Shopping in ski resorts is a winter treat for anyone who loves haute couture. As the time of year approaches when it’s out with old and in with the new, the new year is the perfect time to implement some style resolutions. As you bid farewell to 2018, you can also give your wardrobe a reboot. If you’re planning to take a ski trip over the holidays, you will have access to the world’s best designer brands and luxury shopping in the Alps. Even if you aren’t planning on hitting the slopes, a helicopter rental in France can whisk you to the Alps for a day of shopping and fine dining at dizzying heights. We’ve selected some of the best shopping destinations below.
Courchevel
Courchevel is the place that A-listers head to for the haute couture of Paris. The higher up the mountain you go, the higher the fashion (and price tags!). There are probably more famous fashion stores concentrated at the top of this mountain than in any other alpine resort in the world. What should you wear today? Chanel, Prada, Fendi, Hermès, Gucci, Moncler, or Dior: take your pick.
As well as all the usual international flagship stores, French fashion houses like Ogier, and the recently rebranded Celine are also hugely popular. French designers such as Isabel Marant, whose boho-chic, tomboyish designs are highly sought after, can be found among the ready-to-wear collections of Blu&Berry and Padischa. Look out for pop-up stores this season. In the past, famous Lebanese designer Elie Saab has been among those to open temporary shops. This is why Courchevel 1850 will always be the place for luxury shopping in the Alps.
St Moritz
Fashionistas flock to the Swiss ski resort of St Moritz to shop in the clouds on Via Serlas. Europe’s highest luxury shopping avenue is also one of its most high-end, with ultra-exclusive ready-to-wear brands such as Prada, Gucci and Chanel. Shopping in ski resorts is always fun, but St Moritz is an especially extravagant destination. The simplicity of its beautiful lakeside setting and fairytale valleys are off-set by its glitzy nightlife.
Even if you’re shopping for sports gear, St Moritz tends to be elegant so this is an ideal ski resort to visit if you want your 2019 wardrobe to reflect your sophisticated side. If you intend to refine your look down to the last detail, St Moritz can’t be beaten for accessories. Chopard, Bucherer and Bulgari offer premier jewellery, watches and more. This picture postcard resort is the place to stock up on essentials to finish your new look… If those essentials are a Hermès scarf and a Rolex watch.
Gstaad
Gstaad is a classic Swiss resort and its chalet-style shop fronts reflect this feeling. This shopper’s paradise is packed with old design favourites and stores selling sophisticated outdoor gear. For the latter, Moncler has an impressive range of exquisitely designed coats and jackets to ring in the new year in style with. The 2019 spring collection features guest designers and brands including Simone Rocha, Craig Green and Noir.
Other renowned brands in the pedestrianized centre include Cartier, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Hermès to accessorise to perfection. These famous boutiques sit alongside traditional cheese shops, charcuteries and banks, all sporting the same Swiss chalet architecture. Gstaad is the best ski resort for upscale fashion mixed with a winter wonderland aesthetic, and it’s easy to reach by helicopter from France. As far as combining shopping in ski resorts and soaking up Swissness goes, Gstaad is an ideal destination.
