Style perving

It's January. It's bleak. It's pouring with rain. And I haven't worn any sequins since 2010 (well, technically not since the very early hours of 2011).

I hate January. I've been switching between pyjamas, my home-made 'slanket', my gym kit (yes, I've started the wedding transformation) and some duller than dull 'outdoor' clothes for the last 10 days. I'm having some serious sequin and glamour withdrawal...

So I've taken to perving on those that have a more exciting January than me. Celebrities.

Rachel McAdams in Michael Kors

Here's a zingy maxi to inject some life in to the miserable greyness of January.

Taylor Swift in J. Mendel

Taylor doesn't normally hit my radar, but I'm totally loving the elegance of this frock.

Nicole Ritchie in Pucci

OMG - Nicole has ventured out in her slanket! Genius! But seriously, I love the deep velvety texture of this dress. Very on-trend.

Selena Gomez in Irina Shabayeva

(nope, I haven't got a clue who she is!)

I love this totally glam number. It's so summery and refreshing and I can totally picture myself by the pool in Marrakech right now. Eat that, January blues.

 Camilla Belle in Alberta Ferretti

A shiny ruffled number - well, it's sexier than anything I've put on in the last few days!

Taylor Swift (again!) in Mark and James

(I didn't realise I liked her style!!)

Short, black, sparkly... What's not to love?

Kristen Stewart in Reem Acra

Oh dear sequins, how I have missed you...

Ok. That's enough. I can't take any more, I need to get out of my slouchy clothes. Sparkle and glamour, here I come. Costcutter won't know what's hit it!

Dramarama

Ooh, isn't it a treat when the stars pull out all the stops to out-dress each other! Well, this year at Cannes that appears to be precisely the case. 'The bigger the better' seems to be the moto of the actresses (and their stylists)...which is pretty much always the case for Miss Magpie, who just can't get enough of this OTT display of net, tulle and lace.

Seeing as everyone is going for the more is more look, I thought a little game of top trumps could be fun:

 Aishwarya Rai in Elie Saab

Dress: 7/10 (v. pretty)

Hair & Make-up: 5/10 (little bit drag)

Accessories: 5/10 (dull)

Poise (ease in front of the camera): 4/10 (too stiff)

BTB (bigger the better) factor: 6/10 (fairly big)

X-factor: 6/10 (she sure does shine)

RANKING: AVERAGE

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen

Dress: 8/10 (bonus point for wearing McQueen)

Hair & Make-up: 5/10 (bit too natural)

Accessories: 6/10 (gorge cuff)

Poise: 9/10 (oh-so natural)

BTB factor: 7/10 (love the white net)

X-factor: 7/10 (she's a star!)

RANKING: MOVING ON UP

Therefore Cate out-trumps Aishwarya.

Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa

Dress: 9/10 (like a fairy princess)

Hair & Make-up: 7/10 (there's a bit too much shine)

Accessories: 6/10 (needs something else)

Poise: 8/10 (stiff arm)

BTB factor: 9/10 (doesn't get much bigger)

X-factor: 9/10 (she's got it)

RANKING: HOT, HOT, HOT

Therefore Kate out trumps Cate.

 Eva Longoria Parker in Pucci

Dress: 10/10 (Utterly divine)

Hair & Make-up: 8/10 (Beautiful)

Accessories: 8/10 (Look at that rock on her finger!)

Poise: 9/10 (this aint her first time in front of the camera)

BTB factor: 10/10 (Dramarama)

X-Factor: 10/10 (buckets)

RANKING: TOP TRUMP

 I wonder what they'll pull out of the bag next...