Off piste: stylish skiwear that won't blow the budget

No need to blow the budget on steep skiwear, the high street has come up trumps with purse-friendly solutions

net-a-porter.com

There are times when even the most conservative of dressers will let style overrule functional considerations when it comes to the wardrobe. One of the few occasions, however, when it’s unwise to let sartorial preferences get in the way of practicality is out on the slopes, where far more important considerations take precedent – such as not freezing to death.

Where once 80s-inspired shell suit-style designs in eye-popping colours were de rigueur, things have moved on considerably and there are fortunately now far more stylish options available.

Skiwear is an increasingly important category thanks to the year on year rise in the number of holidaymakers taking winter sports holidays, coupled with an increasing crossover of fashion and activewear. One of those quick to cotton on to this trend was luxury online retailer net-a-porter.com: “We launched our dedicated ski category following the enormous success of our net-a-sporter launch in July 2014,” explains Zoe Baldock, buyer at net-a-porter.com. “We saw the potential to expand our offering into more niche categories like ski, which has always been one of the more style-conscious sports,”

There’s no avoiding the fact that those with a penchant for fresh powder are looking at a hefty investment, despite the benefits of budget airlines, the mandatory costs involved with winter sports holidays including ski passes and equipment hire soon mount up. So whilst you may have your eye on a Fendi Bag Bugs ski jacket, it may be sensible to cast your eye on a more modest kit. Aldi hit the headlines in recent years for launching its own budget busting skiwear line with prices for thermals starting at just £4.99. Supermarket sweeps aside, there are more refined options for skiwear that won’t leave you in the red.

Uniqlo is a tried and tested destination for alpine-friendly sportswear. Its thermal layers and down jackets come in a nifty selection of styles and colours. Topshop’s “SNO” collection is also now well established, adding its fast-fashion stamp on technical wear. Similarly H&M has been steadily climbing the ranks in the sportswear category and entered the market with a skiwear range; standout pieces include a belted quilted jacket which looks far more pricey than its humble high street price tag.

Stella McCartney’s now well-established collaboration with Adidas comes up trumps year on year with a designer-inspired take on its more traditional sporting wares. Not forgetting more boutique sportswear purveyors such as Sweaty Betty which has put its own unique feminine spin on classic jackets and thermals.