Celebrity Style - Victoria Beckham needs to relax!

What's wrong with this picture of new bezza friends Victoria Beckham and Kate Beckinsale?

Judging by Posh's super skin-tight get-up, you'd think the pair were off to some swanky LA do. However, it transpires they were heading off for a picnic instead. How did Posh sit down in that dress?

Kate Beckinsale has got the laid-back LA look down to a tee. She's cool and smart but without looking like a lady who lunches. Victoria however, always looks like she's dressed up to the nines. She couldn't even attend a baseball match last year without her trusty heels.

I'd love to see Posh in a really casual ensemble such as Kathrine Heigl wears so well. C'mon Posh - try to be Not So Posh for just one day.

The Elle Style Awards and the naughty Hilton family!

Here's a quick guide to what's on my news radar this week!

1. It was the Elle Style Awards last night. This is always guaranteed to be an A-list event and this year didn't disappoint. Kylie looked amazing (maybe she's read my blog and got rid of Will Baker?!); Keira Knightley looked miserable once more; my style crush Kate Hudson looked a-m-aaazing and Lily Allen looked a bit like Hilda Ogden. I don't even know who won what - apart from the petite but gorgeous James McAvoy - but who cares when there are so many nice frocks on show?!

2. It's another day and another Hilton has been arrested for drink driving - this time the ridiculously named Barron. Are these children just so mega spoilt they don't understand reality? Or are they just really stupid? It just shows you that money can't buy you everything.

3. Valentine's Day is tomorrow - have you sent your card? Victoria Beckham was spotted buying one for David in NYC. I really don't like Posh but I think it's great that they are still together - it's the on positive message she gives young fans. Oh and if you scroll down the above link, you'll see the cutest pic of Cruz!

4. Vivienne Westwood is urging fellow Brit designers to show in the UK. Here, here to that. It's not very cool to be patriotic at the moment but unless we give the younger generation something to believe in - even if it is only fashion and music - this country will never be great again.

5. The Hollywood writers are ending their strike so it's all go for the Oscars. Hurrah! These red carpet events bring some glamour into what is usually a depressing month. It also gives me a chance to gen up on my film knowledge, which is badly needed at the moment. Can't believe I've only been out of that industry for 6 months and I've forgotten stuff. My team only came 7th last night in a local film quiz - shocking!

Posh Spice or should it be Badly Dressed Spice?

Poor ole Victoria Beckham! She has topped Mr Blackwell’s annual worst dressed list. I actually feel kind of sorry for the pouty one. She tries so hard to be a fashionista but unfortunately for her, no amount of designer mates or Hermès handbags will win round the fashion mafia.

It seems you can only be truly cool in the fashion world if you look like you’ve crawled out of bed and just thrown on the first thing you found. That’s just not Victoria’s style and I say there’s nothing wrong with pouring yourself into skin-tight dressed and wearing skyscraper heels. At least she has her own style. It’s not to my taste but she puts in effort and that’s nice.

I struggle every day to try and fit in with these fashion types. Gone are the days when I can simply thrown on my jeans, Converse trainers and a nice top. Every day feels like I’m being thrown to the lions. Get it wrong and instead of being savaged, you’re ignored. Get it right and you may get a slight smile as they pass by you in the corridor.

My problem is, I hate looking messy and un-neat. I wish I had the insouciance of stars such as Alexa Cheung, Mary-Kate Olsen and Sienna Miller, but I don’t. So everyday I struggle to dress my outfit down a bit. And there are a couple of ways to do this:

• Have messy, bed-head hair. A straight, neat bob just does not cut it.
• Accessorise wisely. Put on a battered hat, a long pendant and mess up your dress with biker boots or trainers.
• Make sure your clothes are slightly too big to give that ‘borrowed from the boyfriend’ feel
• Mix and match prints. Stripes with florals, star prints with checks – anything goes in the world of messy fashion I think.

I’m still not quite there – I can do the messy hair but not while my mis-matching my prints – but I’m trying. Perhaps though the best way to deal with the added stress is to just embrace my own style but I’m sure what that actually is… perhaps finding my original style will be my new year’s resolution.

Spice Up Your Life

I indulged my very unfashionable pleasure for camp pop music this weekend with a trip to the see the Spice Girls at the O2. Back in the day, I LOVED these girls. They came onto the scene just as I moved up to London so they remind me of when I shared a very tiny flat (and bedroom) with my best mate Posie.

When I first ventured into journalism, the Spices had split but I got to interview three of them as solo stars. Back then Victoria Beckham was big but brand Beckham hadn’t quite made it to the A-list. It makes me laugh to remember that day. When I first walked in, she balked ever so slightly. I think she had been interviewed by excitable men all day and she seemed to shrink at the sight of a fellow lady. Perhaps her insecurities showing through? Once she knew I was a believer in girl power, she came round and was really pleasant, funny and pretty. Despite this, I am still AMAZED at how loved she is. Whenever she sang any line last night, the crowd went crazy for her – even though singing really isn’t her best talent!

I really enjoyed the show though. It was a fun-filled romp, accessorised by plenty of sequins courtesy of Roberto Cavalli. And while we’re on that note… Am I the only person who cannot stand Cavalli? He makes clothes fit only for Euro Trash in my mind, however, his outfits kind of worked for the stage. All apart from Mel C. Poor Mel C – she really did draw the short straw dressed in her ‘sporty’ gear of trousers and spangly vest tops. I think Mr Cavalli must have run out of inspiration by the time it came round to her?

My pal and I left the gig on the high. This was due in part to spending a Sunday night worshipping at the altar of high campness, but also due to the allure of girl power. As naff as it might seem, I think we should bring back girl power. Too many of us ladies really don’t like each other. This world is hard enough without having the love of a sister, so just remember when you feel like bitching about a fellow broad, bite the tongue and give them a compliment instead. Zig-ah-zig-aaaaah!

Dressing for winter

OK! I admit it! I think the fashionista thing is rubbing off on me way too much. I’m off to enjoy the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park tonight and in my pre-fash mag days, my only thought would’ve been how to keep warm tonight. Chunky sweater, jeans, hat – you know the kind of thing.

However, this morning I woke up and felt utterly bemused at what to wear. How does one dress for winter but stylishly? The thing is you never really see celebrities all bundled up and looking toasty. Posh Spice chose this very seasonal outfit of mini-skirt, bare legs and no coat to go Christmas shopping in. She must have really felt the cold, especially being such a skinny thing.

To be fair, you can see why celebs don’t do the winter woollies look. It bulks out the frame (and the camera already adds pounds), plus being warm isn’t very sexy is it? If Heidi Klum can’t look good while she’s skiing, what hope do us mere mortals have?

However, a couple of stars do it really well and I’ve been taking inspiration from these guys:

• Mary Kate Olsen – she plays with a mixture of proportions so avoids the Michelin Man look. Although being so skinny she’d have to wear a lot of jumpers to look that big.
• Jessia Alba manages to combine warmth, comfort and fashion with this cool military-inspired look.
• Sienna Miller - I think she does off duty dressing very well and is a realistic style role-model. Here she’s wearing lots of layers – perfect for when you’re out shopping and going in and out of hot shops

So what did I end up wearing today? I took inspiration from la dinky Olsen and threw on a chunky wrap cardy, black skinny jeans and grey riding boots. Topped with my Zara military coat, I think I’ve got this seasonal style nailed.

What I didn’t count on happening today however was having my photo taken for a feature I’m in – will my winter dressing pile on those pounds? We’ll have to wait until it’s published to find out!