Ski's chicest, for before and après

This season's essential skiing guide for any budget

- JOE BROMLEY

When it comes to dismounting the gondola, the goal is to look a little Princess Diana in Klosters and considerably less Bridget Jones in Lech. Doing the ski shop can be daunting and expensive, though. The most important thing is getting it right on a practical front (can you move, are you warm? You’ll appreciate these things in a snowstorm more than the specific angle of your monochrome chevrons).

Thankfully the market is saturated with labels that do well to provide both style and function — and at varying price points. Before I get to the top new brands and hot collaborations to be seen whizzing down a black this season, a word of advice for first-timers initiating their ski cupboards: stock on good, simple essentials.

Gloves (from Trespass, £15.99, trespass.​com to Arc’teryx, £170, arcteryx.​com), goggles (a good one not to skimp on; look at Salomon, £50, salomon.​com or Oakley, £143, oakley.​com), a stack of thermals (Heattech at uniqlo.​com, always), a bundle of ski socks (£17.49, mountainwarehouse. com) — and don’t forget some sun cream and an SPF lip balm.

THEN, TIME FOR THE FUN BIT…

The posh one