A moment in time: Fashion statements

Chinese fashionistas are showcasing their confidence and taste around the world. Back in the 1980s, when China had just opened up to the outside world, there were far fewer ways to make a fashion statement. One option was to put on a pair of trendy sunglasses, as the five young women in the picture above demonstrate. They were photographed enjoying the sun in a park in Beijing in 1980.Nowadays, the Chinese are much more adventurous and keen to embrace different styles from around the world.In the picture on the right, taken in 2005, Chinese tourists try on striking Venetian masks in Italy.