THE JOURNAL
Oakley Clifden Sunglasses coming soon
With last year’s ski season effectively cancelled – along with pretty much everything else in 2020 – winter sports enthusiasts will be doubly excited about this year’s long-awaited return to the slopes. And if the prospect of freshly fallen snow, steaming mugs of mulled wine and bracing mountain air isn’t enough to get you suitably fired up, we’re happy to announce that MR PORTER’s buyers have been hard at work sourcing the very best ski gear around to ensure that you look the part, too.
Featuring brands such as Fusalp, Bogner, Burton, Kjus and Aztech Mountain, it’s a collection apt for thrill-seekers, leisure skiers and pretty much everyone in between. So, whether you’re happiest waist-deep in powder or you prefer a well-groomed piste (or even if your favourite bit is reclining on the terrace with a beer and a plate of raclette) there’s sure to be something in the following four looks to suit your needs.
01.
The action man
Burton Japan GORE-TEX PRO Guide Jacket and Freebird Stretch Bib Pant coming soon
Burton [ak] is the star of the show in this backcountry-ready outfit. Named after the US state abbreviation for Alaska and inspired by its famously rugged terrain, this is the snowboarding brand at its most uncompromising, a range of winter sports gear favoured by pros for its unbeatable waterproofing. Spending the morning charging through waist-deep powder? The Gore-Tex material of the brand’s Japan Guide jacket and Freebird salopettes has you covered. And for snowboarders who demand the best, Burton’s legendary Custom X snowboard fitted with the brand’s X-Base bindings makes for the perfect all-mountain charger.
02.
The high flyer
French outdoor brand Houdini’s top-of-the-range RollerCoaster shell jacket is appropriately named, as it was designed to handle the ups and downs of big-mountain free-riding. Tailored to accommodate the dynamic body movements of free-ride skiing while still offering the utmost protection from the elements, it’s the perfect companion for your off-piste adventures. Throw it on over a thermal base layer and a quilted mid-layer such as this one from Black Crows, another free-riding specialist, for an outfit that you can take to the highest of heights.
03.
The glamour skier
Bogner Felian Ski Jacket and Tim Ski Trousers coming soon
Controversial opinion: when it comes to looking good on the slopes, it’s not just about how fast you’re going or how smooth your technique but what you’re wearing, too. One brand that understands this better than most is Bogner, with skiwear that epitomises the European glamour of the high Alpine resorts. With a history of outfitting Olympic ski teams, it’s no slouch in the technical department, but let’s be honest: you’re not taking this stuff out on a backcountry expedition. No, this is skiwear made for mornings spent carving up the freshly groomed pistes of an exclusive resort – and the après-ski events that follow.
04.
The urban adventurer
Oakley Clifden Sunglasses coming soon
If your first thoughts on hearing the word “skiwear” are of 1990s-style pastel-coloured polyester, Aztech Mountain and Kjus are here to let you know that it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. In a reflection of the wider trend for outerwear becoming acceptable attire for the city, skiwear is beginning to show its urban side, too. Aztech Mountain specialises in exactly this kind of hybrid skiwear-meets-streetwear: its Arlberg quilted down jacket features glossy panels across the back, sleeves and hood for a sleek appearance that’s made for the mountains but wouldn’t look out of place at sea level.