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Michelle Obama Tops Best Dressed List

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SUNDAY TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES: MICHELLE OBAMA TOPS THE BEST DRESSED LIST 2013

 Children cheer as U.S. first lady Michelle Obama arrives for a taping of the TV cooking show "Top Chef" in Dallas

Sunday Times Style Magazine, the UK’s premium fashion and beauty magazine, has this week announced its first-ever definitive guide to the best dressed. Over the next two Sundays, Style names the 50 individuals who have led fashion with their interpretation of sartorial good-taste in 2013.

 

The list is compiled by the Style team, including: AA Gill, Camilla Long, Colin McDowell, Shane Watson, Christina Lamb, Giles Hattersley, Kate Spicer, Tiffanie Darke, Claudia Croft, Richard Gray, Francesca Hornak, Fleur Britten, Michael Hennegan, and of course Mrs Mills. The team also provides insightful commentary on how the rankings have been chosen, and who leads in creating the perfect alchemy between taste, style and personality.

 

At the top of the list is America’s style queen: Michelle Obama. Described by Darke as being an important woman with a high-powered job who still has fun with fashion; the First Lady was praised for her blend of High Street with couture, and her use of clothes to inspire and entertain.

 

Mrs Obama’s lead ranking contradicts today’s reports of criticism by designer Dame Vivienne Westwood who termed Michelle’s choice of clothes “dreadful” and a “non-starter”.

 

Creative director of Céline, Phoebe Philo, is in second place. Her understated approach; relaxed mantra, and devotion to flats – particularly box fresh trainers, has earned her Kate Spicer’s vote. Miuccia Prada meanwhile receives the bronze. The 63-year-old matron of Milan’s great fashion house is described by Gray as embracing ‘the edge’ with poise and strength so that it is never frivolous and always handsome.

 

Ranked at number seven is Victoria Beckham who comes one above the Duchess of Cambridge. Mrs Beckham is praised by Colin McDowell for her commitment to providing customers with perfection, and taking the same approach with her own never-faltering appearance.

 

Style Magazine editor Tiffanie Darke says: “The diverse nature of this list demonstrates the importance of fashion in the overall conversation, confirming the role clothes play in creating a visual manifesto.”

 

“What’s so encouraging is that among the 25 people celebrated today, no two share a similar look; they all occupy a different part of the fashion spectrum, using their own taste and judgment to bring together an individual style that serves to inspire.”

 

At 20 in this week’s list, is Grayson ‘Claire’ Perry. Praised for being the world’s most individual dresser, the 52-year-old Turner Prize-winning artist is celebrated for his love of over-scale dresses and flouncy skirts that look large enough to accommodate a nappy. A living work of art, Mrs. Mills considers him a national treasure that should be listed as part of our heritage.

 

The top five undressed are also featured for their zest as well as their ability to wear naked well. Kelly Brook leads the pack with curves that make maintaining eye contact too challenging. In second place, model Kate Upton marks the return of the bombshell, while Kate Moss comes in at third for her ever-wiliness to embrace being starkers.

 

Suri Cruise shows the under 10s how it’s done thanks in no small part to her brave use of accessories. An early appreciation of Chanel handbags has put Alia Wang – niece of Alexander  – in second, while Shilou Jolie Pitt’s decision to eschew the glitter has gained her a third with a firm salute for self-assured taste.

 

The Top 50 Best Dressed List forms part of a re-launched Style magazine, which sees a renewed focus on fashion, and more attention given to beauty and a re-design that will include more stunning photography.

Style will continue to be supported by a year-long schedule of brand activities designed to strengthen its position in the industry as a key fashion and beauty brand. Readers will also be invited to attend exclusive Style-branded events, including an upcoming series of Style Conversations. Hosted at the Savoy, Erdem is due to headline in April. Previous conversations have seen major fashion designers such as Valentino, Donatella Versace, John Galliano and Giles Deacon taking questions from Sunday Times fashion writer Colin McDowell.

