MR PORTER hits the slopes in Verbier to test out the best (and boldest) ski and snow gear.

Skiing has been around in one form or another for eight millennia, give or take. As a mode of transportation in snowy locales, it fared our ancestors pretty well. The difference over the past few centuries or so is that we now do it for fun. That said, sometimes you have to be serious about fun, and skiing is a sport which exemplifies this. By which we mean that, when selecting your gear, you should not just think about what you’re going to look like on the slopes (though this, obviously is important), but if your apparel is functional: it has to be tough enough to stand up to snow storms, fierce winds and – let’s hope not, but also be realistic – a tumble or two. On the brighter side, skiing is also an opportunity to wear some very, very loud colours that you might not entirely get away with at sea level – and the latest influx of snow and ski wear on MR PORTER is especially vibrant. As the season slaloms into view, read on for our guide to the brands that have both style and performance nailed this winter.

How does that tune go? “It’s not easy being green/ It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.” Except when you’re on a snow-capped mountain top, that is. Besides, we rarely, if ever, take style advice from The Muppets. Rather, this unmissable combo comes courtesy of Aztech Mountain, a brand designed and beloved by professionals. The latest iteration of the Nuke Suit jacket, above, is what induced Mr Bode Miller – arguably the greatest living male alpine racer – to join the label’s ranks. The first time the two-time World Cup champion tried it on during a photoshoot, he admits that, when asked to return it, it had to be torn from his hands. You’ll have a newfound appreciation for Mr Miller’s reluctance to part ways when you try it yourself – it’s made from extra-tough Toray Ermizax EV four-way stretch nylon, has a 20,000mm waterproof cert and is filled with pure down. And if that’s Greek to you, it essentially translates to: “This is one of the best ski jackets money can buy”.

You may have had a few qualms about how seriously we were taking this endeavour when your eyes skimmed the Kermit reference above, so we’ll refrain from making similar allusions to a certain Sesame Street resident in what follows. But, in our defence, this jacket from Moncler Grenoble – the technical arm of the famed down jacket brand – is big and very yellow. Which, as previously discussed, is kind of the whole point of skiwear in general: wear all-white on the slopes at your own risk. So, it’s eye-catching, but how do its tech credentials fare? Impressively well, that’s how. It’s windproof, waterproof, lightweight, insulating and breathable, and is also fitted with an emergency Recco localiser for peace of mind. Add a matching beanie from the label’s mainline, a pair of Salomon salopettes and you’re good to go.

Japan might not be the place you immediately think of when it comes to skiing, but the country’s enthusiasm for the sport has been on the uptick the last couple of decades. One of the people credited with this development is Phenix founder, Mr Kazuo Tajima, who, among his other alpine-related accolades, invented plastic skis. This eye-grabbing cobalt-blue Shiga jacket is named for Mr Tajima’s own resort in the highlands, a region which experiences glorious (and we mean glorious) snow fall at the beginning of the year, giving rise to the nickname “Japanuary” among powderhounds. Plentiful flurries, of course, makes your pick of base layer paramount, especially since most shells are there to shield you from wind and water rather than trap heat. An excellent solution is this four-way stretch Dolomiti jersey, which is waffle-knitted to keep you warm (but not too warm) and wick moisture.

Anyone with even a passing interest in snowboarding will have heard of Burton, the brand probably most responsible for putting the sport on the map. Founded in Mr Jake Burton Carpenter’s Vermont garage in 1977, it catapulted what was once the preserve of backyard hobbyists into the big leagues. Now in its fourth decade, the label continues to innovate. Described as “one of the smartest jackets in snowboarding”, this clementine Swash zip-up is made from breathable Gore-Tex and padded with lightweight PrimaLoft insulation through the core so your upper stays warm while your arms remain free and unrestricted – an important factor to consider if you plan on trying your hand at boarding. Speaking of which, the full-service label has also pioneered board (and binding) design since its inception. Models such as this Custom X Flying V utilise a cornucopia of the brand’s exclusive technologies – including Infinite Ride, The Channel mountings and Frostbite Edges – to maximise flex, pop and speed.

The North Face has probably been in your peripheral vision for a while now. It’s skirted along the edges of the street and sportswear scene for decades, but with the 1990s revival rapidly advancing, the outdoor brand’s enjoying its own little renaissance, aided along by blockbuster collabs with the likes of Supreme, Beams and Junya Watanabe. This Denali fleece – another nostalgic relic making a comeback – gets its name from North America’s highest peak and is probably the most popular fleece of all time. Yes, that’s a real thing. And trust us, now you know, you’ll start to see them at every slalom. The style has scarcely altered since it entered the brand’s line up in the 1980s – this violet version, especially, radiates retro charm. Honourable mention here must go to Moncler, which supplied these steam-punk-esque ski goggles – they’ve got removable blinders so you can wear them off the slopes, too.

Peak Performance – one of the first brands to join MR PORTER’s ski and snow roster – is what happened when an art director, world-champion skier and magazine editor all got together in one room. The first talking point on the trio’s agenda was why no one was making ski wear they actually wanted to ski in. The second? How could they spend more time, well, skiing. The location for the meeting was Åre – a then little-known Swedish resort renowned for its unpredictable weather. So, the gang got to work making all-condition gear which served as an antidote to flashy 1980s skiwear and could withstand the region’s elemental whims. That was more than 30 years ago and the brand has spent the last three decades carving out a niche for itself with its specialist kit. Pieces like this triple-layer Gore-Tex Gravity jacket and coordinating trousers – which come in a stealthy but striking black and red colourway – are specifically designed with freestylers in mind, which means it’s less bulky and cumbersome than other options on the market.

You’ve probably heard the expression, “Do one thing and do it well”. What you might not know is that it originated as the underlying philosophy of Unix operating systems. We’re just speculating here, but it’s entirely possible they were inspired by Hestra, a brand which has spent the best part of the last century just making gloves. Really good gloves. Founded by Mr Martin Magnusson in 1936, today the operation is run by the family’s third generation and design and development still takes place in the small Swedish town from which it takes its name. Gloves, perhaps because of their diminutive size, are a seemingly insignificant piece of kit, but proper ones make a real difference – ask most pros and they’ll tell you that, after boots, they’re one item that’s worth investing in heavily. Particularly if you haven’t quite mastered your technique yet, and are, ahem, liable to lose your balance. Another brand really mastering accessories is helmet and goggle specialist POC, whose protective gear you’ll have spotted peppered throughout. The label even has its own lab where a group of sport’s medicine doctors and brain scientists develop and test out each and every design.

Shop all ski and snow gear here