The stylish but affordable ski outfit guide: Perfect Moment, Arc’teryx and Moncler to Sports Direct

When it comes to dismounting the gondola, the goal is to look a little Princess Diana in Klosters and considerably less Bridget Jones in Lech. Doing the ski shop can be daunting and expensive, though. The most important thing is getting it right on a practical front (can you move, are you warm? You’ll appreciate these things in a snowstorm more than the specific angle of your monochrome chevrons).

Thankfully the market is saturated with labels that do well to provide both style and function — and at varying price points. Before I get to the top new brands and hot collaborations to be seen whizzing down a black this season, a word of advice for first-timers initiating their ski cupboards: stock on good, simple essentials.

Gloves (from Trespass, £15.99, trespass.com to Arc’teryx, £170, arcteryx.com), goggles (a good one not to skimp on; look at Salomon, £50, salomon.com or Oakley, £143, oakley.com), a stack of thermals (Heattech at uniqlo.com, always), a bundle of ski socks (£17.49, mountainwarehouse.com) — and don’t forget some sun cream and an SPF lip balm.

Then, time for the fun bit…

The posh one

Plenty of these brands about. Leading the pack is Perfect Moment, however, the Chamonix label founded in 1984 by skier Thierry Donard. Having enjoyed a modern glow up, its all-in-ones are top of the range and are as sexy a look as you can muster on the mountain — perfect for après, in that case. New this season is a knitwear capsule, suitably “crafted with slope-to-après dressing in mind”, as well as eyewear. But it’s the burgundy star suit, £795, that you’ll be thrilled to slip into every season. Other top luxury labels well worth a look at include Cordova, Mackage, Goldbergh and, of course, Moncler.

The cheap one

If it’s not too cold, all you really need is a simple pair of black salopettes which you can find at Mountain Warehouse, £34, Trespass, £81.99, or the Nevica styles from Sports Direct, £25, which are all serviceable. It’s also always worth checking in TKMaxx for any time-sensitive bargains. Then any sturdy puffer coat or waterproof outer layer you have at home will do nicely — Gen Z will wear baggy hoodies under their Depop/Vinted Ralph Lauren and North Face styles. Cool snowboarders will pass on the coat, and stick just with the super-oversized hoodie.

The vintage one

There is no end to the inspirational pin-up ski looks. Men took to runs in button down shirts, sweaters and smart, tailored pleated trousers back in the Thirties and Forties — anyone willing to bring this back gets my full approval. The on-trend look, however, is all Eighties/Nineties shell suit style. Find a jacket with panels in myriad garish shades and patterns (then pair it with plain black salopettes) or hunt for the much desired full ski suit. Shinier and brighter are best here. You can discover them at a host of London’s best vintage shops (find our full guides here, however the bigger, more mainstream outlets including Beyond Retro and Rokit should be first ports of call), vintage markets, such as Chelsea Old Town Hall’s Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair, or get searching online: Vinted, Depop, eBay or Vestiaire — you know the drill.

The Icelandic one

66°North, the seriously-insulating coat brand which decks out everyone in Iceland, is always a good idea on the slopes. This year marks its 99th anniversary — it started by kitting out Icelandic fisherman — which the label is celebrating at Copenhagen Fashion Week. “You don’t need another ski jacket,” the brand says. “Our products are just as at home in the white slopes of the mountains as they are in the heart of the city. The answer simply lies in layering.” And how to achieve this? “A weatherproof outer layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a comfort-focused base layer.” They also offer a helpful balaclava, £40, and ski gloves and mittens for £90.

The cool one

Rowing Blazers is the cult New York label (and producer of Princess Diana’s famous, red sheep sweater) which has just dropped the “après-ski capsule” of the season, with strong 1990s energy. While not ski-gear per-say, it has the jumpers you need to layer underneath — the best are cashmere blends with intarsia-knit skiers carrying embroidered poles, £380 — while the brighter zip-up jackets, joggers and headband will bring some joy at high altitudes, from £42. A vintage knit, if not from this collection, is always a good idea.

The rented one

In the same vein as borrowed boots, skis, etc — do consider a smart ski outfit rented from platforms including By Rotation, Hurr and Blanqo. This route opens up plenty of the top luxury brands, from Fendi to Dior, who make great — and swish — gear, because its perhaps wiser to invest those thousands in an everyday bag than a once a year ski set. Perfect Moment offers their own rental platfrom, too. The other popular item to rent is a good pair of Moon Boots, from about £6 a day. The oversized shoes are having a moment (they are even being worn at fashion week by the more attention seeking set), and will make for a steady flow of compliments in La Folie Douce.

The high street one

Tapping into skiing fever this year is Zara, which has partnered with and wander, the Japanese label founded in 2011 which notes “outdoor exploration” as its keen focus. The collaboration has that hi-tech, Japanese street style edge while providing some helpful water resistant and windproof coats, £289. There are plenty of mid-layer options too, from a tempting reversible high-neck jacket, one side fluffy, the other mustard shell, £179, to knit sweaters, £79.99, and knit trousers for the same price. It’s the puffer jacket-style ankle boots that look like heaven to slip into after a long day on the slopes, £79.99.