Mr Alessandro Michele’s new collection is perfect for the party season.

Gucci has released a pre-SS17 collection and we would like to discuss it with you. Now, for those of you thinking, “But I’m just starting to get to grips with winter”, we feel your pain. Literally. We forgot our woolly hat today. Our ears are about to drop off. But, we digress. Yes – we know that we keep banging on about the best coats and scarves to wear, but if you take one look at this collection you’ll feel all warm and fuzzy inside, we promise. Not in a cup-of-tea-and-cashmere-jumper kind of way, though. No – this is the kind of feeling elicited when your eyes meet something really pleasing and fun, something life-giving and restorative. So, step forward brightly hued, boldly motif-ed pre-SS designs from Gucci. And, since they’re all so brilliant, and, more importantly, really rather sober and wearable for clothes by Mr Alessandro Michele – we’ve snapped up a few pieces for MR PORTER. Here are our favourites.

We wrote recently about our strong opinions on socks. The Joy Of Socks cannot be underestimated. And, while the cosy picks we featured about in that article are all fantastic, they are not the be all and end all. A passion for socks, when it is realised, is something that does not go away. And it is something that certainly will not abate when you are faced with this Gucci pre-SS17 pair. They score highly on lots of Good Socks points. Firstly, they are nice and thick. Secondly, they have that pleasing retro stripe – a sporty nod which so many of our favourite socks exhibit. And thirdly, they are red and white. So, despite being from a spring collection, they are decidedly festive, and ideal for the holiday season. Wear them poking out from some sturdy Thorogood boots for full effect.

Pre-collections have a tendency to be a bit more restrained than the main fashion collections. Which means that while you’ll find all of Gucci’s signature fun and fervour in the designs, you’ll also find the pieces to be exceedingly wearable. Take this blue shirt. You don’t have to be some sort of street-style sensation to invest in this. All you need is an interest in, well, a classic blue shirt, and a desire for a little bit of fun. And since we’re entering party season, a tiger hugging your neck will go a long way – especially when paired with a sleek unstructured blazer, like the above jacket from Japanese brand Marvy Jamoke.

Although we have emphasised the sober nature of Gucci’s pre-SS17 offering, there are of course some characteristically outre pieces in there, too. This sweater, for example, with its roaring panther appliqué and bold phrase emblazoned across the front is not for the fainthearted. But we’re big fans. It feels a bit like the official sweatshirt of a biker gang. A really fashion conscious, mild-mannered biker gang who think leather jackets are a bit officious. We digress, again. But, as you might be able to tell, it’s on our Christmas Wish List. Keep the rest of the outfit simple with some black selvedge denim jeans from Levi’s.