Fashion junkies go without food to save up for Manolo Blahnik heels.

In case no-one told the illustrious Mr Blahnik, however, his huge US market is in the grip of a nasty recession. The fashion junkies have already maxed out their credit cards, and over-priced designer shoes need all the free advertising they can get.

But Blahnik's a purest.

"Well, we had a very good year last year, thanks to those stupid satin shoes. That shoe saved our company," says the designer.

And which stupid satin shoe might that be? Those would be the ones Sarah Jessica Parker wore as Carrie in 'Sex and the City'.

As it happens, though, Blahnik's not really a big 'SATC' fan. "If people talk to me about 'Sex and the City', I get sick." Hey — same thing happens to me! (Perhaps for other reasons, though.)

"The taxi drivers recognise me now. It becomes too much and I don't feel comfortable. I have never wanted to be a celebrity designer."

Well, look, Manolo, I have a lot of sympathy for your sentiments — but perhaps you shouldn't look this gift-horse in the proverbial mouth. Let Carrie shill those shoes for you and just shudder quietly in private.

Not that you'd think it from the all the wannabes flinging themselves onto every reality show Hollywood's producers can dream up, but there are a few people who, like Blahnik, could easily be famous but... don't want to be!

Seriously? Isn't that the pinnacle of human endeavour? Apparently not for 17-year-old Francis Bean.

As the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love she wouldn't exactly have a hard time finding an entourage to trail her around the international party circuit.

Soon enough she'd be a child-of-celebs pseudo-celeb, who could spend her 20s making money off hosting parties in Vegas nightclubs, coming out with her own perfume and producing a fashion line that she was, like, totally involved in designing.

Then she'd have a tidy nest egg for her 30s, when she would need all those Botox shots to help her eke out her Bright Young Thing lifestyle for a decade or so more. And, come the 40s, she'll be set to host a talkshow or spend her time trying to push her kids into showbiz.

Who wouldn't want that life?

Oddly enough, though, this young'un is planning on... going to university. What a waste.

Tim Burton reportedly even offered young Bean the title role in his new 'Alice in Wonderland' flick. But Francis turned down the chance to share a set with Johnny Depp, Helen Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway, so that she could get studying.

"Tim thought she would be perfect, but she wants to go to university. She's incredibly focused and sensible," says an insider. Must have got that from her mother's side.

There are those heartless bastards who've suggested that Prince Harry was unfortunate not to get more of his looks from his mother's side. But he hasn't exactly failed to endear himself to beautiful women.

Chief amongst them, our fellow southern African Chelsy Davy. And, word is that she and Harry are back together again.

According to a source, "There is still a big physical attraction between them, and Harry has told Chelsy he hasn't met anyone he really cares about since they split."

The prince was reportedly gutted after their break-up when he saw Chelsy had changed her status to 'single' on Facebook.

Facebook — the great equaliser, apparently.

This time, though, they're going to be keeping it ultra low profile.

"Chelsy, in particular, finds the media attention when she's with Harry very hard to bear. They don't want any pressure and have decided to keep the news very much between themselves."

In other tip-of-Africa related news, the Hoff almost got chomped by our local sharks.

David Hasselhoff was doing the 'Baywatch' thing here in SA when he found himself staring into the mouth of a tiger shark.