Snow is starting to accumulate on the mountains, and excited skiers and snowboarders are making their way up to Whistler. Being a snowblader, I’ve always thought that style is not something you take to an active activity. The focus is mainly on functionality and what is going to work for the conditions outside. This often means that you’re stuck with an oversized ski jacket typically in a primary colour.

It was only a matter of time and not a second too late that someone decided to integrate style into skiing. After all, a snow bunny often has a stereotype of looking cute on the slopes and now is the time we see it. Whistler’s CAN-SKI line has come up with a collection that targets the fashion savvy consumer hitting the slopes.

Among the fashion skiwear collection are designers such as Bogner, Tony Sailor, J Lindeburg. Higher end materials are used such as vertical and stretch quilting with a waterproof surface and even Swarovski crystals. Fur details are used in many of the garments to exude a sense of luxury. A traditional textile such as knitted wool is still used for toques and scarves.

Designers are also making their line more versatile to appeal to consumers by adding elements such as detachable pieces. Trending is also the addition of bright colours for the mountain such as bright pinks or yellow.

Five must-haves when hitting the slopes are:

1. Good thermals-moisture transfer from your body to the garment. One layer may trap all the moisture and make you cold. Smart wool is a good choice.

2. Fun colourful jacket — there’s a functional purpose to it since it’s easy to spot

3. Zip neck or fleece for layer

4. Gloves and scarves

5. Good footwear such as boots — waterproof with good tread

A Canadian recommendation for a jacket would be Arc’teryx, which is made in Vancouver. The outer shell is gore-tex, which is extremely waterproof. So far Bogner has been a favourite when it comes to luxury skiwear. The hills might look very different as fashion and active wear come together.

Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.