It's handbags at dawn in Tinseltown! With a host of stylists desperate to dress their favourite stars, things are getting heated

Wearing the right clothes can help stars join the A-list, as well as meaning untold free publicity for the designers, so it's no wonder celebrity dressers are the coolest of the fashion crowd.

Sex And The City's Patricia Field started it when she created Sarah Jessica Parker's kooky image for the show. Rachel Zoe picked up the baton, working with Keira Knightley, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton to create a tousled, tanned, leggy look for young starlets across the globe.

L'Wren Scott and Andrea Lieberman have also created names for themselves as style gurus after helping the rich and beautiful look even more, well, rich and beautiful.

And even Victoria Beckham is jostling for position, after styling Jennifer Lopez for the Golden Globes and new best friend Katie Holmes for a Harpers Bazaar shoot.

Now a host of other stylists are working their way to the front of the pack. We take a look at the movers and shakers on the styling scene.

Nicole Chavez

A-list clientele: Rachel Bilson, Jaime King and Kristen Bell
Signature style: Funky but classy

Work on a few movies in LA, including Old School, led Nicole to the costume department of The O.C. where she oversaw Rachel Bilson's wardrobe. The pair hit it off and have become firm friends. She and Rachel considered collaborating on a clothing line, but instead now focus on supporting fledging designers whose collections they like.

'Nowadays, with the weeklies, when people see somebody they recognise, they notice which designer they're wearing and it just resonates,' says Nicole.

Her favourite designers include Brian Reyes, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs and J. Mendel. Her three important rules for every woman are to invest neutral basics, stay on-trend with accessories, and use a tailor to make clothes fit to perfection. 'It's more affordable, and in the end you will be able to get dressed faster and with more ease,' she adds.

Britt Bardo

A-list clientele: Kate Hudson and Eva Mendes
Signature style: Hippy chic

Britt was working the boho chic look years before Sienna Miller had even bought her first pair of Ugg boots and also worked for Jennifer Lopez as her full-time stylist for six months. She says she works hard to make sure her clients look 'super-relaxed and effortless'. She adds: 'I don't want anyone to look like they are trying too hard.'

Working with yummy mummy Kate Hudson has also seen Britt's star rating soar and she is currently a consultant to Nike. 'It has definitely opened up other doors,' she says. 'I've been talking about how I want to start a small clothing line, or an intimate apparel line.'

Kate Young

A-list clientele: Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams and Jennifer Connelly
Signature style: Quirky haute couture

New York-based stylist Kate was the woman responsible for Michelle Williams' Vera Wang dress at the 2006 Academy Awards. She is also behind Natalie Portman's classic look, dressing her in Parisian labels like Lanvin and Balenciaga.

'I love clothes, I really like pretty things and nice things,' says Kate, who insists she won't be stepping in front of the camera like some of her peers.

She explains: 'I'm really not interested in being a celebrity, being glamorous, being famous. A stylist should never be a celebrity.' However, she has put her famous names to a few goodies, and adds: 'I make and collect jewellery and I have a line of stationery.'

Phillip Bloch

A-list clientele: Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock
Signature style: Full-on glamour

One of the more well-known fashionistas, Bloch was one of the first celebrity stylists to become a personality and has even made a guest appearance in TV series Entourage. He is widely known for dressing Halle Berry in that daring sheer Elie Saab gown on the night of her first Oscar win in 2003.

'A stylist is like a glorified messenger with good taste,' Phillip says. 'I'm like your tasteful best friend. A best friend is going to be honest with you.'

Over the years, he has dressed Jennifer Lopez, Courtney Love, Salma Hayek and even Jim Carrey, sometimes for the same events. One year he dressed ten celebrities for the Oscars, apparently breaking all records. 'I was like Santa Claus trying to get round everyone,' he recalls. 'I'm in the business of making little girls' dreams come true, and all movie stars are little girls.'

Jessica Pastor

A-list clientele: Jessica Simpson and Kate Bosworth
Signature style: Crazy, sexy, cool

'Never mind calling the family when the Oscar nominations are announced. The first call is always to book the stylist,' says Jessica of her busiest time of year. In the past she has dressed Hilary Swank and Charlize Theron. She adds: 'Right up to Oscar night itself, Hollywood turns into a designer feeding frenzy.'

