It’s winter break, and we all know what that means— at least five people on your Instagram feed have found themselves in Park City, Utah, Aspen, Colorado, or some other chic, far-flung ski destination of the sort. Whether or not tourists and celebs alike find themselves in the mountains to ski or not is beside the point. With Apres Ski activities providing potential for ample social content, incredible food, and most importantly, fabulous outfits, who needs to hit the slopes anyways? 


Among other winter trends, ski fashion is always due for a strong return during the holiday season, when the Aspen airport staff works overtime to assist private jet arrivals. Dressing for the mountains, especially in one of America’s celebrity-ridden ski resort towns, is no easy feat– in addition to staying warm, there’s the added pressure of looking good both on and off the skis. Hence, the hefty price tag this sport has— skiers need to pay various costs, including ski equipment, clothing, and lift tickets. 

While the slopes haven’t always been as designer-filled as they are today, fashion and skiing have always had a strong relationship. In the 1940s, when Olympic skier and fashion designer Emilio Pucci (best known for his colorful designs) introduced the ski suit trend, professional male skiers immediately adopted the design. Today, women are more likely to wear ski suits– after all, it wasn’t until skiing became an Olympic sport that women were allowed to ditch the ski skirts they were previously required to wear in favor of trousers.

Ski fashion has evolved, but specific trends, like ski overalls, are returning. Retail brands such as Goldbherg and Perfect Moment are modernizing the overalls introduced in the ‘40s to align with the current trends. Other designer brands not known for ski gear, like Moncler, have also made their own versions. The ski suits worn now aren’t oversized and fluffy; they are fitted, highlighting and emphasizing a woman’s figure.  


Dior, Fendi, and Prada have also created fashionable ski outfits, often worn among the richest as they stroll through the Aspen town or meet up with friends for aprés ski.  


Although ski clothes were often bought for functionality purposes in the past, now many, especially non-skiers, choose clothing based on style instead of function, and ski brands are taking notice. This past December, luxury ski wear brand Goldbergh hosted a group of European influencers in Courchevel, Rhone-Alpes, France, to help promote their new collection. Most ski fanatics felt influenced to ski in Goldbergh after seeing the pictures on their Instagram feeds. 

In the words of Rachel Zoe, “Fashion is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” And well, wearing a $1,200 jumpsuit while whizzing down Buttermilk Mountain says quite a lot.