American Idols Before They Had Stylists

Before they had big contracts and legions of fans, they were just a bunch of middle-American kids -- OK, make that middle-American kids with gobs of singing talent. We're talking, of course, about the stars of "American Idol." Sure, fashion wasn't necessarily the strongest strand in their DNA, but faster than you can say, "You're going to Hollywood," they found a stylist or two and transformed themselves from mall-rats to red-carpet swans. Case in point: Katharine McPhee, who showed up for the Season 5 auditions with hair as tattered as her jeans. Fast forward to 2008, when McPhee dazzled at the Carousel of Hope Ball in sophisticated curls and a sensuous halter gown by Jenny Packham. For more stars we "Idol"-ize, click on.

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Singer Kelly Clarkson has never lacked bubbliciousness, but she took that perkiness a bit too far in 2002 when she first crossed our radar. What's with the wrinkled denim skirt, the belly-barer and the too-cute-by-half pigtails? Is this a pop star under construction or a pre-school teacher in training? But Clarkson was a fast learner. Looking like a young sophisticate, not a youngster, she chose a white strapless dress and sleek bob for the 2007 Teen Choice Awards in L.A.

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The Soul Patrol may adore country-boy Taylor Hicks for his way with the blues, but at "Idol's" 2005 regional tryouts, he looked like he came straight from a game of pick-up basketball. Hey, if you're going to be an international star, with albums, books and concert tours to your name, you have to learn fast. And it's clear that Hicks did. Performing at "A Capitol Fourth" in D.C. last summer, his tailoring was as sterling as his signature silver hair.

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Sixth-place winner Kellie Pickler arrived in 2006 with second-rate style: heavily embroidered jeans (so 1980s), flip-flops and hair that looked like it had spent too much time out in the Albermarle, N.C. cotton fields. With a curve-hugging dress, shorter hair and more than a few whispers of breast enhancement, the country star glammed up the CMA Awards in Nashville last fall.

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Who knew? Judging from Fantasia Barrino's halter-top jumpsuit at a 2004 finalists' party, she was destined for a career as a lounge singer. Of course, the R&B star with the wickedly wonderful voice had some other ideas. She not only walked off with Season 3's title and a starring role in Broadway's "The Color Purple," Fantasia also scored fashion kudos, as with her sexy ruffle-trimmed gown at last fall's Hollywood tribute to Patti LaBelle. Of course some things never change, like Fantasia's devotion to halters.

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The man of a thousand hairdos, Sanjaya Malakar was so busy morphing from mohawk to Afro to bob that it looked like he bypassed the wardrobe department. Sure the hair-today-gone-tomorrow gallery won him zillions of fans, but his clothes -- and some would say his singinging -- proved to be less-than-super. Thankfully, Sanjaya stepped up to the plate -- at least in terms of fashion (his voice never got him past seventh place). For the Season 7 grand finale, he returned to "Idol"-land looking hipper than he ever did during his star turn.

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Season One finalist Tamyra Gray arrived with a style a youthful style that was as bouncy as her curls. Where to go from there? Post-"Idol," she took an unexpected route, chopping off her hair and going for an all-grown-up silhouette. She showed off the results, and a sleek red cocktail dress, at a 2006 Emmy Awards reception.

Gregg DeGuire, WireImage | Jemal Countess, WireImage

You can take the boy out of the garage, but can you take the garage out of the boy? Rock singer David Cook had us wondering when he showed up for a party for Season 7 finalists in ratty jeans and a South London t-shirt from Sears. Not that we object to Sears -- at least for refrigerators. Cook showed a bit more winning style last fal when he chose a casual three-piece suit and loose tie for the 2008 American Music Awards.

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Diana DeGarmo missed snagging Season 2 by a hair, and if you ask us, she didn't lose points for her singing as much as for her tiger-striped locks (well, that and her uninspired, belly-baring duds). But, boy, look at Diana now! At the CMA Awards in Nashville last fall, DeGarmo bared a sophisticated new look, with a flirty halter dress, strappy sandals and slicked-back 'do. No contest; she wins hands-down.

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Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer. We speak, of course, of Jennifer Hudson, the girl with a voice as big as all outdoors. And during the Season 3 auditions, the windswept Hudson did look like she'd spent a tad too much time out at Venice Beach. Alas, though she dazzles vocally, the sublime Miss H. has had a few sartorial, um, slip-ups. (Will she ever live down the 2007 Academy Awards, when she won an Oscar and lost the fashion wars in a Judy Jetson gold bolero from Oscar de la Renta?) Fortunately, there are moments when Hudson strikes exactly the right note, as she did at the 2008 L.A.premiere of "The Secret Life of Bees," where her navy Tadashi sheath was the epitome of understated glam.


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