She's fast becoming our favourite Girl Aloud, especially in the style stakes.

Nicola Roberts dazzled in this red dress by Vivienne Westwood that draped elegantly over her slender frame with an attractive cowl neck.

The long pencil skirt kept it looking demure and ladylike, despite the figure hugging cut.

Would it look equally flattering on our own, size 12-14 model?

Although the dress still draped the neckline didn't hang as well and the dress pulled across the hips while looking strangely baggy around the middle and arms.

Red hot: Nicola Roberts dazzled in a Sparkle Dress by Vivienne Westwood

But it wasn't a complete disaster - the colour looked great. It just didn't live up to the £300 price tag.

A cheaper and more stylish alternative in the same rich red from M&S comes in at just £35 and while it's not so party-ish, our model looks slimmer, taller and sexier in it.

And that can't be a bad thing.

• Red sparkle dress, £300, Vivienne Westwood: 0207 352 6551
• Red shift, £35, www.marksandspencer.com
  

Stylish: The red sparkle dress, £300, didn't hang as well on our model. The red shift, £35, M&S, was far more slimming