Jessica Simpson loves her style so much she left Rachel Zoe's camp to join Jessica's. The two are now great pals and even hang out with Jess's hairdresser Ken Paves. As a stylist, Jessica walks a fine line between ethereal chic when it is called for (as seen on Cate Blanchett on the red carpet) and a sexier, edgier day-to-night look like that worn by Jessica Simpson.

Penny Lovell

A-list clientele: Ginnifer Goodwin, Melissa Etheridge and Josh Duhamel
Signature style: Versatile and effortless

The former London fashion publicist became a stylist to the stars after she discovered she enjoyed styling shoots with real people more than with dummies! A major part of her success lies in the fact that she allows their clients to express their personalities through their clothes rather than dictating what they wear.

She has dressed fresh-faced Big Love star Ginnifer Goodwin in labels like Moschino, Marc Jacobs and Burberry, and says friendship and openness are her two strong points. 'When you do something so personal for someone, you have to get along, and the more honest you are, the better the results,' she says.

Robert Verdi

A-list clientele: Eva Longoria
Signature style: Colourful glamour

As Robert can charge up to $2,500 for an award show prep day, and as much as $50,000 for an extensive project such as a photo shoot or a commercial, he is aware that styling is about far more than simply selecting clothes.

'It's about balancing the image of the celebrity,' he explains. 'It's all about knowing where the client is with the culture at large. A stylist is kind of like a publicist. If there's a red carpet event, you would have more influence with glamour but if it's something like MTV and VH1, you would put them in something more 'anti-establishment.' It all depends on where they are currently in culture.'

To look great, rather than like a slave to fashion, Robert says, women simply need 'an understanding of the trends in general'.

Annie Jagger

A-list clientele: Brittany Murphy, Ashlee Simpson and Emmy Rossum
Signature style: Edgy and original

After being an intern at Nylon magazine and working for Rachel Zoe in New York, Annie decided to strike out on her own. Her young, girly clients like to look cool and different, so Annie isn't afraid of taking risks.

She says: 'The red carpet is about being appropriate to the occasion, but I don't want people to say about my clients, "That's the girl who always shows up in a black dress." I like to keep it interesting.'

She advises the average woman on the street to 'look for coats with special details,' and for curvier ladies, to always draw attention to the waist and away from their lower half.

Kithe Brewster

A-list clientele: Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow and Julianne Moore
Signature style: Bling luxe

When Heidi Klum has to look fabulous for her Project Runway appearances, who does she call? Kithe Brewster, that's who! An international fashion editor and stylist for more than 17 years, he has planned photo shoots for the likes of Vanity Fair and styled runway shows for Ralph Lauren.

His hip, street appeal is both sexy and glamorous, perfect for his A-list clients. Along with fellow stylist Shaunya Hartley, he is inspired by strong black female styles such as that of rapper Eve, who he has also worked with.

'Black women have great style, but we don't often see them depicted in an affluent way,' he says. Kithe hopes to inspire any youngsters obsessed with fashion to aim for style guru status. 'If you have a knack for it, you can do it,' he adds.

Anna Bingemann

A-list clientele: Uma Thurman, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts
Signature style: Pared-down elegance

A tall, elegant Australian, Anna likes to keep a low profile but her reputation has earned her some of the world's most beautiful women as clients. 'Good styling takes personality into account,' she says.

'Celebrities sell magazines and products, that's how my job was created. But the real talent is with the designers. You very quickly sense what looks right and which designers they should wear. If she's a young New Yorker, then Marc Jacobs is perfect, but if she's very chic, I'll go for the French designers.'

Thanks to Anna's fascination with all things Roland Mouret, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz were among the first to wear his now-legendary Galaxy dress. 'At the end of the day, it's not about being in fashion, it's about being stylish,' says Anna. 'Great style is knowing what suits your body and your age, and knowing when not to wear something.'

Ones to watch:

Cristina Ehrlich & Estee Stanley
This duo have been credited with Mandy Moore's transformation from teen queen to effortless cool. They also created the Miss Davenporte fashion line which has developed a strong cult following.

Tara Swennen
A former assistant of Andrea Lieberman's, Tara cut her fashion teeth styling the costumes for music videos. After working with Rachel Zoe, she picked up red carpet tips and learned not to be afraid of being different. 'I am willing to risk getting panned a little bit more because I see it as an art,' she says.

Misa Hylton
Working with rap royalty like Mary J Blige, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and Missy Elliott helped Misa become the woman to know if you want to make it big in bling. She has collaborated on lines for Reebok and G-Unit, and has an online boutique.