I'm Going on My Very First Ski Trip—Here's What I'm Packing

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My idea of a vacation includes lying on a soft, sandy beach in a bikini doing as little as possible. After living in New York for almost a decade and battling against the snow each winter, I've done my part to actively avoid having to trapeze through slippery, slushy ice and polar vortex–level cold. But somehow, my best friend coaxed me into doing what I've evaded most during the past few years: going into the snow and for a vacation no less. Before the cold weather completely lets up, we're heading to the snowy mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And of course, being in a snowy resort town means skiing and snowboarding abound—I couldn't be more (reluctantly) excited.

While this trip definitely requires me to break out of my shell and embrace something new, I'm most looking forward to planning my outfits. As a first-time skier, I had absolutely no idea what to include in my suitcase, but thanks to a little shopping research, I have plenty of style inspiration to reference.

It seems that every fashion person in existence has gone on a ski trip this season, which has been to my advantage, as I've been able to discover stylish pieces that nail that quintessential après-ski aesthetic. At least if I fail at sliding down the slopes (which I'm totally expecting to do, BTW), I'll look good doing it. Below, I've gathered 24 of the core winter-weather pieces I have in mind for my upcoming trip. Big Aspen vibes ahead.

Heavy-Duty Boots

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(Image credit: @cinziabayliszullo)

With all that snow, boots that are up to the task are essential. Moon Boots are the obvious choice (they seem to sell out lightning fast, though), but several other brands like Hunter and Mackage are also on my shopping list. Since boots are a huge part of my ski look, I'll be going flashy with these.

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Technical Jumpsuit

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(Image credit: @idaheritier)

Am I the only one who thinks ski suits look incredibly cool? Not only are they practical, but they also keep blasts of air from permeating through. I've found suits as loud as checkered print and hot pink to subtler versions in black or neutral quilted material. 

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Winter Coat

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(Image credit: @cassdimicco)

As an L.A. person, I'm used to light jackets and, at the very worst, wool coats. Needless to say, I am thoroughly underprepared on the winter-coat front. In my dreams, I'd be skiing down the slopes in a fancy Moncler puffer, but my research has also led me to plenty of equally cute affordable options.

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Warm Base Layers

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

I'm that person who is perpetually cold, so you already know I plan to be bundled up in a multitude of cozy base layers to lock in the warmth. While I'm sipping tea by the fire, I'm sure I'll be glad I did.

Snow Goggles

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(Image credit: @ryandestiny)

Now that the key pieces are all set, it's time to dig into the accessories. As a first-timer, it's easy to forget the little details like this, but all of my experienced friends drilled the importance of quality snow goggles into my head.

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Statement Cold-Weather Accessories

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(Image credit: @fannyekstrand)

Now for the fun part: cool accessories. Miu Miu's recent ski-themed winter collection has been on my mood board forever, and yep, the slippers are already in my cart. I'm also excited about fuzzy headwear and sleek gloves.

Next up: The Edgy French-Girl Aesthetic Is Here—5 Pieces That Define the Look

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.