Kathy Burke says she knows her place when it comes to casting. And it's not among the beautiful people. By James Rampton

How come the joke decade of the century has been doing

They hit 30 and it's down with the neckline, up with the skirt and out on the town. They call it 'middle youth'. Hettie Judah calls it embarrassing

In a welcome backlash against the vogue for navel-gazing self- obsession, young artists are increasingly taking images of screen stars and rock idols as their subjects. But is the new vogue for celebrity portraits a symptom of our Nineties, `Hello!'-style celebrity worship, or a critique of it? asks Dominic Lutyens

Flip-flops used to be the footwear equivalent of the hankie-on- the-head. Now they've become the ultimate fashion statement for the seriously stylish

SALES of motorcycles have increased by 21 per cent as congestion- bound car drivers swap the frustration of four wheels for the speed and glamour of two.

Oliver Peyton is Cool Britannia's caterer of choice. He made a fortune with restaurants like Coast and the Atlantic Bar & Grill. But now he's facing his biggest challenge to date

Etam, the troubled womenswear retailer, said yesterday it was continuing to hold talks with potential bidders for the company, but declined to divulge the identity of any of the suitors.

If your expense account won't stretch to the Oxo Tower Restaurant, why not try the Bistrot 2 Riverside nestled beneath it? Pretty staff, tasty dishes, clean and tidy, with views to die for. Oh, and is that Patsy Kensit over there?

Lace top and Split skirt pounds 70 All-in

Cathryn Avison's exquisite embroidery is a far cry from the needlework your granny does, says Hester Lacey

At pounds 230, you're paying for the name with Stella McCartney's Bowli ng Shirt

Grain of Rice

You don't need surgery to have a face-lift, explains Melanie Rickey