The gear you need to hold your own on those black runs.

There are many unpleasant things that are part and parcel of winter: the cold, the wet, the darkness, the barrage of mawkish songs and television programmes that descend upon all media channels come December. But remember the plus side: you get to go skiing. As you elbow your way through the holiday crowds this week, take a moment to shut your eyes and picture yourself hurtling down a powdery slope, the scent of après-ski tartiflette and vin chaud wafting through the bracing air. What will you be wearing in this frosted reverie? Only the very finest snow gear, as selected by MR PORTER, that’s what – at least, if this article does the job it’s supposed to. Scroll down for our edit of the most daydream-worthy ski-wear this winter, and some tips on how to pile it all on.

First things first: whatever altitude you may ultimately find yourself at, skiing is an activity that makes you sweat. You’ll therefore need some base-layer garments, not just for insulation, but to wick all the smelly stuff away. For this, why not start with the brands that have been doing this kind of thing for years? Bogner was originally founded in 1932 by German ski champion Mr William Bogner, who among other innovations gave the world its very first pair of stretch ski pants. Its jersey half-zip top capitalises on this experience, with its lightweight polyamide fabric, and flatlock seams (which help to prevent chafing). Falke Ergonomic Sport System, the sportswear offshoot of famed sockmaker Falke, may have come a little later to market (it launched in 2005), but it nonetheless draws on its parent company’s 120 years of knitting expertise to create such pieces as the above double-layered tights. These come with an especially soft brushed interior for improved comfort and breathable panels that will help you stay dry however strenuously you are shooping.

Your middle layer is all about warmth, but also versatility. On the mountain, your body can be subjected to wildly different temperatures in the course of an hour – you’ll likely be chilly as you scoff Ritter Sport on the lifts, freezing as you emerge atop a glacier, and then suddenly rather warm as you carve up a mogul field – so it’s important to invest in something that is easy to slip on and off. This fleece-lined, red zip-up top from Colmar ticks both boxes, and, looking suspiciously like the kind of everyday track top that is very much on trend right now, will also work as a casual jacket après ski for dancing on the bar at La Folie Douce. It may be, though, that your tastes are more streamlined and minimal: in that case we would recommend this Mr Bode Miller-endorsed piece from Aztech Mountain, which is rendered in a lightweight polyester fleece and comes with shell panels on the elbows to help you move.

Your outer layer is to protect you from the wind and keep you dry, which is why you should try something like Kjus’ “DWR” (Durable Water Repellent) fabric. This particular jacket, which comes in the said material, is crafted in a classic and understated combination of white, blue and red, which will ensure you look timeless for years to come – unlike that neon all-in-one you had your eye on. It also has the added benefit of zippable vents, should you need to regulate your body temperature. Throw it on over these salopettes from Phenix, which combine waterproof (yet breathable) Dermizax EV fabric with Thunderon Digenite insulation to keep you warm. This may all sound like one too many villains from Mr Michael Bay’s Transformers films, but we assure you, quite unlike them, it actually works.

Sluicing down a snow-covered slope from a very high altitude is one of those activities in which it really helps if you can see, which is why Anon has created this pair of ski goggles with a Zeiss lens that not only shields your eyes but is resistant to fogging and helps to increase the visual definition of terrain – essential if it actually decides to snow. Another crucial aspect of the sport, of course, is holding onto your poles – so thank goodness for Moncler Grenoble’s down-filled gloves, which come with a leather palm lining to improve grip and make sure the slippery things don’t escape you.