One well-chosen set can carry a little boy through an autumn christening, a pre-Christmas family photo session and the school Christmas concert. This mum's analytical guide covers fabric weight, fit, layering and cost per wear, with a comparison table and a final checklist.

July and August are the busiest weeks of the British wedding and christening season, and the boy's outfit is almost always the one left until Thursday night. This planner explains what a complete set actually contains, how to measure and order three weeks ahead, and which heat-proof swaps keep a child comfortable in a marquee. It finishes with a reusable kit list that carries you from one invitation to the next.

Boys' occasionwear is still treated as an afterthought at Irish summer weddings and christenings, while the girls' rail is judged on fabric, fit and comfort. Our fashion critic argues that the coordinated set, not the borrowed miniature adult suit, is the honest answer. Five practical points close the case, from sizing habits to judging an outfit at hour six of an Irish reception.