If you’re serious about skiing, or even an amateur, you will know that February is one of the best times to hit the slopes, and you may well be planning a snow trip in the next week or two. You might be heading to northern Italy, for example, more specifically Madonna Di Campiglio, for its 93 miles of ski slopes and five-star eco-resort. Or perhaps you’ve got your eye on a far-flung destination, such as the W in Aspen, where you can ski in and ski out, relax in a heated pool and unwind on the rooftop terrace. Or maybe you’re thinking a little more outside the box – Niseko in Japan, perhaps, on the northern Hokkaido island and where Michelin-star food meets deep, reliable Japow snow.

Whatever your destination, you need to prepare. Unless you intend to spend your entire time indulging in après-ski activities (although there are far worse ways to spend your day than being immersed in raclette and Rousette de Savoie), rocking up to a week’s holiday in snowy peaks with just a waterproof jacket and a woolly hat will not end well for you. So, resilient, well made and, let’s face it, stylish skiwear is essential. 

You may eat black runs for breakfast, or you might have only seen snow in Christmas movies but whatever your dedication and skill level, it’s worth investing in an expert, high-tech ski brand. Getting the right gear is either going to improve your experience, allowing you to carve up the slopes as the streamlined semi-pro you imagine you are, or it’s going to inspire you to go on more skiing holidays. Both of these are demonstrably good things. 

This brings us rather nicely to Bogner, one of the brands in the MR PORTER stable that specialises in gear for the slopes. The brand has a lot of history – it was founded in 1932 in Munich and has been family-run for decades. But heritage is not enough if you don’t have the technical know-how to back it up. The fact that Bogner is the official outfitter of the German national ski team is perhaps more reassuring when it comes to protecting us mere civilians on the slopes.

When it comes to ski equipment, Bogner’s expertise is evident in the offering available on MR PORTER. Your first port of call before you get on a plane to colder climes is a good jacket. If you’re looking for something high-tech and high performance, then Bogner’s Kaleo-T hooded jacket may well be worth your investment. It is, of course, waterproof, it is made from breathable shell and the tape-sealed seams make extra sure nothing gets through. What’s more, the padded panels and stretch-jersey cuffs ensure you’re warm as toast, too. And if you’re concerned about being able to execute those parallel turns smoothly through all that insulation, the four-way stretch panels at the sleeves all but guarantee ease of movement.

But you’re going to need some salopettes with that. Thankfully, there’s a matching pair available, which similarly combines innovative technology with a stylish, contemporary cut. If you don’t invest in them for the padded knee protection, zipped pockets and the inner-boot gaiters – made slim to prevent snow getting in – then choose them because you’ll cut a rather cool figure at the inevitable après-ski spot, when worn with a simple tee underneath, sans jacket.

However, should you be interested in a slightly different style (and perhaps a bit more warmth) you might prefer the Bruce-D quilted panelled wool jacket. You don’t need to look under the bonnet to see that it’s extremely warm and insulating. But if you do want to get into the nuts and bolts, the padding, which provides most of the warmth, is 90 per cent down and 10 per cent goose feathers, so you’re basically skiing in a wearable duvet. That’s not to say it isn’t geared towards serious, performance skiing, of course. Just look at the shell panels, or the added detail of the lens cloth attached to the chest pocket, for cleaning your goggles – Bogner understands exactly what a skier needs.

Down below, the all-white Tobi ski trousers would look rather fetching, yes, but they also do the job where it matters: protecting you from extreme cold weather and wet conditions. The waterproof but breathable shell material will help you in that department, as will the stretch gaiters. The four-way stretch and articulated knees will aid comfort, too.

The only thing you need to top it all off is a woollen hat, of course. But be warned: that hipster one you wear to the pub won’t cut it in freezing temperatures (and will most likely fall off the second you sail down a slope). Try this wool-blend Enio beanie by Bogner – it is ribbed for extra comfort and stylishly embroidered with the brand’s logo, should anyone be in any doubt as to how serious you were about skiing.