Women had to wear long woolen skirts until as late at 1910. They made skiing difficult though, and by the late 1920s, women were skiing in knickers too.

The Age of Wool

By the early 1930s the first special ski clothing was designed. Skiers now could wear woolen caps, Norwegian reindeer sweaters, short military-style gabardine jackets, tweed wool knickers, and baggy gabardine trousers worn with a belt and a tucked-in sweater.

Skiers started wearing parkas too. Some were just waterproof shells. Some were fancy jackets with bearskin lining.

No more baggy pants!

Most early ski clothing was baggy so skiers could move comfortably, but soon people wanted a trimmer look. The Sun Valley Ski Clothing Company made a tapered, non-baggy style of pants that became very popular.

Stretch pants hit the scene!

In 1952, Maria and Willy Bogner introduced stretch pants to the world. They were instantly successful. Suddenly, skiing became elegant.

The puffy and the sleek

Over the next decade, ski clothing got tighter and sleeker, but some skiers in the sixties started wearing wool shirts and jeans. They didn’t know it, but they were imitating skiers in the 1800s! Big, puffy down parkas and vests from Sport Obermeyer also were popular.

Jumper pants were cute and functional because they limited the amount of snow that would get in the skier’s pants after a big fall.

Anything goes!

In the sixties and early seventies, skiers wore just about anything. They wore pants tucked into their boots, long, belted coats, and hip-length turtle neck sweaters. Ski clothing was made from bright polyester materials with wild patterns. Mostly, skiers were trying to attract as much attention as possible!

Racing, matching, and high-teching

From 1975-1986, skiers wore one of three styles of ski wear. Skiers who liked the Racer Look wore sleek nylon suits. The Coordinated Look required that everything matched, even the underwear. For the High-Tech Look you had to wear a Gore-Tex Parka, waterproof/breathable pants, gaiters (nylon sleeves that cover the top of your boots), Gore-Tex gloves and Vuarnet sunglasses.

This model demonstrates the glamorous look worn by some skiers in the ‘80s. Of course, her jacket matches perfectly with her pants.

Fashion and function come together

Today’s skiers wear layers that are fashionable and functional. We wear Gore-Tex jackets and pants over fleece tops and stretchy long underwear. Now skiers can look great, move freely, and stay warm!

And now there is snowboarder fashion too! Snowboarders often wear baggy pants and jackets with patches on the knees and bottom for kneeling and sitting, but their clothes are also warm and functional.