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'Elvis' scores in beautiful people game ON THE pitch he's a man's man, a rugged alpha male with a mop of hair and ever-present stubble. But Steven 'Elvis' Pressley, the captain of Hearts, is in touching distance of gaining a whole new reputation - as the most stylish man in Scotland. The no-nonsense defender is one of five nominees for the title won for the first time last year by hard-man actor Robert Carlyle. Scotland on Sunday has been given an exclusive preview of the nominations for the Scottish Style Awards, which will be announced tomorrow. In the female category, pop veteran Annie Lennox will compete against jazz singer Nikki King and actress Dawn Steele, among others, for the accolade. Meanwhile, the Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Style award will pitch hotelier Ken McCulloch, the founder of the trend-setting Malmaison chain, against leading architects, designers and concert promoters who have helped put Scotland on the 21st-century international style map. The awards, sponsored by Glasgow City Council's Scotland with Style campaign, champagne producer Moët & Chandon and Xfm Scotland, aim to showcase the country's best design talent. The eight other categories are most stylish hotel, bar, restaurant, venue, High Street retailer, designer retailer, band or musician and this year's tastemaker. One of the most fiercely competitive categories will be the most stylish male, in which nominees must be Scots-born individuals who display an "inspirational and iconic personal style". Pressley, the central defender who led Hearts to cup final success last season as well as second place in the Scottish Premier League, is football's sole representative and - David Beckham watch out - is lauded for his off-pitch style, "typified by adventurous runway fashion looks from leading designers". He is up against Dario Franchitti, the Armani-wearing F1 driver of Italian stock, whose background should give him the edge in the style stakes. Both sportsmen, however, face competition from Dr Who star David Tennant, praised for his "modern elegance" and Prada gear, and food critic AA Gill, described as a "modern dandy, typified by Savile Row suits in bold colour choices". Making up the five nominees is artist Jim Lambie, a conceptual artist from Glasgow who was last year nominated for the Turner Prize. His personal style involves "urban cool, typified by leather hoodies, slouchy jeans and customised trainers". Another artist, Greenock-born Alison Watt, whose highly collectible paintings are now selling for in excess of £40,000, is among the favourites for the most stylish female category. Now occupying the prestigious post of associate artist at the National Gallery in London, Watt is praised for her "couture chic of neat pencil skirts and wide, folded-over necklines". As well as musician and anti-poverty campaigner Lennox, whose style is defined as "softened-up androgyny", Watt faces competition from jazz singer Nikki King's "left-bank chic", and Monarch of the Glen actress Dawn Steele's "boho glamour, filmy fabrics, high heels and bold jewellery". Making up the female list is presenter Shantha Roberts, whose "post-modern festival grunge" was a highlight of this year's T in the Park pop festival coverage. Image makers in Scotland said the male and female lists represented a good spread of the country's talent. Martin Hunt, who runs the Tartan Silk public relations consultancy, said: "Style means you have some sort of aura about you and I would put David Tennant forward as the favourite in his category. He's a very stylish man while remaining accessible to the public." Robyn Glynne Percy, who runs the Profile Plus agency, said Annie Lennox was the stand-out in the female list. "It's easy to be stylish for a short period, but harder to create your own style that endures for many years," she said. The judges include leading figures from the worlds of the arts, fashion, music and cuisine, including artist Tracey Emin, Michelin-starred chef Andrew Fairlie and clothes designer Jonathan Saunders, and the results will be announced next month in a ceremony at the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. One of the most contentious categories will be Scotland's most stylish band or musician, won last year by El Presidente. Established rockers Franz Ferdinand will be up against newcomers The Fratellis and Mother and the Addicts. Two individual artists are nominated: Linus Love and KT Tunstall, the Fife singer who has won a series of industry awards over the last year. Her personal style is described as "camper van boho, expressed
in narrow hipster jeans teamed with pretty, vintage tops". MOST STYLISH HOTEL Boath House, Nairn; Dakota Eurocentral, Motherwell; Rocpool Reserve, Inverness; Smith's, Gretna Green; Tigerlily, Edinburgh; Winner 2005: Glasshouse, Edinburgh MOST STYLISH BAR Chinaski's, Glasgow; Hudson's Bar, Edinburgh; Number 25, Dundee; One Up, Glasgow; Scotts, Troon; Winner 2005: Firefly, Edinburgh MOST STYLISH RESTAURANT Abstract, Inverness; Catch 22, Glasgow; Michael Caines at Abode, Glasgow; Santini, Edinburgh; Winner 2005: Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles MOST STYLISH VENUE (new category) The Apres Club, Aberdeen; City Halls and Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow; Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh; Perth Concert Hall, Perth; 29, Glasgow MOST STYLISH HIGH STREET RETAILER (new category) Office; River Island; Topshop; Urban Outfitters; USC MOST STYLISH DESIGNER RETAILER Boudiche, Edinburgh; Commes des Garcons, Glasgow; Cruise, Edinburgh and Glasgow; Fifi & Ally, Glasgow; Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh; Winner 2005: Cruise MOST STYLISH BAND OR MUSICIAN Franz Ferdinand; The Fratellis; KT Tunstall; Linus Love; Mother and the Addicts; Winner 2005: El Presidente MOST STYLISH SCOTSMAN AA Gill; Dario Franchitti; David Tennant; Jim Lambie; Steven Pressley; Winner 2005: Robert Carlyle MOST STYLISH SCOTSWOMAN Annie Lennox; Shantha Roberts; Nikki King; Alison Watt; Dawn Steele; Winner 2005: Lauren Tempany SCOTTISH TASTEMAKER OF THE YEAR (new category) Breastfed Records; International Magazines, publisher of Homes and Interiors Scotland; Malcolm Edwards (hairdresser); Paddy Meehan (fashion entrepreneur); RM-Star (design agency) OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SCOTTISH STYLE DF Concerts (music promoters); Graven Images (designers); Ken McCulloch (hotelier); Modern Institute (Glasgow gallery); Nord (architects and designers); Winner 2005: Timorous Beasties From here |