How To Stay Stylish On and Off-Piste

Building a strong foundation is key with any good outfit, but especially when the risk of snow-peak chill levels is involved. Thermal long-sleeved tops and long johns are a tried and tested method of ensuring that you're stepping out with the right base layer (of a few more to come).

As these are the clothes least likely to see the light of day while on the slopes, it's best to focus on the technical aspects first and foremost — so look for lightweight merino blends that will help you regulate your temperature and keep you comfortable by wicking moisture away.

Now that the base layer is covered, we can move on to building some insulation to keep it, and by extension you, nice and warm.

Fleeces, in general, are having a bit of a moment in menswear. It's a practical piece of outerwear that would work just as well in the city as it does on a mountain, and the fleece's resurgence in popularity means that it's a style easy to find from brands that lean purely practical and outdoor-focussed like Patagonia or The North Face, as well as brands like Snow Peak or and Wander, who take the practicality and combine it with a more design-oriented sensibility.

If fleeces don't quite cut it, it's hard to go wrong with a puffer jacket as a mid-layer, as few styles trap heat as effectively as the air pockets within the filled lining.

Footwear, both your day-to-day and environment-specific options, are some of the hardest working pieces in your wardrobe. When it comes to dealing with your extremities, it's best to not do things by half and go for a truly warmth-giving pair of boots.

There are two avenues to keep in mind: footwear for the slopes and for trudging in the snow heading to après-ski drinks. For the latter, there's been another resurgence of a vintage hiking boot style — a style hallmarked by heavy lug soles and thick laces threaded through metal eyelets. For the former, purpose-designed, heavy-soled, alpine-appropriate styles are the way to go. It's best not to risk the cold or a lack of traction while in the snowy climes.

As much as you try, there are times when only purpose-designed items will do. As with any sportswear, skiing has specific pieces that can make the difference between a good day on the slopes and a disastrous one.

Protective, insulating, and wind-excluding jackets that function as the final, outermost item in your layering, along with padded, articulated pants that allow you more mobility while remaining warm — these ski-specific clothes aren't just the must-have in terms of function, but also supply the unmistakable skiwear silhouette and style.

While in decades gone by, the fluro-toned all-in-one ski suit was the go-to, in 2025, we've embraced a more technical and versatile feeling, with luxury brands like Balenciaga showing that the bright and bold aesthetic of the 1980s hasn't quite returned just yet.

Those decades gone by did get one thing spot on: the knitwear. The '60s and '70s were rife with sweaters adorned with everything from Fairisle to full mountain ranges, and while they're no longer the choice for most when it comes to the act of skiing, knitwear that leans alpine in design is not to be overlooked for when you're off off-piste.

The après-ski environment is a good opportunity to embrace certain designs that don't often get a look in less snowy conditions. A bold pattern or graphical motif that can be donned after removing your more functional outerwear harks back to the heritage of 20th-century skiwear, despite the styles now being available in more luxurious fabrications like cashmere and merino blends thanks to heritage-leaning designers like the team at Polo Ralph Lauren.

If embracing that history isn't quite your speed, then more modern interpretations of graphical styles or simple but comforting knitwear can be found from the likes of Prada or Balenciaga.

If you're forgoing the matching jacket and ski pant combination, then make sure it's for good reason — the reason being a chance to fold in some statement outerwear for fellow skiers to admire (however briefly as you fly past them).

Bold printed styles have often been associated with skiing. Drawing on that rich history of getting dressed up in finery to head to the mountaintop, it's more likely than not that your outerwear is going to be doing the most heavy lifting style-wise thanks to it remaining firmly zipped up and on your body for more time than might be usual. This means you can really embrace the statement without feeling like it won't get much time in the spotlight.

These are very much the finishing touches, but by no means unnecessary ones. Just as with your boot choice, ensuring that your head and hands are well covered is a must in terms of keeping safe. It's a good move to keep your accessories versatile so they can work both within your outfits on various ski runs and also after the fact.

Rooting your accessory choices in warming, comforting fabrications like cashmere means that you can trap as much heat as possible while staying on the more elegant end of things. Function-forward gloves and goggles are an easy choice for protecting your hands and eyes while more unconventional accessories like knitted hoods can become much-needed additional layers against the elements.