Style Wars: Tulisa V Kelly
We put the new X Factor judges through their fashion paces
ITV/SYCO/TALKBACK THAMESTulisa Contostavlos – Judges’ Houses
Having taken her protégées to Mykonos in Greece for the now-infamous ‘Judges’ Houses’ stage of the X Factor, Tulisa Contostavlos went all-out Grecian goddess with her wardrobe. The N-Dubz singer layered a sheer watercolour maxi dress over a white Seafolly swimsuit, accessorised with a dramatic tassel detail and vertiginous wedge heels.
X Factor – everything you need to know
ITV/SYCO/TALKBACK THAMESKelly Rowland – Judges’ Houses
It was a different story over in Miami, as fellow judge Kelly Rowland battled the heat in a hot orange mini dress and lashings of silver jewellery. And a swimming pool.
Winner: It’s Kelly Rowland’s simple style statement that has us hot under the collar.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos - In The Pink
Tulisa Contostavlos shows she can pull her weight when it comes to fashion, wearing this directional hot pink dress with its jagged collar and cute metallic clutch.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos - In The Pink
Kelly Rowland opted for a jewel pink Marchesa dress at the BET Awards. But there was a playful side to the dress too – the diagonal ruffle was a cute, fun and flirty touch!
Winner: We applaud Tulisa’s bravado but Kelly’s sophisticated style statement shows her red carpet experience.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos - LBD
Now Tulisa Contostavlos’ done something a little special here, adding a flash (or should that be swirl) of colour to this sculpted LBD. Shame she couldn’t find a daintier pair of heels though.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland - LBD
We love, love, love the green snakeskin swirl effect on this one-shouldered Versace dress but, then we look down. Kelly – what were you thinking? Those Giuseppe Zanotti wedges are amazing but not with this dress.
Winner: Kelly, but only because we’re ignoring what’s below her knees.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Metallic
She might have made a few fashion mistakes, but you can’t ever accuse Tulisa Contostavlos of being boring. Three years ago at the Jingle Bell Ball, she opted for this futuristic strapless dress which bulges in all the wrong places.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Metallic
Also in 2009, Kelly Rowland was wearing this shimmering silver dress which skimmed her hips perfectly. Her neon pink pedi creates a fashionable clash of colours.
Winner: Kelly gets our vote in the metallic round
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Jumpsuits
Upping the glam, Tulisa Contostavlos looked perfectly polished as she strutted the red carpet at the 2010 Royal Variety Awards in this silk jumpsuit. Chunky jewellery and old-school Hollywood glamour seemed to be the order of the day.
X Factor – everything you need to know
WennKelly Rowland – Jumpsuits
Kelly makes a brave choice with this velvet jumpsuit – but is it one that pays off? For us, not quite. The pockets distort the shape and there’s a bit too much ruching around the calves. She would have done better opting for a safe pair of black heels, instead of trying to be different in hot pink. Wearing head-to-toe velvet is enough of a statement already!
Winner: Hooray! Tulisa gets her first point for her example of grown-up glamour.
X Factor – everything you need to know
WennTulisa Contostavlos – Denim Shorts
We’re loving the 80s vibe Tulisa channelled at this year’s Wireless Festival. Dungaree shorts and a pink Fedora but the half-calf biker boots should have been swapped for wellies.
X Factor – everything you need to know
WennKelly Rowland – Denim Shorts
Demin shorts, the American way. Kelly might have been in London but these mini cut-offs are full-on Stateside, as is her tartan shirt and oversized sunnies.
Winner: While Tulisa looks all set for a festival, Kelly’s ensemble is just that bit chicer.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – White Out
Move over Marilyn! Tulisa rocks an asymmetric two-piece at the X Factor Manchester auditions in 2011. Note how she contrasts her outfit with a pair of blood red heels and matching lippy.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesKelly Rowland – White Out
Performing on Tonight With Jay Leno, Kelly Rowland wears this sexy off-white trouser suit which exposes her bra. But in a good way.
Winner: Tulisa’s look isn’t bad but she just doesn’t look comfortable in it. Kelly, on the other hand, seems to embrace her clothes – and it looks sexy.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Print
Wow! Just when we thought Kelly had it in the bag, Tulisa comes and pulls this amazing Alexander McQueen tribal print dress out of the bag. And she adds a gorgeous hairstyle to accompany it.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Print
But Kelly isn’t giving up easily. Check out this daring Versace two-piece, which she wore to the X Factor London auditions with a metallic cuff and black heels.
