Glamour is defined as being “fascination, charisma, beauty, or sexual attraction”. All of which sound like a pretty good way to be described, particularly in relation to your physical appearance.

So getting named one of Vogue’s most glamorous women has got to be a feather in your cap (feather’s in caps? This is going to be a great look for fall!). Vogue UK’s December issue has picked fifty stylish women for the Definitive List of Today’s Glamorous Women.

Included is the Queen of England, who I have to admit is definitely always looking fabulous, and it isn’t part of her job description. All she had to do was be born into the appropriate family, no style required. Not bad for someone no less than 81 years of age! Helen Mirren, also included on the list, said of her costumes for her role in The Queen: “Here were tweed skirts and sensible brown shoes, Hermès and Barbour,” she wrote of the creations of designer, Consolata Boyle. “I thought I’d never be able to understand this woman.”. Of course, since the death of Diana (the time period portrayed in the film) Her Majesty has had something of a style makeover.

Looking good is part of the job for another lady on the list, Kate Moss, and I wonder if she deserves to be on the list? Kate’s had a bad style year, mostly because of her favourite accessory Pete Doherty. Still, not many people could look cute covered in glastonbury mud, but Kate did pull that look off.

Here’s the full list of Today’s Glam Women:

Dame Helen Mirren; Claudia Schiffer; Jemima Khan; Sophie Dahl; Natalie Massenet; Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe; Sadie Coles; Vanessa Redgrave; Rosamund Pike; Poppy and Chloe Delevingne; Zadie Smith; Zaha Hadid; Lady Isabella Cawdor; Daisy Lowe; Susanna Chancellor; Coco Rocha; Rebekah Wade; Tamara Mellon; Stella Tennant; the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire; Daphne Guinness; Natalia Vodianova; Sam Taylor-Wood; Mary Charteris; Luella Bartley; Charlotte Rampling; Plum Sykes; Lady Antonia Fraser; Naomi Campbell; Stella McCartney; Polly Samson; Ruth Rogers; Princess Rosario Saxe-Coburg; Dame Vivien Duffield; Gael Boglione; Phoebe Philo; Olivia Wilde; Lily Donaldson; Susanne Kapoor; Charlotte Stockdale; Sabrina Guinness; Lady Helen Taylor; Jasmine Guinness; Sheherazade Goldsmith; Honor Fraser; Charlotte Casiraghi; Andrea and Alice Dellal; Marina Palma; Kate Moss; Sally Albemarle; Lady Amanda Harlech; the Queen; Alice Temperley; Caroline Michel; Sophia Hesketh

Times Online

Some of these people I’ve never heard of, but I’m kind of glad. Anyone can shove a picture of Charlize Theron at the Oscars, impeccably groomed for many hours beforehand, and tell us she looks fabulous. It takes a real style queen to recognize that the Queen is not only well presented, but also fascinating and charismatic. Maybe that’s why Anna Wintour, Queen of the dull haircut and sour expression, is allowed to decide what’s stylish.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Helen Mirren is shown at the National Movie Awards on 9/28/07. Claudia Schiffer is shown at the Stardust London premiere on 10/3/07. Vanessa Redgrave is shown at a photocall for White Countess on 2/8/06. Queen Elizabeth is shown at Epsom Downs Racetrack on 6/2/07. Sophie Dahl is shown at the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix premiere on 7/3/07 and at The Golden Age Of Couture VIP Gala on 9/18/07. Kate Moss is shown with James Brown (not that one) at the James Brown London Haircare Range launch at 10/10/07. She does look rather glamorous there, I love that pantsuit! Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.

Valentino celebrated his 45th anniversary as a top designer with a star-studded three day affair in Rome this weekend to the tune of over $10 million. Celebrities including Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, Liz Hurley, Eva Mendes, Claudia Schiffer, Joan Collins, Rupert Everett, and Guan Yin attended a fashion show, exhibition, dinner, and gala ball in honor of the famed designer.

The bash kicked off on Friday with a gala dinner in the 2nd century Temple of Venus in the shadow of the Colosseum.

Valentino, 75, spent a reported £135,000 restoring the ancient monument built by the Emperor Hadrian and flew in royal florist Rob Van Helden from London to bedeck columns with garlands of flowers.

He also launched an exhibition of his creations in the city’s Ara Pacis museum with examples of his coveted designs showcased behind bulletproof glass.

Visitors were greeted by a giant red glass cube encasing one of his earlier dresses, then led along a walkway featuring 300 of his designs in red, black and white on mannequins.

The collection included sequined and ruffled gowns worn by the likes of Audrey Hepburn after Valentino opened his first boutique in Rome in the 1960s.

On Saturday a 1,000-strong audience watched him unveil his latest collection of 61 outfits in the medieval Santo Spirito in Sassia church near the Vatican.

The opulent bash continued with a lavish party in the grounds of historic Villa Borghese and the launch of his new perfume, Rock’n'Rose Couture.

[From The Daily Mail]

While the 74 year-old Valentino has not mentioned that he’s retiring, his fashion house was taken over by a private equity group in May, with the handover to be finished sometime this summer. His partner said that everything would continue as usual under the new owners, but the equity group that has acquired the firm is known for cost-cutting and are expected to reign in Valentino’s excessive spending. At least he’ll always have Rome.

Thanks to PRPhotos for these pictures.