When I was invited by ALO to visit Courchevel, a ski town in the French Alps, I knew I was entering foreign territory in more ways than one. My experience with après-ski fashion is limited to West Coast ski towns in Colorado and Utah, where Western-inspired trends reign supreme. However, I knew that a visit to a chic mountain town in France would mean leaving my cowboy hats and boots at home. Courchevel is one of the most high-end ski resorts in the world, known for its five-star accommodations (we stayed at the iconic Les Airelles), Michelin-star dining, designer shopping, and of course, its breathtaking skiing terrain. With the après-ski scene in Courchevel as the inspiration for past ALO Atelier collections, it's only fitting that this is where the latest drop was celebrated.
Abby Gordon, ALO's chief design and merchandising officer, explains, "With iconic winter styles in high-end materials, Atelier bridges ski-slope mornings, recovery afternoons, and glamorous nights. This is a collection that allows you to move beautifully through every moment of winter, and infuses a sense of sophistication into special occasions and the everyday." The new pieces were perfect for the chic, luxurious dress code of the French Alps, making my packing decisions delightfully easy. I arrived fully equipped with cashmere sets, silky evening attire, faux-fur accessories, and a wide range of statement outerwear for before, during, and after skiing. I fit right in with the fashion crowd, who were all wearing three very specific trends. Take note if you're planning a trip to the mountains this ski season.
Winter White
Winter-white looks both on and off the slopes were everywhere in Courchevel. From cashmere sweaters to coats to ski suits, all-white looks are an easy way to look ultra-elegant (not to mention match the scenery).
Faux Fur
Faux fur is a top trend of the season, so it's no surprise that all the girls are incorporating the material into their slopeside outfits. Add faux-fur mittens or a hat to tap into the trend, or go big with faux-fur outerwear.
Pastels
In past seasons, we've seen bright colors such as red and royal blue all over the slopes, but the fashion crowd in Courchevel leaned into pastels. Opting for a pastel ski suit (and Moon Boots for after the slopes) is an easy way to stand out on the mountain. How cute is this baby-pink shade?
Pajama-Inspired Eveningwear
Unlike in Aspen, Vail, Park City, or Big Sky, you won't spot any denim and cowboy boots at dinner in a European ski town. Instead, people really dress to impress. I saw a lot of pajama-inspired silky separates, from slip dresses to matching silk sets, styled with heels instead of boots despite the icy conditions.
Statement Coats
I saw so many cool statement coats, particularly ones in unique fabrics. Think shearling cape jackets, the aforementioned faux-fur outerwear, and my personal favorite, cashmere-sweater puffers.
