We are not including shower time in the five minutes – we are not miracle workers – but giving the impression that you are the kind of man who takes pride in his appearance can be achieved in next to no time with the right grooming routine.

Ms Melissa DeZarate, a men’s groomer and stylist who splits her time between New York and Los Angeles and whose clients include the singer Mr Brendon Urie and the actors Mr Billie Porter and Mr Nicholas Braun, is a bona fide genius when it comes to looking camera-ready in a jiffy. “I literally do have times where I have just five minutes with a client, so I definitely have a couple of quick and easy tips,” she says.

First up, hair. “Your hair doesn’t have to look perfect, but if you’re in a rush maybe go for something that’s a touch dishevelled,” says DeZarate. One of her trade secrets is to put a little bit of hairspray on a brush and run it through the hair to get rid of any flyaways on your forehead. “It’s one of those little tips that makes you automatically look 10 times cleaner and fresh when you step into a party,” she says.

Next, DeZarate says taking a few seconds to hydrate your skin before a party is always worthwhile. “Especially if you’re going out to a party and getting a little drunk, you’ll get dehydrated and you don’t want that to show on your skin,” she says. “A nice mattifying moisturiser is always good for that.” Another of DeZarate’s secrets is blotting sheets. “I send every single client onto the red carpet with them,” she says. “They’re so small and you can fit them in your pocket,” along with lip balm, which goes a long way to making you look healthier overall. “When you’re at a party, the last thing you want is those, for lack of a better way to say this, dry and crusty lips.”

Getting a sunkissed glow can also be achieved in a matter of seconds. DeZarate uses TOM FORD Bronzing Gel. “It can be a touch tricky to use, so if you’re just starting out, mix it with your moisturiser so it goes on evenly and a bit lighter,” she says.

DeZarate says one of the most important things to consider before an event is fragrance. “Take the time to pick your personal fragrance because, more than just making you smell good, it creates your atmosphere,” she says. She often directs her clients towards Frédéric Malle. “So many of my friends wear Portrait Of A Lady and they all smell great,” she says. “There is nothing that will get you more into a party mood than when you feel your own fragrance and aura. It automatically pumps you up, like a really good playlist.”

Now that you’re looking acceptable from the neck up, it’s time to get dressed. Even though your wardrobe is packed with clothes, somehow have absolutely nothing to wear. Take a deep breath and heed the following advice.

“Fabric is super important and going for softer fabrics such as silk mixes or mohair that tend not to crease easily can help,” says the stylist Ms Rose Forde, whose clients include the consistently well-dressed actors Messrs Matt Smith and Omari Douglas.

When you’re pressed for time, Forde advises leaning towards deconstructed tailoring, for example a slightly more casual suit jacket or a roomier pair of trousers, which will feel comfy and easy while still giving the impression that you’ve made an effort. “You can finesse your look with more effortless pieces such as T-shirts and fine knits under suits if you are really worried about the finer details in a hurry,” she says. It is worth getting into the habit of ironing your clothes, or at least investing in a hand steamer for when you need things in a pinch.

Simply being familiar with the clothes you’re going to put on will help speed things up. It’s no good wearing something for the first time and hoping for the best. Forde once received an early morning call from a panicked client who couldn’t work out how to do up a boot buckle. “It was complicated, to be fair,” she says, “Get to know your fastenings and buttons. Pre-tie your tie if you are worried about getting it right and get clothes tailored well so there are no surprises with fit on the night.”

Forde says that good party dressing is less about conforming to a dress code and more about going with your intuition. “I think party means personality now, so lean into whatever makes you feel good, whether that’s chic or extravagant,” she says. A well-tailored pair of trousers or a perfectly fitted blazer will serve you as some of the most reliable pieces in your wardrobe – truly things you can throw on in 30 seconds before you rush out the door – so it’s worth getting them right. As someone wise once said, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.