Possibly, the most romantic, chic and fun party of the year is the annual “Diner en Blanc” (Dinner in White) in Paris in June. The mysterious and trendy Diner is a global dining event that, despite the veil of secrecy shrouding it, has become a worldwide phenomenon, spanning six continents, in which people gather in public space and set up a stylish dining area to enjoy quality food and wine.

The exact location is secret until the actual day, with guests notified one hour ahead by SMS. Guests arrive dressed in white, with picnic table, chairs, crockery, cutlery and glassware (no plastic!) wine, food and table decoration, all in white. And, like Cinderella, all must be gone by midnight taking everything with them, including the rubbish!

It all started in 1988 when a French man decided he wanted to invite a group of friends to eat at a forbidden spot in the city. They ended up dining as a 200 strong flash mob at the Jardins de Bagatelle, once a favourite of French royalty, including Marie Antoinette.

Although the event is now staged over 70 cities around the world, Paris is the definitive one and thousands are raised for charity. 15,000 guests gathered there for the 25th anniversary.

Over the years, I have given a few white parties, some simple affairs, others more sophisticated, all of them memorable.

There are no rules, only a few recommendations. Everything totally white can be a little bland. Colourless food doesn’t look particularly appetising but a little added colour –green (salads, vegetables),  pink or yellow (edible flowers – [email protected]) can make all the difference.

And it’s not asking too much of the guests to wear white. All men have a white shirt in their wardrobe, and women are only too happy to have an excuse to buy a new dress.

Here are some moments from recent white parties –