Retro Ski Outfits: 70s and 80s Ski Style Now

A retro ski outfit borrows from the 1970s and 1980s: flared and high-waisted pants, bold colour blocking, racing stripes, one-piece suits and knits with words on the front. The modern way to wear it is one vintage reference per outfit on top of technical kit, and Perfect Moment, a label born in Chamonix in 1984, does exactly that across its women’s skiwear. Start with the 80s Slalom Bib Ski Pant, then build out from there.

A Short History of 70s and 80s Ski Style

The retro look really starts in the 1950s, when ski clothing went from baggy wool to slim. In 1952 Maria Bogner introduced form-fitting ski pants in wool and Helanca, a nylon-based stretch yarn, and by the mid-1950s they came in bright colours, according to the Arizona State University FIDM Museum and the Skiing History archive. The same year in Annecy, two tailors founded Fusalp to make the fuseau, the slim alpine trouser that gave the brand its name.

The 1970s made skiwear playful. Quilted nylon jackets, faux fur, moon boots and space-age shapes moved ski clothes into mainstream fashion, and Bogner says Jane Fonda’s aerobics style inspired Willy Bogner Jr. to design figure-hugging overalls in 1975. Flares, high waists and stripes on the sleeves come from this decade.

The 1980s were louder still. One-piece suits and overalls became the default, often in fluorescent colours, abstract prints and colour-blocked panels. Bogner presented a “Total Look” in the mid-1980s, with skis and ski suit designed as one unit. This is the era most people mean when they search for an 80s ski outfit.

Perfect Moment belongs to the same story. Thierry Donard founded the label in Chamonix in 1984 when he began making apparel for his free-ride skiing and surfing team, and his first film under the La Nuit de la Glisse label came out the same year. Today the brand is owned and run by Jane and Max Gottschalk, who took over in 2010.

Perfect Moment Pieces with Retro Energy

The 80s Slalom Bib Ski Pant

The most literal nod in the range. The 80s Slalom Bib Ski Pant in Black has a high-waisted silhouette with adjustable suspenders, 10K waterproof and breathable fabric, 4-way stretch, a thermal fleece lining and elasticated snow gaiters. For full 80s colour, choose the Oyster Pink version and pair it with a white turtleneck. More bib options are in our women’s ski bibs guide.

Colour-block jackets and racer knits

Perfect Moment describes the JG Down Ski Jacket in Red as inspired by retro ski style, with bold colour blocking, a removable belt, 8K waterproof two-layer nylon, 700-fill-power down and RECCO rescue technology. Under it, the Merino Wool Racer Sweater in Red has a colour-block design that the brand says takes inspiration from iconic 1980s ski style. There is a matching Merino Wool Racer Gilet with graphic panelling for warmer spring days.

70s flares and stripes

The brand calls the Saint Moritz Ski Pant in Red “high-voltage 70s ski style”: a high-rise flare with bold contrast detailing, 10K waterproof fabric and 4-way stretch. The Racer Ski Pant uses racing stripes to contour the body in the same high-rise flared cut. For a quieter jacket to wear with them, the Duvet Down Ski Jacket in Snow White is a fitted ripstop down jacket that the brand says brings retro ’70s-inspired styling to the mountain. See our flare ski pants guide for the full pant family.

Word knits: Apres and Piste

Intarsia lettering is pure chalet nostalgia. The Apres Schild Merino Wool Sweater in White has “Apres” knitted into the front, and the Piste Merino Wool Sweater carries “PISTE” intarsia at the chest. Both are fine merino, so wear them under a shell on the mountain and on their own at the bar. Our guide to Perfect Moment sweaters explains every knit.

The one-piece

No retro edit is complete without a suit. The Alpine Race Track Ski Suit in Snow White has a racing-inspired name and a clean white base, and the Polar Flare Down Ski Suit brings the brand’s flared silhouette to a one-piece. Our guide to pink, red and white ski suits covers the colours.

A piece of ski history

The Sloan Printed Tee in White is the most direct link to the past. Perfect Moment says it shows the 1975 photograph of freestyle skiing pioneer Stephanie Sloan in mid-air in Chamonix. It is Made in Portugal and works as an apres layer under an open jacket.

Heritage Nods: Bogner and Fusalp

If you want the real heritage names, both are on Coveti. Bogner, the Munich house behind the original stretch pant, still makes ski jackets with a strong graphic streak. Our Bogner ski jacket guide walks through the range, and the Beline First Layer in Navy, Red and White adds a retro colour stripe under any shell. Browse the full Bogner edit.

Fusalp leans more towards 1960s French racing elegance. The Kira Ski Suit in Navy and Racing Red is the closest thing in our edit to a vintage race suit. Read our Fusalp ski suit guide and the Fusalp vs Perfect Moment comparison for how the two French-born labels differ.

Retro Ski Outfit Formulas

How to Do Retro Without Looking Like Fancy Dress

• One reference per outfit. Choose one hero from the bib, the colour-block jacket, the word knit and the flare. Never all four at once.
• Keep the tech modern. Vintage ski clothing from the 70s and 80s was rarely as waterproof as today’s kit. A modern bib with snow gaiters and a membrane looks retro and keeps you dry.
• Anchor bright colour with white and black. A pink bib looks deliberate with a white top and black goggles.
• Save the headband and the oversized sunglasses for the terrace. On the slope, wear a helmet.

For the full layering picture, see our guide to how to layer for skiing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did people wear skiing in the 80s?

The 1980s were the decade of the one-piece ski suit and overalls, often in fluorescent colours, loud abstract prints and colour-blocked panels. High-waisted bib pants and stretch fabrics were everywhere. Bogner even presented a “Total Look” with skis and suit designed as one unit.

What is a retro ski suit?

A retro ski suit is a one-piece inspired by 1970s and 1980s skiwear, usually with a fitted waist, bold colour and racing details. Modern versions keep the shape but add waterproof fabric, stretch and features such as snow gaiters. Perfect Moment’s Alpine Race Track Ski Suit is one example.

How do you make an 80s ski outfit look modern?

Pick one 80s element, for example a bib pant in bright pink, and keep the rest simple. Use modern technical fabrics so the outfit works on the mountain. White, black and a single bold colour look far more current than head-to-toe neon.

When were stretch ski pants invented?

Maria Bogner introduced form-fitting stretch ski pants in 1952, made of wool and Helanca, a nylon-based stretch yarn. By the mid-1950s they came in bright colours. The same year, Fusalp was founded in Annecy to make the fuseau, a slim alpine ski trouser.

Does Perfect Moment make retro skiwear?

Yes. Perfect Moment’s 80s Slalom Bib Ski Pant, JG Down Ski Jacket and Merino Wool Racer Sweater are all described by the brand as inspired by retro and 1980s ski style. The Saint Moritz Ski Pant and Duvet Down Ski Jacket take their cue from the 1970s.