With Coronation Street style taking New York by storm, JENNY SCOTT gets two label junkies to give their verdict on 'doing a Hilda'. . .

IT'S the style that Lancashire gave to the world and now -- 40 years later -- the world has finally caught on. Yes, Coronation Street chic is a hit in the Big Apple, and even Sex And The City fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker is vowing to ditch her Jimmy Choos for tweeds, frumpy shoes and an Ena Sharples hairnet.

As stylist Karen Grand told New York Magazine: "There's something very interesting about working-class Britain in the early 60s. Coronation Street was black-and-white and so grimy. The characters just looked so cool."

But times have moved on in Lancashire since Minnie Caldwell and Martha Longhurst supped their milk stouts and Hilda Ogden donned hair curlers and overalls to dust her "muriel".

Our two modern-day fashion bellwethers -- Lesley Jackson and Catherine Allan, both members of the Oswaldtwistle Players -- give their views on whether Weatherfield-wear will be making a triumphant Rovers Return across the Atlantic to its original home.

Catherine, whose favourite labels are Gucci and Chanel, cited Sarah Jessica Parker as her role model.

"I love Sex And The City," she said. "But I can see Corrie fashion making a comeback -- definitely. It's so cheap! My outfit today cost £3 to put together.

"I think New York is finally coming back to basics," said Catherine. "The UK has always been a little bit ahead of the times. Just look at Carnaby Street in the '60s. I can see Union Road in Ossie becoming the Carnaby Street of the 21st century!"

Lesley, however, was not quite so convinced about the new look.

"One of the other cast members just mistook me for my mother," she complained from beneath her hairnet.

Lesley favours the Gerry Webber label and regards herself as something of a fashion icon for her 16-year-old daughter Helen, who occasionally pinches her clothes.

"It's not often you see people dressing like this now," she said, as she assembled her overall and rollers.

"I don't think the Americans can get over the fact that Britain is now very modern. I hope the frumpy look isn't making a comeback. These fashions all look like something out of the ark."