SEX AND THE CITY - SEX AND THE CITY WORLD PREMIERE IN LONDON

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda came to London last night as Sex And The City's New York style icons arrived for the world premiere of a movie charting the characters' lives four years on.

The crowd was almost as excited about the leading ladies' outfits as they were about the plot and there were no disappointments on the red carpet at the Odeon Leicester Square, which had been sprinkled with sparkles for the occasion.

There was a certain degree of confusion however as to why the world premiere was held in London rather than in New York, the setting for the television series which is often referred to as the fifth character.

First to arrive was Sarah Jessica Parker, wearing a pale green dress by Alexander McQueen, with her shoes and bag by the same designer. When asked why the premier was being held in London a diplomatic Parker answered: "We decided to have it here and we're delighted to be here."

Kim Cattrall was the second to arrive, wearing a red off-the-shoulder knee-length dress with a faint stripe by Vivienne Westwood.

Cynthia Nixon, who plays lawyer Miranda Hobbes, arrived wearing a floor-length low-cut pleated black Calvin Klein dress. She spoke to fans, but carefully avoided the media.

Kristin Davis, who plays art dealer Charlotte York Goldenblatt, was the last of the foursome to arrive, wearing a cherry-red vintage sleeveless dress and cream peep-toe heels. She was also diplomatic when asked why the world premiere was being held in London.

The film is released in the UK on May 28 but critics have given it mixed early reviews.

Celia Walden in The Daily Telegraph, who had some issues with the extensive product placement in the movie, said: “"ans of the series will lap this film up. It was coarse, sentimental, and outrageously materialistic - just as we hoped and expected it would be.

"In the first half-hour we're bombarded by so much brand placement that one might as well be witnessing an extended Vogue photo shoot brought to life."

Meanwhile, Will Pavia at the Times, said: "There may be a problem with stretching Sex and the City into a two hour and 20 minute film - it can feel like a never-ending dinner party: however pleasant the courses, after a while you can hardly eat another one," he writes, giving the film two out of five stars.