An easy way to make friends at a party is to wear a "what's it" - something that people likely haven't seen before or that seems slightly out of context. This gives people an excuse to talk to you about something other than "where are you from?" and "what do you do?" which get repetitive and predictable after the first few conversations. As a bonus, having people come to you takes less energy than trying to enter and exit conversations that you think might be interesting. It's a win-win for everyone.
To pick a good "what's it", think about what makes you stand out from the crowd. Typically, it'll be a fashion accessory, but it might be a book that you're carrying. Make it easy for people to ask you where you got it or if there's a story behind it.