For some, the question of what to wear on 25 December is easily answered by the age-old Christmas jumper hidden in the recesses of your wardrobe, and a simple pair of jeans. Others may be more inclined to avoid the cheesiness of a light-up reindeer nose and dress up a little more during this special day of the year. Either way, the question can be a more difficult one. If you find yourself spending as much time pouring through your wardrobe as your present-laden stocking, it’s probably time to start thinking in advance about how to curate your perfect Christmas fit.

“If you are going to visit relatives I do absolutely insist that you don’t bring your college puffer”

If you do find yourself annually stumped, maybe a more important question to consider is: what am I doing on Christmas day? If, like me, you’re being dragged out from under the Christmas tree to visit relatives, there are a few ground rules to consider. Nothing with rips, unnecessary holes, or drastic cropping and I’ll probably manage to survive the day without any eye-roll-inducing comments. Of course, I’m not suggesting that anybody alter their personal style to appease relatives. Nor am I implying that everyone’s family will also joke that your un-flipped septum piercing makes you look like a bull – it’s just something to potentially keep in mind. But if you are going to visit relatives I do absolutely insist that you don’t bring your college puffer. I promise you nobody had you lording your college crest over the rest of the family on their wish list. You must own other coats.

There’s also the formality of the affair to consider. At my Christmases, when presents aren’t being ripped open or mountains of food guzzled down, most of the day is spent lying about playing board games and watching the Radio Times approved schedule of television Christmas specials. For a Christmas like this, comfort is key. You’re not going to want to squeeze into your overly-tight and overly-priced Depop jeans when you’ve got a belly full of roast potatoes – not that I’m talking from experience. I know that for some, Christmas is an occasion spent almost entirely in pyjamas, but if you are leaving the comfort of your own home you might not want to stay in your old trackies all day long. It’s a special occasion, so why not wear something special to it - even if the only people you’re going to see are the relatives who changed your nappy as a baby.

“Not every Christmas jumper needs to be a cringe-worthy display of all-out bells and whistles”

But there is a way to combine comfort and class. Fancy-looking fabrics like silk and velvet can spice up a look and elegantly drape the body without bursting your Christmas belly. Find anything red, green, or sparkly and you’ll immediately look Christmas party ready without having to contort your body into any constricting get-ups. Save those swankier fits for New Years’ Eve. A pro tip is to wear flowy wide-leg suit trousers or loose skirts rather than a pair of jeans that you’ll probably have to loosen the belt on later. This will still give your body some semblance of a silhouette, even if your top half is snuggled up in layers of jumpers. And of course, not every Christmas jumper needs to be a cringe-worthy display of all-out bells and whistles. A subtler design, with a motif of snowflakes or reindeer might seem like a silly purchase for one day of the year, but if you choose wisely it can stay in your wardrobe forever, alleviating the Christmas outfit stress quite literally for the rest of time.

If you’re classier than me and aren’t going to spend the whole day cosplaying as a couch potato, you may actually have some semi-formal event planned. However, these tips are still a good course of action for when the last few trays of appetisers just become a little difficult to bear. If you are focused on keeping your look fancy, some subtle snowflake or candy cane earrings and a classic red lip with a sparkly eye can really bring the festive spirit to an otherwise more simple outfit. If you do opt for a classier dress or skirt, just ensure to put on some thermal tights to keep cosy and warm!

But at the end of the day – whatever modern society tries to tell us – Christmas isn’t meant to be a commercial materialistic affair. Don’t stress about your wardrobe, just enjoy spending the day with your loved ones and eating lots and lots of food. Worst comes to worst, just throw on whatever top Father Christmas got you off your list, chuck on a bunch of blankets and some Christmas belly-friendly trousers and you’ll be good to go!