ALPINE ASPIRATIONS: FASHION’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH SKI-CHIC

words by PHOEBE GIBSON-DOUGALL

When one thinks of winter, the mind invariably conjures images of snowy scenery where skiers speed down mountainsides before retiring for the night at cozy chalets. Perhaps these imaginary characters are dressed like Lady Di, sporting iconic, neon-tinged ski-suits. Or perhaps they’re outfitted à la Audrey Hepburn in Charade, head-to-toe custom Givenchy for après-ski. Either way, wherever your winter fantasies take you, where there’s skiing, there’s fashion.

images via pinterest.com

Upon reflection, fashion’s affinity for skiwear makes total sense; much like the world of high fashion itself, skiing has long been associated with glamour, luxury, and exclusivity. Resorts like Gstaad, St Moritz, and Courchevel have been the go-to for the rich and famous since the Roaring Twenties—major social scenes to see and be seen. Many of fashion’s big names partook in the sport themselves—both Elsa Schiaparelli and Emilio Pucci were avid skiers—and this was reflected in skiwear’s sartorial evolution.

Both Schiaparelli and Pucci released sportswear under their namesake brands, and other designers clamoured to follow suit. The booming popularity of stylish yet practical skiwear saw the birth of brands like Moncler and Bogner, who blessed the world with innovative pieces like the former’s iconic down puffer jacket.

Over the years, many other brands have looked to the mountains for inspiration, and who can blame them? Skiwear can be fabulously chic—think Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy in slim fit stirrups or current-day style icons outfitted in Perfect Moment and Goldbergh. Who could forget Miu Miu’s A/W2021 collection, presented in the Italy’s Dolomiti Alps, where satin slip dresses and padded bustiers were juxtaposed by faux-fur mountain boots and mittens.

images courtesy of MIU MIU

So, given fashion’s enduring devotion to all things ski-chic, what can we expect from the upcoming winter season ahead? Autumn is well and truly underway in the Northern Hemisphere, and as temperatures drop both major houses and cult labels are already looking to make their mark on the 2025/2026 slopes.

Familiar favourites Dior, Louis Vuitton, and CHANEL have all launched their ski collections for the year, and in a welcome surprise Casablanca has joined the après-ski party with their first foray into clothes designed specifically for the snow. Each brand’s direction has its own unique flavour, but some definite trends have already emerged from the first glimpses of what this season has to offer.

Colour is key on the slopes. While the major houses opt for soft, contrasting tones, like the frosted pink, luminous ecru, and deep navy at CHANEL, Casablanca has chosen intensity with fiery red-orange-black gradients, brilliant whites, and crystalline blues. Both palettes lend themselves well to pattern; the maisons’ colours are perfect for fair-isle knitwear, snowflake-like sparkles, and conspicuous monogramming. For its alpine debut, Casablanca’s designs draw on classic signatures of winter wear—chiefly racing stripes and block colours—whilst introducing fresher concepts—intricate logos and graphics—to the canon.

images courtesy of CHANEL and CASABLANCA

Accessories are essential components in any skier’s outfit, so it’s no surprise that they are a major focal point for brands this season. Earmuffs, sunglasses, pocket belts, nylon bags, and snow boots all abound, and signature bags are reimagined in fresh and exciting iterations. Winter calls for warmth, and as per usual, shearling is amongst the most coveted finishes for accessories. Dior revives three of its beloved bags—the Lady Dior, Dior Toujours, and Diorstar—in refined variations blending shearling and leather. Louis Vuitton also incorporates shearling into its leather goods, especially the wintry versions of the Capucines and a Neverfull Inside Out BB.

images courtesy of DIOR

images courtesy of LOUIS VUITTON

Slope-side, high performance is of utmost importance, and these designer skiwear collections endeavour to blend versatility and technicality with refined elegance.  This ranges from Louis Vuitton’s innovative, ultra-lightweight, fully waterproof fabric to Casablanca’s state-of-the-art technical goggles. Casablanca has also partnered with Faction—a Swiss Freeski brand—for this first capsule collection to produce the limited-edition Dancer 79 Casablanca ski, mirroring other past collaborations between high-fashion labels and specialised sporting brands.

image courtesy of CASABLANCA

With no shortage of luxurious and high-performance pieces on the market, it’s not the ski-boot blisters or icy black runs that have us worried, it’s the impossible task of choosing. So as we cast our gaze forward to the winter ahead, the question is no longer—to ski or not to ski?—it’s which delectable designer pieces we’ll be wearing when we do.