A utumn, we’ve been expecting you. After a September that seemed to miss the memo about changing seasons, October made up for it with serial storms and nights that drew in faster than you could say “fall back”. Time to hunker down and, whisper it, even put the heating on – or at least fire up an electric heater if you’re still holding out on the radiators.

But while you were drawn to the indoor pleasures of heaters, hot casseroles and hotter coffee , you’ve also had your eye on party season, or at least been thinking about venturing into those corners of your wardrobe that haven’t seen daylight since March.…