Last week a portrait of supermodel Kate Moss by Lucian Freud sold for GBP3.9 million. An anonymous telephone bidder bought the painting, titled “Naked Portrait 2002”, at auction at Christie’s in London after a heated bidding match.

Moss, who had once announced that it was her life’s ambition to be portraited by the German born Freud, sat for the artist for months. She was pregnant with her daughter Lila Grace during the sittings.

Another painting by Freud, “A Red-Haired Man on a Chair” sold for GBP4.15 million. A spokeswoman for Christie’s told Yahoo: “We are delighted with the results of th sale of the two works by Freud, painted exactly 40 years apart.”

Fashion knows no boundaries. Neither, apparently, does good taste. Take for example the Burberry painted Vauxhall car available on eBay. Chav-tastic bidders have been going crazy for this Burberry-inspired vehical, which, at it’s current £1,200 price, is a must-have for any Burberry loving chav (or so we assume).

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Serious bidders have the chance to own this fantastic piece of bling – a Vauxhall 1991 GL 5-speed manual. The car comes complete with Burberry-clad check, a bit of GLC gold, a few pieces of choice leisurewear and a boot which doesn’t work properly. Still, for that price you’ll be the proud owner of a Burberry-branded chavmobile, which will no doubt be the best on the block. Happy bidding!

Shop sales fell for the first time in almost a year last month, the British Retail Consortium said yesterday, in data which appeared to back forecasts of an unhappy Christmas from retailers such as Dixons. The BRC said shop sales slid 0.2% in November from a year earlier on a like-for-like basis, the first fall since December last year. Total sales, which include extra floor space that shops have added, were up 2.4% but that was the lowest since last December.

“The figures provide further proof that rate rises and fears over the housing market, pensions and the economy have created a subdued, cautious mood amongst consumers,” said the BRC’s director general, Kevin Hawkins. The survey showed that the decline was widespread, with only food and women’s clothing and footwear retaining any underlying strength. Its relationship to official retail sales data, however, has not been strong in recent months.

Mr Hawkins said retailers were used to shoppers leaving their Christmas spending to the last minute. “Talk of panic sales is premature and retailers will now wait to see if the mood improves and they can catch up lost ground during December.” A separate survey from the Nationwide showed consumer confidence appeared to be holding up well in spite of the interest rate rises this year.

Customer demand for fur-trimmed ranges have helped New Look drive strong sales in the run-up to Christmas. The fashion retailer reported total UK sales for the 14 weeks to January 1 up 18.8 per cent, with like-for-like sales up 11.6 per cent.

The company said strong customer demand for fake fur, mini-skirts, denim and rhinestone-studded ranges boosted sales. After a successful launch, New Look plans to extend its menswear ranges from 14 to 30 stores and is also planning to extend its fashion ranges to cater for children under nine.

Expansion plans call for larger stores, with the largest New Look store to date scheduled to open at the Metro Centre in Gateshead. There are also plans for a revamp of the flagship Oxford Street store, launched in August 2003.

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Imitation of Christ designer Sara Subkoff knows how to cause a little controversy, as much as she knows hot to get a little help from her friends. New this season for IOC is its denim label, and Subkoff decided to enlist the ever-so-beautiful looks of her best friend Scarlett Johansson to open the show dressed as a modern-day Marily Monroe.

Johansson, who’s pop idol pout is a red carpet favourite, opened the show. wearing skintight jeans, a tank top and red heels. She made her way down the elaborate stairs inside Surrogate’s Court smoking a cigarette, then strutted and vamped for the frenzied photographers, her hair done up in the fluffed Fifties style the starlet seems to prefer for her A-list appearances.

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We expect waiting lists for the high waisted, cigarette leg, indigo jean.

The explosive demand for cheap imitations of designer labels is at its peak, with the likes of Sienna Miller and Kate Moss at the forefront. British retailers are enjoying the success with sales increases at low-price retailers like Asda’s George and TK Maxx. Meanwhile, mid-market retailers like Marks & Spencer and Next are continuing their battle with the current retail climate.

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Earlier this week, value chain Primark bought 120 Littlewood shops, thereby expanding its presence onto some of the UK’s top high street sites. The timing is right, as even the wealthy have turned to bargain-prices.

According to the Scotsman, a recent survey showed that shoppers in the top “A/B” socioeconomic group spent 4.8 million more items of shoes and clothing from discount chains and supermarkets as they had the year before. The cheaper the shop, the better it does, according to Nick Bubb, a retail analyst for Evolution Beeson Gregory. He told the Scotsman: “In that game you’ve either got to be special or chep. Companies such as M&S are struggling because they are neither. Companies such as Primark seem to be doing well because they are cheap.”

British high streets have always been able to emulate the catwalk looks for a fraction of the price best. Furthermore, our high streets have extremely swift supply chains, offering looks similar to those worn by celebrities not long after they have been seen wearing them. This is because the British consumer public demands continuous reinvention. A perfect example is our pride and joy, TopShop. It always manages to imitate the catwalks styles perfectly, offering its own take on what is hot and creating its own, fabulous versions. And the process is always moving forward.

Offering a uniquely personal take on an imitated item is important though, as many of the big labels are responding to blatant copycatting with legal measures. Earlier this year, Primark was taken to court by Monsoon, who demanded £200,000 in damages from the discount retailer for allegedly copying a patterned skirt. The year before Primark has already to pay Monsoon a £23,000 out of court settlement for copying a girl’s top and a butterfly dress.