In the manner of Chelsea Handler, “What…a hot mess.”

I haven’t used that term in a long while, but Cheryl Cole looked frightfully and uncharacteristically bad as she made her way to the first round of auditions for ‘The X Factor’ at the Galen Center in LA yesterday.

I don’t know if this a case of trying too hard, or not trying hard enough, but this look leaves me cold considering how cute she looked during auditions in the UK.

Cheryl has the right intentions by wearing American brands to appeal to her new American audience.

She wore an Oscar de la Renta ruffled silk top, with Diane von Furstenberg Simca stretch-cotton pants.

As styled by Net-A-Porter.com.

The British star added a Burberry Prorsum patent leather belt for a touch of Brit spirit.

Whilst colour-blocking is on trend, the two things that kill this look for me are as follows:

The Pants: They are too long. I don’t understand why people like to wear pants that drag along the floor like that.

The Belt: I really don’t like the turquoise with the orange and purple. It was one colour too much in this look.

What do you think of Cheryl’s first X Factor US look?

Paula Abdul is the second female judge.

She also arrived wearing purple opting for a YSL draped silk-satin dress with YSL Tribute sandals, as she cozied up to Simon Cowell for the photocall.

It will be very interesting to see how the dynamics of this relationship work. Cheryl and Paula are both used to being Simon’s favourite.

Being Simon’s favourite all depends on where you sit. Sharon Osbourne was moved from sitting next to Simon, for Dannii Minogue, who was then moved down for Cheryl Cole.

I wonder who’s got the hot seat this time.

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Credit: Getty