'I was always encouraged to dress weird': Charli XCX smoulders in tight plunging black dress for new fashion shoot... as she discusses style inspiration

PUBLISHED: 18:07, 17 April 2015 | UPDATED: 01:04, 18 April 2015

As she continues her meteoric rise as a singing sensation, Charli XCX decided to cement her style star status with flawless new fashion shoot.

The 22-year-old - whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison – looked absolutely sensational as she showed off some serious skin in the May issue of Maxim Magazine.

Styled to perfection, the British singer smouldered in a plunging black satin dress, complete with strappy detailing and a tight waistline.

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Sultry: Charli XCX looked absolutely sensational as she showed off some serious skin in the May issue of Maxim Magazine

With her luscious dark locks worn loose in cascading waves, Charli upped the glam factor with a winged eyeliner and lashings of lip shine.

The other black and white image saw the star pose almost in the nude underneath a trench-style leather coat, which flashed her slender pins in all its glory.

The Famous hitmaker spoke candidly about her inspiration when it comes to her style in the accompanying interview.

'I was always encouraged to dress weird': The Famous hitmaker spoke candidly about her inspiration when it comes to her style in the accompanying interview

Front cover beauty: Styled to perfection, the British singer smouldered in a plunging black satin dress, complete with strappy detailing and a tight waistline

‘I’d rather look fabulous, like I’m having a great time,' she explained. 'There’s nothing that says “boss” more than a belly chain and snakeskin trousers. My dad always used to encourage me to dress weird.’

And talking about her drive for success, she said: ‘I have a business mind, I have a real drive—I want to have an empire.

‘I want to have more of a legacy, and I think just because I wear what I wear, and am a pop star, doesn’t mean I can’t have that.’

After dominating the charts with pop hits such as Boom Clap and Fancy, Charli appears to be tackling a particularly intimate subject on her latest album.

Charli XCX says she is worried about her sideboob at Brits

'I want to have more of a legacy': She also talked about her drive for success

She admitted that her new punk-inspired album, Sucker, will feature a track about self pleasure - and she insists it's all for an empowering cause.

'Body of My Own is about masturbation, but it's a feminist statement more than a song telling you to put your hand in your pants, because girls should own their own bodies,' she told The Times.

Later adding: 'If they're going to be sexualised, they should sexualise themselves and not let someone else do it for them.'

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