THE JOURNAL
Master The Mountain: Performance Skiwear That’ll Take Your Style To New Heights
Dressing for winter sports isn’t like dressing for any other sports. Usually, the less you wear – and the lighter the layers – the better. But when it comes to high-altitude style, it’s a whole different ball game. There are so many aspects to consider: for one, you need clothes that keep you warm and protect you from the elements. You need fleeces, water- and wind-resistant fabrics, and functional details such as elasticated cuffs and zipped gaiters that keep out the chill. For another, you’re looking for high-resistance staples that allow for a wide breadth of movements and easy turns. Last but not least, you’ll want kit that keeps you stylish, whatever the conditions.
With the ski season upon us once again, we’ve put together an edit of world-class snow gear made by some of the best brands in the business, from outdoors specialists Burton, Aztech Mountain and Kjus to Italian luxury brand ZEGNA. Hitting the slopes? Here’s everything you need to know to nail high-altitude style.
Now, what you pick depends largely on your preferred discipline. Whether you’re a free-ride pro, a backcountry snowboarder or prefer well-groomed green runs, staying dry and warm should be one of your first priorities. Opt for something that has smart details, such as Aztech Mountain’s Super Nuke jacket. Filled with down, it has Velcro cuffs – handy to secure your gloves – reflective trims and rubber inserts at the hem to prevent it from chafing. The trousers are just as important – the Aspen-based label’s bootcut pants are padded for a slightly cushioning effect, and reinforced with abrasion-resistant panels along the cuffs to avoid any wear and tear.
As for the accessories, you can’t go wrong with a pair of goggles from Anon. This M4 pair, designed with triple-layer face foam, comes with an integrated jersey face and built-in Magna-Tech technology that allows you to swap lenses with ease. You’ll also need a pair of gloves. The abrasion-resistant leather of this pair from Kjus is backed with Thermo Core insulation for temperature regulation.
When it comes to functionality, Vermont brand Burton understands it better than most. Its specialist [ak] line – named after the state abbreviation for Alaska – is designed for the kind of adventurous snowboarder who favours deep powder and snow-covered pine trees, delivering “proven performance when it matters most”. If that sounds like you, don’t mind if we suggest the label’s ergonomic ski jacket, cut from two layers of recycled GORE‑TEX, paired with its Freebird salopettes – triple-layered lightweight GORE‑TEX shell with details like zip vents, smart pocket placements and adjustable suspenders designed with riders in mind.
French brand Black Crows, established in Chamonix by pro freeskiers Messrs Camille Jaccoux and Bruno Compagnet in 2006, knows a thing or two about high-performance style, too. The label aims for “the pleasure of the senses through freedom and adventure”. It offers up design-driven staples that are uncompromising in both form and function. Just take its Ora Body Map jacket and pants for proof. The former is designed with Polartec Alpha direct insulation, a helmet-compatible hood and a detachable powder skirt that helps keep the snow out. The latter have the same insulating padding but feature handy zipped vents to enhance airflow and built-in anti-avalanche RECCO technology for extra safety.
Round your outfit off with Anon’s M5 ski goggles – the Perceive optic lens provides high-contrast terrain clarity, while the Integral Clarity Technology Anti-Fog ensures clear and lasting vision, even during extended wear.
Making all the right impressions on the slopes isn’t just down to your technique or spirit of adventure – what you wear, and how you express your personal style, is just as important. Which is why Italian luxury brand ZEGNA has partnered up with the world’s greatest ski specialists to create an outdoors-ready capsule engineered for “trailblazers to rediscover the wild and reconnect with nature”. Although they may not prepare you for the seven summits expedition, the label’s performance-driven staples are sure to look the part on the slopes of any resort – and the après-ski events that follow.
If you didn’t think you could wear a cashmere jacket – or cashmere pants – to slide down even the steepest of slopes, think again. Internal padding provides extra cushioning for protection, while smart details such as zipped cuffs and tactical pockets for your ski pass eliminate any distraction. All you need to do is get to the top of the ski lift – it’s, ahem, all downhill from there.