OK, so 8mph might not sound that fast right now. However, the running speed of the XBot-L – currently the fastest humanoid robot on the planet – is no doubt just a taste of things to come. Of particular relevance here is that a recent A-B test – between two of Chinese tech company Robot Era’s flagship Star1 models, in the Gobi Desert – showed that the one wearing sneakers proved marginally quicker than its “barefoot” counterpart. Here, MR PORTER presents a selection of the latest sneakers from adidas Originals and New Balance for the consideration of android athletes <and>human runners alike.

For the incorrigible introverts among us, Mr Larry David is both our comedic relief and voice. A few years ago, he penned something for Air Mail, unabashedly declaring, as he always does, those curmudgeonly sentiments that we dare not say. “I’m a creature of habit,” he acknowledged, “and can’t tolerate anything that throws me off my normal routine. That’s why I detest all holidays, but none as much as Christmas.” Among the many things David loathes about the holidays, he lists the ever-ringing music, the faux bonhomie, and those “movies with their ridiculous, treacly sentiments”. Most of all, he adds, he resents the nonstop social gatherings. Few of us are so obdurate and misanthropic that we’re not willing to perform a bit of geniality. Even if the wind up to the holidays can be a bit stressful, most of us enjoy the company of friends and family (at least some of them). The challenge, really, is getting through the next two months. Between shopping for presents, meeting end-of-year work deadlines and the inevitable winter travel delays, social commitments can feel more like a burden than a bliss. Plus, you have to figure out what to wear for these gatherings. What’s appropriate for the office party? How does one do “black tie”? And what exactly does “cocktail attire” mean? Rest assured – we’re here to guide you through the finer points of festive dressing with ease and clarity.

And just like that… the season of giving is upon us, once again. It came around as suddenly as summer left us, bringing with it a niggling feeling of anxiety. Do you already see yourself picking up last-minute gifts at rattling speed come December? You’re not alone. Not to sound like a broken record, but if there’s anything you can do to make the weeks in the lead up to the big day just that bit more bearable, it’s to be prepped, wrapped and ready ahead of schedule. And if you manage to give yourself time to also put some thought into what to get, and for whom, you may even enjoy the process.

Avoid brown in town (and after 6.00pm). British construction beats Italian. Never do business with a man in loafers. These are some of the shoddy truisms our grandfathers taught us as callow lads. We also remember the intoxicating confusion of entering a proper bootmakers for the first time. The experience was not that different to being hungry and in need of a stiff drink in a foreign land. Staring at the array of bench-made shoes as a well-meaning salesman prattled on was as disconcerting as that Scandinavian misadventure when we thought we ordered a steak and received cold mackerel.

OK, so 8mph might not sound that fast right now. However, the running speed of the XBot-L – currently the fastest humanoid robot on the planet – is no doubt just a taste of things to come. Of particular relevance here is that a recent A-B test – between two of Chinese tech company Robot Era’s flagship Star1 models, in the Gobi Desert – showed that the one wearing sneakers proved marginally quicker than its “barefoot” counterpart. Here, MR PORTER presents a selection of the latest sneakers from adidas Originals and New Balance for the consideration of android athletes <and>human runners alike.

For the incorrigible introverts among us, Mr Larry David is both our comedic relief and voice. A few years ago, he penned something for Air Mail, unabashedly declaring, as he always does, those curmudgeonly sentiments that we dare not say. “I’m a creature of habit,” he acknowledged, “and can’t tolerate anything that throws me off my normal routine. That’s why I detest all holidays, but none as much as Christmas.” Among the many things David loathes about the holidays, he lists the ever-ringing music, the faux bonhomie, and those “movies with their ridiculous, treacly sentiments”. Most of all, he adds, he resents the nonstop social gatherings. Few of us are so obdurate and misanthropic that we’re not willing to perform a bit of geniality. Even if the wind up to the holidays can be a bit stressful, most of us enjoy the company of friends and family (at least some of them). The challenge, really, is getting through the next two months. Between shopping for presents, meeting end-of-year work deadlines and the inevitable winter travel delays, social commitments can feel more like a burden than a bliss. Plus, you have to figure out what to wear for these gatherings. What’s appropriate for the office party? How does one do “black tie”? And what exactly does “cocktail attire” mean? Rest assured – we’re here to guide you through the finer points of festive dressing with ease and clarity.