The world’s mosT sTylish woman
sHE has been described as “a prim, pastel vision” and “a demure dresser” and now Samantha Cameron has come out top in an influential list of the world’s most stylish women.
Vanity Fair magazine describes Mrs Cameron’s style as “Conservative charm” and praises her for having become an ambassador for British fashion. She has a well- deserved reputation for mixing high- end designers such as Erdem, Phillip Lim and Roksanda Ilincic with high- street staples such as Zara and Marks & Spencer.
This skill means she appears on the list above singer- songwriter Taylor Swift, famed for her feminine signature style, who is in second position.
Experts are not surp rised. “She doesn’t succumb to the fripperies of fashion,” says commentator Karen Kay of Mrs Cameron’s style. “She dresses to suit her own lifestyle, figure and colouring.” And this is usually done with a subtle twist that reveals her confidence in her look and in her figure.
For example she is rarely seen without a belt to accentuate her trim waist which she often adds to an ensemble irrespective of whether the designer in question intended it ( and usually they didn’t).
“Adding a belt when the designer has not included one is a sign of real confidence,” says Kay. “A lot of high- profile women will wear a look only as specified.”
And when she mixes high street with designer fashion the belt can cost more than the dress, especially in the case of her favourite crocodile belt by Emilia Wickstead – she once wore it with a mass- market frock from online retailer Asos.
KAY says: “What she does really well – as does Michelle Obama – is to look like a more glossy version of us. Her clothes are realistic, not haute couture. She looks like a polished super- mum. She is fit, she works hard and she is always smiling. Her model figure – tall with good shoulders and a slim waist – means she carries clothes well. She also walks with confidence, even though she is probably quite shy.”
A particular favourite is London- based Serbian designer Ilincic ( who is also popular with the Duchess of Cambridge) who favours graphic shapes in strong colours. But Mrs Cameron – whose younger sister Emily Sheffield is deputy editor of British Vogue – is equally happy dressed down in a pair of jeans or Converse trainers.
Her look has also been honed by Isabel Spearman who recently left No 10 to set up her own PR company. Isabel started working for Mrs Cameron after being “lent” to her by her mother Lady Astor as a wardrobe assistant two days a week. In 2010 her role was formalised into that of Downing Street special adviser.
“Her former right- hand woman may have been responsible for Samantha’s diary and charity commitments but Isabel also had a very strong hand in dressing her during her move into the public eye,” says Kay. “When Samantha first became Prime Minister’s wife, Isabel, a former PR to handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, played a key role.”
At no time was this more evid ent than in spring 2011 when Mrs Cameron was nervously awaiting the arrival of the Obamas for a two- day state visit. The following year when the Camerons visited Washington the nerves were gone and Mrs Cameron wore two outfits that Kay distinguishes as highlights of her style. “She looked really good on the White House lawn in a navy and turquoise dress with elbow length sleeves by Roksanda Ilincic. She also wore a floor- length blue lace dress with a high neck by Alessandra Rich – together with her signature belt. This was a more contemporary approach to dressing for formal state occasions.”
Since then Mrs Cameron’s high- profile role as ambassador for British fashion has called for her to represent the industry at a host of stylish soirees but she has done so while still appearing elegant and understated.
“She wears her clothes confidently because she knows they flatter her,” says Kay. “She is not a natural celebrity who is comfortable in the limelight so she wears outfits to boost her confidence and colours that stand out so that she doesn’t have to.” SCOTTISH actor David McCallum, who played agent Illya Kuryakin, pictured, in hit 1960s series The Man From Uncle, takes mischievous aim at the new Hollywood remake.
The tongue- in- cheek star, 81, tells Radio Times: “It is outrageous that someone else is playing Illya Kuryakin! When you do something for many years you have a very soft spot in your soul and it can be very easily bruised.”
His role has been taken by American actor Armie Hammer, while Jersey- born Superman star Henry Cavill will play Napoleon Solo, famously portrayed by Robert Vaughn in the original.
McCallum adds: “I didn’t even know there was a movie coming out. Nobody said anything to me about it and I’d never heard of the two stars!” THE late, great Cilla Black proved typically supportive when Bafta- winning actress Sheridan Smith was cast to play her in an ITV biopic last year.
Recalling how Cilla, who cut her teeth at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern club, explained her singing style, Smith revealed: “She told me that because the Cavern was so loud she’d whack out those rock ’ n’ roll songs at the top of her voice. The famous Cilla honk.
“It was only when she later got into a studio and put on the headphones that she realised that she also had this soft little voice too.”