THE CHIC LIST: The secret dress codes of the world's most stylish cities revealed - plus the smart ways to add instant glamour to your look

I love putting on my glad rags – any small excuse for a glow up and you can count me in. 

The joy of dressing up is why I find award season so enjoyable– I adore checking out what celebrities like our cover girl Margot Robbie, and other stylish stars such as Jennifer Aniston and Zendaya, choose to wear: each look presenting a tantalising glimpse of their personalities and tastes.

Every fashionable city you visit has a secret evening dress code that takes a few dinners out to properly unravel. In Paris, for example, it’s frowned upon to appear too dressed up. You’re expected to look effortlessly chic, as if you just threw your outfit together at the last minute, and the more classic your style the better.

New York is similarly not too dressy, but you can get away with a slightly more expressive and out-there edge. Meanwhile, in London and Dublin, very obvious efforts to ramp up the glamour will be applauded.

Dress, Sezane, earrings,  Cos (see below), bag, Jill Sander and sandals, Toteme

I remember very well my early days of dressing up. Some have even left scars. My first university black-tie ball, for instance. I was invited by a guy I didn’t fancy, but I really wanted to wear an evening frock, so I accepted. 

Maybe it was karma, but one of the straps on my black velvet maxi broke and the rest of the evening was spent with me trying to keep my dress from falling around my ankles.  I’m sure I flashed way too much to my date’s horrible best friend, who kept leering at me on the dancefloor.

After boobgate, of course, I bumped into him on campus at every turn, leaving me feeling mortified all over again.

But, thankfully, my love of dressing up has remained undimmed and this week I’ve compiled a carefully curated list of essentials you can mix and match for glam evenings out...

★ Instead of unwalkably high shoes, try a slip-on pointy mule with a small heel. Toteme’s patent-leather offering, for example, is a more modern take.

★ A good blazer will see you through any dinner, and adds instant polish. If you’re petite, avoid long-line blazers and keep the length just below the waist.

★ You can’t beat a trouser suit: sleek and great for wearing with different items in your wardrobe.

★ A high-waisted midi or maxi suits lots of body shapes. Just team with a T-shirt or, my favourite,  a waistcoat, for a confident contemporary feel.

★ Simple yet effective jewellery – I favour a less-is-more look with well thought-out pieces. I’m currently coveting the drop ring from Bottega Veneta.

Waistcoat, £119, aligne.co

Hello mellow yellow

Nothing says spring like soft yellow. This long waistcoat from Aligne is the ideal choice for an evening out. Pair with white or black trousers.

Shoes, £325, russellandbromley.co.uk

A squarer deal

Now is the perfect time of year to introduce a white shoe to your wardrobe. This square-toe Mary Jane will both freshen up your look and add instant kudos to trousers and dresses.

Earrings, £35, cos.com

Ahead of the curve

These chunky earrings are a modern alternative to classic hoops and look way more expensive than they are. Crafted from gold-tone recycled brass polished to a high shine, their curved shape elegantly hugs the earlobe.

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