Our pick of family-pleasing apparel to wear over the festive period.

There are certain times, during the holiday season, where we at MR PORTER would absolutely exhort every man out there to dig deep into his stylish soul and step out in an ensemble that fully expresses his most extravagant and festive sartorial leanings. (If this sounds fun, see the recent advice from Mr Oliver Spencer on how to supercharge your black tie). The annual gathering with members of your distant family, however, is not one of those occasions. Trying out new trends on elderly relatives often results in comments such as “Is that what’s in fashion now? Blimey” and “I much preferred you before”. Trust us, we speak from bitter experience. Instead, we would advise leaning towards the classic side of things, clothes wise. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun. Scroll down for a selection of pieces from MR PORTER that will project just the right combination of wholesomeness and sartorial nous to get you through whatever family do you’re embarking upon this week. OK, it’s not 100 per cent granny proof. But what is?

People like to see their progeny wrapped up warm. The words “proper coat” are also often thrown around by parents and grandparents at this time of year. And what they usually mean is something such as this classic peacoat from Kingsman, which is rendered in an exceptionally cosy wool and cashmere mix. The peacoat has been around since the 18th century, making it a style that even the octogenarians in your family will consider with a warm sense of don’t-make-’em-like-they-used-to nostalgia. Wear it with a more modern classic, namely a pair of dark, unwashed-denim jeans from Kent & Curwen.

An astutely applied cashmere sweater can soften the hard edges of even the most prickly personalities. Wearing this cable-knit example from British brand Thom Sweeney, how could your pugnacious aunt think anything else than “gnawwww”? Wear it over a neat white shirt and volunteer to help do the dishes and/or fetch tea for optimum brownie points.

Your relatives will want to see evidence that you’ve grown up just as much as you will want them to treat you like an adult – it’s always nice to maintain the illusion, after all, that time is passing in a meaningful way and we’re all continually approaching an apex of elegance and maturity. When it comes to the family get-together, therefore, consider ditching the sneakers and swapping for a handsome pair of desert boots from storied footwear brand Church’s. They’re smart without being too stuffy, but undoubtedly a sophisticated choice. All the better for fending off those awful baby stories people will inevitably start bringing up.