P Diddy's blingtastic party

You can say what you like about Fergie, but the old girl never loses her capacity to surprise.

Fergie and her daughter Eugenie (no surprise there), the pair of them wearing what look like a couple of old curtains run up by a blind dressmaker (no surprise there, either), attended P Diddy's party on a boat in St Tropez. Ah.

In all her various incarnations since she left the warm embrace of the royal family, Fergie has not - until now - been known for hanging around with rap moguls.

Even if they are as good-looking and successful as Diddy (as he likes to be known these days, having dropped the P in one of his numerous moniker makeovers).

But Diddy is a socially inclusive kind of guy, and for his party on a suitably blingtastic boat called the Elegant, he invited absolutely everyone who is anyone: Penelope Cruz, Ivanka Trump, Paris Hilton ... and, of course, the Duchess of York.

The theme of the party was Unforgivable - a reference to the latest fragrance from his clothing line Sean John rather than Fergie's dress.

The host himself was wearing a white suit, white shirt, white tie ... and no shoes. Then, for the after-party - come on, there's always an after-party - at a club in town, he changed into grey trousers and waistcoat, set off by the usual Diddy accessories - a posse of impossibly leggy girls in very short black dresses.

Oh yes, and he was wearing shoes by this time. Diddy always likes to wear shoes in town.