Yikes, yanks! And there's plenty of 'em over there, now that England is Hollywood's latest power trip. In the last year, L.A. royals have laid claim to the sceptered isle: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are still there shooting Eyes Wide Shut; George Lucas was holed up at Leavesden Studios for the next trilogy; and William Morris has a new contingent in Soho. Even before this L.A. invasion, London was known as ''cool Britannia,'' thanks to the Spice Girls and designers John Galliano and Stella McCartney — whose dad made the city swing 30 years ago. Given all this transatlantic trendiness, we thought it time for a high-tea showdown between London and L.A.'s power styles. Eat your heart out, New York.
POWER UMBRELLA
LONDON: A tote of the Underground, when you can't find that
fur-trimmed Gaultier brolly. L.A.: The Telescope beach umbrella
from Berk's in Santa Monica — where Meg Ryan shops.
POWER COCKTAIL
LONDON: Ask for Chilean red wine. L.A.: Tinseltown's favorite
temptation is an Adam's Apple martini at Lola's.
POWER WATCH
LONDON: Spice Girls use Baby G-Shocks. L.A.: Angelenos keep time
with ticking high-end vintage models (Michael Crichton and Tim
Roth both have Rolexes).
POWER HOOD
LONDON: Notting Hill is the city's hippest hamlet (it's also the
setting for an upcoming Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant comedy). L.A.: Amalfi Drive in Pacific Palisades, where Steven Spielberg, Tom
Hanks, and Whoopi live, has a vista that almost rivals the
Amalfi Coast.
POWER SUIT
LONDON: Savile Row tailoring with '90s flair from Timothy
Everest (who's dressing Cruise for Eyes Wide Shut). L.A.:Giorgio Armani Black Label, natch, a fave of Mel Gibson and
George Clooney.
POWER HOTEL
LONDON: The Metropolitan, where Brad Pitt and Jewel hail
Britannia. (Runner-up: Blakes, where Patsy Kensit — Mrs. Liam
Gallagher — nests.) L.A.: Hotel California means a suite at the
Mondrian (but the keys are ugly).
POWER TEA
LONDON: Brits steep lively in the pyramid power of PG Tips. L.A.: Swedish Berries rules at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, where
Courteney Cox oft sips.
POWER SHOE
LONDON: Brits step lively in navy-strap court pumps from Jimmy
Choo in Knightsbridge. L.A.: Manolo Blahnik's black Armida is
the perfect fit.
POWER PERK
U.K.: A party at 10 Downing with Tony Blair. Ask
Noel G. L.A.: A sneak peek at the yet to be opened Getty Center.
Ask David Geffen.
POWER SHADES
U.K.: Sold by Connolly, the same leather-goods
company that does Rolls-Royce interiors. L.A.: Matsuda No. 10617
in Cherry Berry with blue lenses.
POWER PUP
U.K.: A beagle saved by Paul and Linda McCartney, who
rescued a pack of pooches from research experiments. L.A.: A
beagle saved by Kim Basinger is true canine cool.
POWER WHEELS
U.K.: Liam G. buzzes about on a Vespa. L.A.: The
Audi A8 is Seinfeld's new drive.
POWER ROYAL TREATMENT
U.K.: Champneys spa at Le Meridien hotel,
where the massages are fit for a king. L.A.: A dosha body wrap
at Kenneth George Sanctuary makes everyone feel like queen for a
day.
MOST L.A. PLACE IN LONDON
(and vice versa) U.K.: The
mega-minimal Met bar. L.A.: London's calling at Santa Monica's
Ye Olde King's Head, where the court includes Hugh Grant, Rod
Stewart, and Cruise/Kidman — when they're not in jolly old England.
— Tricia Laine and Degen Pener, with additional reporting by Gabriele Marcotti
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