We live in an age when chefs are pin-ups, swish eateries are the places to be seen, and everyone knows that food is sexy. To borrow an oft-quoted fashion mantra, food is the new black.
The closest food ever got to fashion kudos was the misleadingly awful Fashion Café. Then along came London Fashion Week (LFW) 2006. This season's star attraction isn't Ronit Zilkha, Boyd, or Gharani Strok, but Oliver. Jamie Oliver at that. Dispelling the myth that models, media types and dedicated followers of fashion don't eat, LFW has enlisted the culinary skills of the Naked Chef himself.
Having recently been given the fashionista nod of approval for sporting some Lyle & Scott garb, Jamie is also the gastronomical flavour of the week.
Decamping to the Natural History Museum, the ubiquitous Mr Oliver and his Fifteen restaurant expect to feed thousands of beautiful faces over six days. Rifling through the latest Lulu Guinness collection works up a colossal appetite, don't you know.
Just remember, spring/summer 2006 dictates that food is fashionable but dietary whims certainly aren't. Don't expect macrobiotic consumables à la Gywnnie, or Atkins-esque meat slabs to be on offer - food fads are so last season. According to Damian Clarkson, managing director of catering firm Red Snapper, providing ultra-healthy food at LFW is always a lossmaker.
With three seasons of LFW under his belt, he reckons that the in crowd want simple and comforting food. Previous must-haves at LFW include salmon, sushi, and bangers and mash.
Coffee and pastries are also a very popular choice among the fashion set, as is, less surprisingly, Champagne. A catwalk-side Moët bar lies in wait for Champers-guzzling front-row fashionistas. No surprises there, but no waif-like girls brandishing lettuce leaves? We find that very hard to believe.
Good news, however, for the less thin, rich and beautiful among us - LFW opens to the public with the London Fashion Weekend so we can sneak a peek at the beautiful people.
- Fifteen at London Fashion Week. Call 020 7733 6149 to book.
- London Fashion Week runs from 14-19 February. Check out www.londonfashionweek.co.uk.
- London Fashion Weekend takes place 23-26 February. www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk.
- Continue your quest for fabulousness at Claridge's. The swish, star-loving hotel is serving BAFTA 2006 cocktails to celebrate the Orange British Academy film awards. We'll have the Best Cocktail in a Supporting Role, please.
Claridge's BAFTA cocktails will be served until the BAFTA ceremony on 19 February.