Skiing News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

These 6 Retro Ski Fashion Trends Deserve a Comeback

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 12:24 PM ET

Ski fashion is a constantly changing melting pot of shifting technology and norms. Once, we dressed like we were headed to a fancy dinner. Now, weatherproof shells and breathable layers dominate.

At each stop along the way, there were equally memorable faux pas and fashion victories. What trends, then, from the annals of skiing are worth resurrecting?

Based on an entirely subjective review—you might, after all, hate what we like—we’ve come to a decision. Hopefully, you’ll find some threads and hardgoods you can get behind.

These are six trends and pieces of gear that can—and should—have a comeback.

This piece is part of POWDER's Summer of Ski Nostalgia content series. Stay tuned in daily for more nostalgic articles, and keep an eye out for the upcoming Summer of Ski Nostalgia badge to identify future content.

You can also view all of POWDER's summer nostalgia content here.

Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.

Ski Boots With Bling (Tom Wallisch Full Tilt)

In the not-so-distant past, Full Tilt—the ski boot company—took inspiration from Air Jordan for its Tom Wallisch pro models. The boots borrowed the iconic “elephant print” Air Jordan popularized in the world of sneakers, and featured a puffy tongue that was attached to the front cables. Together, those design elements created the illusion that these ski boots could, maybe, be worn on a basketball court.

Modern descendants of these boots exist in the K2 FL3X collection, a rebranded lineup that includes the same three-piece design that Full Tilt once did (K2, which launched Full Tilt in 2006 using Raichle Flexon molds, eventually decided to continue Full Tilt under the K2 FL3X banner).

While the K2 FL3X boots are handsome, contemporary, and streamlined, they lack the audacity and silliness of their court-side forebears. Attaching an unnecessary tongue obviously did nothing to improve performance, but they gave the old Full Tilts character that wouldn’t be unwelcome in 2025.

A pair of Full Tilt Seth Morrison pro models from 2011 tried something similar, including a Union Jack pin and zippered plaid for some British punk rocker styling—God Save the Queen!

Colorful One-Pieces

Speaking of audacious, what happened to one-pieces? Sure, they still exist. I had a DIMITO one-piece during a few recent ski seasons, but, for the most part, skiers these days now lean on technical two-piece kits. In the backcountry, that makes sense. One pieces—or “fart bags” as they’re affectionately known—can be sweaty and cumbersome. During a cold day at the ski resort, however, they transform you into a human hot pocket with an added benefit: they’re a bold fashion statement.

One day, hopefully, the one piece will return to its former glory, becoming more than ski clothing stuck in the gaper day fashion backwater. These were once serious suits, and they should be treated as such.

The Bad Lieutenant Helmet (Giro)

In the mid-2000s, Giro was making and selling a ski helmet that at least looked like it was designed to reflect shrapnel and stray bullets. It had the swooping curvature of a military dome protector and a fitting, mean-sounding name to match: the Bad Lieutenant. Wearers of this product had clear marching orders. Send mad tricks, disobey orders, and spray racers whenever possible.

Since then, skiing has become gentler and more welcoming. We’re encouraged, thankfully, to embrace newcomers and engage in peacetime negotiations with other skiers, even if they aren’t familiar with the stunt ditch. But there still could be room for a reissue of Giro’s iconic piece. What about the Good Lieutenant?

Bogners and Sweaters

If you thought one pieces were impractical, wait until you see how skiers dressed in the 1950s and 1960s. Dressy pants, often of the Bogner variety, were the norm. So were sweaters. At any moment, these skiers were one face plant away from becoming utterly, completely soaked.

They had class, though. Today’s mountain people, with their weathered shells and moth-infested base layers, wouldn’t make it beyond the front door at a fine Italian restaurant unless they changed into something more appropriate first. Their well-dressed predecessors, however, might be invited to the top of the reservation list just because they looked so darn good.

A questionable relationship with personal hygiene and beat-to-hell equipment is valorized amongst the modern, ski-bum-aesthetic-obsessed skier. My smelly ski socks, increasingly dated jacket, and I would know. But those Bogner-wearing skiers of days past can teach us a thing or two about appearances—putting on deodorant before going skiing would probably be a good place to start.

Dressing Like a Punk Rocker

Less classy but cooler were the frosted tips and chains sported by professional skiers in the late 1990s. Just look at Brad Holmes and Jimbo Morgan in this advertisement. Rock stars roadies? Skiers? Both? A reimagination of this style seems to be on the rise again, so don’t be too surprised if you see a few dyed, spiky hairdos in the parking lot next time you go skiing. Bowl cuts aren't out of the question, either.

Over-ear Headphones

Another fashion trend that might be on the precipice of a renaissance are the over-ear headphones. Throughout the 2000s, this style of listening to music on the mountain was dominant amongst park skiers who, in particular, favored the Skullcandy Icon. It was a look, and if the cyclical nature of fashion remains consistent, it’s about time for a full-fledged comeback.

There’s one problem: over-ear headphones don’t play well with helmets. For the fashion-forward park skiers most likely to bring something resembling the classic Icon back, though, that won’t be too much of a problem. Steez sometimes comes ahead of function and safety.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: