New York Magazine has been one of my favourite magazines for a very, very, long time, and naturally NYMag is one of my most frequently checked websites.
This is why I was shocked to have discovered a very long article, with mini sections, comparing New York and London. No, I was not shocked that it existed, but I was shocked that somehow, even though I log on to NYMag.com a few times a week, I must have just completely missed it!

The article, written by various authors (who cover specific comparison topics), is still available online, and though it was written approximately one year ago, I think most of the points made are still relevant today.

After all, the fact that Sex and the City, a show that redefined New York for viewers worldwide is premiering in London a whole two weeks before New York, has to say something!

The article, which starts with an in depth analysis, calling London, ‘the other New York’, also features a nice selection of mini articles with titles like:
Who’s Got Juicier Gossip? Where’s the Sex Better? Who Puts on a Better Show? Where Is the Art Groovier? Which City Is a Bigger Terror Target? Who’s More Real-Estate Obsessed? Which Lit Scene Is More Stuck Up? Are We No Longer the World’s Financial Capital? and lots, lots, more.

I read it all, but was particularly interested in a few specific topics, here are some quotes from the topics you must check out:

Who’s Got Freakier Fashion?
Fashion in London is extreme, perverse, and seriously experimental. London designers still stitch their collections on kitchen tables, pawn their mother’s jewelry, and generally beg, borrow, and steal to get their collections together. In New York, where designers’ collections are guided by retailers, the aesthetic is generally more nervous and better behaved. But in London, wackos like Gareth Pugh send out cyberfreaks in see-through black-striped PVC capes. Alexander McQueen before him specialized in shocking horror corsets made with spikes and pubic-bone-bearing “bumsters” shown in a Hawksmoor church in Spitalfields (“Jack the Ripper” territory). London designers love extreme locations—underground car parks, disused warehouses, former brothels—whereas New Yorkers show in white boxes. London designers invite a crazy mix of guests and revel in real let-your-hair-down, lose-your-house-keys, kiss-a-stranger after-parties. Of course, there comes a time when any London designer must flee the nest and show in New York or Paris, in hopes of attracting bigger bucks.

Who Rocks Harder?
What’s true of New York crowds tends to be true of our bands too. Few have the courage to be truly reckless. Or, as Kid Harpoon, a London folkie known for bizarre acoustic ditties, puts it, “In New York, you will see some really good bands playing really tightly and professionally. In London, you get a lot of sloppy bands that have weird and wonderful ideas.”

Who’s Having More Fun?
“New Yorkers are more concerned with arriving at a new cool spot,” says Christian Stavros, a 26-year-old who works in A&R who has just moved back to the East Village after a seven-month stint in London. “Londoners are simply concerned with finding a spot on the dance floor to freak out on.”

I’m not sure I completely agree with Christian Stavros statement, as though his statement is accurate in specific parts of London, and very specific clubs, these clubs seem to be disappearing every day, being replaced by these so called ‘hot spots’ which pop up every other minute, and right now… Well, it’s not only about being a member or on the list for the cool new hot spot, every single club claims to be the cool new hot spot!
Let’s just say, I’m over it.

Ultimately, as someone whose favourite past time is plotting my escape back to New York, this (very long - if you read all the sections) article, has put a lot of things into perspective, and the truth is, we’re more similar than different, and though New York might stand tall as the older sister at the moment, London will be taking over that position much sooner than later!
After all, with the dollars current and continuously dropping weak state (a situation I take advantage off by only ever buying ‘major’ designer pieces from the states), most definitely proves this!

Side note:
I am completely torn when it comes to Em & Lo’s view on the Where’s the sex better? topic, I think a new uber city should emerge with a bit of both!

Source: NYMag, London (The Other New York.)