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 At the age of 37, I’m lucky enough to have not only my mother (who’s 71) and five-year-old daughter in my life, but also my maternal grandmother, who is now 93.

Spanning four generations, we live within five miles of each other and are very close. But our sartorial tastes — both for every day and Christmas Day — differ markedly.

My mum, Bel, likes dressing up and wearing make-up. Even just around the house, she wears mascara and eyeliner with a slick of lipstick. She is always festooned with bangles and dangly earrings, and wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without perfectly coiffured hair and a spritz of her favourite perfume.

Christmas Day is no different and she always looks glamorous, even when hauling a 6lb turkey out of the oven.

My nan, Gladys, was a snappy dresser, too. I remember her wearing flared skirts and knee-high boots. When we went out together, people would find it hard to believe she was my granny because she looked so young and fashionable.

OUR USUAL FESTIVE STYLE:  Kitty Dimbleby's (pictured centre left) family attempted to style each other for Christmas day

These days, her priority is comfort. She refuses skirts and dresses, as she doesn’t want to show her legs. Her concession to Christmas Day is to ‘jazz’ up her everyday look with a scarf — and lipstick. Even so, she dresses far smarter than I do. To be honest, compared to Mum and Nan, I feel rather a mess.

Juggling the needs of two small children with working from home, I mostly just throw on what’s comfortable and easy to wash. There’s no point wearing a silk shirt when you know sticky fingers will mark it within minutes.

In any case, the only people to see me most days are my daughter Chloe’s teacher or a fellow exhausted mum. Among my friends, it’s not the done thing to dress up, anyway.

But I know Mum and Nan wish I sometimes made more effort. They would never have worn gym kit on the school-run, which is my default day-to-day uniform, even when I have no intention of going to the gym!

Mum always took care with her appearance when I was small. I vividly remember a builder (politely) cat-calling her on the school-run when she must have been my age.

As for make-up, I can never be bothered. It’s hard enough to get the kids up and out in the morning, let alone doll myself up.

Chloe is already on their side, always asking why I don’t wear dresses or make-up and getting cross when I force her into practical clothing, rather than the party frocks she covets.

So, when it comes to dressing for Christmas, which generation knows best? We all dressed up for the big day in two outfits — the first reflected our usual Christmas style; then we picked outfits for one another.

Chloe chose for me, I picked for Mum, she chose for her mum, and finally, Nan picked an outfit for Chloe. But could our choices silence the sartorial ghosts of Christmas past?

WHAT WE CHOSE FOR EACH OTHER:  Kitty's grandmother styled her daughter Chloe (pictured centre left) in a dress with glitter shoes

A DRESSING-UP FROCK YOU CAN WEAR ALL DAY

Chloe says: I’d wear dresses all the time if Mummy let me, but usually she chooses leggings as she says they’re better for playing. I have three party dresses and lots of fancy-dress dresses, but I’m only allowed to wear them on special occasions or for making up plays at home.

My Christmas dress is red like Father Christmas, but doesn’t have sparkly bits, so I loved the dress Great Nana chose for me because it’s like dressing up, but you can wear it all day.

The skirt twirls, the mice ballerinas are pretty — and I’ve always wanted gold, sparkly shoes. I had a pair of sparkly shoes when I was a flower girl at a wedding, but all the sparkles came off and Mummy won’t get me new ones because she says they’re not practical.

Mummy looks beautiful in the silver dress. I chose it for her because I wanted her to look like a princess — not like the ones in cartoons, but a real one. I like her shoes: they sparkle like mine and they are like Cinderella’s.

I wish she wore this kind of outfit more because she looks so pretty.

What Gladys chose for Chloe:

Gold cardigan, £49, wildandgorgeous.co.uk

Dancing mice tulle dress, £33.75, boden.co.uk

Gold glitter shoes, £14, marksandspencer.com

SEQUINS ARE A BIT MUCH FOR LUNCH

Kitty says: I see no point wearing anything that involves high heels or a skirt, even on Christmas Day. I’m most likely to be found on the floor ‘playing with’ (acting as referee between) Chloe and her two-year-old brother Max, so what’s the point?

