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With her new 'darker' and more mature third album, Pictures, riding high in the charts, former Brit 'fame' school pupil and AOL Artist of the Month, Katie Melua, is cementing her reputation as one of the UK's foremost singer/songwriters.

This girl sure has the love-her-or-hate-her Marmite effect going on - she's schmaltzy, super-safe and MOR bland to some; a sultry, smoky blues and jazz sensation to others. Well-behaved role-model material, Katie appeals to grannies and teens in equal measure but she does have her crazy moments.

At odds with this staid image, she's also a thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie with a penchant for sky-diving and bungee jumps; has performed 303 metres under the North Sea; and has even experienced her fair share of tabloid controversy.

Despite all this, Miss Melua shuns the high-octane celeb party circuit and her formative years in a one-room apartment in Soviet-era Georgia have left her with frugal tastes - you'd be hard-pressed to catch her all-blinged-out in Gucci or Valentino at her rare red carpet appearances.

Instead, Katie opts for down-to-earth, no-frills high street chic: simple dresses and camisoles, jeans, leather jackets and hippy beads. We show you how to ape her low-pressure look:

Smock It To Me Baby

Not one to overdo things, Katie's awards ceremony garb is casual and carefree - whilst subtly nodding to several key trends of the season. The unfalteringly flattering smock dress, a summer '07 classic, still makes it into the top 10 of the fashionista's autumn/winter it-list; and this trapeze-shape Oli frock gets extra style brownie points.

Katie also shows off her fashion credentials with an oh-so-now purple heels and hosiery combo - these mulberry-hued suede platforms and jewel-tone colour block tights are must-haves of the moment. And on the accessories front, Katie's signature nu-boho beads and jet necklace are all the adornment necessary to polish off this seriously chilled-out outfit.

Biker Chic Chick

In keeping with this season's toughest trend, Katie has rarely been without her trusty motorcycle leather recently. This biker jacket from Oli exudes Hells Angel cool, but if you've maxed out your monthly clothing budget, this faux-leather version is low on price and high on style.

As outerwear's most edgy staple, it guarantees moody, streetwise, rock'n'roll kudos - suddenly those accusations of being bland and boring fly right out the window - and clever Katie makes good use of her favourite jacket.

She translates the look from day to night with ease: teamed with a pair of lowrise, slim-fit denims and skinny buckle belt, simple black camisole top, thin grey hoodie and block heel boots, Katie's the epitome of London Town cool. After dark, she keeps the jacket and boots but goes for a tight-fitting body-con frock. A belted tunic dress in fashion-forward grey will keep up the biker chic, rock chick persona very well.