She's got it

1 Tuna and Sweetcorn
1 Pack Marlboro (Reds)
1 Six Pack Stella Artois

Kate Moss caught in a London supermarket at the weekend and buying food. Two improbable images of the world's greatest supermodel: shopping anywhere 'normal' and eating (anything but cigarettes). And Kate is certainly the greatest; as defined by the fashion world, and me and most women. For the men to whom this remains a curiosity, let me explain. Kate is it, for three reasons:

1 - She is simply the best, better than all the rest. Kate has become the fashion icon for our times. Beyond the limits of our physical fascination with her is the substantial hold her personal style has over many women. She wears it, and we want it. Every outfit - even those damned skinny jeans- she wears inspires a mini-trend on its own. Some inspire jealousy, some admiration. But all inspire.

2 - She remains elusive, yet few of us can claim we're not a little interested by her. Others will admit to full-blown obsession. All over a woman who has been carefully choreographed to never utter a mutter in public. And yet I, and others, consider Kate a friend. Due to obsessional media coverage, I know more about her drug habits and relationship woes than I do many of my, let's call them, closer friends. And with her looks, her style, her money, many of us would...well, we would choose to be Kate. Suffice it to say, she inspires many an alter ego.

3- Kate exudes crazed coolness. She represents the maximum in recognition with the minimum effort. She bought the celebrity Wonka bar with the golden ticket to a life of doing whatever you want. Kate officially embodies all kinds of newsworthy qualities: danger, sleaze-edged glamour, decadence, sex, corrupted youth and ineffable beauty, addiction, money and fashion. Think Princess Diana with a rockstar grouppie edge. Now that is inspirational.

So there we have why women are led by Kate. But why doesn't she stir the same following amongst men? Let's return to the three key aspects of Kate's appeal: being the best, being elusive and being crazed. It takes most men many years to accept even one of those qualities in a woman. But Kate doesn't wait around for anybody. And, that above all, is truly inspired.

Still unconvinced:
Addicted to Love: The Kate Moss Story by Fred Vermorel, from £7.91, www.amazon.co.uk. Vermorel tries to unravel Kate Moss the fiction from Kate Moss the reality. Since she nevers interviews, it feels a bit voyeuresqe.

Also unconvinced about former beau Pete Doherty, or just like British music:
The Libertines Bound Together: The Story of Peter Doherty and Carl Barat and How They Changed British Music by Anthony Thornton and Roger Sargent,from £10.15, www.amazon.co.uk. So is Pete Doherty just a druggie fame-seeker who happened to go out with Kate Moss? An honest account of The Libertines, and an insight into the wider movement of disaffected youth of which they were a part.