The snow may have arrived later this season, but Europe’s summits are now calling. Time, then, for a cool (but warm, obviously) new ski jacket. Something that you can wear to the pub once you’re back from La Folie Douce without looking like a Seventies ski instructor. Something with street appeal. Allow us to present this season’s best ski jackets; coats that match functional performance with contemporary style. Designer puffers and parkas that dexterously navigate that fine line between rad and ridiculous. See you on the piste.
Off-White Arrows tie-dye ski jacket
It may not be instantly recognisable as an Off-White coat from the front, but signature arrows on the back of this lively ski jacket let skiers know this tie-dyed number is the work of that lionised streetwear label created by the late Virgil Abloh. Those that know, will know.
Moncler Grenoble Mazod hooded down jacket
You’re familiar with Moncler. You may not be so au fait with Moncler Grenoble. The brand debuted in New York in 2010 to provide contemporary takes on vintage sports pieces. Case in point, this Mazod hooded down jacket. A traditional ski coat in vibrant orange with bold text on the left chest. Easy to pick out in a crowd, too.
The North Face Green ’86 Printed Retro Mountain Jacket
Having been kitting out adventurers and explorers for more than half a century, The North Face knows a thing or two about protecting thrill-seekers from extreme elements. More recently, the brand has also got into big-hitting streetwear. In this Retro Mountain ski jacket, the two worlds collide.
Black Crows Ora Micro Quilted Ski Jacket
Given the fact that the company was founded in Chamonix by two pro skiers, you can trust that every garment that makes it out of the Black Crows’ workshops has been engineered with extreme performance in mind. Thankfully, as can be seen here, the brand believes that design is just as important as function.
Helly Hansen Yellow Odin Hooded Jacket
Norway’s Helly Hansen might be more traditionally associated with the seas than the slopes, but with more than a century manufacturing technical fabrics under its belt, the company’s robust performance wear is as at home on the snow as in the spray. We’d suggest keeping it simple and matching this egg-yolk yellow Odin jacket with black salopettes.
Aztech Mountain Nuke Suit ski jacket
If you’re a fledgling outwear manufacturer looking to break into the crowded skiwear market, you could do far worse than signing six-time Olympic gold medallist Bode Miller as your Chief Innovation Officer. Smart move Aztech Mountain, very smart move. Established in Aspen, designed in New York. Hence first-class performance and superior style.
Palm Angels Purple Palm-Print Hooded Jacket
Los Angeles might seem like a strange place to base a skiwear brand, especially when said brand draws much of its inspiration from the skateboard scene of Venice Beach. Of course, Palm Angels makes much more than skiwear, specifically streetwear-inspired print tracksuits and logo T-shirts. When the brand does dip into skiwear, however, the results are pretty singular, as you can see.
Gucci + The North Face down jacket
One of the world’s most famous high fashion houses meets one of its foremost experts in technical clothing in this attention-grabbing down jacket by Gucci and The North Face. Finished with a watercolour-style trail print, from the Alps to Aspen, you’ll blend right in.
Houdini Dunfri Ripstop Hooded Ski Jacket
Swedish brand Houdini was way ahead of the curve. Not just for producing performance gear specifically for the burgeoning ski touring sector all the way back in the early ’90s but also for its commitment towards the environment, before ‘sustainability’ became a buzzword. The brand only ever uses recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable or bluesign-certified fabrics, allowing you to ski with a clean conscience.
The North Face XX Kaws 1994 Retro Himalayan parka
An updated reissue of a retro style straight out of The North Face’s 1994 archives, this Himalayan printed hooded down parka is padded with 90 per cent goose down and 10 per cent waterfowl feathers. Warm, then. It also comes with a high neck, to keep the wind at bay, and is embroidered with the XX insignia of American artist KAWS.
Holden Fowler camo-print quilted parka
Another label founded by an ex-pro; this time snowboarder Mikey LeBlanc. Together with designer Scott Zergebel, LeBlanc established Holden with the aim of manufacturing high-performance outerwear that took sustainability as seriously as functionality. Camouflage has become a defining feature of Holden, as seen in this 80 per cent duck down parka. Just don’t get lost in the woods; they’d struggle to find you.
Templa Utility splatter print ski jacket
Templa is a brand you’re as likely to see worn on the slopes of Europe’s most bougie ski resorts, as in the more stylish avenues of New York City. Wherever Templa’s acolytes roam, you’ll know they’ll be warm – almost all the brand’s cold weather coats feature 100 per cent goose down, including this one.
Read more: A brief history of ski style
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