SKI SLOPE INSPO
Recently a friend of mine WhatsApp’d me for some tips on what to pack for an upcoming trip to the slopes. In her text, she mentioned that she always looks forward to my annual holiday posts from St. Moritz, and loves the après ski looks I wear around the picturesque Swiss ski enclave. I was super flattered by her compliment because it’s taken me nearly 20 years to curate my mountain style. Growing up, my Jamaican family rarely went on ski trips. In fact, the one time my aunt organised a trip for me, I misbehaved at school and my mother cancelled the adventure as punishment for my actions. Other than that, the closest I got to acquiring alpine style were the multicoloured down puffers that I wore through the 80s and the North Face parkas that kept me warm in Binghamton, where I went to university.
I started regularly spending time in the mountains after I moved to Italy with my husband. My mother-in-law, who has exceptional style in any environment, provided me with a cheat sheet of all the essential gear I would need to stay warm and look mountain chic. I remember that we purchased my first puffer jacket at the famous Prada Space outlet near Florence. I still have that jacket today and Nadia, who photographed me for this editorial, even wore it during the shoot. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to invest in your wardrobe. Even a seasonal piece like a ski jacket can last you years if it is well made and has a timeless design.
I initially adopted my mother-in-law’s classic mountain style, but it proved too rigorous for me. She can carry off her look under any circumstance, but said look was wearing ME during our 3 hour walks, while sledding down the hill at our local park, or while I skated at the village ice rink with my son. It really didn’t fit my whimsical, playful style. I gradually started to mix-n-match classic items like stirrup trousers with colourful sweaters and puffer jackets, inserted leather trousers as a staple, and recently maximised the power of a shacket, for layering purposes. And since I love to layer, I spent lots of time trying out outfits that allowed me to fall in love with winter sports while looking Tamu-pulled-together. As with any other style, dressing for the mountains should be fun for you and enhance your personality. Take some cues from these five looks and create your own après ski story.
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Photographer: Nadia Krawiecka
