LaTeX: Redefining starred command

There is no \part* command. What happens is the \part command takes a look at the next character after it (with \@ifstar) and dispatches to one of two other routines that does the actual work based on whether there's an asterisk there or not.

Reference: TeX FAQ entry Commands defined with * options

Thanks to @smg’s answer, I’ve cobbled together a solution that works perfectly. Here’s the complete source, along with explanatory comments:

% If this is in *.tex file, uncomment the following line.
%\makeatletter

% Save the original \part declaration
\let\old@part\part

% To that definition, add a new special starred version.
\WithSuffix\def\part*{
  % Handle the optional parameter.
  \ifx\next[%
    \let\next\thesis@part@star%
  \else
    \def\next{\thesis@part@star[]}%
  \fi
  \next}

% The actual macro definition.
\def\thesis@part@star[#1]#2{
  \ifthenelse{\equal{#1}{}}
   {% If the first argument isn’t given, default to the second one.
    \def\thesis@part@short{#2}
    % Insert the actual (unnumbered) \part header.
    \old@part*{#2}}
   {% Short name is given.
    \def\thesis@part@short{#1}
    % Insert the actual (unnumbered) \part header with short name.
    \old@part*[#1]{#2}}

  % Last, add the part to the table of contents. Use the short name, if provided.
  \addcontentsline{toc}{part}{\thesis@part@short}
}

% If this is in *.tex file, uncomment the following line.
%\makeatother

(This needs the packages suffix and ifthen.)

Now, we can use it:

\part*{Example 1}
This will be an unnumbered part that appears in the TOC.

\part{Example 2}
Yes, the unstarred version of \verb/\part/ still works, too.