Why I Don't Recommend Skiing in Vintage Skiwear, and The Alternatives You Could Shop Instead
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SKIING in a vintage Bogner Jacket and New Bogner Elaine Stirrup Ski Pants in Chamonix, France
When it comes to everyday fashion I am a big fan of shopping vintage, but when it comes to skiing, I feel vintage apparel is just not very practical nor versatile. Modern skiwear is more technical and more reliable, and is crafted with better fabrics that can be warmer or more breathable.
Over the years while scrolling vintage platforms online, I have purchased a few pieces of skiwear that caught my eye. However it didn't take long for me to become frustrated due to broken zippers, annoyed due to a lack of pockets, or shiver due to deteriorated insulation. Though I’ve resold or donated most of the vintage skiwear I owned, I did keep one vintage Bogner jacket that is in overall good shape— but even still I’ll only wear it on an easy day with warm weather.
When getting dressed for a ski day, I usually opt for comfort, convenience, and warmth, and can most reliably find that in my modern skiwear. While there are many benefits to shopping vintage such as saving on costs, finding fun and nostalgic styles, and supporting a circular economy, I’ve listed a few alternatives below so you can have a comfortable ski day on the mountain while still maintaining your personal style and preferences.
If you like the look of vintage skiwear, shop these iconic and retro-inspired brands:
Brands like Bogner, Fusalp, Perfect Moment, Cordova, Goldbergh, and my personal favorite Erin Snow, each design a range of one-pieces and separates with vintage-inspired features like belted waists, flared hems, and color-block palettes. While the construction and fabrication is modern, many of the same brands that are popular today have been in operation for decades and their current collections are inspired from their own original styles that they pioneered. You can celebrate the heritage of these iconic brands, but more importantly be properly protected from the elements and able to ski comfortably and without any distractions.
If you prefer to support a circular economy, shop second-hand on these platforms:
Vestiaire Collective and TheRealReal are great platforms for shopping second-hand, and have higher standards for more consistent and accurate item descriptions, and offer a greater sense of buyer protection. Sellers that list on these platforms are required to be more clear and upfront about an item’s condition and wear.
You could potentially score some good finds for second-hand skiwear on platforms like eBay or Poshmark, but they tend to have lower standards for consistent product descriptions, and search keywords can be diluted meaning you would have to (digitally) sift through unrelated junk to find what you’re hoping for. Additionally, there is less standardization for requiring sellers to accurately describe an item’s condition, so you may potentially face more surprises like a zipper-about-to-break, a giant hole inside a pocket, fraying elastic, or compromised waterproofing.
Other sites that could be worth searching are those that cater specifically to outdoor enthusiasts like Geartrade in the US or Everide and PrivateSportShop in Europe.
If you simply want to save money on quality skiwear, consider these brands:
While I haven’t personally put them to the test on the slopes, Oysho and Zara have been coming out with impressively designed skiwear that integrates Primaloft fabrics and RECCO technology. I have tried on a few pants and jackets from their 2023/24 ski collections in store, and was impressed with the fit, fabrics, and the amount of pockets and technical details. Halfdays is also a relatively newer brand for women’s skiwear that creates a range of jackets, pants, suits, and base layers from high quality materials in fun colors, all at more approachable price-points.
The money-saving tip that I personally have benefited from the most is to simply wait for sales. Almost all top-of-the-line skiwear and gear goes on sale at the end of the season, and if purchasing from big online retailers (as opposed to directly from the brand) like Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, FarFetch, Matches, MyTheresa, SSENSE, or NET-A-PORTER, you could find high quality skiwear for as much as 70% off as discounts get steeper into the summer months (when most people are not thinking about the snow). You may notice that as ski season approaches the following year, those same pieces that were once heavily discounted go right back to full price.
And One Last Point— Why I’m Personally Not a Fan of One-Piece Ski Suits
This may be a controversial opinion, but I’m against one-piece ski suits, also known as mono suits. I personally don’t think they are any warmer than high-quality, well-fitting, and thoughtfully-layered separates. And while some may argue that a one-piece skit suit is convenient, I argue that they are the exact opposite: inconvenient, impractical, and non-versatile.
The greatest inconvenience would be having to remove a ski jacket and mid-layer and completely undress in order to use the bathroom— especially when some mountain huts and facilities are freezing cold. Even if you are out skiing on a warm day where multiple layers are not necessary, I’ve heard a friend describe that the biggest challenge when going to the bathroom in a one-piece ski suit is having to be mindful to avoid having it touch the ski-resort’s bathroom floor while half-undressed and balancing in ski boots. That visual alone was enough to convince me to never even bother trying a one-piece ski suit. Another deal-breaker for me to consider wearing form-fitting ski suits, or even bibs or salopettes, is that it’s less convenient when wearing an avalanche transceiver. I would hate to have to be forced to remove and readjust it just because I had to go to the bathroom.
Though one-piece ski suits and vintage skiwear offer the quintessential retro style, I feel you can achieve the look, the cost-savings, and the environmental benefit by following any of the tips shared above. Have any questions about my ski experience or thoughts and recommendations on skiwear? Leave a comment below or take a look at my other related articles!
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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