You Asked: What Should I Wear To A Winter Wedding? .

Social calendars tend to fill up in December more than in any other month – so it’s as well to plan ahead and make sure you have the right things to wear. But it’s also a time of year when finances can be strained because of all the presents that need to be bought and festive booze that needs to glugged. This week, we look at how to dress for a winter wedding and also for a festive break in the snow – while also being mindful not to overspend

If you have a question for this column, either post it on our Instagram feed or email it directly to dan.rookwood@mrporter.com with “You Asked” in the subject. We answer three of the best each Friday.

I’ve been invited to my first winter/Christmas wedding. Should the dress code be different to a summer wedding? Wondering if chocolate-brown Chelsea boots are acceptable with a navy blue suit.

From Mr Matt Bates, via email

As ever with weddings, be sure to check the invitation carefully for the dress code and, if in doubt, don’t be shy to ask the bride or groom (or the best man) for clarity.

If it’s just standard wedding attire – ie, suit and tie – and you are not part of the wedding party (an usher or groomsman), then chocolate brown Chelsea boots sound like an excellent choice. This being a wedding, you might feel it better to go with a polishable leather pair such as these from Australian Chelsea boot specialist R.M.Williams, just to dial up the formality a touch. But actually the brand’s suede versions would also be fine. You’ll get good wear out of them since they are so versatile – they work just as well with jeans, chinos and cords as they do with tailored trousers.

A winter wedding takes the guess work out of what to wear. You know it’s going to be cold so you can dress accordingly: wool or flannel suit, a nice big overcoat.

A wedding is a joyful occasion (one would hope), so add a flourish of colour. I’m not a huge fan of overtly colourful silk ties – dare I say they look too wedding-y? With a blue suit, maybe a wool tie in burgundy, grey or navy. Drake’s and Thom Sweeney are my go-to brands for ties. I prefer to add a dash of panache in the form of a cheerful pair of socks, but they would be hidden by your Chelsea boots. So consider instead a patterned pocket square such as this one from Drake’s or this one from Anderson & Sheppard. Or a lapel pin. Either/or, but not both – too many accessories too close together can be excessive.

I’m going to Oslo in a few days and want to be styled, but keep warm. Any suggestions? ** @alittlelife87 via Instagram**

This sounds like a mini-break, so I am assuming you’ll have carry-on only. With space at a premium, the answer is to pack technical base layers – ie, a sportier version of long johns and a thermal vest. This heat-insulating long-sleeve T-shirt from Falke Ergonomic Sport System is designed for snow sports. Less overtly sporty looking is [this base layer](http://www.mrporter.com/ mens/iffley_road/sandown-wool-blend-base-layer/861957?ppv=2) from running brand Iffley Road. Next, compression tights. Yes, yes, they look a little ridiculous, but no-one else is going to see them. These ones from Nike are called “HyperWarm” and live up to that billing.

Then you’re going to want an artic parka (it’ll have to go in the overhead locker) such as this one from Sail Racing or this beast from Canada Goose. If such a coat feels a bit ‘uncool’ you could opt to wear a layer of down underneath your more fashionable peacoat. Try this down-jacket and this down-gilet, both from Canada Goose, and both super-light, packing down into a ball which could double as a pillow on the flight.

We have a good selection of winter boots on the site at the moment – my pick of which is this shearling-lined pair of Cheaney brogues with Dainite rubber soles. Practical yet still stylish.

I refer you to this earlier column for advice on shearling-lined trapper hats, although you could get away with a beanie under your hooded parka. And then that just leaves gloves. I recommend these close-fitting Arc’teryx liners underneath some shearling mittens from Hestra to keep your extremities double-toasty.

All that, and lots of throat-warming glogg!

I am a student with taste who could be said to overextend my means. While accessories go some way towards satiating my appetite for well-made clothes, I am consistently drawn to the more expensive items such as jackets, boots, etc. Is there any brand or product that you might recommend that can reconcile my good taste and slim budget?

From Mr John Thompson, via email

You’re asking a man who blew three full student loans almost entirely on designer clothes. And I’d do it again!

Your approach of buying into luxury brands via accessories makes sense. (It won’t make any sense to some people, but you and I at least are on the same page here.) Sunglasses and wallets and socks and scarves and the like are the seasoning with which to add flavour to an otherwise more affordable outfit. And while your parents will think it absolutely nuts to spend, say, £75/$95 on a pair of Gucci socks – which, let’s be honest, it is – such items are the gateway. Just don’t lose them in the tumble dryer.

But you need a long-term strategy. If I were you (and I once was), I would invest in one item per season that you know you will keep for years and year to come – something timeless. A Burberry trench coat, for example. A pair of George Cleverley black Oxfords. A Mulberry bag. A Thom Browne button-down shirt  . Some Common Projects Achilles sneakers. A Belstaff jacket. A pair of Red Wing Shoes. Orlebar Brown swim shorts. Tan leather Grenson brogues. Cutler and Gross glasses (if you wear glasses). This way, you can slowly but surely build up a wardrobe of key pieces on which to build.

As for brands that have cachet for those without much cash, my first thought is NN07 – a Danish brand that seems to have sprung up from nowhere in the last few years and is now one of my most reliable go-tos for very reasonably priced staples. Alex Mill is great for basic tees, cosy flannel shirts and affordable cashmere.

J. Crew and Club Monaco are always worth a look as ever-reliable entry-level brands, of course. I recently bought this J.Crew bomber and have this cardigan in my Wish List.

At the next price level up we hit the “A” list of: Ami, A.P.C., Acne Studios and Albam. And I have both Oliver Spencer and Sandro ticked as “one of my favourite designers” (see the check box at the top left of each designer’s landing page) – which means I see their products more prominently when I log on to MR PORTER.

But really – and I’ll try not to say this every week, promise – our newly-launched own brand, Mr P., is the ultimate answer to your question. Cool, well-made, aspirational but attainably priced.