Tuesday, October 14, 2014 10:35am ET by  
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'X Factor' stylist hits back at Simon Cowell for slamming her outfit choice

'X Factor' stylist Gemma Sheppard has hit out at music mogul Simon Cowell after he slammed her choice of outfit for finalist Lola Saunders over the weekend. 

During Saturday's broadcast, Cowell criticised finalist Lola Saunders' outfit and compared it to 'tape'. He said:

"I really don't like what you're wearing. I'm gob-smacked. You just look like you're wrapped up in tape. It's important that you dress how you want to and not how somebody else tells you to in order to become the artist you want to be."

Now, Saunders' stylist has spoken out about being publicly ripped apart by Cowell and told MailOnline that she chose the clothing because she thought it was 'empowering' and made a statement that both strengthened and added to her performance:

"For her styling it was a case of fashion meets costume, the red dupioni silk gown with that 12ft train looked spectacular as she moved to centre stage, that was the money shot! I believe that statement dress empowered Lola for her performance."

Gemma Sheppard added: "It's all about confidence and getting inside of the contestant's heads. It is their closest moment to becoming a pop star so I want that to be translated in what they're wearing. Criticism is part of the show, this is a contest, and I'm willing to take on board all the comments.

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Watch Saunders' performance of 'Stay With Me' below: