She
was blasted during 2011's X Factor by Simon Cowell, who said she looked
as though she was wearing five gallons of hairspray before standing in
the middle of a hurricane.
Never
one to take the music mogul's criticism lying down, Cheryl
Fernandez-Versini has returned to top sartorial form on this year's
show.
After
a four-year hiatus from the talent contest, Cheryl returned to our
screens - along with a new surname and whole new dress sense - and
successfully stole back her fashion crown.
Style overhaul: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has used this year's X Factor to reinvent her style and beauty
And, we can reveal, the 31-year-old singer has a carefully curated 'dream team' of experts to thank.
Heading
up Cheryl's new glam squad is stylist Anna Hughes-Chamberlain, who is
the senior fashion editor of style bible, Hunger magazine, and has
worked with Miranda Kerr, Sienna Miller and Ellie Goulding.
Anna has helped Cheryl shake up her wardrobe and break away from the play-it-safe style she has previously embraced.
In 2010,
Cheryl came under fire for her 'tacky' and 'skimpy' dresses, while
Dannii Minogue was lauded for her 'edgy and fashion forward' fashion
choices and hairstyles.
Cheryl
took matters into her own hands this year by enlisting Anna. The super
stylist added glamorous gowns courtesy of Vogue favourites, Christopher
Kane, Monique Lhuillier, Zuhair Murad and Stephane Rolland, to the
judge's wardrobe.
Now and
then: In 2010, right, Cheryl came under fire for her 'tacky' and
'skimpy' dresses, right, but now opts for glamorous, often midi-length
or floor length designs, left
he judge, who sits alongside Mel B and Louis Walsh, also had couture wedding dress designer, Alida Herbst, waiting in the wings to help Anna.
Alida
is an extremely talented designer and seamstress who has worked with
many of the world’s top designers and played a leading part in making
the wedding dresses of plenty of high-profile private clients.
Classic
in design or a touch avant garde, Alida promises that her designs will
help you feel your best on your special day - something she's most
certainly helped Cheryl with this year.
'I
have worked with Cheryl's stylist Anna and Cheryl herself many times
before. I designed her outfit for the Capital FM Summertime Ball at
Wembley earlier this year and created about 25 dresses for her Girls
Aloud Ten tour,' Alida told FEMAIL.
Alida,
who went along to the live shows every week to help Cheryl and Anna,
said that Cheryl is 'lovely' to work with and has a really good sense of
humour.
'Cheryl has been looking so good on X Factor,' added Alida.
Couture:
High-fashion houses have been lending Cheryl the most glamorous and
lavish of dresses, which she's pulled off with aplomb week after week
(left, in Lanvin, and, right, in Ziad Nakad)
Speaking
about Cheryl's style overhaul, fashion writer Simon Glazin
(www.theverysimong.com) said: 'Cheryl has come a long way since the
shiny Kappa tracksuit days. She wouldn't be seen dead in one now. For
her, it's all about the super high-end designers now.
'Alas,
even couture houses have started lending her dresses. And, it seems,
Cheryl is doing a better job at championing new designers than our very
own Princess, Kate Middleton.
'Cheryl's
fashion conquests have included: Thakoon - famed for dressing the First
Lady herself; Monique Lhuillier - a red carpet gown genius; Zuhair
Murad (including the red dress she wore for the final) - one of Jennifer
Lopez's favourite designers, and Stephane Rolland couture - one of the
most fantastic couturiers in the world, who dresses royals and A list
stars.
'Granted,
sometimes Cheryl gets it a tad wrong, some of the dresses she has worn
look a little cheap on her, but overall, I've been impressed with the
dresses her stylist has managed to pull in.
What a
difference! Speaking about Cheryl's style overhaul, fashion writer Simon
Glazin said: 'Cheryl has come a long way since the shiny Kappa
tracksuit days. She wouldn't be seen dead in one now. For her, it's all
about the super high-end designers now'
'She
is at her best when she's in a long, sweeping gown, one that
accentuates her waist, bust and delicate neck line. And she isn't afraid
of colour, which is refreshing.
'I
think my favourite of all her looks was the green Lanvin ruffle detail
dress. I thought it would have been reserved for a Hollywood A-lister,
not an ex-Girl Aloud!'.
Another
important member of Cheryl's glam squad is Paul Percival - one half of
hair styling power duo, Percy & Reed. Their client list includes
Sophie Dahl, Diane Kruger, Agyness Deyn, Anna Friel - and now Cheryl.
Paul,
who also tends to the tresses of Rita Ora and Mark Ronson for their VIP
appearances and magazine shoots, worked backstage with the singer every
weekend and was on hand between takes.
Only the best for Chez: Cheryl
Fernandez-Versini has called on Paul Percival, a fashion favourite and
celebrity hairdresser, to work his magic on her X Factor hair
His
signature clean, modern style has made him a backstage fashion week
favourite and Cheryl - who married husband Jean-Bernard this year - has
benefited.
Speaking
to FEMAIL about working with the pop icon, he said: 'I have worked with
Cheryl a few times over the years on different projects.
'We
both had big ideas about what we wanted to achieve this season. The
main thing was that we wanted to create lots of different looks that
were alternative, versatile and cool, rather than the hair being played
safe all of the time. It was a really collaborative effort.'
Cheryl,
who, according to Paul, is very much involved in the creative process,
has opted to channel French icons such as Brigitte Bardot some weeks and
more urban, playful looks on others.
+9
Get the look: Cheryl, who is heavily
involved in her final look, apparently wanted to channel the eternal
glamour of French actresses
He
says one of his favourites look this season was The Short and Sharp
look he and Cheryl recently created because, he says, it was 'completely
different to any of the other looks we have ever done before'.
'We
created what looked like a haircut rather than a hair style just by
braiding the hair which was quite a bold thing to do,' he explained. 'I
also really liked the Back to Bardot style we created a few weeks back. I
know Cheryl really liked the Judge’s Houses because of great texture..
Always
head of the game trend-wise, Paul and Cheryl championed the sleek
ponytail a lot on the show, which, he says, is one of the easiest hair
styles to recreate.
In terms of big news for 2015, he thinks what he calls ‘Up Cuts’ (similar to the ‘Short & Sharp’ look), will be big news.
'It’s just about creating shorter, sharper detailed silhouettes when putting the hair up,' he said.
Paul,
who says he aims to create products with personality and a comfortable
salon where egos are left at the door, added: ‘Working with Cheryl is
such a pleasure. She is never afraid to try new things and it’s a real
collaborative partnership.’
'My
favourite thing about working with Cheryl is that she has fantastic eye
to detail. Plus, Cheryl knows what she likes and what she doesn’t, but
she’s fearless when it comes to trying out new styles.'
Despite the show finishing, this isn't the end of Cheryl and Paul's creative relationship.
He
revealed: 'I‘m looking forward to seeing Cheryl’s new music video we
just shot. Percy & Reed are also in the process of producing some
very exciting new products but it’s a little too early to share yet!
There are some really exciting new looks and projects that I’m working
on for next year which you can stay up to date with on my Instagram -
@percyhair.'
Now and
then: Back on 2011's X Factor, right, Simon Cowell described Cheryl's
hair as 'the equivalent of five gallons of hair spray and then standing
in the middle of a hurricane'. She swiftly called in a new style squad
to give her today's look, left