Skiing as a sport has been around in the U.S. since the mid-19th century. Even back then, there was a desire for functional, smart ski wear. Early on, men sported trousers and long jackets while women wore chunky sweaters and full-length skirts. The primary goal was warmth and protection from the elements. However, as skiing gained popularity, fashionable outfits became desirable. Fashion-forward skiers started to add pops of color to their winter wardrobe through scarves, handkerchiefs and hats. By the time the Roaring Twenties came around, creative designs began showing up on the mountains.
Early Years
By the beginning of the 1930s, the blossoming ski industry had heard the call for exciting, unique apparel. Women began replacing their long, awkward skirts for more practical and comfortable trousers. Unfortunately, in those days, the pants were still quite inconvenient, as they had to be tucked into the top of boots and then secured with gaiters.
Thankfully by the mid-decade, lastex — a knit band containing elastic yarn — was introduced to the fashion world. Suddenly, every pair of ski trousers and jacket cuffs included this marvelous material, allowing for easy dressing. Designers also made the heavy wool outfits more comfortable by lining the inside with soft cotton flannel.
1940s and 50s
During World War II and immediately thereafter, new synthetic materials like polyester and nylon hit the ski slopes. These fabrics quickly replaced wool as the go-to choice for outdoor wear, as they allowed for greater mobility and freedom. It was in the fifties that the first stretch pants were invented. They hugged the hips more naturally than their predecessors and were complemented nicely by the emergence of creative patterns and bright coat colors.
1960s
In December 1963, Park City Mountain (then called Treasure Mountains) opened to the public. The new resort transported jubilant skiers, outfitted in their contemporary outfits, to the mountain in an underground subway. This allowed for plenty of time to admire all the latest fashions and styles. The slopes were dotted with puffer jackets, bright sweaters and colorful stretch pants. Many skiers also donned real and fake fur and leather. “It was during the sixties that skiwear started to have a more modern feel,” says Kathy Burke, apparel buyer for Cole Sport. “This is the era when high fashion met functionality.”
1970s
Often referred to as the golden age of skiwear, the seventies were a time to stand out and be noticed. Synthetic outfits were the rage — think fitted jackets, tighter pants and lots of color blocking. It was at this time that ski apparel began to cross over into street wear with quilted nylon ski jackets featuring zip-off sleeves to convert into vests. “This is [also] when fleece was first created,” explains Burke. Fleece weighs far less than wool, is machine washable and dries quickly. Patagonia partnered with Malden Mills (now Polartec) to make the first fleece sweater, and it became one of the most popular types of fabrics in the winter-wear industry.
1980s
Once the decade of decadence had rolled around, skiwear had truly become a fashion statement. Visitors to any mountain resort in the eighties would find neon colored, one-piece suits, exaggerated shoulder pads and stretch pants with stirrups. In addition, Gore-Tex hit the market, allowing for waterproof, breathable and lightweight fabrics and extended outdoor exposure.
“This is personally my favorite era,” shares Annie Bommer, executive director of the Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation. “I am a sucker for a good neon and bright pattern.”
1990s
This decade introduced snowboarding to the world and with it an entirely new fashion trend. Baggy outerwear that included oversized sweaters and T-shirts were popular amongst the younger crowd, skiers and snowboarders alike. Bright, neon colors were still all the rage, but were often softened a bit by pairing them with neutral accents. “The North Face became a huge outdoor influencer during this time,” says Burke. “And Jean-Claude Killy’s one pieces were seen all over.”
Early 2000s
By the turn of the century, snowboard and ski fashions had meshed together to create a loose, yet tailored look. Neon colors were replaced with pastels and earth tones. Luxury brands including Chanel, Christian Dior and Prada started designing skiwear that could be worn on and off the slopes. Fur made a strong showing during the 2010s, along with shiny and metallic puffer coats.
Present Day
Today’s fashion trends are a delightful blend of past decades: baggy, tight, multicolored, neutral, two pieces and onesies. The après ski scene has increased the desire for on and off the slope styles, which has caused many new brands to spring forward like Kjus, Rab and locally Team Event. Additionally, through eBay, Etsy and other online services, skiers can find awesome vintage ski outfits from years past. “The fashion scene is cyclical and it seems that right now, almost anything goes,” says Burke.
Evolution of Skiwear
For a glimpse at the progression of skiwear, beeline for the Alf Engen Ski Museum at Utah Olympic Park. Ski and snowboard apparel plays a key role in three exhibits.
The first is a collection of early skiwear, dating back a century. Although there are fun examples of wool turtlenecks and trousers, the showstopper is the outfit that greets you while walking through the entryway: an ocean blue sweater that belonged to the museum’s namesake, Alf Engen. “It looks brand new!” says Bommer. The exhibit moves into later decades, including the sixties with one-piece suits and spandex leggings.
A second exhibit spotlights the U.S. Alpine Ski Team. Learn about the team’s evolving style and how their fashion reflects the changing trends of each era, from vintage skiwear to modern performance apparel. The story is brought to life by former ski racer Spencer F. Eccles’s personal collection of U.S. Ski Team jackets that spans three decades of his service on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board of Trustees.
The final exhibit showcasing the collection of Barbara Alley Simon, known as the “first lady of ski fashion,” is perhaps the most exciting. As a fashion editor for several ski magazines, Barbara amassed a wardrobe of nearly 70 outfits and roughly 350 separate items and accessories. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer provided some of her favorite outfits from the sixties through the nineties for the flashback of her life’s work.
Alley Simon also was known for hosting ski fashion shows and appearing on TV talk shows with her dancer-models throughout the seventies and eighties. Located at the entrance of Alf Engen Ski Museum, the exhibit includes an entertaining video montage with clips from TV appearances.
“When I first did shows, there would always be something special. I would think to myself that it should be saved for a museum collection someday,” says Simon. “Well, that day has come true, and I would like to say what a wonderful honor it is to be recognized for collecting and saving the most beautiful and unique athletic wear of all!”
Check out the exhibits (museum admission is free), find your favorite outfit and recreate it for the slopes this ski season. For Bommer, it’s a two-piece number from the eighties. She says, “I am obsessed with the bird on the leg. I would rock these.”
Photo credit Artisan Books
The Skiing Lifestyle
Après Ski: The Scene, the Style, the Menu (Artisan Books) by Erin Isakov is a nostalgia-fueled celebration of global ski destinations, a survey of fashion and a source of delicious recipes. Isakov is the cofounder of ski and outdoor apparel brand Erin Snow. She grew up an avid skier and snowboarder and regularly travels to Utah from Southern California to hit the slopes with her family.
View styles that have evolved from tailored to sporty and tighter to brighter and see the impact of stretch fabrics. Styles inspired by ski regions emerged in the sixties and seventies, while neon and the streetwear-inspired looks of extreme skiing and snowboarding impacted the following decades. In the 2000s, designers like Isakov took inspiration from skiing’s golden era and introduced slimmer, sexier fashions.
“I am struck by the sense of escapism and joy that the world of ski culture has brought to humans around the world. People from all different walks of life share in the joy of skiing. Whether you are a serious skier or simply in it for the cocktails and nachos, the mountains bring us all together,” says Isakov.
