Jessica Alba: She Wears It Well

In a fun Fendi jacket, khaki trousers and a ladylike bag, actress Jessica Alba masters her book launch in style.

Jessica Alba in a Fendi jacket and trousers, Manolo Blahnik shoes a Salvatore Ferragamo at her book launch in New York Photo: Rex

I know it looks easy, this gig. Casting around for someone who's put her clothes on the right way. How hard can it be? Well, I tell you, folks, some weeks the women of the world just don't make the effort.

Or they do and it's too flouncy or too slutty or too monochrome stripy (bored already!) or too head-to-toe designer at said designer's party.

As a woman who lives, works and gets dressed in the real world all I'm looking for is an inspiring woman who looks like she does the same. That's all. But some days, and I'll say it again, it's hard.

However, this week, in amongst the style detritus of Geri Halliwell's knee-high boots and some particularly painful red carpet numbers I found a little glint of loveliness.

Spice Girls Geri Halliwell's DIY dress fails to impress

If they all made it as the "Spice Girls", this doesn't mean all will make it in fashion like Victoria Beckham did...

When many heard that Geri Halliwell was designing a line for Next, we feared for the future of fashion. When we saw the results (Union Jack sequin mini-dress anyone?), it was even worse than we could have imagined. Still, it seems Geri may not be done with the fashion world yet.

During the photocall to launch Viva Forever, the long-awaited Spice Girls musical, Geri revealed to the press that she had made her outfit herself, with help from Emma Bunton with the hem.

Geri it seems is stuck in a time-warp where it's perpetually the 1997 Brit Awards. In case there's anyone out there who hasn't heard the story a 1000 times, Geri famously designed her Union Jack mini-dress (yes, like the one she recently designed for Next), herself the night before the awards, and got her sister Karen to stitch a tea towel onto the front of the dress she was originally supposed to wear. If we're playing Sesame Street, the word of the day would be "FAILURE".

The Spice Girls line up at the press conference for Viva Forever!, the new Spice Girls musical. Photo: PA

In the intervening years however, the other four have grown up and moved on: Baby, who came dressed as Kate Middleton's engagement portrait, has her radio show; Scary, wearing Lanvin (let down by tattoo) is big in Australia where she is a judge on Dancing With The Stars and the X Factor when she's not mingling in Hollywood and recording a new album; Sporty, wearing a spot-on (excuse the pun) Acne dress, is a top West End star; and Posh, in one of her own designs and Tom Ford boots, is an award-winning fashion designer.

On a second note, when on earth is Posh planning to change her pause? Perhaps to include a tiny little *SMILE: :)