As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, ELLE is launching a six-month long talent search to find the nation’s most style savvy shopgirls (or boys) – a kind of ‘fashion X Factor’.

Aspiring stylists must create a look from the high street and enter their work on ELLEuk.com.  The winner will get the chance to style a shoot for an issue of ELLE, an internship at the magazine and some career-breaking mentoring from the ELLE fashion team.

The competition closes on 4th May and the ELLE judging panel will then select 25 semi finalists, who will then complete a styling assignment.  The list will be cut to just 10 finalists and the five ELLE mentors (Marissa Bourke, Anne Marie Curtis, Stacey Duguid, Natalie Wansbrough-Jones and Carrie Gorman) with then take two finalists and lead them through the final stages.

The London final takes place in the first week of June, where the finalist’s intuitive sartorial skills will be put to the test with on-the-spot styling tasks, followed by a one-to-one interview with Editor-in-Chief, Lorraine Candy.  During then next few nerve-racking months, Lorraine Candy will select the most promising stylist and the winner will be announced in the October issue of ELLE.

British style owes a great deal to the high street, as the majority of us turn to these stores for seasonal on-trend pieces, affordable designer collaborations and wardrobe staples.

The quality, craftsmanship and originality of designer garments can’t be disputed, but the high street has recently come leaps and bounds in interpreting catwalk trends and investing in new designer talent.  Where else in the world would a high street store be one of the most talked-about shows at fashion week?

It will be interesting to see how the shop assistants make use of their non-designer resources and I reckon there could be some truly unique looks to be inspired by.

You can enter at elleuk.com/shopgirltostylist from Friday 5th March.

The ELLE Style Awards (newly sponsored by Next) have the reputation of being ‘the fashion Oscars’, but I reckon they’re the rebellious, bad gal cousin of the red carpet snooze-athons.  With not a floor length, chiffon Elie Saab dress in sight, the ELLE Style Awards are a fashion magpie’s dream and there’s always some naughty behaviour and gossip from the night  - last year courtesy of Mickey Rourke, who tried it on with Thandie Newton.

Last year’s awards saw Hollywood misfits Courtney Love and Mickey Rourke pick up Woman of the Year and Best Actor – a formidable and brave choice for ELLE, given their turbulent lives.  On the fashion side, Lara Bohinc, Rupert Sanderson, Peter Pilotto, Erdem and Christopher Kane all scooped prestigious awards, with Style Visionary going to Viktor & Rolf and Stephen Jones being recognised for his Outstanding Achievement.

This year, Naomi Campbell is being honoured with an Outstanding Contribution award for her 25th year in the fashion industry and for her role as Global Ambassador of the White Ribbon Alliance.

So, who is going to bag all of the prizes this year?  Any guesses?  I’m placing my bets on Georgia Jagger for the Model award, Carey Mulligan for Actress, Alexa Chung for Style Icon, Nicholas Kirkwood for Accessories Designer, Hannah Marshall for New Designer and Jonathan Saunders for British Designer.  If I get at least one designer right, I think I should treat myself to one of their pieces to celebrate!

Oh yes, and more ELLE-related news – they have just launched a new horoscopes application for the iPhone.  You can now get free daily astrological updates from ELLEuk.com’s resident astrologers, The Saturn Sisters.

As a horoscope sceptic, I’m hoping that ELLE will follow this with a fashion-based app, for when I finally get round to trading in my knackered old Blackberry for the phone of my dreams.

The ELLE Style Awards will take place on 22 February at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.