There are some women in this world whose lives read like a Jackie Collins novel. The type of woman who never looks less than immaculate, spends her time jetting around the world, has relationships with rich and famous men and when she's not partying with her A-list pals, is overseeing multi-million pound contracts.
Tamara Mellon, the founder and president of uber-glam shoe brand Jimmy Choo, is one of those women.
The daughter of businessman Tom Yeardye, who had stints as Rock Hudson's stunt man before making his millions working with Vidal Sassoon and Chanel model Ann, Tamara spent her formative years in an array of fashionable boarding schools before embarking on a brief stint in the heady world of public relations.
It wasn't long before she'd secured a dream job as accessories editor at fashion bible, Vogue, where you'd imagine she'd have wallowed in the dazzling array of designer shoes and handbags. According to Mellon though, back then "there weren't great shoes around".
So, what else is a savvy business girl with access to a generously-sized bank account to do, than to make these great shoes herself?
In 1996, Tamara went into business with the Malaysian shoe designer, Jimmy Choo care of a £150,000 loan from pops. Just eleven years later, when the company was sold to a private equity firm, it was estimated to be worth £185 million.
As a result, Tamara herself is now rumoured to be worth in the region of £100 million.
While there's no doubt she's enjoying the fruits of her labour, Tamara's not one to hide behind a velvet rope, so to speak, and for the last few years has been working alongside her close friend Elton John in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
"The reason I approached Elton is that we're friends and his charity is one of the highest rated charities in the world," she says at the party launch of Project PEP by Jimmy Choo, looking suitably glamorous, toned and tanned in a strapless red dress.
"When raising money, you really want to make sure it gets to the people you're raising it for and I completely trust Elton, so that's why I approached him."
She and Elton, first united on a charity auction project in 2005 called 'Four Inches' that assisted with the funding of the Simelela Rape Centre in Cape Town.
Four years on and Jimmy Choo is donating a percentage of sales from the limited edition Project PEP collection, that includes tote bags, clutches, ballet flats, heels and flip flops, to the Simelela Centre.
"I think it's important to a company, whether fashion or not, that when you reach a certain size, to be able to give back," she adds. "This is a continuation of supporting the Simelela Centre and by selling the product we're hoping to support it for another two years."
The Simelela centre is a cause Tamara is passionate to promote. Set up to administer victims of abuse with the vital HIV preventative PEP medication (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and provide an infrastructure for medical, counselling and legal support, the proceeds raised by Project PEP will enable the clinic to stay open day and night and provide 24/7 access to the life saving treatment that has to be administered within the first 72 hours of exposure to HIV.
"I started because of what was happening to women and children," continues Tamara after briefly posing for the paps alongside T4's Steve Jones and Madonna's ex, Guy Richie who have come along to show their support.
"When I started this my daughter was only three and it was really thinking about her and what was happening to these kids and that's why I was really passionate about it."
Her daughter, Araminta, or Minty as she's called, is now seven but it already looks like she wants to be step into her mother's shoes, as her favourite movie is The Devil Wears Prada.
Minty's father is Matthew Mellon, a member of filthy rich American banking family, whom Tamara parted from four years ago. As befitting a life of drama and intrigue in the run up to their divorce proceedings in 2007, it was discovered he'd used a private detective to tap into her computer. And you thought this kind of stuff only happens in the movies. This month Tamara returns to court to battle it out once again, but this time with her mother over money Tamara reportedly believes she is owed from her late father's estate.
And let us not forget the men in Mellon's life. After her marriage failed she was rumoured to have dated George Clooney and former Formula One multi-millionaire Flavio Briatore among others and only this year split from Hollywood bad boy turned good Christian Slater. But it appears that 42-year-old's not one to wallow having being recently spotted dining with ex-EastEnder turned Hollywood actor Sean Maguire.
But back to business, Tamara doesn't hide the fact she know how important it is that she's the walking embodiment of the Jimmy Choo customer. Perhaps that's why she's been quoted in the past as referring to her whirlwind life of parties and premieres as "work".
Today she prefers to refer to her life as "a grey area".
"It crosses between work and friends," she adds.
Perhaps then, we can forgive her for the recent revelation that she takes time out of her schedule to plan her next few outfits, upload them on to an iPhone so that one of her girls knows what to grab for her when she running late.
So what tips can the ultimate party girl bestow to those of us lacking her funds now the party season is upon us?
"I would say the best thing is to buy a great pair of shoes and a bag," she says. Little surprise there. "You can always pull out your favourite little black dress and you can modernise it with accessories."
For those of us whose budget can't stretch to the latest super sexy heel from the Jimmy Choo empire, we can at least soon get a sprinkle of the label's glamour when Jimmy Choo launches its first high street range in H&M this month.
"They approached us and I loved the idea because we're the first company to do accessories for them," she says. "All consumers are really well informed today, so I've loved the challenge and I love creating the product, that's what keeps me motivated."
"Just because someone isn't on a huge income doesn't mean they want a dumber product. That idea is insulting," she adds. "All women love fashion, they're all passionate about it. And that's why it'll be elbows at dawn when the new range is unveiled. Ladies, prepare for battle.
