Hesh pipes

Suits and denim hit the hill and the streets in a winter fashion frenzy

by EMILY SOUTHWOOD

Why does everyone and their mother have a furry-hooded coat and an inclination toward stompin', sheepskin, elephant-foot boots with their pants tucked into them? Where to reference these winter looks: the runway, or is it city slickers pinching snowboard fashion? Whoever's stealing from whom, this season is seeing boarders wearing tight ass-jeans and girlies wearing big-ass boots.

From surfing came snowboarding and also Uggs - the "ugly boots" surfers wore to keep their toes warm after a day in the ocean. No matter what your stance on these clunky, cozy booties, it's not going to stop quite yet. It's hard to say why this style of footwear became so popular in L.A.; at least here in Canada they serve a purpose because they're sooo warm, even if they're sooo popular and sooo expensive.

What don't seem to serve a purpose are the "hesh" (ie. rocker) styles that migrated to the slopes.

Snow is cold and melts on the human body. So why wear jeans? Picture a banger bombing down the hill with a Raiders jacket flapping in the wind and you're not far off this look. The styles of certain badass snowboarding pros brought tight jeans tucked into boots, skulls, bandanas, safety-pins, studded belts and leashes to boarding as a we're-not-rich-and-we're-that-hardcore fashion statement. But it became so in, it's just about out, which means this season you can buy studded leather goggles, waterproof denim pants, or a $300 parka in a shattered-glass-with-skull pattern.

Fashion loves opposites. It's time to put away the punk and break out the suit. On the slopes, a necktie used as a belt is beginning to replace studded leather. Even some dudes are out there boarding in suits. While several may be making a comment on corporate sponsorship, clearly others will simply follow suit (ha!) in the name of cool. For sipping hot chocolate or cracking a beer by the fire, the new après skiwear may well be a pinstripe blazer and tie.

What next? Fluorescents are creeping up on boarding gear while Chanel boasts a florescent green scarf on the runway this season. If you still have that early '90s hot pink jacket, there is no time like the present to get ahead of the gang. As for other future trends, say a prayer for the one-piece.

Right way, wrong way

RIGHT WAY: We're down with boarding pants that look like two legs and not Teletubbies.

WRONG WAY: Waterproof denim. Oh dear. Please don't do that.

RIGHT WAY: Girls: pink, pink, pink. We love it and purple is the new pink. More purple.

WRONG WAY: Too much candy makes you puke.

RIGHT WAY: Fur-trimmed hoods, okay fine, they're practical.

WRONG WAY: Fur-trimmed hoods, they're getting annoying. Anything else fur is more original, like furry Russian hunting caps (sorry PETA).

RIGHT WAY: Mittens, vests, earmuffs, scarves and sunglasses all at once. More is more.

WRONG WAY: One enormous floor length parka (we know you'll do it anyway).

RIGHT WAY: Pants tucked into boots on streets and slopes.

WRONG WAY: But not those I'm-so-Diesel WWF lace-up sneaker things, yuck, lame, yuck.

RIGHT WAY: Gentlemanly winter colours: brown, burnt orange, sable etc.

WRONG WAY: Anything bright blue, red or forest green. Thank you for coming to our town, MEC, but this ain't Calgary.