Moss named most stylish British woman of all time

Model Kate Moss can start a fashion trend just by walking down the street. File picture / Reuters

From mukluk Eskimo boots to vintage waistcoats, Kate Moss can start a fashion trend just by walking down the street.

As if confirmation were needed that the model's iconic status has not been destroyed by last year's public cocaine scandal, and the following loss of lucrative modelling contracts with Chanel and Burberry last year, she has now been voted the most stylish British woman of all time.

The 32-year-old model from Croydon, who recently ended a relationship with Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty after she spent a month in a rehabilitation clinic in Arizona, came top of a poll of more than 5,000 readers of Grazia magazine, followed by actresses Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley.

Last month, Moss returned to Britain to be questioned by police over pictures printed in a newspaper of her allegedly taking cocaine.

She was not arrested or cautioned.

At a height pushing 5ft 7ins, Moss is shorter than many models, but from the age of 14 she became one of Britain's most photographed women.

She was photographed by Corinne Day in 1990 for Face magazine, images that defined the waif-look of the Nineties.

Day, whose exhibition of her images of the teenage Moss opens at the end of this month at Gimpel Fils gallery in London, has said of the teenage model: "I loved her attitude. She was really just this cocky kid from Croydon."

She went on to be the face of Calvin Klein's Obsession, and has worked with the most well-known photographers in the fashion industry today, such as Mario Testino, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Klein, and Juergen Teller.

Described by former Editor of Cosmopolitan, Marcel D'Argy Smith, as "a lousy role model but a great model", her chameleon-looks have been loved by photographers ever-since.

The late Princess Diana was fourth in poll, followed by fashion designer Stella McCartney and the 1960s model Twiggy.

The television presenter Cat Deeley is seen as the seventh most stylish woman, with Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Taylor and Rachel Weisz also appearing in the top 10.

Grazia editor Jane Bruton said: "Kate Moss may have tripped up recently but with 17 per cent of readers voting her as Britain's most stylish woman, she never seems to put a fashion foot wrong. It's great to see the varied interpretations of what being stylish is with such a wide range of women making it into the poll."

While many of the top 50 stylish women were predictable, 1980s icon Joan Collins was voted the 41st most stylish woman, and Alison Goldfrapp, famous not only for her electro-music but also her extravagant stage outfits, is 44th.

The list also pays homage to style icons of the past.

The 1950s icon Jean Simmons, Sixties "It" girl Joanna Lumley, the model who made the mini-skirt famous, Jean Shrimpton, and Marianne Faithfull all take their place.

Meanwhile, Rachel Weisz, who won the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for her role in Constant Gardener, and Matt Dillon were named most stylish actress and actor, at the Elle Style Awards last night.

Erin O'Connor was named the most stylish model.

The South African-born actress Charlize Theron, age 30, was named Woman of the Year at the awards.

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld received an award his outstanding contribution to fashion while the international designer award was won by Roland Mouret.

- INDEPENDENT