 

Speaking about the re-launch, Darke said: “The Sunday Times Style Magazine is already a pillar of global fashion media and this re-launch is only going to consolidate that position. We’re taking the title back to its roots in order to stake our claim as the number one title for women with an interest in high-end fashion and beauty.”

 

Next week: Nos 25 – 50; the best dressed men, and who leads offenders.

Who would you put on a best dressed list?

 

Over 1 in 5 UK adults openly admit to buying counterfeit fashion

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22% of people have knowingly bought counterfeit fashion items, with a further 10% saying they may have bought a fake item but can’t be sure. Only 34% of people say they know for sure they have never purchased fake fashion. The results were taken from an online survey of over 2,000 UK adults commissioned by luxury fashion resale site VestiaireCollective.com and YouGov* to ascertain the nation’s attitudes towards counterfeit fashion.  According to ECCIA (European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance) counterfeiting in Europe has grown by 5% in 2011, totalling losses of over 14 million euros.

 

The most popular counterfeit items those surveyed admitted to buying were ‘designer’ handbags, with 31% of respondents who had bought fake items saying they had picked up some replica designer arm candy. The second most frequently purchased fashion items were fake designer sunglasses and watches (24% respectively).

 

The most common reasons why UK adults buy fake fashion were to avoid paying designer prices (20%), and when they unknowingly purchased items online which appeared to be genuine but were actually fake (17%). Only 2% said they would buy fake fashion to emulate the style of a celebrity or someone they admire.

 

Younger people in the 25-34 age group were the most likely to knowingly buy fakes, with 24% saying they had bought counterfeit items. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 55+ age group were the least likely to shop for fakes, with only 13% saying they had bought something they knew was not genuine. Men and women were just as likely to be culprits (18% vs. 17% respectively).

 

Sarah Bush, UK Marketing Director of Vestiaire Collective said: “Some people are complacent about buying ‘fake fashion’, seeing it as a chance to get an expensive look at a cheap price. But fake items can’t match the real deal for quality and craftsmanship – with a designer item you are investing in something which will look great and last for years to come“

 

She continued: “Instead of buying fake items, we encourage anyone who is set on picking up a designer item to buy authenticated pre-owned fashion. Pre-owned is an affordable way to experience real luxury items, and you can even resell items at a later date. We have over 8000 designer handbags for sale at Vestiaire Collective, with average prices ranging from 50-70% off RRP.”

 

In February 2012 Vestiaire Collective signed a charter against the sale of counterfeit goods with luxury brands including Céline, YSL, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès. Vestiaire Collective employs a team of counterfeit experts at their Paris headquarters who verify each and every fashion item bought and sold on the site, working closely with designer fashion brands to analyse the correct stitching, materials etc.

 

How to Spot a Fake Fashion Item – Top Tips from Vestiaire Collective’s Counterfeit Spotting Team:

 

1.       Only look at reputable websites. Shop at recognisable sites – all of your well-known favourites – for straight discounts. Don’t be tempted to shop sites you are unfamiliar with, especially those with ‘discount’ or ‘cheap’ in the URL.

 

2.       Familiarise yourself with your favourite brands. Don’t be shy to check out items at a brand’s shop or concession in a department store. Inspect the item carefully and you’ll have better instincts as to what may not be right with a product.

 

3.       Look at the hardware. On items such as handbags, the zipper should move smoothly and the pull should be heavy in feel. All other hardware should be similarly heavy and not hollow. There shouldn’t be any discolouring or signs of the metal flaking off.

 

4.       Check the handles and look inside. The stitching should be in a straight line and the thread should be strong and not frayed or pulled. The leather should be smooth and match the bag in the way it does on the product you saw in the store. The same is true inside; if the fabric looks strange or exceedingly cheap, it’s likely a fake.

 

5.       Logo. If the logo on a handbag, shoe or garment is upside down, sideways, cut off or somehow not right, again, you are likely looking at a fraudulent product.