Boxing Day is a British holiday known for its retail chaos. Oh, and the fact you get a day off work. The luxury industry tends to get involved in a big way, so 26 December has forever been the best time to fill any gaps in your winter wardrobe. It's a particularly good opportunity to pick up the last minute party season-wear you'd need for New Year's Eve (normally, anyway) and gifts for any poor soul you forgot about at Christmas.
With luxury department stores such as Mr Porter, Selfridges, Liberty's and Harvey Nichols knocking up to 50 per cent off new-season styles from 26 December, you can see why Boxing Day inspires such furore.
Not that you have any choice this year, but we'd always recommend hiding behind your computer screen on sales days like Boxing Day and Black Friday. You can avoid sharp-elbowed bargain hunters and zero in on the clothes you want, in your size and budget.
To ensure the whole thing goes off without a hitch, draw up your wish list before browsing – and don't get distracted by shiny new-in pieces until your essentials are safely located. Navigate Mr Porter's vast offering and emerge victorious with our helpful guide to nailing the Boxing Day 2020 sales.
Will Mr Porter take part in Boxing Day 2020?
Unlike its sister site Net-a-porter, Mr Porter has launched its Boxing Day 2020 sale bang on 26 December. And it's a goodie: there's up to 50 per cent off selected lines.
What should I look out for?
Be realistic when you approach the sales, some labels will be off limits (the ones with the spendiest price points, no doubt). Anything from the S/S '21 collections is unlikely to be discounted, and the same goes for continuity lines and best sellers.
Essentials
The Boxing Day sales are an ideal time to stock up on essentials. The key pieces that make up a staple wardrobe? A perfect white T-shirt, hardy workwear and reliable selvedge denim. We'd also throw in some striped shirting and a decent overshirt for good measure. And when it comes to knitwear, look beyond your go-to navy crew-neck – Our Legacy's fuzzy sweaters have a raw, hand-knitted quality that will make your other half coo.
Was £280, Now £196 OUR LEGACY Heavy Chunk Wool Sweater
Was £335, Now £201 Common Projects Achilles Pebble-Grain Leather Sneakers
Was £525, Now £315 JUNYA WATANABE Patchwork Cotton Shirt
Forever pieces
But basics won’t quite give you the post-purchase high of snaring Instagram catnip at 30 per cent off. Meet your sensible self halfway and invest in pieces that are special, but wearable. Think a trench coat, timeless suede jacket or a shiny pair of loafers that you can re-sole for years to come. Another purchase to consider? The suit. This year's seen the rise of casual tailoring – crumpled, unlined, unstructured designs that suit both work and play.
Was £250, Now £125 GRENSON Peter Leather Penny Loafers
Was £1,060, Now £636 JUNYA WATANABE Pinstriped Woven Suit Jacket
Was £1,590, Now £954 BURBERRY Westminster Cotton-Gabardine Trench Coat
Buzzy pieces
Then again, Boxing Day is the best time to treat yourself to buzzy items you couldn’t justify spending money on full-price. As well as kitsch knits and tailored everything, we’re lusting after Margiela's new-gen Tabi boots (it’s time to swap your dad trainers for something even uglier). Oh, and Casablanca is always worth a look – the fruity designs on its silk shirts, '70s-inspired tracksuits and intarsia knits are irresistibly flamboyant.
