text: Nicola Sturgeon is most definitely the most dangerous woman in Britain. Not because she might well cosy up to Ed Miliband and keep David Cameron out of office, but because she is living proof that women become sexier with age, income and office. No wonder her male rivals are terrified. While in 2001 she dressed according to the Angela Merkel school of leadership – a boxy, androgynous look from a woman who had lost her waist along with her sanity, topped and tailed with a Krankies haircut and orthopaedic shoes – today she has shed pounds, bleached her hair, squeezed her feet into Kurt Geiger heels, and for the leaders’ debate last week, rocked a coral two-piece by the aptly named Scottish design label Totty Rocks. Scroll down for video . Nicola Sturgeon (left in 2001; right in 2015) is most definitely the most dangerous woman in Britain. Not because she might well cosy up to Ed Miliband and keep David Cameron out of office, but because she is living proof that women become sexier with age, income and office . In 2001 she dressed according to the Angela Merkel school of leadership – a boxy, androgynous look from a woman who had lost her waist along with her sanity, topped and tailed with a Krankies (above) haircut and orthopaedic shoes . Her outfit made the male leaders’ dark suits seem as old as their arguments. She also eclipsed Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood (too feminine) and the Greens’ Natalie Bennett (too hemp). THE HAIR . 2001: I really don’t trust a woman who says she doesn’t have time to go to the hair salon, apply make-up, or steam the creases from her trousers... Now: Gone is the fright wig, and in its place is a chic, choppy, youthful but not frivolous, golden halo of Princess Diana-like loveliness – a ray of sunshine that says this woman means business. She has shed pounds, bleached her hair, squeezed her feet into Kurt Geiger heels, and for the leaders’ debate last week, rocked a coral two-piece by the aptly named Scottish design label Totty Rocks . THE ACCESSORIES . 2001: No one except the Queen looks good with a brooch, seen here as a last-minute addition to stop its wearer appearing too bland. Now: Simple stud earrings and an under-stated watch avoid too much frivolity. I’d like her to carry a bag though. THE DIET . 2001: I can hear female voters muttering, ‘She didn’t have time to get her hair done, but she certainly found time to eat!’ Sturgeon appears slow-moving and complacent. Now: I can hardly believe this is the same woman: she appears confident, fit, and full of dynamic energy. Here, Sturgeon is all womanly curves and upright posture. THE OUTFIT . 2001: This grey, rather Maoist trouser suit by Debenhams looks like an outsize school uniform. Shapeless, boxy and designed to shroud rather than flatter, it is the ultimate wallflower’s wardrobe choice, not a style statement for a parliamentary candidate who wants to be noticed. Now: The Queen knows a bright colour means she can be spotted easily, and I love this spring green (new leader, new shoots!) outfit by British label Hobbs: a silk and cotton blend jacket, £189, and a print dress, £149. The length is spot-on, while bracelet sleeves stop a jacket becoming too masculine. THE SHOES . 2001: These are the sort of shoes M&S does so well: navy, square and comfortable. We don’t want our politicians to be comfy, we want them to suffer! Sturgeon resembles a double-glazing salesperson at the annual works do. Now: While somewhat passé in fashion circles, thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge, the flesh-nude LK Bennett court shoe is nevertheless an eternally flattering choice that elongates the leg and emphasises a slender ankle.
target: Sturgeon has shed pounds, bleached her hair and mixed up her outfits .
  Made the male leaders' dark suits seem as old as their arguments in debate .