpzk0UB

Kelly Brook unleashes her toned legs for a glamorous night out

Two great assets: Kelly Brook unleashes her toned legs for a glamorous night out

By J J Anisiobi

Last updated at 11:16 AM on 30th November 2011

She has become famous for her curves but last night she revealed two of her other great assets... her toned legs.

Kelly Brook decided to show off her defined pins at the launch of the Cointreau Prive pop-up bar at The Pigalle Club in Picadilly, London.

The 32-year-old model wore a black Moschino dress with a small split on the thigh to the event.

Long legs: Kelly Brook arrives at The Pigalle Club in a thigh revealing dress

The dress, which costs £1,207, had a matching ruff waistline which she teamed with a fur gilet.


Brook, who was joined by boyfriend Thom Evans, also wore a pair of black thick heeled shoes and red lipstick.

The Piranha actress had a busy night and posted a message on Twitter that said: 'Dinner at the Arts Club, Dita Von Teese at the Pigalle followed by a Guiness in the Punchbowl! Work Hard Party Harder! Night ;).'

Lady in black: Miss Brooke looked elegant in a Moschino dress and red lipstick

Eye catching: Kelly and a friend get in a taxi and head to their next destination

Her outfit was a lesson in fashion to Cheryl Cole who wore the same dress last month but with a very different result.

The axed X Factor judge - known for her fashion hits and misses - watched Girls Aloud band-mate Kimberley Walsh as she made her West End debut in Shrek The Musical.

She wore a black and white version of the dress but was unable to pull it off.

Busy night: Kelly and Thom Evans left the party to go to the Punchbowl

Despite Kelly's sultry outfit she was outmatched in the glamour stakes by Dita Von Teese.

The burlesque dancer performed at the launch and poured her hour-glass figure into a floor-length gown.

The 39-year-old star wore a cream dress which exposed her back and had a plunging front.

Lesson learned: Cheryl Cole, right, wore the same dress a month ago

Revealing: Dita Von Teese performed at the launch party and hosted the night

Other celebrities that attended the launch included fashion designer Sadie Frost who was dressed a little more casual than other guests.

She opted for a pair of sequined amber coloured hot-pants with a blue cardigan and red shoes.

Jasmine Guinness and Made In Chelsea's Cheska Hull and Ollie Locke also made an appearance.

Elegant: Dita's dress was both eye-catching and classy

Orange: An overly tanned Ollie Locke arrives with Cheskie

Girls on film: Sadie Frost, left, was dressed casual and Hofit Golan arrived on crutches

Hofit Golan arrived on crutches in a black dress with a lace neckline.

The Israeli socialite was injured when partying at The Box in Soho, London, two weeks ago after a man fell on her and broke her foot.

Cointreau Privé, labelled 'London's most exclusive speakeasy', has been modelled on Dita's Los Angeles home, with themed salons and some of the star's most prized possessions.

The pop-up bar, which is strictly guest-list only, will be open for just three weeks.

Music in the air: Shingai Shoniwa, left, and Sunday Girl, right, arrive at the party

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2067974/Two-great-assets-Kelly-Brook-unleashes-toned-legs-glamorous-night-out.html#ixzz1fC9Pc6FR

Cut-price McQueen: The £465 tartan dress celebrities can't get enough of : Rihanna, Katherine Jenkins, Emma Watson, Cheryl Cole

Cut-price McQueen: The £465 tartan dress celebrities can't get enough of

By Lauren Paxman

Last updated at 12:55 PM on 29th November 2011


When Alexander McQueen launched a diffusion range, McQ, in 2006, even the fashion label could not have anticipated how successful the range would become.

But after the Duchess of Cambridge chose Sarah Burton as the designer of her wedding dress, she basically guaranteed that everything McQueen's creative director did would turn to gold.

Scroll down for a video of Rihanna's X Factor performance...

Punk-rock: Katherine Jenkins let the dress do the talking this morning while Rihanna and Emma Watson both gave the McQ pufball tartan dress a hard edge with chunky shoes or a leather jacket

Last night Burton was named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards. However celebrities have been snapping up McQueen and McQ designs ever since the royal wedding.

One frock in particular - the £465 Puffball tartan dress - has become the party dress of the season.

Short but sweet: Cheryl Cole wearing the dress (left) and a publicity shot

McQ was set up five years ago as a trendier - and much more affordable - take on Alexander McQueen.

Last November, Burton brought the range back inhouse, it had been licensed out for years.

Having McQueen's creative director back at the helm has given the range a new lease of life and turned it into a celebrity favourite.

Classical singer Katherine Jenkins wore the frock this morning for an appearance on ITV.

Rihanna, chose the red and black number for her appearance on the X Factor.

She wore a prim white shirt underneath, but her chunky shoes, which were scrawled with Tipp-Ex graffiti, gave it a harder edge.

Emma Watson also gave the dress a punk look by wearing it with a leather biker jacket and some studded Louboutin heels.

The actress also wore black netting underskirt to make it even puffier.

Cheryl Cole and Chloe Moretz just let the dress do the talking, keeping their accessories nice and simple.

McQ has a range of designs featuring the red and black tartan - all are suitably festive making them perfect purchases in the run-up to Christmas.

The Crombie tartan coat (£845), features a kilt which can be zipped off.

McQ's tartan trousers (£275) also make a statement out of their zips, with over-sized pull tabs.

If the print feels a little too bold, McQ's little black dresses might be more suitable

Snap it up soon: Selfridges is selling the dress for £465 but it is bound to sell out very quickly

A £270 safety pin print dress looks smart but with a bit of an edge, while, the £375 Gaga zip dress will give wearers a flattering silhouette.

All can be bought from Selfridges and from next February they will also be available in a new four-floor McQ shop on Dover Street in London.

To celebrate the store's opening, the label will also put on a show at London Fashion Week the same month. McQueen will continue to show in Paris.

Other tartan treats: McQ's Crombie tartan coat (£845) and the tartan zipped trousers (£275)

Little black dresses: McQ printed dress (£295), the draped jersey dress (£275) and the Gaga zip dress (£325)

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2067546/Cut-price-McQueen-The-465-tartan-dress-celebrities-of.html#ixzz1f6LwnDoH