After much ado, you've finally decided where and how you will `party like its 1999'. Now comes the hardest part -- what to wear.

With all the hype leading up to the `party of the century' there is an incredible amount of pressure to find something worthy of a once in a life-time event.

But what do you wear to say goodbye to one century and usher in a new millennium? How do you look like a million bucks without spending your entire Year 2000 salary for a dress? According to some of Bermuda's retailers you do not have shell out a fortune to make a grand entrance on New Year's Eve -- just pick up a regal ball gown skirt.

"Ball gown skirts are the number one trend,'' said Gibbon's Company buyer Paula Clark.

"Anything with shimmer or made of iridescent fabrics,'' she said. "You will find that glitter will be worn on top with a neutral bottom.

"There are touches of beading around necklines and on accessories like purses and shoes.'' Ms Clark also predicted that most fashionable women will be wearing any shade of silver, grey or steel blue.

And deep-rich colours will also be making a strong appearance this New Year's with the shades of red leading the way.

"Colour is making a comeback,'' said H & E Smith's buyer, Charlotte Smith.

"We have a lot of wine/burgundy as well as a lot of other rich colours.

"And of course black is a staple that will never go out of style.'' "People really want to get a special dress for New Years and they don't mind spending a little extra,'' added Aston & Gunn buyer Nicole Warren. "They are looking for glitz, but something that's not over the top.

"But people are also looking for something they can wear afterwards -- practical yet special.

"Red is an important colour this season. It is an entrance maker yet is a colour you can wear again.'' And dressing-up for New Year's 1999 is not confined to the mature crowd -- the younger set will also be putting on the `Ritz' on December 31.

"Anything with stretch or made of high-tech fabrics will be popular,'' said Ms Clark. "Bustier and anything that's bare at the back have been well received.'' Those who will take a more pragmatic approach to New Year's Eve can update their favourite dress with the must-have accessory for 1999 -- the pashmina shawl.

"They are the number one accessory this season,'' said Ms Clark.

"They come in a variety of colours, from subtle pastels to rich jewel tones.'' Ms Warren echoed the statement and pointed out that beaded or hand-embroidered pashmina shawls were the next generation in luxurious wraps.

"A really nice shawl is the best way to update a dress. `The beaded and hand embroidered pashmina shawls will be the next must-have.'' As with anything that is `en vogue', these fashionable cashmere shawls are not cheap. Pashmina shawls begin at $220 for a small shawl and escalate in price as the size of the shawl increases.

If a cashmere shawl is a little out of your price bracket, just `shrug' it off suggested Ms Clark.

"Sophisticated sheaths are always popular and they can be updated with a shrug -- which is a tight bolero jacket,'' she explained.

Accessories are another way to turn last-year's dress into a 1999 fashion statement.

"Accessories make the outfit,'' noted Ms Warren. "For New Years, the jewellry will be small, yet chunky -- like fat diamond studs.

"Neck pieces are strong this year and they tend to be multi-strand pieces that are tiered, descending in length.

"Heavily beaded chokers are also popular,'' she pointed out. "And a small, delicately beaded purse is a must for New Years.

Ms Smith added: "The perfect purse and the right pair of shoes can update any black dress.'' If you have a little extra `pocket change' left over from your Christmas shopping, you might want to by-pass the costume jewellry and go for the real thing.

According to the associate press, even jewellry is picking up the celebratory mood, with flashy white and fiery colours.

"Everyone will be bringing out their biggest and best diamonds for this historic moment,'' says Lynn Ramsey, president of the Jewellry Information Centre in New York. "More diamonds, texture, combinations of matt and shiny finishes and an increased desire for platinum are all driving new looks for this season of celebration.'' Solomon's Allan Porter said no women could execute a fashion faux-pas by wearing diamonds on New Year's Eve.

"If I had to pick one gem, I would have to say diamonds are the way to go,'' he said. "The bigger, the better! "Tahitian black pearls are very much in demand and a lot of people are asking for platinum.'' And Mr. Porter said that he had noticed a return towards larger pieces of jewellry.

"The last few years I have noticed people selecting larger pieces that are still in good taste,'' he explained. "We're doing more art nouveau pieces -- looks from the 20's, 30's and 40's.

"But we have a wide variety of pieces ranging from the powerful to the delicate.'' For more ideas on what to wear New Year's Eve, Gibbons Company will be holding a `Evening Wear Fashion Show' this evening. Tel: 295-0022 for further details.