New year comes around and it's party time it's your time to show off! Are you ready?

The most important thing for a party is your attitude to the party itself, rather than what you are wearing. A relaxed and unrestrained mood and body are crucial. When the music starts, don't be shy, just sing and dance as much as you like. At a party, no-one is there to perform - it's a chance to enjoy yourself.

Parties make a great opportunity to show off a woman's sexiness. This is something most Chinese women may be too shy to speak about, but it is actually part of human nature, so why suppress it? After sitting in an office all day long, now comes the time to show off those flamboyant clothes and accessories!

Women have so many "sexy parts" such as anklebones, ears, shoulders, the neck, arms and throat. Wearing cute or gorgeous accessories on these parts will definitely make you a highlight of the party.

Flamboyant accessories at the anklebones, overstated earrings, long scarves or big shawls, a bare neck or funnel neckline, tattoos and chokers are all hot accessories for this year.

As to the clothes, bright colours, short tops and pants and sparkling fabrics can all be liberated from the wardrobes.

Boots and super-high-heeled shoes are almost made for parties. Different leathers and fabrics can create various gorgeous effects. There is printed floral viscose in rose, violet or tulip. As a contrast to robust silks there is soft calf leather, deliberately textured to give the impression that it has been obtained from the peccary, a pig-like animal from South America.

Honey-coloured leopards, black and white giraffes and daubed dalmatians have all been transformed by prints into elegant metropolitan boots. A sense of Africa or South America may be conveyed but metropolitan pavement pounders needn't worry - these are not bush-whacking safari thumpers but dainty offerings, bearing bows and metal accessories.

(Shanghai Star  January 9, 2004)