The opening of the immense, 24,000-square-foot boutique drew Rudolph Giuliani and squeeze Judith Nathan, uber-models Natalia Vodianova, Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl, and snapper Mario Testino, plus Blaine Trump, Bettina Zilhka, Marina Livanos, Fabien Baron, Domenico De Sole and Nicky Hilton -- in a Burberry raincoat.

All were welcomed by the brand's high-powered CEO, Rose Marie Bravo, attired for the evening in long red satin coat in a blown-up plaid.

"The thing I love about the store are these. They're real," joked Burberry designer Christopher Bailey as he showed off a half dozen wooden headed stockmen attired in brilliant red Grenadier Guards uniforms.

"As are these," smiled Bailey, fingering their authentic World War One medals.

American marketing savvy and British eccentric aplomb come together in all six floors of the new Burberry outlet, with merchandise ranging from skateboards and snowboards in speckled black with thin plaid detailing to old silver cufflink boxes.

A squadron of stockmen are posed throughout the store, some in the trench fabric with blocks of red like a De Styl painting, others composed in an amalgam of the various plaids that Burberry has used over its 146-year history.

As they downed English shepherd's pies and champagne, guests had a chance to see the house's full range of products - Burberry Prorsum and Burberry London collections for men and women, plus children's wear, accessories, golf wear, sunglasses, watches and fragrance.

"Did you get a chance to see my ideas?" inquired a twinkle-eyed Viscount Linley.

The Queen of England's nephew, famed for his "architectural" cigar humidors, has developed some collector's items for the new store -- boxes in oak and walnut-colored variations of the plaid.

Post-opening, Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter hosted a droll party attended by Sandra Bernhard, Anna Wintour, Irina Pantaeva, Amy Wesson and the Frasers Honor and Violet, in Burberry's old shop on the other side of Fifth Avenue, where guests proudly sported wrist bands fashioned from mini trench belts.

Outside, the London cab, available via Neiman Marcus' latest Christmas catalogue for $58,000, waited.