There are few outfits in our closet that are required to summon up serious magic quite like the evening ensemble. Whether it is a sweeping floor-length gala gown, a seductive little cocktail dress or sleek pantsuit, these are the pieces that can lift our confidence and set our mood for the night ahead.

This week's cover star, an actress whose role in the award-winning Mad Men, a TV series in which the female characters' clothes attract almost as much attention as their storylines, truly understands the power of the standout dress. Showcasing the season's most covetable block-color gowns, January Jones talks Betty Draper, single motherhood and fashion identity. We are also delighted to welcome another star of the red carpet, supermodel Yasmin Le Bon,

who joins The Edit's Kim Hersov for this week's Event Dressing Workshop.

Finally, no party preparation is complete without pre-event pampering. We share the A-list's shortcuts to body and makeup perfection on page 29.