A colourful winter knit is a better buy than a party frock or sequin skirt. The fact that it’s eye-catching means I don’t need to put on any make-up and, if it’s funky enough, it can also be worn in January or February.

Worn with trousers for Christmas Day, it’s the closest I get to smart. I knew Chloe would go for something sparkly for me — she always wants me to be more glamorous, and this certainly is.

She loves it when I dress up in a sparkly top to go out with friends. Her choice of outfit is a bit much for a family lunch, but perhaps I’d be brave enough to wear it for a proper, child-free festive party.

As I normally wear jeans or Lycra, it’s nice to be reminded I’ve got a good pair of pins (as my husband would say).

I only ever wear heels if they’re attached to an ankle boot and, while these shoes are pretty, they’d be kicked off the moment I needed to chase after my lively two-year-old. On the other hand, I love this skirt and shirt on Mum. She doesn’t wear tight skirts any more, but she’s definitely still got the figure for it, and the silk shirt looks fabulous. I can only hope to look half as good and Mum and Nan when I get to their age.

I frequently raid Mum’s wardrobe for cashmere jumpers. We are a similar size, which is useful, but frustratingly, my feet are bigger than her, so I can’t borrow (steal) her boots or shoes.

What Chloe chose for Kitty:

Silver ombre sequin dress, £69, monsoon.co.uk

Glitter shoes, £245, russelland bromley.co.uk

IT MATTERS TO MAKE AN EFFORT

Bel says: I like to dress up. It’s a lesson I learned at my mother’s knee! Christmas Day is special, so I’ll throw an apron over my silk or velvet frock while cooking lunch.

It’s important Kitty remembers she’s still an attractive woman as well as a mother. So I loved the dress Chloe chose for her mum.

Since I tend to wear a narrow range of colours (blue, purple, turquoise and teal, because they complement my eyes and hair), I was reluctant to wear the mad flag sequin skirt Kitty chose for me. Nor would I wear a tailored plum shirt. Still, I liked looking a bit more edgy.

For Mum, I chose a fun, festive jumper to encourage her to stand out. These days, she is understandably tired a lot, but I love it when she wears one of her cashmeres to come for Sunday lunch.

When I was a child and she worked in an office, I loved her smart clothes and the rustle of her evening dresses if she and Dad had a special night out.

I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. I still do, which is why I like her still to take pride.

What Kitty chose for Bel:

Leather jacket, £229, massimo dutti.com; Berry silk shirt, £99, winserlondon.com; Sequin pencil skirt, £12, Esmara by Heidi Klum, lidl.com; Black ankle-strap heels, £42, oasis-stores.com

I REFUSE TO WEAR ANYTHING SHINY

Gladys says: I brought Bel up to think that you can go anywhere, and become anyone, if you look the part. I love the way she dresses — always up-to-the-minute and smart, even if she’s just taking me to the doctor.

Young women like Kitty go for the casual look, and I understand that, but sometimes, I wish they’d get out of the jeans and into pretty clothes.

I’ve always loved clothes, and working in an office all your life teaches you to look smart. High heel court shoes were a must.

But after retirement, it was comfy trousers and jumpers all the way. When you’re old, you want to be covered up, even on Christmas Day, which is why I put my foot down when Bel tried to persuade me into a sparkly top.

I hate to stand out in an overdressed way. It’s not me. I did like the blue velvet trousers, though, even if they were a bit tight. And I think my great-grandchildren would like the reindeer on my jumper. But I still prefer my red trousers and flowery cardigan.

I love Chloe in her dress: it’s fun and festive, without being quite as sweetly old-fashioned as the one she chose — and suits her lovely personality more.

What Bel chose for Gladys:

Reindeer jumper, £29.50, marksandspencer.com; Navy velvet trousers, £130, jigsaw-online.com; Satin embellished flat shoes, £235, lkbennett.com