Never before has high-performance, technical clothing merged so seamlessly
with glamorous fashion, cutting-edge designs and stylish use of pattern and
colour.
Women in particular no longer have to choose between the fashionable and
functional. Winter 2008 features a return of bold colours on the legs but
white is still queen of the slopes. Another trend set to grow over the
coming seasons is the use of stretch fabrics, enhancing comfort, cut and
performance.
TOP PICK – WOMEN’S
Kjus Mauna jacket, £550
White is once again the essential colour for women’s ski gear. Cream of this
year’s crop is the Kjus Mauna jacket, which achieves the perfect balance
between tailored elegance and technical performance. High-quality stretch
fabrics, Thinsulate insulation and laser-cut detailing ensure a light, warm
and breathable finish, while it rivals men’s jackets for functionality. It
comes with a removable storm hood and concealed balaclava. Also available in
moss green, red and black. Wear it with the Kjus Adrenaline full stretch
pants (£290). www.snowandrock.com
TOP PICK – MEN’S
Arc’teryx Sidewinder SV jacket, £450
The ultimate back country jacket looks stylishly understated with its welded
seams and watertight zips and uses the new Gore-Tex three-layer Pro Shell
fabric for breathability and waterproofing. The zip curves around the side
of the neck to eliminate chin wounds. It is not flash, or covered in
patterns, but is the most professional, lightweight, big mountain jacket on
the market. Available in dark cinder, cobalt and maroon. Combine it with
Sidewinder SV Pants (£300). www.ellis-brigham.com
Spyder Onyx Jacket, £425
With its stud detailing and faux fur collar, this jacket looks as sleek and
stylish off the slopes as it does on them. Set it off with the equally
studded Garnet pants (£285). Available in cocoa brown, black and white from
Snow+Rock.
Barts faux fur accessories
This unashamedly over-the-top collection of furry accessories from Barts
capitalises on the faux fur trend. Picture yourself as Anna Karenina and
indulge in warmth and opulence. Bomber hat £45, scarf £30, fur paws £37,
moon boots £60. From Ellis Brigham.
The North Face women’s Metropolis parka, £200
The North Face’s metallic extra long cut parka is the coolest
metropolitan-mountain crossover this season. Made of its trademark
lightweight down, the parka looks like an upright space-age sleeping bag,
although its tailored and fitted shape means it is more at home on the
catwalk than the campsite. Guaranteed to keep you feeling warm and looking
cool. From Snow+Rock.
Burton men’s Warhol parka, £260
Burton carries on its trend of bold, unusual designs, this time using Andy
Warhol’s 1982 Madrid exhibition, Guns Knives Crosses, as inspiration. It was
meant to predict a dark Holy Trinity of 21st-century life and now reflects
the Holy Trinity of man, mountain and fashion. From Ellis Brigham.
Smith Variant Brim helmet, £114.95, and Phenom goggles, £99.95
Helmets may have become de rigueur in some circles but most still look a
little too military. Not so this cutting-edge combination with stylish white
tracer-fire pattern, brim and Carbonic X lens. From Snow+Rock.
Dynastar Exclusive Legend skis, £260-£440 (including bindings)
Made for women by women, all stages of concept, design and development are
managed by expert skiers, resulting in a product that both looks and feels
the part. A far cry from the days when women’s skis were just a tweaked
version of the men's. From Ellis Brigham.
Atomic Hatchet Snowboard, £225
The sleek retro design harks back to 1970s surf chic but this is the ideal
board for rail-crazy riders wanting to improve their performance. The flex
is soft and forgiving, yet it is exceptionally tough – perfect for rail
slides and heavy landings. Stockists: 01294 316200
Bio Skin hinged knee skin, £59.95
This is the lightest hinge on the market and is worn next to the skin. It is
85 per cent thinner and more than 50 per cent lighter than Neoprene, and
allows skin to breathe and takes heat away from the body. Stiff buttresses
on either side of the knee eliminate pressure on the joints and mean that
your knee is not going to twist, no matter how many moguls you ski. www.kneesupport.co.uk
Dakine split convertible, £110
Dakine has come up with a novel solution to the problem of overweight baggage.
This new split convertible offers all the usual functionality of
compartmentalised luggage with the bonus that you can turn one heavy pack
into two, to the bewilderment of your check-in person. www.surfdome.com
BCA tracker DTS, £199
Budding back country buccaneers should be prepared this season by investing in
an avalanche transceiver. The BCA transceiver is the best on the market. Its
triple antenna means that you can be pinpointed by searchers to within a 40m
strip. Better still, it is very easy to use. www.facewest.co.uk
I think parkas with furry hoods are really cool.
peternash, hatfield, United Kingdom