What You Wear Can Influence How You Ski
Posted
by
WinterWomen
on Friday, September 19, 2014
“When you look good, you feel good. Confidence with what you're wearing is very important. If you feel good, you will always perform your best without worrying about anything.”
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova couldn’t have said it better. You should dress in what makes you feel your absolute best and not worry about how others look or feel. There have even been studies done that demonstrate how what you wear can affect how you perform, and the direct correlation between the two is astonishing.
A few years ago when I was still in college, my family planned a trip to visit me in Colorado during my winter break for a ski trip to Breckenridge. My dad, being the ultimate planner, booked accommodations and made sure everyone was situated with plane and ski tickets months in advance.
I was all set for the trip since I already had purchased a season pass and lived in the state. At the last minute, I learned that my sister-in-law would no longer be joining the rest of my family and I on our ski trip. The reason for this was that she had gained a little weight over the summer and could no longer fit into her ski pants. She was mortified and too depressed to even come on the trip!
My dad had to cancel her trip reservations and ski tickets. My mom, dad and brother still made the trip out and we had a great time skiing together. However, I was still very disappointed that I missed spending quality time with my sister-in-law for such a silly reason. But was she actually being ridiculous or did she have a valid point? What is it about clothing that has such a profound impact on our behavior and our self-perceptions?
 WinterWomen employee, Jackie, has a similar story. “The last time I went snowboarding it was an extra cold powder day, so I added a few layers underneath my jacket and pants to ensure that I would stay warm and dry. Unfortunately, the jacket I was wearing wasn’t loose enough to give me the movement I needed. It was a longer coat and the coat kept riding up every time I fell – and yes, I am a beginner snowboarder, so the falls are inevitable!"
"I loved my pants – they were gifted to me – but they were too tight to button up with all of my layers underneath. I had also put some muscle on my quads and glutes, and should have had a larger size to begin with. Between the jacket riding up and the unbuttoned pants, I was miserable – and felt foolish adjusting my clothes all day, considering I work at a women’s ski clothing company!”
Both of these situations got me thinking about how important it is to feel confident in what you wear when you ski or snowboard. Let’s face it – women are shapely! Women’s bodies are designed a certain way for a very important reason – to bear children. No two women’s figures are exactly alike and that makes us a very unique kind.
Finding the right outerwear can be tough, especially for curvy women. Here are our suggestions on what to search for to find ski apparel that allows you to look your best, which will bring about tip-top performance.
Comfort
We cannot stress comfort enough! Although you want to wear an outfit that makes you look good, it’s impossible to actually feel good (the key to confidence, which allows for better performance) unless you’re comfortable.
If you are wearing pants that are too tight or short, your movement will be restricted. Make sure you choose the correct size pant (some brands even carry pants that come in long and short) and a style that best suits your lower body. Classic or athletic fit pants will allow more room overall than styles like slim fit or tailored.
If your jacket keeps riding up, you will get cold and the exposure will be a constant nuisance. Find a jacket that covers your hips and has a powder skirt – which is also very helpful to keep the warm in and snow out! Try the Spyder Project Jacket if you are a skier or the 686 Authentic Aerial Jacket if you are a snowboarder.
Prepare for Cold Weather
 Wearing multiple layers of clothing helps trap heat between each layer, keeping you warm while skiing or riding. If you wear cotton long underwear, it will retain moisture and you will get cold and wet. Try a moisture-wicking first layer top and bottom such as the Under Armour Base 2.0 Crew and Under Armour Base 2.0 Legging for the perfect next-to-skin coverage.
If you constantly get cold while skiing, look for form-fitting fleece layers rather than boxy ones that will puff out too much under your jacket. While gloves give you a better grip than mittens, mittens keep your fingers closer together, generating more heat.
Wear a hat or helmet (find a helmet that works with the shape of your head – and doesn’t make your head look like a bowling ball!) to prevent important body heat from escaping. Lastly, don’t forget to wear neck protection to prevent cold air from chafing your throat.
Match Colors or Styles
Ski and snowboard brands make it easier than ever by designing jackets and pants that go together perfectly. They also have product lines that include several jackets, which are designed to go together with an assortment of pants, creating a variety of different outfits to choose from.
WinterWomen.com makes it even easier with the creation of the Buy Entire Outfit feature. We’ve worked long and hard to hand-select the absolute best match for every item we sell. For example, if you find a jacket you like, click the Buy Entire Outfit button. You will see the jackets’ perfect match in pants, layers, and even accessories such as gloves, goggles, a hat and socks!
If you don’t find an outfit that’s exactly to your likely, it’s OK to mix and match, just be sure to choose colors and styles that emphasize your features in the most flattering way so that you can achieve your ultimate level of performance while skiing or riding.
What type of ski or snowboard clothes do you feel the best in? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Categories:
Fashion
Tagged: womens ski clothing, fashionable outerwear for women, outerwear for curvy women, stylish ski wear
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