Luxury Ski Wear is the Best Way to Stay Warm This Winter

Gen Z is already taking back comfort with the rise of baggy jeans this fall, so we believe the next biggest trend for the upcoming winter season will be another style that emphasizes comfort: ski wear. One of the most distinctive styles, ski wear’s origins stem from the Scandinavian mountainsides. Skiing grew as a sport out of modern-day Norway and Sweden where it was initially a form of transportation for a part of the world that deals with harsh, lengthy winters. By the mid-1850s, skiing competitions opened publicly, quickly developing a strong following, particularly among Norwegians. In 1878, a group of Norwegian skiers successfully displayed skis and accompanying ski gear at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, solidifying this as a sport adored globally.

Foundational qualities of ski wear include functional designs emphasizing ease of movement and keeping warm. High society readily embraced this winter sport as a pastime, and ski towns like Aspen, Colorado and Gstaad, Switzerland have become chic destinations. Early on, fashion designers such as Coco Chanel saw an opportunity to create quality sportswear that blended elegance and comfort for wealthy clientele.

Luxurious knitwear, expensive fabrics, and silhouettes borrowed from aristocratic origins have been historic staples of this style. Gear made from wools, furs, and feathered downs kept skiers warm. Another unique feature of this style is its traditionally striking colorways. Bright neons and metallic fabrics are popular in ski wear as a means to practically increase the visibility of skiers against the alabaster snow, but these colorways also double as playful fashion statements.

Contemporary designers have kept many of the foundations of ski style while reimagining this style for a new generation. For example, the theme of Miu Miu's Fall/Winter 2021 collection centered around a journey through mountain landscapes as women encounter snowy extremes in garments that are both seductive and protective. Meanwhile, French heritage brands Fulsap and Chloé, recently collaborated to create a chic capsule collection of ski wear inspired by '70s designs. Other designers are preserving the luxurious nature of ski wear while updating it for the modern woman, such as Moncler, Rudsak, and Chanel. For the latter, the Coco Neige collection has become a highlight of the season, mixing bold prints and pop elements—plus a campaign fronted by K-pop star Jennie Kim—with slope-worthy silhouettes. Lastly, Gucci's long-awaited movie, House of Gucci, starring Adam Driver and Lady Gaga, channels ski wear style with retro Italian flair. The upcoming biopic premieres November 24, and some promotional images show Gaga sporting a bold, black and white ski wear ensemble perfect for her character’s snowy escapades with her co-star Driver.