You’ve been dreaming of this day for as long as you can remember. The crisp mountain air, the exhilaration of skiing, and the joy of spending time with your loved ones. The chance to shed off the kilos and show your best self again, feeling strong and independent. This is the feeling every skier and snowboarder wants to experience at least once in their lifetime.
And you’ve finally got your chance. You’ve booked your stay at one of the best resorts in the world, and you can’t wait to shred some powder with your friends and family. But there’s one small detail you need to sort out first.
Skiing in Style
The fit of your ski attire is as important as the style. You want to look amazing and feel confident wherever you go, whether it’s a beginner slope or a terrifying supertrail. The key to a great look is finding the right size ski pant (also known as ski jeans or ski dress).
What is the difference between a ski pant and a ski dress?
A ski pant is a pair of pants you wear while skiing. Its main purpose is to keep you cool and comfortable while skiing. If you’re familiar with the expression ‘skinny pant,’ this is what it means. Most ski outfits come with built-in ski goggles, and the style is very similar to hiking or day hiking gear. If you are driving, you might also want to consider getting a pair of ski pants with a built-in phone pocket in case you have an accident on the road and need to make an emergency call.
A ski dress is a style of clothing that has been specifically designed for skiing. It is shorter in length than a regular pair of jeans or slush pants and has more emphasis on fitting snugly around the body. It can range anywhere from mid-thigh to floor-length and is typically made of a soft mesh material with an elasticized waist. It is the female equivalent to the male ski pant and can be worn for either gender. Some famous brands of ski dresses include Alpine Chic, Black Diamond, and Mountain Hardwear.
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The Right Fit
Just like with any other garment, the key to looking your best while skiing is wearing something that compliments your body shape and size. The most important things to consider are the length and the style, and it’s best to find a pair of pants that fits you perfectly.
How to size ski pants? There are three basic measurements to consider:
- Waist: this is the measurement from the top of your natural waistband to the bottom of your tailbone. When you wear Spanx, the tightness of the product determines the size you need, not your body shape. So, if you have a small waist and the style is very snug, you will most likely need a small size.
- Hip: this is the measurement from the top of your natural waistband to the bottom of your hipbone. Like with the waist measurement, the key is having a snug fit around the hips. If you have a small waist and the style is very loose, you will most likely need a large size.
- Length: this is the measurement from the top of your head to the floor. Depending on the style, you can shorten it or lengthen it to create a completely new look. If you want a longer length, you can get a mid-length skirt and then take it off a size or two once you get on the slopes. More traditionalists among us might want to keep our traditional ski outfits all the time and not change a thing about them. Some brands offer an option for adjusting the length of their pants either on the fly or from the front of the jeans with a slider-type mechanism.
There, now you know how to size ski pants. You can accessorize your outfit with ski jewellery and a warm hat to complete your transformation into a winter sport star. If you want to learn more, take a look at our complete guide to looking like a professional skier or snowboarder:
How to dress like a pro skier
The Basic Rules
For decades, the ski industry stuck to basic ski attire: a ski hat, goggles, and a pair of comfortable, plain ski boots. While the hat and the goggles protect you from the cold and the wind, the boots give you support and cushioning while skiing. Because of this, most skiers only needed a single pair of boots to complete their outfit. If you want to dress like a pro, there are several fashion and style rules you have to follow: