He meant the dicky-bow. And so off he went to the till and paid €3, leaving me feeling almost naked without it. “May it bring you luck,” I called after him, as he vanished out the door.

It's debs time. Long glamorous dresses, black tie suits, dicky bows and corsages. Excitement, expectation and etiquette. What goes with what, who’s going with who, who hosts what, who goes to ...