Finding that perfect Millennium party dress can be difficult. But with the Millennium promising parties galore, there has never been a better time to invest in glamour.

High Street stores have increased the size of their evening wear collections with the busy party schedule in mind. The only difficulty facing shoppers is deciding which look to go for.

Traditional black, Christmassy red or Millennium silver are just some of the options on offer this year.

Forget plain styles, this season's look favours the adventurous, with embroidery, beading and decoration still as popular as ever.

Luxurious fabrics such as silk, satin, velvet or chiffon are also popular, with many designs mixed with cheaper man made materials making them more affordable. There are no rules about hemlines this year, with both long or short lengths being given equal prominence in the stores. And if a longer length appeals but you don't want complete cover, check out the thigh-split dresses.

But be careful if you are thinking of buying a new dress for the winter party season, says fashion expert Catherine Baudrand.

"Don't buy something you never would have dreamed of buying. People think, 'it's the Millennium' and they choose something that's out of character and it shows immediately.

"Be very careful not to go for something outrageous because you will want to be comfortable." She says buying beaded, embroidered or sequined frocks is a good idea - because they are set to be popular for a while and so will offer plenty of opportunity for wear.

Don't buy a fussy, embroidered dress and load it with accessories. Keep it simple and, if necessary, make a detail of one part of the outfit.

Silver is going to be a fashionable colour for the Millennium but the budget shopper should be warned that it may date.

And anyone wanting to opt for the sensible, versatile and flattering black dress can jazz it up with many of the accessories on offer in the stores. These include feather chokers for a modern vampish look, embroidered or jewelled slippers for the rich hippy look and fluffy mules for the pretty look.

There is good news for the fuller figure too. "If you are curvaceous buy something with a plunge neck as being sexy is back.

"Show off your curves and wear a fabulous choker and shoes," she advises.

Story date: Wednesday 29 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.