Victoria Beckham's stylist reveals 6 ways to look swish on the slopes
Take your ski style up a notch with these top tips from a celebrity stylist, and ensure you and your clients are the best-dressed on the piste this winter.
Prue White is the master of perfecting the ultimate winter wardrobe. She’s the former style director at The Times, and has styled celebrities including Victoria Beckham, Nigella Lawson, Alexa Chung and Matt Smith. Now she’s turning her attention to holidaymakers, and is working with luxury chalet provider Bramble Ski on a new bookable service, offering styling sessions for clients staying in selected properties in Verbier.
They receive a one-to-one consultation call with White and complete a questionnaire prior to their holiday, and White then curates a new wardrobe using ski and fashion brands from high-end Verbier ski wear retailer Mountain Air. Their new items are then waiting for clients on arrival in resort.
Here, White shares her top tips to help you and your clients look stylish on the slopes:
1. LAYERING
When contending with unpredictable weather, layering is imperative. Having the option to de-robe if the sun comes out, or wrap up when the wind picks up, will give you all the flexibility you need on the slopes. Whilst chunky layers may seem sensible, they’re often cumbersome: restricting physical movement, and also proving problematic when you need to carry them. Instead, opt for fine layers in natural fabrics – silk, merino and cashmere – to keep your body temperature controlled. I love IceBreaker’s technical merino base layers, or Johnstons of Elgin’s Superfine Merino range for serious warmth without any heft (they’ll roll into a neat ball to be stuffed into a pocket when not needed).
2. COLOUR
Just like a beach holiday, a ski holiday is just the place to experiment with colour. Not only is it infinitely more practical for keeping an eye on your crew on the slopes, it also screams confidence and jollity. If you’re not confident with colour, the first thing to work out is if you have warm or cool undertones to your skin. I find the easiest way to tell is if you suit gold or silver jewellery best. Gold means you have warm undertones and suit colours that have more yellow in them. Silver means you have cooler undertones, meaning you need colours with more blue in them. If you’re unsure though, visiting make-up artists at counters such as MAC, in the pursuit of a new lipstick, will help you identify your skin tone. It’s especially important to ensure the colours next to your face suit you, so give colour particular importance when it comes to jackets, high necked base layers, and scarves.
3. ACCESSORIES
Whilst there isn’t a huge amount of variation in ski outfits (we’re all, after all, wearing trousers, jackets and a base-layer or two), having fun with your accessories will allow you to really show some personality. Sunglasses are essential, and the slopes lend themselves to something a little bit bolder than what you may wear on the school run, or the commute to work. Consider something with good wrap-around coverage (if you’re really brave, Balenciaga’s futuristic style is just the ticket), or opt for some colour or a metallic finish. A pair of classic vintage Carrera’s are always popular.
4. FOOTWEAR
If it’s apres you’re into, or just a leisurely stroll around the resort, having appropriate footwear is essential in avoiding that Bambi-on-ice walk. Look for something with a deep tread that is built for ice and snow. Whilst once this may have screamed ‘geography teacher’, this season practicality is en vogue. Italian brand Diemme do bold boots for men and women in combinations of fabric including canvas, leather, and even rubber, designed to be right at home in the mountains. Similarly, Hunter’s just launched Explorer Insulated Commando boots in off-white are as stylish as they are practical.
5. COMFORT
A ski holiday can be as relaxing or as strenuous as you choose. Whether you opt to be out in time for the first lift or take a leisurely mid-morning ascent, comfort is imperative, though. If you like a fitted style of salopettes, ensure you choose something with a little give in it to allow for easy movement (and room for a generous lunch). Footwear is always tricky, but don’t settle for uncomfortable ski-boots – you should always feel free to swap out hire boots until you get the right fit. My top trick though (and this goes for all shoes when you’re breaking them in): keep a roll of zinc oxide tape handy. As soon as you feel an area on your foot is getting a little sore or red (but, crucially, before a blister starts to form), cover it generously in zinc oxide tape. It will absorb the friction between the boot and your skin and prevent any blisters.
6. SHAPE
You may be buying skiwear but that doesn’t mean style principles which normally apply to your body shouldn’t also apply here. If you have short legs, for example, go for high waisted ski trousers or even salopettes to add length. And if your body is an hourglass or triangle shaped, flared ski trousers that nip in at the knee and flare out over the ski boot will be enormously flattering. If you’re unsure of what shapes and styles suit you, work with a personal stylist. I use detailed measurements (as well as many years of experience) to pinpoint exact shapes that will suit your individual figure. Being armed with this information will help relieve a lot of the stress that can come with shopping, whether it be for salopettes or sun dresses.
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