If you’re looking forward to hitting the slopes this season in style, there are some key basic style trends to be aware of as you shop for your gear. Mountain snow culture is often expressed through fashion, and the ski outfit sends a distinct message of what the wearer likes to do on the hill. Depending on which discipline you enjoy, whether it be the resort, park & pipe, backcountry, and skier or boarder, your outerwear is a reflection of your snow sports passion.
Each snow sport has an image, and a particular discipline will tend towards the same styles and items, with varying degrees of cut, color, and style.
If you were to break down each category, there is a distinct difference in clothing that helps to establish your identity on snow. To keep it simple, below are the general groups, but keep in mind that there are lots of individual statements made within each category and that there is constant and fun variety to all of it.
Being a skier myself, this is the category that I can speak to best. If you are a park/pipe skier, you are probably going to dress very differently than a backcountry/side country skier, and the former and the latter will also slightly differ from the general resort skier. Though outerwear is the main difference (shell vs lined jacket vs a baggy ensemble), it all comes down to the activity and its required layering.
The Resort skiers category is the most classic realm of self-expression. The 70’s are back so you can rock a one-piece but make sure it’s an updated version like The North Face Shugga Suit, or else you’d better rip in the case that you opt for the more old school style; if you don’t, you’ll look like a frugalista that held onto your wardrobe from back in the day. Another interesting style can be the St. Moritz look which means rocking the tight ski pants with a puffy or overly elaborate jacket, in pastel colors or gold, which will give you instant ski bunny/ski luxury status- and that can be good, if that’s how you want to roll into après ski. The most common look, however, is the lined sturdy jacket with lined or unlined standard ski pants. A good example of this might be The North Face Auxiliary jacket for women, The North Face Trilithion Triclimate jacket for men, matched with some fun ski bottoms like The North Face Rockefeller pants for men and the Freedom Insulated pants for women.
Access Gate/Backcountry/sidecountry skiers tend to wear shell pants, and occasionally will select a bibbed pant option so that they can stretch their outerwear into ice climbing, mountaineering etc. Muted colors tend to be the trend as you may find yourself ducking ropes, or flying fast through areas that where you really don’t want to be recognized. Shells are the absolute choice for both the upper and lower outer layer- anything with more bulk is too cumbersome for movement and hiking. A good option might be The North Face Mammutus jackets and pants for both men and women.
For all groups, accessory items handle both the flair and the environments that you are tackling with your outfit. Goggles allow for a lot of personal expression- I’d recommend the Smith Heiress for women, and the Smith I/O for men. With hats, a pom can be fun 70’s style, and any hat that covers your ears and matches or appropriately contrasts the feel of your outfit is ideal. Check out www.discreteheadwear.com for some fun pom options and more new school hat ideas. Skull beanies can also be hip if you are on the move and getting some exercise out of your ski day.”
where to go/what to do:
Try shopping sites like www.thenorthface.com, www.smithoptics.com, and www.discreteheadwear.com. You can search by your activity and access their recommended matches and athlete reviews.
A great general resource for discounted outdoor clothing on a wide variety of the best brands (and gear) is www.backcountry.com?avad=13933. Its subsidiary sites offer an EBay like opportunity (minus the bidding) to get exceptional deals on all the gear and clothing that you could need for sport. Try signing up for www.tramdock.com and www.steapandcheap.com, offering even better deals as items come available.
For both the on slope action and the après ski scene, it is important that when you take off your jacket, you have a flattering and functional zip top or sleek hoody underneath. For some good options, try www.io-bio.com and check out their Signature hoody and the Contact Zip. This accelerating new company is on the cutting edge of wool technology, creating well-designed pieces that regulate your temperature and adjust to changing conditions, keeping you looking good while doing it.
Have fun out there!
Written By:
-Kim Havell
http://www.backcountry.com/store/profile/283561/Kim-Havell.html
