As the US presidential race got underway in earnest, everything that Michelle Obama wore - from clothes and accessories to shoes and hairstyle - caught the keen eye of fashion aficionados. The culmination was the floor-length white gown, designed by Taiwanese designer Jason Wu, she wore on her husband's inauguration, which got even Vivienne Westwood excited.
"She's got her own style and always looks good. I'd love to be able to help her look even better," gushed the iconic British fashion designer, credited with bringing modern punk and new-wave fashions into the mainstream
While Chinese fashion designers may not get the chance to dress the American First Lady, they certainly have a lot to say about the dress sense of deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), and of members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Guo Pei, 39, has noticed that more NPC deputies and CPPCC members have begun to pay attention to what they have worn in recent years.
Guo is well-known for dressing actresses and singers, some of whom are NPC deputies and CPPCC members. "But now more people are coming to me and asking for suggestions," she says. "I think it is very good that they are becoming increasingly aware of their image.
"I'm glad that female deputies and members are beginning to choose their dresses with their heart."
Serious clothes are generally the order of the day for women at such conferences and most are likely to pick garments with a masculine cut. "Usually, they wear tailored suits, shirts and dresses in styles that were typical of the 1970s and 1980s," says Guo.
The colors are never too bright, "though women tend to be partial to blue, green and even purple," she says. Since there are now more deputies and members who work as entertainers, "one sees more color and stylish cuts, all of which reflect a growing personal taste," she says. "If I'm asked to dress them, I will add more elements to the inside shirts and also cut the collars straight."
Accessories are also very important, she says, adding that brooches, scarves or even pearl necklaces, add an elegant yet unobtrusive touch.
For such occasions, the choice of colors is very important. "Never pick red. If you do like red, pick maroon, never bright red or pink," she advises.
Praising the styles sported by deputies and members from the minority nationalities, Guo says "silver earrings, necklaces and other hand-made accessories reflect their unique identity".
Mary Ma Yanli, a famous model and fashion designer, has also noticed the subtle shift in dress styles at these conferences. "Even a few male deputies and members are making an extra effort to look well-groomed."
Ready-to-wear does not cut it any more for such occasions, says Ma, and is delighted to discover that more men and women are going in for tailor-made suits.
She feels that female deputies and members should pay attention to the material, the cut, and even embellishments, such as embroidery, for their dresses.
Liu Wei, fashion designer for RoseW Company, gives the fashion thumbs-up to performers like Song Zuying, Peng Liyuan and TV hostess Yang Lan. "They all dress professionally and convey the message of success and seriousness," Liu says.
She feels former CCTV hostess Ni Ping is too casually dressed this time around and has also noticed that one deputy was wearing a scarf with the brand name displayed prominently. This is not appropriate for an occasion that gets much media exposure, she says.
