Who doesn’t love spring skiing? OK, so the slopes might be peppered with fearless groms on school holidays, but besides that, spring skiing is a picture of soaring blue skies, raucous après and long lunches on the terrace. That gives you plenty of opportunities to look every bit the snow king or queen. Slope style and après-ski are pretty much one and the same thing these days thanks to a slew of skiwear brands that have completely elevated the alpine aesthetic, not to mention a panoply of luxury fashion labels that are making their own mark on skiwear. Our guide will show you exactly what you need to pack to turn heads on black runs and beer runs.
The Ski Jacket
The single most important garment in your suitcase is the ski jacket, the ultimate buffer between you and the elements, not to mention your alpine style signature. It needs to be technically top notch in order to keep you warm and dry on the slopes – this much is non-negotiable – but it also needs to say something about your personal style, especially when you’re knocking back a few mountain beers in the last of the afternoon sunshine. The specialist brands have really upped their games in recent years, in part responding to the fact that luxury houses are now getting in on the ski gear act, so there’s no shortage of stunning jackets by the likes of Fusalp, Bogner, Goldbergh et al.
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Salopettes, Ski Pants and Ski Suits
The ski suit has been enjoying a style renaissance in the past few years as brands such as Perfect Moment have completely reimagined the one-piece as a tech-fabric fashion statement. Sporty, svelte and increasingly outrageous, the ski suit is for seasoned skiers, lest you want to be labelled “all the gear and no idea”. As for the guys, ski pants and salopettes still rule, with the latter offering a bit of old-school slope style.
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Layers
No sensible person ventures onto the slopes without first investing in some top-quality base layers. Even in spring, the weather at the highest stations can quickly turn, so you want high-spec merino wool base layers to wick away moisture and keep you cool. Merino’s excellent breathability means you can strip off your ski coat and catch some high-altitude rays without overheating too. There’s also another breed of base layer – the one that doesn’t like to be kept under wraps. This variant is bold, bright and typically made from a stretch polyester that will keep you warm enough to strip off/table dance at your preferred alpine watering hole.
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Vintage-style knitwear
Whether you’re making a beeline for a few aprés Glühweins or heading out for a splashy dinner, the vintage alpine jumper never fails to do the trick. Heritage patterns and chunky textural knits give your après-ski looks tactility and depth, not to mention providing you with the ultimate in comfort and warmth when you step back out into the crisp mountain air.
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The puff piece
Voluminous, stylish and super functional, the down jacket has swept through popular culture in recent years but it still calls the slopes its home. Your choice of puffer jacket says a lot about you, so choose wisely. From understated quilted styles with a sustainability ethic by the likes of Patagonia to in-your-face fashion statements by French-Italian luxury house Moncler, there’s a puffa jacket to suit every character and style persuasion.
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