The 23 Best Women’s Ski Suits to Stay Warm (and Chic) on the Mountain

There are perhaps few universal truths in the sport of skiing, but this is one of them: If your winter gear can’t handle the challenge, then neither can you. I’ve been skiing since I was a toddler, and I’ve spent enough days powering through -5 degree weather to know a well-insulated women’s ski suit can be the difference between a smooth run and a faceplant into the nearest mogul. But finding the right jacket and pants is a subtle art, combining fashion, form, and function. To suss out which are the best options on the market right now, we enlisted former Olympic skiers Lindsey Vonn and Kiley McKinnon to help us break down what to look for.

Says McKinnon, a 2018 Team USA Olympian and the co-founder of women’s skiwear brand Halfday, there are three main questions to ask yourself when shopping for a ski suit:

1. Is it waterproof? If snow or moisture seeps into your clothes through your suit, that’s game over.
2. How insulated do you want it to be? If you “run cold,” you might need a puffier coat with more padding. If you run hot, you’d likely prefer a shell jacket, under which you can layer as many undergarments as you’d like and take them off if you get warm.
3. Is the suit functional for skiing? “Meaning. does the hood fit over the helmet?” McKinnon explains. “Is there a ski pass pocket? Is there a powder skirt, which is the thing that goes around your waist to keep out the snow? I think it’s really important to make sure that you are distinguishing between an actual ski set and just a regular puffer jacket and pants.”

Ahead, a few of our favorite tried-and-tested options for your best day on the mountain yet. Bonus: No need to sacrifice your sense of style.