Now that's what I call style

Is there a deeper meaning, is this the definition that we can only see?

After thinking about the word ‘style, I realised that it’s a combination between what you wear, the way you wear it and you as a person.

For me only half of the meaning is about clothing; the exterior. The second half is about the person. It’s about the how they carry themselves. Are they confident or shy, poised or clumsy? This is the interior.

For example, when you see a beautiful Amazonian model wearing a divine silk-chiffon dress that cinches in her enviable waist, and skyscraper heels that show off legs that rival a giraffe’s, you instantly think she has style.

Half of this is the beautiful exterior; the remaining half is the way she holds her head up high and the way she glides across the room. Her shoulders are pushed back and she smiles showing a perfect set of white teeth. For her this is her definition of style.

However, my English teacher’s definition of style is a completely different story. The exterior is what I can only describe as “dull and brown” (he wears a lot of brown, I haven’t a clue why). His clothing is plain, simple and a large quantity of it is corduroy. His style may not be as glamorous as the model’s but it’s still a style.

He is very laid back and very intelligent. He takes large strides up and down the classroom with his shoulders slightly hunched over, looking at his students with an eager smile waiting for us to join in with the discussion.

Both of the examples have completely different styles. Now I’m not saying that my English teacher’s wardrobe will feature in London Fashion Week and Anna Wintour will call it “a marvellous success”, but his intelligence defines his style more than his clothes, whereas the beautiful model’s style is defined more by her clothing.

Everyone has style; it’s just whether they choose it to be defined by fashion or their characteristics or something entirely different.

For me, fashion is the base of my style. It is the reinforcement of the way I feel at that moment. By getting the reinforcement right everything else will just fit into place.

Wearing something that you feel comfortable, confident and charming in will automatically give you an energy boost. When I’m wearing my cropped blazer, floating jersey dress and my black patent high heels, I instantly feel confident and more poised. My back straightens, I take longer strides, my walk turns into more of a strut and I feel that bit sexier.

For some people fashion isn’t their base. It could be the most insignificant part of their style. Their base could be their intellect, career, beauty; it is different for everyone, but your base always influences your clothing.

For us normal people we have a choice of which part of style defines us.

For celebrities, fashion will always define their style. The world only sees photographs, the only thing you can see from a photograph is the clothes they have on their back. We can’t see their personality or the way they carry themselves; the only thing we see is their exterior.

If we see something awful or wonderful, we could never say whether they have style or not because we haven’t seen the full package.

Best dressed lists and worst dressed lists are what make a celebrity’s style. This will never change unless we see the personality behind the clothes.

This is why Cheryl Cole has been top of the best dressed lists numerous times. Not only have we seen her fabulous clothing and luscious hair that is incapable of going flat but we have seen her cry, laugh and get in a strop with Simon Cowell on live television.

We can say she has 100 per cent style because we have seen confidence and charm as well as the clothing. To us she is human, not just a two-dimensional photograph.

I am sure you have all gathered, style is more than what meets the eye. It can be whatever makes you feel significant.

It doesn’t matter whether fashion is your priority; you are the creator and no one can tell a creator if they are right or wrong.

Style is not to be judged but to be looked at in awe and to be celebrated.

Style is more than what we see on the runway in Paris or in glossy magazines; it’s deeper and much more powerful.

Only you can determine what your style is. I think style is indefinable – forget what the dictionary says, the only person that can define style is you.

By Hannah Pearce, 18

Curvy-licious, surely?
Do you like girls with curves? Ask that to any male and the majority will answer yes. The simple reason is because they are real.

That’s the image I want to get across by modelling myself. I have always been interested in modelling since I can remember.

Now being 17, I understand more about the media which is out there. They are putting pressure on young girls out there to become size zero, which I want to change.

If I can become a positive model, with the idea of ‘girls with curves’ then I can show you the impact one person can have on the media. I have curves myself and I’m proud of them. I’m a real girl. It’s simple.

I want to become the face of Swindon. I want get my face out there. Remember... nothing is impossible.

By Jodie Cahill, 17, New College