The Ski Sweater

This season, fashion is having fun sending the fashionistas to the slopes, without them having to take the train to Bourg Saint Maurice. According to some designers, the perfect mountain girl will find her true expression on the urban streets.

On the fall/winter 2010-2011 catwalks, between the moon boots (at Chanel) and the hiking boots (at other designers), the references to the mountains were innumerable. These details taken from the mountaineering dress code ended up integrating themselves into this winter's wardrobe well, bringing a touch of roots extravagance to a minimalist look that has the tendency to take itself too seriously.

However, D&G, Rag&Bone and even Proenza Schouler may offer collections sprinkled with references to life in higher altitudes, but the resemblance to the little mountain village ends there.

In order to compensate for the ski sweater's obvious lack of sex appeal and its backwards or too-geometric motifs, the designers turned them upside down by swapping their usual companions - ski pants, down jackets, ski hats - for much more unexpected finery.

At D&G, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana may have taken the mountain theme very seriously, but they also decreed a new dress code for the famous ski sweater. They associated them with transparent chiffon skirts that, even if they are not directly transposable to the street, at least open new style perspectives for the moose-patterned pullovers.

At the same time, the Rag&Bone version of the ski-slope pullovers is cropped, allowing them to be layered over shirts and increasing their urban feel. Finally, the Proenza Schouler duo gives a punk-chic vision to the sweater.

Comforted in the idea that the ski sweater is well in the process of coming out of the chalet, we can now give them a twist by pairing them with established duos, e.g., 70s pants/leather jackets, classic trenches/slim 3/4s, or sparkly skirts/brogues.

Rag&Bone pullover: http://www.net-a-porter.com/97533
D&G pullover: http://www.net-a-porter.com/77158