There is no doubt in my mind of who won the style competition on Saturday night.  Kelly Rowland shone, by far, above Tulisa Contostavlos.  Both women are stunningly beautiful but Tulisa rang a resounding bell of disappointment on the night as Kelly stepped out in a fabulous black, green and gold Atelier Versace dress (and a big smile!) and killer heels.  Whilst Tulisa wore a somewhat unnoticeable nude Hervé Léger dress.

Sunday night followed in suit with Kelly wearing a gorgeous floor-sweeping Roberto Cavalli gown.  I love Kelly Rowland!

Hilary Alexander is my idol and, not withstanding Anna Wintour, is the type of person I wish to be some day.  Her columns have been my Bible; a place to go when I need to smile and remember what I am working towards.  

‘Twice-crowned British Fashion Journalist of the year, Hilary also received the 2011 CFDA Eugenia Sheppard Media Award.  After 26 years as the Telegraph’s fashion director, she retired earlier this year and is now writing a weekly column and providing sartorial solutions with her ‘Ask Hilary’ makeovers.’  Telegraph.

Hilary Alexander’s most recent column, named Ask Hilary: where can I find shoes by the Duchess of Cambridge? is current and so, by extension, useful to women of a similar age.  Kate Middleton has a style that, dispite negative feedback, everyone wants.  She is slim and beautiful with a life that many women envy, on initial glance at least. 

Here is the column, in full, with Hilary’s educated, simple yet detailed and sophisticated answer:

Dear Hilary,
I would dearly like a pair of nude, heeled shoes like those worn by the Duchess of Cambridge and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The problem is, I am 5′10″ tall, and have a very deformed left foot, the result of having two toes amputated through diabetes. I can wear fashion shoes as long as they are a EE or preferably a EEE fitting, and they must be leather, not composition uppers. I have searched many websites for a simple pair of nude leather court shoes with either a kitten heel or one no higher than 2.5″ in an EE or EEE fitting, and all I can find is “old lady” shoes. Can you help me track down what I want, please?
Jill, London

Dear Jill,
There is not a lot of choice, I agree. But I have tracked down some “similar” styles which, hopefully, will tick the right boxes.

They are not exactly nude, but extremely pale, and in either an EE or EEE fitting. Van Dal vandalshoes.com ; has a style called ‘ Nicolet ‘, in beige, which has a 50mm heel height, and costs £75, and ” Winona “, with a 45mm heel height, at £65. Both are in sizes 3-8, including half sizes.

Marisota marisota.co.uk , has a pale cream peep-toe,in an EEE fitting, by Viva La Diva , sizes 4-9, although with a price-tag of £20, I suspect the uppers may not be leather.

Alternatively,if your budget can stretch, Upper Street, which has a studio in Highbury, North London, upperstreet.com make bespoke shoes, and a pair of classic nude leather courts, as you describe, in an EEE width, would cost £230 (non-platform), and £265 (with platform).

I understand where Victoria is coming from with regards to Cheryl Cole ‘perching’ on her ground.  This is, of course, presuming I believe what the Daily Mail writes about the two women.  Victoria has worked very hard to earn respect in the fashion industry and Cheryl walks in in her new shoes and says ‘I want to be the new Victoria Beckham’ as if the original one is old and out. 

Perhaps rather than her suggesting that Vistoria is out of the times or ‘old’ that she should grow-up a bit.  I can’t help but think Ms Cole is not in it for the love of it, like Posh, but rather she is obsessed with having it all. 

Having said that, I do like Cheryl’s youthful style and can’t wait to see the collection. 

Victoria is timeless; Cheryl is current.

Victoria also, whilst she is my subject, seems to have lost the nack of seeing what constitutes ‘affordable clothing’.  Her new ‘affordable’ clothing range is out of my price range and I earn more money than most of my friends.  With respect, she may want to look at an affordable range Part Deux.