Rise of the power dresser! Michelle Obama tops list of celebrities British women most admire for their professional style... beating Samantha Cameron and Victoria Beckham

  • America's First Lady topped Kaleidoscope poll with 53 per cent of the vote 
  • Killer heels and shift dress make women feel empowered in work place 
  • Study found British career wardrobes inspired by 'strong public figures'   

By Sarah Barns For Mailonline

Published: 02:48 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 06:28 EST, 10 July 2015

Thanks to her love of feminine-cut dresses, eye-catching prints and bold colour palettes, Michelle Obama has been lauded in countless 'best dressed' lists.

The 51-year-old's clean, corporate chic look has also seen her top a poll of celebrities British women most admire for their professional style - beating the likes of Prime Minster's wife Samantha Cameron and fashion designer Victoria Beckham. 

The First Lady of the United States, who regularly steps out in hot-off-the-runway creations by the likes of Jason Wu, J. Crew and Thakoon, was applauded for her 'clean, modern silhouettes' that stand the test of time. 

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Michelle Obama, pictured in London in June, was named the celebrity most admired for her professional style

Michelle Obama, pictured in London in June, was named the celebrity most admired for her professional style

The study, which quizzed 500 UK women and was commissioned by e-tailer Kaleidoscope, found that fashion choices are strongly inspired by females in the political sphere. 

In terms of what makes Brit women feel most empowered in the work place, a pair of killer heels (62 per cent) was voted in poll position.  

A classic shift dress (51 per cent) came in second place, with a figure-flattering pencil skirt (23 per cent) also identified as a go-to fashion essential for the boardroom.  

On the other end of the scale, an ill-fitting jumper was identified as the least empowering item with the majority of respondents (53 per cent). 

Samantha Cameron, pictured with her husband David outside Number 10 in June, came second in the study

Samantha Cameron, pictured with her husband David outside Number 10 in June, came second in the study

Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, pictured in New York in June, finished in third place 

Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, pictured in New York in June, finished in third place 

'It's brilliant to see from these results that UK women are favouring such strong public figures as inspiration for their work wardrobes,' said a spokesperson.

'I think it's fantastic that women are gearing their fashion choices around what makes them feel most empowered and confident– rather than purely just keeping up with key trends. 

'Our latest findings really reflect a new mentality and attitude which we have seen emerging throughout society in recent years – women want to be seen as a force to be reckoned with in the workplace and feel most empowered channelling this through their fashion choices.' 

Thanks to her love of feminine-cut dresses, eye-catching prints and bold colour palettes, Michelle Obama has been lauded in countless 'best dressed' lists
The 51-year-old's clean, corporate chic look is admired by British women

Thanks to her love of feminine-cut dresses, eye-catching prints and bold colour palettes, Michelle Obama has been lauded in countless 'best dressed' lists

Samantha Cameron, pictured in London in April, became an ambassador for British style ever since her husband David entered the doors of Number 10 in May 2010

Samantha Cameron, pictured in London in April, became an ambassador for British style ever since her husband David entered the doors of Number 10 in May 2010

Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron came second in the style poll. 

The 44-year-old has been an ambassador for British style ever since her husband David entered the doors of Number 10 in May 2010.  

She won plaudits for her sartorial choices from her very first steps on the campaign trail, where she showed off a flair for mixing high end - Erdem and Phillip Lim - with high street - Zara and Topshop.

Spice Girl turned high-brow fashion designer Victoria Beckham, 41, finished in third place. 

The mother-of-four, who shed her WAG image in favour of sharper, androgynous-style cuts, has bagged two British Vogue covers and starred in campaigns for Marc Jacobs and Emporio Armani. 

Meanwhile, reality star Kim Kardashian featured fourth in the survey. 

The pregnant 34-year-old wife of rapper Kanye West divides opinion with her figure-hugging looks that tend to exposure her cleavage and shapely curves.  

Victoria, pictured in New York in June, shed her WAG image in favour of sharper, androgynous-style cuts

Victoria, pictured in New York in June, shed her WAG image in favour of sharper, androgynous-style cuts

A spokesperson said it's 'fantastic' that women are gearing their fashion choices around what makes them feel most empowered, like Samantha Cameron, rather than keeping up with trends
The pregnant 34-year-old wife of rapper Kanye West divides opinion with her figure-hugging looks that tend to exposure her cleavage and shapely curves.

A spokesperson said it's 'fantastic' that women are gearing their fashion choices around what makes them feel most empowered, like Samantha Cameron, left, and Kim Kardashian. right, rather than keeping up with trends

 

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