Vogue's Guide To Ski Chic

Amirah Kassem

Kyleigh Kuhn, Paula Goldstein and Chelsea Leyland 

Freida Pinto

Lily McMenamy

Jessica Joffe 

Teresa Missoni

 

Avoid the pitfalls on the slopes this season with Vogue's essential tips for mountain style.

Arizona Muse and son Nikko

How to be ski chic? Well, the quick answer to that question is "don't ski". The outfits are puffy, the cold plays havoc with your skin - never mind the chaos of your hair - and struggling with skis and poles akimbo is not as easy a pose to carry off as lying on a beach, elegantly covered in a wrap.

At a recent winter weekend get-together in Gstaad, Switzerland (hosted by travel company A Small

World at the Gstaad Winter Palace), we noticed that celebrities are wise to this conundrum and avoid the slopes at all costs. Nick Grimshaw and Sadie Frost took yoga and meditation classes instead; others, like New York fashion DJ Chelsea Leyland, worked out in the Palace gym, while Arizona
Muse went tobogganing with her son.

Elodie Bouchez

If you do insist on actually skiing (it is no longer an essential element of a ski trip - the après-ski action, shopping, dining and general moments of selfie-taking in Chanel sunglasses with mountain-top backdrops are more popular these days), we suggest the following tips:


1. Moon Boots are still in - wear them to and from the slopes. A true investment winter buy. Failing that, Ugg has a similar version, or we love the workman vibe of Sorel from John Lewis in red and tweed.

Hannah Bronfman with Jessica and Janina Joffe

2. Stick to a simple colour scheme: loose and black on top and any colour below is the most current. This combo will mark you out as a pro skier. Neon yellow is particularly fetching.

Paula Goldstein and Tali Lennox

3. The ski knit. Keep it simple - the "love" logo cashmere from Chinti & Parker is perfect, or go for colour-blocking and a sporty vibe in Jil Sander. Make sure they are slim enough to fit snugly under your jacket.

Saskia Lawaks, Teresa Missoni, Sabine Heller, Sara Battaglia, Amirah Kassem, Tali Lennox, Chelsea Leyland, Lily Kwong and Kyleigh Kuhn

4. Alternatively, if feeling confident, go for the all-out snowboard, extreme-skier look. This is loose and low, with graphic shapes and a nostalgic nod to the Seventies. Anything goes - even pandas on your trousers - it's all about the "gung ho, no fear" attitude. Look to Perfect Moment for this look.

5. All-in-one ski suits went out in the late Eighties, unless you can find a vintage version from Chanel with that perfect black and white geometric print. Chanel ski goggles are the next best thing. Or Lacroix (at Harrods) has an all-in-one equivalent we love.

6. Bobble hats are back. On and off the slopes, we love Inverni from Browns with jaunty pompom on top.

7. Monochrome makes for a very modern look for the red run, either black salopettes with a white jacket (look to Topshop) or white high-waist trousers and matching coats with black trim. Fendi and Armani have glamorous options, then offset with black Prada shades. Add bright red, silly ski socks from Topshop to give a twist to the theme - you're on holiday skiing, after all, not attending the Paris shows.



8. Do wear a helmet. Essential ski kit. If you want to splash out, Kask does fur-lined versions.

9. If you are not planning on skiing (none of our holiday group did, bar a few), snow style is easy to attain. On Wasserngrat mountain (for cheese fondue and schnapps), the girls wisely took the bus, arriving in perfect "mountain chic" (that was the dress code). That tended to the Fendi fur wraps, warm raccoon-lined parkas, oil-slick black jeans, biker boots and biker jackets, and show-off sunglasses.

10. Do pack for the spa - they are ubiquitous in most hotel resorts now. Don't be caught short like Nick Grimshaw in Gstaad this weekend, who had to join Chantal Joffe, Chelsea Leyland and model Olivia Inge in only his white briefs.

11. Ski hair: on and off the slope, a slick ponytail keeps tresses in order.

12. Do not underestimate après-ski dressing. It can include cocktails, dinner, after-parties and nightclubs (the Gstaad Palace club was busy all night). Even the odd black-tie event may be thrown in. Plan ahead. And have fun. We did.