Hall of Shame

The acerbic wit of Mr Blackwell has struck again as his much-loved, 46 year-old New Year Worst Dressed list hit the newsstands on Wednesday morning. Always a guilty a pleasure - as long as you are not on the receiving end of his vitriolic ranting - the famous fashion critic and former fashion designer started off his list by lashing out at the divas of bad taste, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, calling them "two peas in an over-exposed pod! Style-free and fashion deprived." Next was Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who received a royal thrashing. Coining the embarrassing title "The Duchess of Dowdy", Blackwell calls her a "royal wreck". Hot on her heels is out-of-control starlet Lindsay Lohan, who has gone "from adorable to deplorable". Songstress Christina Aguilera is accused of being "all crass and no class", while he refers toMariah Carey as "Mariah the fashion pariah". Also on the list are Paula Abdul, Tori Sprelling, Sharon Stone and even Meryl Streep. Of the actress he says: "Her beauty of a career cannot be denied, but that beast of a wardrobe is pure mother of the bride."

Two women to have redeemed themselves in Mr Blackwell's sharp eyes are Angelina Jolie and Kate Winslet. Others to have received a precious accolade are Helen Mirren, Barbara Streisand, Beyoncé, Nancy Pelosi, Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Heidi Klum, Katie Holmes and Marcia Cross.

Mr Blackwell has been aiming his fashion guns at the wealthy and famous since 1960. His most cutting remarks are generally saved for those with the financial means to look better. Apparently money and bad taste make an unforgivable combination. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears have received most of the battering in the past few years, and we must agree with him. These girls can afford proper stylists, can't they?