The story of how Estelle, a small-time pop singer from West London, approached hip-hop maestro Kanye West in a restaurant is now part of pop legend history. The upshot of that serendipidous meeting was the impossible to dislike single, American Boy, and an album, titled Shine.

Now photographed wherever she goes, she\'s had to up the ante on her fashion choices; here, she talks to handbag.com about her fashionable life. 

Danielle Radojcin

Picture: Estelle arriving for an appearance on the David Letterman show in New York earlier this year

Name your favourite shopping destinations
Italy, London, Paris.

What\'s your favourite item of clothing?
Spanx - they hold it all together!

Picture: Estelle at the launch party for the Belvedere Jagger Dagger, May 2008

Any preferred clothing brands?
I like Balenciaga - the shoes are ridiculous - also Richard Nicoll\'s stuff is fresh, Azzedine Alaïa is instant vintage, Julien Macdonald...

What pieces are you after this season?
A dress from Julien Macdonald - any dress, I love all of them - and some YSL Tribute heels.

Picture: Mark Ronson and Estelle at the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards, June 2008

What inspires you?
Just mixing up different looks, creating something not "felt" before to create something classic.

Which women alive or dead do you admire?
Audrey Hepburn for being classic, Sophia Loren for being womanly, Diana Ross for being larger than life and Grace Jones for being defined. 

 
Picture: Estelle at a party for Self magazine in New York, June 2008

Are you a shopping repeat offender, and if so, what is the item you buy over and over again?
Yep, white vests or ‘wife beaters\' as they call \'em in the States! I buy them all summer and all winter.

What handbag do you carry and what\'s inside it?
I\'m not a big handbag person - I carry a purple Y3 carry-all by Adidas - it\'s sooo convenient. I\'m on tour right now so my life includes a pair of D&G wraparound sunglasses, my wallet, my Mac lip balm, my Bodyshop lip balm, an assortment of combs, loose change from various countries, two phones, and God knows what else...

Picture: Estelle and Kanye West performing onstage at the Fete de la Musique in Paris, June 2008

The soundtrack to your life would be...
Dinah Washington - All Of Me.

One thing you hope to do before the end of the year is...
Take a holiday.

Hear a sample of Estelle\'s music 

See the video of Estelle\'s brilliant new single, No Substitute Love 

Estelle\'s album Shine is out now.

Picture: Estelle leaving Bungalow 8 in London, June 2008