You may think that skiing isn’t about fashion - it’s primarily about putting substance before style, staying warm on the slopes and having fun.
Of course, you’re correct - we wouldn’t recommend that you take on a black run in a crop top and some jeans. However, there are ways of looking good as you’re tackling the pistes. We asked our brand ambassador, Chemmy Alcott, about her style tips when she’s skiing.
Go mad with colour. “Depending on how bold you are normally, this is the time of year when you can get away with mad, crazy colours and patterns - the brighter the better. This year, I’m really getting into fake fur; there are reports that it’s going to be pretty cold, so I’m going to give myself a bit of an advantage.”
Step back to the 80s. “I’m championing pom poms this year. The more, the better. I’m also a big fan of neon sun cream - don’t forget that you can still get sunburn, as the sunlight will reflect off the snow.”
Tackle helmet hair as best you can. “You’ll find that helmet hair is an unfortunate fact of life; if you’re heading out straight after a day on the mountain, just shove a cute hat in your rucksack. I use Batiste dry shampoo to give my hair a bit of oomph; just give your hair a quick spray and style with a brush.”
Go easy on the make-up. “You don’t need a fully made-up face for skiing; you’ll find that you get a natural glow anyway, so I just use a tinted moisturiser, and a lip balm. You can use a bit of eyeliner and mascara if you’d like, but make sure it’s waterproof, otherwise you’ll look like a panda at the end of the day.”
Don’t worry about your nails. “You’ll find that your nails grow quickly in the mountains, so if you’ve always been prone to biting them, this is the time to let them grow. I wouldn’t worry too much about the state of your nails, to be honest -you’ll be wearing gloves most of the time. However, it’s a good idea to carry a hand cream, and give your hands a bit of TLC when you’re enjoying a drink at the end of the day.”
Layer up. “You want to make sure that you’re able to cool down and be comfortable when you finish skiing, so make sure that you layer up - it’s no fun hitting the bars in a sweltering ski suit. Now I’m retired, I always wear a t-shirt on top of my thermals, so I can cool off easily. Merino clothing is really good - you can wear it again and again without needing to wash it. Wear it next to your skin, then pile layers on top.”