A couple of weeks ago, a certain Kevin McCloud decided that the secret to Britain’s housing problems might lie in the slums of Mumbai. In doing so, he conveniently overlooked horrendous poverty, disease and child labour, managing to elevate a living situation that no one would choose to an inspiration.

This week is even better. Homelessness – or at least looking like you sleep on the streets – is now fashionable. Vivienne Westwood, a designer who can charge thousands of pounds for a dress, produced a catwalk collection in Milan that emulated the scruffy appearance of the homeless. Male models pushed shopping trolleys, crawled out of cardboard boxes and had silver sprayed into their hair to make them look cold. Don’t even get me started on the fake blood.

Incidentally, Vivienne Westwood didn’t draw on a great deal of personal experience when she created her street chic designs. Westwood is quoted as saying: “The nearest I have come to it [homelessness] is going home and finding I don’t have my door key.” So not that near at all then?

Amongst the consumers who have everything, the appearance of having nothing may soon be de rigeur. It’s not limited to Vivienne Westwood anyway. The boots above cost $1974 (a staggering £1219) from brand Augusta. Seriously.

What the hell’s next? Catwalk models in Guantanamo-style boiler suits? Ooops, too late.