Calling all ski fashionistas – it’s time to get your Cord on
Protest have designed technical kit with a street edge. This corduroy is not like any you’ve worn before. This is water-resistant and breathable. These cord dungarees are designed to be technical in the snow and fabulous in the Apres.
The salmon pink dungarees have a flattering slim-fit with a high waist. I am used to wearing ski trousers and thought that these may have been restrictive. This was not the case at all, I was able to ski to the best of my ability and I also managed to ‘cut some shapes’ after a little apres with my girl friends.
I skied with one thin layer of thermals underneath and that was ideal in January. For the warmer months, I can imagine you could ditch the thermals as the trousers are lightly quilted and, thanks to the taped seams, no drafts get in.
More good news, you can pop them in the washing machine on a 30 cycle so no need to be too precious about them when eating your Nutella Crepes or when carrying your drinks through the crowded apres bar.
The Spontane Courduroy salopette, in Think Pink, £119.99
The Protest Cutie Corduroy jacket comes as you would expect with a lift pass pocket, goggle pocket, areas for your phone, music and earphones. Like the dungarees the jacket is lightly quilted, so a long sleeved t-shirt and/or a mid-layer underneath is more than enough. It is breathable and there are also pit-zips for when you need a little extra ventilation.
Protest Cutie corduroy jacket in grunge grey £159.99
The snow skirt can be connected to your trousers on powder days and the soft, fur-lined, detachable hood will go over any helmet on bad weather days.
The one thing I would say is that the two breast pockets are a fraction too small for a smartphone, so be careful if you pop a device in there as it can pop back out again on its own accord. However, there are ample internal pockets.
So how did it the kit perform on the hill?
I was fully corded up for my trip to Verbier. We headed all the way up to the top of Mont Fort (3,328m) before having a light lunch on the hill and then indulging in some apres.
I was warm all day, never too hot, never too cold and I wasn’t sweaty when it came to coats off at lunchtime. As for Apres… “Fiona, you not been skiing today then?” asked Tony the pilot. I had been, but what had thrown him was how ‘at home’ I looked in my ski wear.
The Cutie Corduroy jacket in Grunge grey (it’s also available in pink) will set you back £159.99. Which I personally think is good value as not only did it hit the mark for a week’s skiing in Switzerland, I’ve worn it around town since being home.
When I first got into my ski kit this winter I wasn’t sure a person of my age should be wearing pink cord dungarees, but rules are there to be broken. I love it when people shout “Hey Fi, look they’ve got your dungarees on”. They are mine.
This winter I am owning the corduroy!
