Elegant Nigella shows Allen a bit of class at launch of new art gallery

She's known for her elegant style and is adept in exactly how to hold the perfect ladylike poise.

So it is, perhaps, appropriate that the graceful TV cook Nigella Lawson was on hand to teach Lily Allen a bit of class at a VIP event.

The unlikely duo were spotted together at the the launch of Nigella's husband Charles Saatchi's new art gallery in London's upmarket Chelsea.

Nigella Lawson teaches Lily Allen a little bit of elegance at the Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery, which opens to the public on Thursday, saw a host of celebrities turn out for the launch party, including Ruby Wax and Tracey Emin.

Charles Saatchi, who made artists such as Damien Hirst and Emin household names, is now looking east to China's emerging artists.

Nigella and Lily arrive at the launch party of the Saatchi Gallery

Sporting a new layered chop, 23-year-old Lily enjoyed checking out some of the contemporary Chinese art in The Revolution Continues exhibition.

But she did look a little awkward as she stood next to Nigella, who donned a graceful flowing black dress.

Lily stayed at the gallery for around 45 minutes before leaving for London's Dorchester Hotel to collect a BMI Award.

Tracey Emin and Ruby Wax were among the VIPs that attended the launch party

And perhaps it was just enough time to pick up a few skills in social etiquette from refined Nigella.

Apart from emerging in a range of sky-high heels, Lily has been keeping a relatively low profile of late following her on-stage rant at Elton John at the Q Awards last month.

Before and after: Nigella Lawson and husband Charles Saatchi before his diet. A slimmer Saatchi photographed, right, eating grapes in mid-September

The Smile singer told the star to 'F*** off' after he made a curt remark about her alcohol intake.

Nigella, however, has been playing the ever dutiful wife and standing by her husband as he embarked upon a bizarre egg diet.

The 65-year-old ate nine eggs a day for nine months to shed an incredible four stone.

Nigella gets a trainer to lick her into shape

Art collector Charles Saatchi is a fraction of the man he used to be after losing nearly four stone on a new vegetarian diet.

Now his glamorous wife Nigella Lawson, 48, is following suit after piling on the pounds.

Piling off the pounds: Domestic goddess Nigella Lawson is secretly meeting a personal trainer to get back into shape

The domestic goddess, who admits to a weakness for calorific treats, has embarked on an intense exercise regime in a bid to lose weight.

Says a chum: "Nigella has been secretly meeting a personal trainer to do an aerobic work-out session tailored to help her get back into shape.

"She has already lost quite a bit of weight and is also adapting her diet.

"She's even enjoying some of the vegetarian meals Charles has been eating to keep his weight down."

It's all a far cry from the days when, as Nigella revealed, the couple would "climb into bed together with a bowl each of cereal, ice cream and biscuits. It's Charles's idea of heaven."

• Following in Nigella's impressive wake, Peaches Geldof has also embarked on a healthy-eating regime.

"Peaches has totally cut out fast food from her diet and has lost a lot of weight in recent months," says a pal.

"She is preparing to make a show for MTV and when she saw herself on screen during playbacks of the pilot she vowed to lose some weight.

"She used to eat a lot of burgers but has sworn she will resist them from now on."

In chubbier times: Charles pictured with his sultry wife - Nigella