Winner: Nice try Kelly but Tulisa wins hands-down this time. More of this please!
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – LWD
Showing that she can get her legs out like the best of them, Tulisa goes for an uber mini hemline at T4 On The Beach in 2010. This rare nod to Tulisa’s girly fashion foray is finished off with a bow and a pair of peep toes.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesKelly Rowland – LWD
But what’s this that Kelly has up her sleeve? A crushed lace number and striking metallic belt for some serious waist-cinching action. Ankle boot wedges again but this time they look great!
Winner: Sorry Tulisa, Kelly does it yet again for the glamorous way she wears her white.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Polkadots
On the X Factor trail in Birmingham, Tulisa looks picture perfect in this lip-print dotty jumpsuit from DKNY. We love the platform red heels and the mis-matched popping magenta lippy. Bravo.
X Factor – everything you need to know
WennKelly Rowland - Polkadots
An off-duty Kelly rocks a playful polka dot shirt with tailored shorts and heels. We wish she’d tucked the blouse in to give the look a more polished finish.
Winner: Tulisa takes this round by a mile.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – Biker Babe
Tulisa dresses down a fierce body-con mini dress with a distressed leather biker. We always applaud a fashion-forward star, but those structured shoulders are a little too Star Trek.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Biker Babe
Kelly hits the red carpet in super-tight black pants and knee-length laced boots, topping off her look with a fitted grey biker. This ensemble is too studied cool – isn’t the biker look all about laid-back style?
Winner: Neither look is bang on the money (two reluctant biker babes) – but Tulisa is closer to the mark and takes the point.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Sports Star
Tulisa looks like a real-life sports star here, after all, sport isn’t about fashion, is it?
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Sports Star
...Maybe it is. Yes, we wouldn’t recommend Kelly Rowland walk the red carpet in this ensemble, but she looks undeniably cool.
Winner: Kelly takes this point. We reckon American sports are more fashion-friendly.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – Casual Cool
Off-duty Tulisa likes to keep things super-comfortable. Jeans and trainers are her go-to outfit for a day off, with a statement jumper and bag jazzing things up.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Casual Cool
All-American sweetheart Kelly opts for a more put-together off-duty look, with matching accessories and a cute plaid blouse.
Winner: Kelly’s preppy look gets the point this time.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – Off The Shoulder
Yes – everyone put their hands in the air for Tulisa because she looks great in this sparkling one-the-shoulder number. The ultimate disco outfit for sure.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Off The Shoulder
Kelly decides on the grown-up version of this trend with a floor-sweeping maxi in skin-tight black. But is Kelly’s look enough to compete with Tulisa’s sparkle.
Winner: Kelly looks great but, though sophisticated, her outfit doesn’t turn heads the same way as Tulisa’s.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Bigpicturesphoto.comTulisa Contostavlos – Body-Con
Man, where did Tulisa’s curves come from? This taupe Hervé Leger body-con dress has something of the Cheryl Cole about it. Is Tulisa set to follow in her predecessor’s fashion footsteps?
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Body-Con
Kelly combined her brights with her body-con, donning this electric blue dress, tangerine and purple heels and neon pink dress at a Wimbledon party in 2009. Does it really have the X Factor though?
Winner: We’re not saying Kelly doesn’t look good (she really does), but Tulisa just blew us away here. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come!
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosTulisa Contostavlos – Embellishment
Looking like she’s ready to party, Tulisa Contostavlos celebrates her Mobo Award in this gold tulle dress, decorated with a dramatic swirl around her cleavage.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Embellishment
Kelly made an unusually girly choice, back in 2008, when she donned this Grecian ruffled dress, complete with sapphire and gold sequins around the sweeping neckline.
Winner: Kelly should opt for pretty feminine outfits more often. It’s a look that suits her and she gets our vote, yet again.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa Contostavlos – Blazer
There’s something terribly mumsy about Tulisa’s outfit: if you’re going to wear a floral-print jumpsuit, don’t combine it with a blazer and a sensible handbag. A leather or denim jacket would have been a much better choice.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKelly Rowland – Blazer
Talk about strike a pose! Kelly looks smokin’ hot and all she’s wearing in a pair of jeans and a white jacket. You can’t say Kelly doesn’t have the confidence to carry off a look!
Winner: No prizes for guessing the former Destiny’s Child star gets our vote!
<brOVERALL WINNERKelly Rowland wins 11 to six but don't think the fashion battle's over. It's only just begun!
X Factor – everything you need to know
