WHERE do all the top nobs hang out? In which fashionable corner of the universe will you find the most bizarre Brit artists, the toothiest TV presenters, supermodels, megamodels, international cabaret artistes and their tedious boyfriends?

Yes, that's right, London. But they are also spotted right here in North Yorkshire.

This county now has a claim to be the Monte Carlo of the North. A tenuous claim, yes, but one which the Diary has no hesitation making.

Our evidence: magazine photo spreads and national newspaper articles.

Exhibit A: Vogue magazine, December issue. This journal has not come to the Diary's notice before, but it seems to be full of thin women in strange clothes.

Except for one page, headlined "North Riding", which features a galaxy of stars (or vaguely famous celebs, at any rate) at Thirsk races.

They were all guests of Jay Jopling, owner of London art galleries and agent to shark slicing modern art millionaire Damien Hirst.

At the risk of sounding like Nigel Dempster, Mr Jopling is the son of the former Conservative minister Michael (now Lord) Jopling, of Ainderby Quernhow, near Thirsk.

Anyhow, Vogue reports how Jay invited a load of London chums up North for his 40th birthday party.

We are not ones to pass comment on another's choice of friends, but any crowd that includes Janet Street-Porter, Tracey Emin, David Furnish (aka Mrs Elton John) and Lulu must be worth leaving the county to avoid. Don't worry, though, they'll all be back in Islington now.

Exhibit B: showbiz scandal sheet the Daily Telegraph reports that Elle Macpherson has "taken out a lease on the Mulgrave Estate, the Marquess of Normanby's picturesque family seat".

Miss Macpherson, left, whose matchless skill of walking and wearing clothes at the same time has justly earned her millions, can't get enough of the East Coast, it is claimed.

So no doubt we will soon see her tucking into one of each on Whitby seafront.

Aristos love to shoot things at Mulgrave. As the Telegraph reports, it is "a stunning place, on the North Yorkshire coast, with very high, challenging birds".

Miss M will feel right at home, then.

INCIDENTALLY, in the same issue of Vogue, York has two more mentions. Firstly, the magazine's "lifestyle expert" Rita Konig instructs us to tuck into one of the city's delicacies on Christmas morning: "I like traditional stocking fillers; the things that you get every year, such as a Terry's Chocolate Orange - far preferable to a clementine, and delicious before breakfast."

Although nutritionally sound, such advice would probably make York cosmetic dentist Dr Andrea Ubhi cringe. She is called upon by Vogue to comment on grades of grin.

Dr U says there are imperfect "British smiles", epitomised by famous Brits, er, "like Madonna", and "big, bold white ones" which are "American smiles" like Halle Berry (not Halle Tosis).

Judging by the Diary's own flawed oral regime, the Brit smile looks less like Madonna and more like my dinner.

NO doubt our own fashion correspondent, Anne McIntosh, will soon be poached by Vogue.

Part two of the Vale of York MP's tips for the party season is all about black, which apparently is the new black. But don't leave it unadorned says North Yorkshire's most colourful Conservative.

"I do have my slinky black dress in my wardrobe. I liven it up by having adding a silver scarf and glittery tights. The ones I got are from M&S. They are subtle, but they do shimmer."

She also has several pairs of black trousers which can be set off with a range of bright colours. Her own favourite? "Conservative royal blue".

Updated: 09:54 Friday, December 12, 2003