Every year, we’re faced with a serious sartorial dilemma. After having been in the style trenches for months, relying on heavy – and mostly dark – layers to protect us from the elements, it’s finally time to dust off the adventurous, confident dresser within us for the brighter days ahead.

Experimenting with colours, embracing patterns, switching up your footwear rotation… it all sounds good. But where do you actually start, you ask? Enter the latest collection from our in-house label, Mr P. It’s a carefully considered compilation of smart and casual, neutral and characterful, Ivy League-inspired sartorial references from the past and designs for the present – and future.

Soft textures and earthy tones are contrasted by sharp cuts in tailoring, or more relaxed silhouettes such as polos, checked shirts and cardigans. Patterns and proportions are inspired by the paintings of American visual artist Ms Alice Neel. Crease-resistant suits, ideal for travelling, and more structured options, such as an ecru double-breasted wool-mohair suit, which is coming to our virtual shelves soon, are sure to carry you through wedding season, while the expanded footwear offering features new black and white Jacques loafers, leather and suede sneakers and a variety of smarter options.

If you could do with a little help to spark your creative spirit, keep reading for a few more points of inspiration, our collection highlights, and how to wear them well.

Here at MR PORTER, we’ve been really into the idea of split-suiting – combining the jacket of one suit with the trousers of another – and the latest Mr P. lineup provides plenty of opportunity to do so.

Although most prefer to stay on the cautious side and opt for similar shades, our general advice here would be to go for contrasting pieces. Pick darker trousers (ideally navy, grey or black) and choose a blazer packed with character to be the focal point of the outfit. Mr P.’s double-breasted checked jacket is sure to complement most colours. Wear yours with a shirt, or dress it down with one of the knitted polo shirts from the collection.

Shoes may just be the last thing you put on, but they certainly aren’t the last you notice. So, introducing a new pair into your rotation is a fine way to embrace the season and start dressing a little more adventurously without too much effort.

It just so happens that Mr P. has expanded its footwear offering. There are new sneakers, such as this Atticus all-white leather pair, made with hide sourced from a certified tannery. And there are more formal options, which include our Jacques Derby shoes and loafers, now revisited in a black and white colourway.

Other highlights include a new range of easy slip-ons, with deck and rubber graduated soles. Also of note, suede sandals reimagined in ultra-fine padded suede, and leather and suede-mix sneakers.

We’ve just said it, but we’ll say it again – a polo shirt is the best way to tone down formal layers this spring (if the occasion allows it, that is). One approach is to find pieces that will add a little depth to your getup, such as textured and patterned styles. The waffle knit of this Mr P. polo, for instance, will help keep things neutral and refined while bringing a touch of visual interest.

You can also opt for simpler pieces that’ll let other layers stand out instead. Look for a monochrome knitted style, and don’t forget to consider details such as collar, buttons and ribbed cuffs – they can all add a subtle point of difference and determine the formality of an outfit.

A good pair of trousers have the ability to revive a tired wardrobe as much as a statement T-shirt, cardigan or blazer. For instance, you could try out a new denim wash (and we’d recommend lighter ones for spring), experiment with pleats and volume or swap your chinos for a pair of cargos.

Mr P.’s version has most details you’d find in utilitarian pairs – side pockets, wide-leg fit – but feels a tad more elevated, which means it’ll allow you to wear them in smart-casual settings, too. We’ve styled them in true Ivy League fashion with a cardigan and a shirt and a tie, but they’ll feel just as refined with a rollneck or polo.