There are more different clubs out there than in a PGA Tour golfer’s excess baggage. Therefore the short, and not especially helpful, answer to the question ‘what should I wear to a club’ is that it depends on the type. A trap club, for example, will have a very different dress code from a jazz club.

The other thanks-for-that answer is that most of the time, you can wear what you want – apart from the times that you can’t, of course. We’ve all seen that episode of The Inbetweeners. Then again, do you really want to go to the kind of club that won’t let you in without proper shoes?

If going to a specific one then an internet search is going to be most illuminating in the first instance, whether it’s a stated no-trainers policy on the venue’s website or images of dishevelled revellers. But if you still need some all-purpose caddying clothing-wise, then below are some general principles that you can apply to upgrade yourself to club class.

Go Dark

Firstly, we’re talking about nightclubs here, so the principles of eveningwear – which tends to be dark – apply. (Black tie is, you know, black.) So even though the only DJ on show will be on the decks, your palette should still be predominantly sombre, with maybe the odd flash of white to break it up. Save the SS17 pastel trend for a sunny day.

As well as being more evening appropriate, a monochrome or tonal outfit composed of black, navy or shades of grey is also a simple but effective way to give daytime staples an edge. Black jeans in particular have a rock ’n’ roll vibe; grey also skews more modern and less selvedge-head woodworker than indigo.

(Related: What To Wear With Every Shade Of Denim)

Chinos could fly if they’re dark, tapered and not too smart-casual catalogue model. Or you could dress down a pair of sharply tailored trousers – even a whole slim-lapelled, cropped-jacketed suit – with a T-shirt and trainers. But that’s assuming it’s the kind of club that’s smart enough to warrant it – and open-minded enough not to insist on shoes.