Something about spending almost a half million dollars on two pastel-colored Bentley convertibles during a choking recession rubs me the wrong way.

But Paris Hilton always fantasized about owning a car like Malibu Barbie’s pink convertible.Last year, she decided a custom life-sized version would make the perfect Christmas gift … to herself.

This may have something to do with the end of her Benji Madden romance. Madden probably took one long look at what makes Hilton tick, envisioned himself as Malibu Ken, and promptly ran for the hills.As seen in these videos, Hilton takes great pride in matching her $200K toys with color-coordinating outfits. Kind of like playing Barbie dress-up only in this case she’s both puppet master and doll.

So how to explain recently being seen at The Ivy dressed in one of the worst mismatched outfits this side of Wilshire Boulevard? Has the flippantly fashionable never-a-hair-out-of-place celebutante lost her flair for panache? I’d say it’s more like time for Hilton to come in for a landing. Last November, she took the blue Bentley out for a spin and promptly ran out of gas. Never thought to check the gauge, or for that matter locate the tank.