For us, nothing sparks more joy than perfectly placed bows. And this season, we’re spoilt for choice. Our favourite iterations include bows as part of the design, giving just the right feminine flourish. Another option: accessorise, which could be as simple as a ribbon tied around a low ponytail to something more eye-catching, like a belt.

Pink has a special place in our hearts when it comes to event dressing. The trick to making the many different shades look grown-up is a little counter-intuitive: keep it super-feminine. Now that doesn’t mean fussy – the designs are clean, but very pretty. As inspiration, Valentino, Marc Jacobs and Preen got it just right.   

A super-short dress with a demure design really packs a punch when you’re going somewhere special. True, they’re not for everyone. But if they suit your style, the key is to look for modest silhouettes with an elegant neckline, as seen at Zimmermann and Preen, or covered up, perfectly executed by Stella McCartney.   

Ruffles offer the perfect antidote to the smooth, languid silhouettes that can dominate event dressing. We love the former, but in our experience the fluttery feel of a gorgeously layered dress is rarely something you will tire of having in your wardrobe. The detailing can be as simple or complex as you like.

The formula is as simple as it is stylish: a very pared-back, block-hue dress with all-out, generous, billowing, puffed sleeves. The collections may be awash with statement sleeves for SS19, but we can assure you this is a shape that’s immune to ebbing in and out of vogue. 

We’re completely on board with elegant gowns getting the lingerie treatment. Now this is something that requires attention to detail. You want a dress that feels translucent, not revealing. Palette matters too: gravitate towards black, nude, sheer metallics and very pale pink.

The thing about feathery gowns, to put it plainly: they’re hard to replicate on the high street. However, what they can do to a beautifully designed dress is utterly whimsical. They make the fabric come to life with their soft, fluttery movement. And when done right, it is quite a thing to behold.