No Frills, Just Really Good Gear: The Ski Essentials You Need to Properly Dress for the Slopes

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Skiers at Cortina D Ampezzo in Italy, 1962. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Slim Aarons/Getty Images

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There’s no better time than the new year to try your take on hitting the slopes, and over at Vogue headquarters, two editors and former snow-sports instructors came together to build the perfect ski guide on how to prepare for your upcoming winter trips.

Vogue’s Favorite Ski Essentials:

While these picks might not be as fashionable as the one-piece snowsuit from Fusalp that you’ve probably seen all over Instagram from everyone’s trip to Aspen over winter break, these are the ski essentials that will ensure you are perfectly dressed for maximum comfort. Rather than opting for that photogenic one-piece, a classic ski jacket with underarm and side vents will allow you to cool down without undressing when your snowy workout becomes a bit too intense. Flared and wider-leg snow pants will make it just a tad bit easier to get your ski and snowboard boots on, and while a helmet might not be chic, it’s the most important accessory to have on the slopes. Scroll through for the real-deal ski guide, with picks from our favorite ski brands and more.

Ventilated Outerwear

Believe it or not, you can get sweaty on the slopes, and nothing is worse than having to head back to the lodge in the middle of your runs to undress. Options from The North Face and Salomon have zippers in the armpits and at your sides to cool down on the lifts.

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The North Face

Dryvent mono Triclimate jacket

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Salomon

Bashley anorak

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Halfdays

Aston jacket

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The North Face

Driftview anorak

Slacks for the Slope

While skin-tight jumpsuits might be the ‘fit of choice for Instagram, the best ski pants are actually bootcut or flared to make it easy to adjust your boots between runs.

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The North Face

Snoga pants

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Arc teryx

Sentinel pants

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Columbia

Bugaboo II snow pants

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Moncler Grenoble

straight-leg ski pants

Layer Away

Believe it or not, you can sweat in the freezing cold. Rather than overheating in Heattech, try some performance pieces as your base layer to wick up all your sweat. This way you won’t have to take a break from your ski day to go into the lodge and remove layers.

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Lululemon

Wunder Train high-rise ribbed tights

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Alo Yoga

Alosoft Finesse long-sleeve

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Free People

Hit the Slopes fleece jacket

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Year of Ours

Sport Everyday onesie

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Hot Chillys

Chamois crewneck base layer

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Hot Chillys

Chamois ankle tights

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Perfect Moment

merino star beanie

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Goldbergh

neckwarmer

Eye Candy

Mirrored snow goggles may look cooler, but a non-mirrored pair is more versatile for skiing in various light conditions. All the better if your goggles come with fully interchangeable lenses; after all, you never know when the clouds will set in.

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Smith

Rally snow goggles

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Oakley

Line Miner snow goggles

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Bogner

Cortina logo ski helmet

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Smith

Scout Mips snow helmet

Slope Essentials

A waterproof mini backpack is a must-have to store all your slope essentials, including lunch and snacks!

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The North Face

Borealis mini backpack

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Fusalp

Heritage gloves

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Apple

Airpods Pro 2 earbuds

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Salomon

QST Lux 92 skis

Après-Ski

After a long day in your uncomfortable ski boots, there is no better feeling than putting on a pair of comfortable shoes. Try a platform Ugg or a snowproof Moon Boot to get some extra cushioning and unthaw your toes.

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Moon Boot

Icon low shell and faux leather snow boots

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Ugg

classic ultra mini platform boots

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Bombas

gripper slipper booties

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Emi Jay

Sugar earmuffs

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Aritzia

Harlow merino wool sweater

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Loro Piana

Noel fair isle cable-knit cashmere sweater

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Arc teryx

merino wool Grotto ski socks

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Bombas

merino wool-blend ski and snowboard socks

Winter Beauty Must-Haves

Between all the headgear and wind exposure, your hair is prone to get damaged. To avoid dealing with a tangled mess at the end of the day, try braiding your hair with some silk scrunchies. An overnight lip mask from Laneige will ensure your lips stay hydrated even in the coldest weather.

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Laneige

lip sleeping mask

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La Roche-Posay

Lipikar AP+ Triple Repair moisturizing cream

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Crown Affair

silk scrunchie No. 001 set

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LMNT

electrolytes drink mix

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EltaMD

sunscreen SPF 46

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Dermatone

mineral lip balm

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Supergoop!

Unseen Lipscreen sheer SPF 30 lip balm

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Bread Beauty Supply

hair oil Everyday Gloss