Best Designer Winter Ski Apparel

Frigid, snow-laden slopes have shifted from an environment focused purely on function to a space where bold colors and innovative designs thrive. In the late 1940s, Emilio Pucci created the first-ever one-piece ski suit, a concept that evolved into the ostentatious styles favored by those heading to the mountains in the ’80s. By the ’90s and 2000s, a new wave of specialist, technologically advanced brands had emerged, including Spyder and Burton. 

As après-ski culture flourished, houses like Dior and Gucci began curating cold-weather collections that emphasized both technical precision and luxury. Today, skiing’s influence is so widespread that specialist equipment often appears in everyday settings, from roadman style to the enduring popularity of Moon Boots.

Below, a guide to winter ski apparel from streetwear and designer brands.

Key Considerations for Choosing Designer Skiwear

Functionality

It’s almost impossible to imagine that skiwear was once made of wool and lined with cotton flannel. It wasn't until 1949 when Austrian skiwear designer Klaus Obermeyer introduced an insulated parka with an outer shell of quick-drying nylon that the evolution of ski design truly began to take off.

Fast forward to today, and skiwear is pure science. From articulated knees and ergonomic seam placements to down and synthetic insulations, detachable hoods and waterproof membranes like GORE-TEX, every element is meticulously crafted to enhance performance and comfort.

Style

Skiwear has come a long way in just the last decade. Today, like apparel created for everyday purposes, ski gear is available in all kinds of styles for different aesthetic preferences. Brands regularly create seasonal styles in both slim and relaxed silhouettes, alongside many different color and pattern variations. Beyond personal preference, it is important to consider the impacts on movement provided through silhouette, with slim silhouettes designed for tighter control and relaxed silhouettes allowing for a wider range of motion.

Shell vs. Insulated

Shells of ski apparel are typically water-repellent or completely waterproof, often featuring technologies like GORE-TEX. They are designed with pit zippers for ventilation, which are particularly useful for backcountry skiing, Nordic skiing or other physical activities where the body sweats.

While shells effectively repel the elements, they are not insulated, so additional underlayers are necessary for warmth on cold days. Insulated jackets, like puffers, can be water-resistant but may not perform as well in wet or snowy conditions, as they tend to absorb water. These jackets are better suited for cold days, après-ski activities and dry, sunny weather.

Ski pants also come in shell and insulated variations.

Bib vs. Regular Ski Pants

Ski bibs and regular ski pants each offer unique advantages depending on your needs and environment. Ski bibs excel in extreme conditions, providing superior snow protection with their full-body design. They also enhance mobility with suspenders instead of a waistband and often include extra pockets for storage. 

However, some may find bibs restrictive, less versatile for off-slope or warmer conditions, and slightly inconvenient to remove, particularly during bathroom breaks. On the other hand, regular ski pants are more versatile, easily transitioning from the slopes to casual settings and better suited for milder weather.

Top Designer Brands for Skiwear

Moncler

Founded in the alpine resort of Monestier-de-Clermont in 1952, Moncler is widely regarded as the pinnacle of luxury when it comes to cold-weather outerwear. Distinguished by its felt appliqué sleeve logo, the label’s puffer jackets have become a brand signature, offering exceptional warmth even in the harshest conditions thanks to down insulation. In recent years, Moncler has embraced a more style-focused approach, exemplified by collaborations with brands like adidas and Rick Owens.

Fendi

Fendi debuted its first-ever skiwear collection in 2016, highlighted by technical outerwear for the slopes alongside relaxed, après-ski styles. The iconic monogram remains as striking on the mountains as it is on the runways, with subtle design details showcasing the house’s legendary craftsmanship.

Gucci

In 2021, Gucci and The North Face joined forces for one of the most significant style and outerwear collaborations in history. The partnership reimagined TNF designs from the ’70s, followed by a sophomore capsule inspired by the ’90s. This collaboration transcended traditional outerwear, merging luxury fashion with outdoor performance. 

Today, Gucci’s outdoor collections continue to resonate far beyond the piste, with items like the house’s ski goggles becoming a hero accessory in Chicago’s drill scene of the early 2010s.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton entered the skiwear arena in 2021 with a complete wardrobe of essentials under the LV Ski collection. Designed as clothing for the slopes or chalet, the sought-after line included everything from monogram goggles to down jackets. Today, Louis Vuitton continues to expand its cold-weather outerwear offerings, seamlessly balancing technical innovation with artisan craftsmanship.

Designer Skiwear Collaborations

Supreme x Spyder

Spyder has been a leading innovator in the ski industry since its founding in 1978, known for its distinctive arachnid iconography and proprietary technologies such as EXO Shield and EXO Thermo. In 2024, Spyder collaborated with Supreme on a capsule collection of streetwear-inspired outerwear, featuring standout pieces like the GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER.

SKIMS x The North Face

Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede’s SKIMS has been a cultural phenomenon since its founding in 2019. In 2024, the solutions-focused underwear brand collaborated with The North Face on an après-ski capsule featuring body-hugging silhouettes. The collection included new pieces and updates to classic TNF pieces, including the Denali fleece.

Arc’teryx x BEAMS

Arc’teryx has been a driving force in the genre-blurring gorpcore movement that first emerged in 2017, elevating its presence through high-profile collaborations with the likes of Palace and Jil Sander. Japanese retailer BEAMS, however, goes way back with the Canadian outerwear icon, having initially teamed up with them to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2001. Regular partners since then, items like the Beta SL are reworked with asymmetrical color blocking.

Moncler x Rick Owens

Moncler has redefined ski apparel with its Genius collaborative think tank, partnering with names like Craig Green, Hoka and Simone Rocha. In 2020, the Italian brand made waves in the fashion world when it announced a collaboration with Rick Owens. The American visionary brought his distinctive point of view to Moncler’s outerwear, blending fashion and functionality with otherworldly, sculptural creations.

How to Style Designer Ski Gear 

Skiwear has been a staple of hip-hop style for decades. On the East Coast, rappers like Raekwon would regularly wear ski goggles, while Ralph Lauren’s legendary Snow Beach collection became highly coveted among Lo Heads in the ’90s. Gucci goggles, in particular, have become synonymous with early 2000s rap sensation Soulja Boy and, more recently, the likes of A$AP Ferg. In the 2010s, Drake and Frank Ocean were influential in the rise of the gorpcore movement that blurred outdoors and streetwear, gravitating towards brands like Arc’teryx, Merrell and Stone Island.

Ski gear can be styled with streetwear items or bring a more casual perspective to luxury outfits. Hip-hop’s influence has also seen ski jackets and puffer coats become signature pieces, with artists like Travis Scott incorporating them into their everyday looks, further cementing the blend of fashion and functional outerwear in street culture.

Designer Ski Gear FAQs