By Pam Francis
Last updated at 1:38 AM on 20th January 2011

Classic but sexy: Melanie Sykes' wardrobe staples are dresses and crisp white shirts

Model-turned-presenter Melanie Sykes, 40, is divorced and lives in London with her sons Roman, eight, and Valentino, six. She made her name as co-host of Today With Des And Mel.

Her new TV series, School Mum Makeover With Melanie Sykes, whisks off unsuspecting mothers for the day to give them a glamour treatment.

The problem is that I get bored with my clothes. Once I’ve worn them a few times, I give them to charity, friends or a dress agency.

I will often borrow designer dresses for red carpet events — but I had a disaster with a beautiful nude, nipped-in-at-the waist Celine dress with a black lace overlay, which I wore for a TV awards show.

I’d just given birth to my second son and was carrying a bit of extra weight, so I had to be sewn into it. But then I had to be cut out of it — right through to my bra — at the end of the evening.

Much as I love clothes, I’m not the sort who meanders round the shops. Instead I look through magazines and when I see a certain look I’ll speak to my stylist Eve Collins, who has been dressing me for six years.

If I am shopping, I’ll know exactly what I want in ­Whistles, Topshop or ­Questionnaire, and I’ll be in and out like a shot.

My style has always been ­classic: dresses with opaque tights or jeans with Cuban heeled boots and a plain shirt. I love a crisp white shirt, black shorts and high heels. ­Classic, but very sexy.

School Mum Makeover With Melanie Sykes on Bio and Bio HD (Tuesdays from January 25 at 8pm).

MELANIE'S WARDROBE FAVOURITES

GINA DIAMANTE SHOES

High heels make me feel so sexy. When I wear them, I carry myself better, which means my stomach doesn’t stick out and my legs look amazing.

My favourites are a silver pair of Gina diamante strappy sandals with 3½in heels that are just so gorgeous. I bought them to go with a dress I wore on a Des O’Connor Christmas show way back.

But recently I tripped in a pair of very high black patent gladiator-style heels, spraining my ankle. I’ve been told not to wear heels any more. It’s devastating - like being told I can never have a glass of wine again!

Fancy footwear: But after an injury, Melanie may never wear her Gina diamante shoes again!

PAUL & JOE BLAZER

Come the spring, I will be living in this beautiful grey blazer with dark blue piping, which I bought in the sale from Questionnaire for £120, down from £300. I’m going to look very smart as soon as I put it on with a white shirt or T-shirt and jeans. It’s a real statement jacket.

ALL SAINTS LEATHER JACKET

I've got loads of stuff from All Saints, ­including dresses and tops. And as soon as I put on this classic black biker jacket, I immediately feel cool. I’ve worn it to death over skinny jeans with ankle boots, over a chunky polo-neck or even dresses. If I’m not feeling inspired , I throw it on and it just makes an outfit! I like a bit of a rock look.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD DRESS

This funky little number is one of the only designer pieces left in my wardrobe. It cost £300 last year.
It’s black with a green, white and red pattern on the body of it. The arms are made of jersey and are really long, so you need to scrunch them up.

It’s knee-length, but what I love about it is that you can tuck the skirt up through a hole in the waist band to wear it super short. I wore it for Christmas lunch, and it’s the sort of thing you can wear to a cocktail party. It crosses over from day to night.

Fashion favourites: Melanie's Temperley roll-neck (left), her By Malene Birger dress (centre), which she wore to Roman's christening, and one of her elegant Promise necklaces (right)

TEMPERLEY ROLL-NECK

I love big jumpers you can wear with leggings and boots. If ever I want to feel good, I wear my Temperley roll-neck with a pattern on the sleeves.

Rock chicl: Melanie feels cool in her All Saints biker

PROMISE ONYX STAR NECKLACE

I go for elegant jewellery, and I wear a lot from Promise. They have the most exquisite, beautiful pieces at a reasonable cost. One of my favourites is a long gold chain with a big onyx fish on it. With the right dress it’s ­gorgeous. My absolute favourite is a silver chain with black onyx stars through it.

MALENE BIRGER DRESS

We didn't have a big wedding, so when Roman was christened, we had a really special day with relatives, almost like a ­wedding day.

So I wanted the right dress. It’s a nude, chiffon, pleated dress, with a similar coloured cardigan and ­diamante buttons. It’s probably a bit big for me now because I was still carrying baby weight. But I still love it.

As a teenager, I did a cleaning job for my mum and she gave me £3 a week. I’d save up and buy something at the