OH POSSUM, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?

'I THINK people like dressing up in Hong Kong. It can be very, very dressy. They do it so well and they do it adventurously and with a bit of humour. You can't go to a social event in Hong Kong without bursting out laughing.' Those words could only have come from one mouth, from those possum-pouting lips of the Dame herself. Despite the sad absence of Madge (visiting non-existent friends and relations in New Zealand), Dame Edna braced herself on her recent visit to promote Cathay Pacific's new inflight series on Pacific Place and shopped, shopped, shopped.

She also took time out from her rigorous schedule to lend the Sunday Morning Post Magazine a few of the fashion tips that have made her the Marquesa of Mix and Match.

'Follow your own impulses,' insisted Dame Edna, a swirling symphony of style in mauve hair, wet-look blue dress with black trim and that all-important pink clutch bag. 'Don't be a conformist when it comes to fashion. Don't say 'Oh, I'm just an ordinary person, how do I know what goes with what?' ' Dame Edna has enjoyed a love affair with Hong Kong for more than 20 years, from an early cabaret engagement at the Mandarin Oriental's old Harbour Room ('an event marred by the appearance of Les Patterson') to her recent starring role in a procession of charity balls.

Those balls have, of course, thrown Dame Edna into contact with Hong Kong's dizzying high society and it comes as no surprise to find that she holds our social glitterati in the same breathless esteem as the rest of us: 'I had never felt under-dressed until I went to my first Hong Kong ball, I must say, and I think that's fun.' But, as even Dame Edna had to concede, our social butterflies occasionally fly a little too close to the fashion flame. Here then, are Dame Edna's Hong Kong fashion 'dos' and 'don'ts'.

Dame Edna Say: * Avoid the sun. 'I don't sunbathe a lot because I'm concerned about my skin. I don't like that leathery look which a lot of Australian women have.' * Always wear glasses, or 'face furniture'. 'If the eyes are the mirror on the soul, then glasses are the Venetian blinds of the soul.' * Avoid the public eye when shopping. 'I wear a headscarf, one from the Queen. She does the same thing. I think my scarf still has a bit of her lipstick on it.' * When a Royal cries on your shoulder ... 'I always wear rough material. Royal tears are corrosive.' Eriko Dmitrovsky (pictured with Major-General Guy Watkins): 'I've always thought she was adorable, little Eriko. She likes hats, she often wears hats and I wear hats myself. But on the whole I think hats are back, and so are gloves. Not just for racing events but even for afternoon tea.' Eddie and Deborah Phillips: 'What they do is turn an ordinary ball into a fancy dress ball, even when it's not requested.' Brenda Chau: 'She has durability. This woman was a talking point 20 years ago and the fact she has stayed there is, I think, to her credit. Pink has come and gone, and gone and come but it goes on for ever with little Brenda. Look at that hat she's wearing.' Flora Cheong-Leen: 'I think somehow the herringbones are a little over the top, literally in more ways than one. And it's an upside-down hat you'll notice. She appears to photographed in a retail outlet. Not in Pacific Place? Well forget her.' Anson Chan: 'That's nice. I think it's by Escada. Notice how a hat would have helped that one. I wonder why she's photographed juxtaposed with a poster saying 'take extra care when reversing'. Does she do a lot of reversing? Mind you she's lovely. And clutching a clutch bag.' Lavender Patten: 'I always told Lavender that she would be better if she was lavender. It would be quite simple to bleach her hair and dye it mauve. I think she seriously considered my advice once and when I'm back I'm going to press her to it. [Hairdresser] Rodger Craig could do wonders with her follicles. I've always wanted to dress Lavender ... she does need taking in hand but she's such a nice woman.' Angela Ho: 'She's wearing a bit of Thai silk there, which is clever of her because Thai silk is coming back. It came back after she started wearing it.' Josie Ho: 'I don't think underwear should be too form-hugging because the body has to breathe.' Cecil Chao: 'I think men shouldn't wear see-through socks. I've noticed they're peculiar to this part of the world. Translucent socks I think are a little bit sissy. And I don't like not wearing a tie. If you're wearing a beautiful little, what is it, cashmere jacket, no tie makes people think you've got so fat you can't wear your old shirts.' Jackie Chan: 'Some people like to be noticed from a distance. Is he thinking someone might reverse in his direction? Which is Jackie Chan by the way. Oh yes, of course it is. Those loud outfits, they're ageing on a man.' Diane Butler: 'Little Di. How is she? She and I have a bit of a chat to each other every time we're here. Well, she's a flaunter, Little Di, but in a nice way. I think she's one of my favourite Hong Kong people, although I love Lavender.'