To help out with such classic fashion dilemmas, Shanghai Star presents Igerdo Company's Alphabet of Fashion 2000/2001, 26 top fashion tips for a new century.

A for Artisan - To counter high-tech, the hand-made touch: embroidery, fringes and hand-knits can be more fashionable than cyber suits.

B for Boarding School - The school look, brought up to date for the new millennium with a techno touch including checks, club stripes and rings.

C for Capes - Capes and ponchos, whether woven or crocheted and either wrapped over the shoulders or reaching down to the knee, are the latest in cuddly wraps.

D for draped blanket - New direction in voluminous blanket looks, supersoft, lightweight wool fabrics and double face materials.

E for ethno nomads - The ethno nomads wander from Ireland to England, Scandinavia to eastern Europe to draw inspiration from traditional patterns and decorative elements from these regions.

F for fur - Whether fake fur, fun fur or the real thing, fur is in. Ranging from collars, linings, eye-catching trims, cropped tops and shaggy Tibetan sheepskin to sophisticated mink.

G for grainy coarse knit - Coarse knit and yet soft and cuddly looks are favoured for wellness/feelgood pullovers and cardigans for that weekend feeling.

H for high collars - Narrow and accentuated high-sitting collars that make a statement.

I for I (myself and I) - Generation I will replace Generation X in the next decade. "I" marks the lasting trend towards individuality and egomania. Initial forerunners of this trend have already arrived on the scene: I-Mac (Apple Computers) or I-look (Olympus camera).

J for jacquards - Jacquards are rising to new glory. As aerated, voluminous weaves in matt-shine silk and ethno knits.

L for layering - Layering interrupts long overlaid extended lines using different lengths and silhouettes making the winter transparent look appealing and suitable for everyday wear through colour and fabric contrasts.

M for mohair - Mohair, angora, alpaca... airy, hairy materials and knits as well as luxury precious wool fabrics represent softness and sensual chic.

N for new denim - New denim is heralded in by the motto Jeans de Luxe. Prints, paste jewellery, pearls, embroidery and other imaginative decoration help this once masculine Serge de Nimes on his way to an extremely feminine revival.

O for op-art or pop-art - Inconspicuous macro designs in an op-art style draw all our attention to prints again.

P for Portobello Road - The legendary Portobello Road in the swinging London of the '60s and early '70s is synonymous with new, young chic.

Q for quilts - For volume or warmth. Having already conquered the outdoor jacket and coat segments, quilts (padded looks) are now conquering the skirt, indoor jacket and waistcoat as positioned or allover features.

R for romantic frills and gathers - Frills, gathers, roll pleats and smocking are some of the characteristic details for the new romantic look.

S for sensuality - Sensuality and femininity, the pioneering key words for fashion.

T for twin touch - Twin touch is typical for the new double fabrics and bondings. These have a completely different feel on the outside and inside.

U for unfinished - Unfinished design is still much in evidence. The non-finished laser-cut edges are now joined by frayed hems and edges mostly in wool fabrics.

V for Velcro fasteners - Future and cyber fashion with aerodynamic design conceals fasteners with velcro and magnet fasteners.

W for wellness/feelgood factor - Fashion with a feelgood/wellness factor is fashion for the future. Fashion+function replaces either fashion or function.

X for xenon coolness - Silvery cool reflections in a xenon lamp style accentuate future fashion visions and cyber fashion as finishes or effect yarns.

Y for yin and yang - The two Chinese words actually mean the unity of the two opposites. They are synonymous with the new search amongst today's and tomorrow's consumers for physical, mental and spiritual harmony and balance.

Z for zigzag cable stitch - Cable stitch, Aran knits or Norwegian intarsia add a folksy touch to the sportswear feel.