Cold snap chic (skis optional)
THERE are few more bracing starts to the new year than to zoom down the slopes at a ski resort. For the 1.5 million Brits who go on ski holidays every year, nothing brings them more pleasure than the piste. Well, other than deciding what to wear on the piste. For if there is one thing skiers love more than skiing, it’s their ski kit. However, you don’t have to go anywhere near a cable car to enjoy the snugness of a down-filled jacket, the best of which are brightly hued and wonderfully insulating (Zara’s even comes with matching mittens and hat, £189).
Nor do you need to traverse anywhere icier than the pavement to reap
the benefits of a snow boot, an item designed to withstand extreme temperatures and slippy conditions underfoot.
and there have never been more to choose from — the insulating qualities of a Sorel boot now come in trainer form, chunky hiking boot styles can be found at Next and russell & Bromley, while the exaggerated proportions of a (leg slimming) Moon Boot make them a perennial fashion favourite.
Britain being Britain, icy temperatures and conditions won’t last for ever — but even when they shift, you’ll still have need for that other alpine favourite, a cosy knit. Whether you plump for a supersoft cashmere jumper (Chinti & Parker’s ski design is pleasingly retro), a chunkier fair Isle or an insulating thermal, you’ll find yourself turning to them for seasons to come.
Nor does your knitwear need to be particularly chunky: the best and most useful knits are often fine-gauge or ribbed. The trick is to layer them, starting with a base layer and adding more according to need. Choose coordinating hues such as different shades of blue, or neutral shades with an added pop of colour.
finally, your accessories: think padded gloves, cosy scarves, cable-knit socks and baseball caps.
rather than trying to look pared back, the aim is to look cheerfully cosy, in a mishmash of layers and textures. Whether you’re on the school run or the black run, the alpine look is a stylish, practical way to glide through the winter months.