A dress is a good starting point. The weather in St Petersburg is scorching, and this floaty Marisota dress that skims the body would work well. The sparkles at the neckline add some razzmatazz and it will happily roll up and stay crease-free in your suitcase; all of this for £45.

If you are willing to spend a bit more, go to Fenwick, Bond Street. It is selling a simple but elegant fully sequinned silver shift dress by Gerard Darel (020-7629 9161) for £179. If you are worried about your upper arms, Marks & Spencer has a white detailed bolero for £29.50 in its Autograph range that you could easily wear over the top (marksandspencer.com).

If you would like something simpler but no less special, have a look at Fenn Wright Manson. It has the very stylish bronze silk wrap dress (£125, 01753 854856); wear it with flat sandals to the ballet, and invest in some metallic heels for the party back home.

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