Skiing and snowboarding are sports that encourage personal style. Whether you ski park or telemark, prefer the uphill to the down or anything
in-between, the way you dress connects your physical relationship to the snow and your personal aura. Snow style isn’t boxed in to fur, tight pants and sparkle — snow style is handpicking technical gear that represents your personality, too.
In March of 2024, I was invited to attend and walk in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame fashion show by executive fashion show producer and stylist, Kathy Benharris, and assistant producer and stylist, Karlee Rink. Each spring this fashion show showcases upcoming styles and trends for the ski season ahead. As I arrived in Park City, Utah, with one of my best friends who would also walking in the show with me, Benharris and Rink greeted us with enthusiasm and professionalism.
“What we’re doing is serious but at the same time it’s fun and glamorous; our goal is to lean into that on show day,” Benharris says.
We tried on lush velvet and jewel-toned jackets from Bogner and retro-inspired jumpsuits from TaraShakti. As we went through the fitting process more models arrived — all warm, welcoming, kind and encouraging of each other — an energy that carried through out the weekend. As the fitting came to an end, my friend and I would be in Mammut for our walk down the runway.
TaraShakti, one of the designers showed in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame fashion show, creates stunning ski suits, but its true mission is to build confidence, connection and community. Founded by Tara Clark after a meaningful trip to Whistler, TaraShakti celebrates shared humanity and supports causes close to its heart. For every suit sold, $50 is donated to the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Brain Tumor Treatment and the Northwest Sherpa Association.
Models posing wearing Skea at Black Rock Mountain Resort in Utah. Born and based in Colorado, Skea is designed by women who ski, for women who ski. With a deep passion for fashion and the mountains since 1972, Skea combines stylish performance wear with the expertise of ski instructors, professionals and U.S. ski team members.
Being two women who have very minimal modeling experience, let alone runway, we were in awe for the majority of the weekend. The most memorable part of the experience was the genuine sense of support and inclusivity that both Benharris and Rink gave off. Through many quick changes, long days and tricky logistics, both women kept the show organized and on point while remaining fun and light. All of the models felt this!
Benharris and I met when I was working at my home mountain in Sunday River, Maine. Benharris would always show up on the slopes in bright colors, faux fur and sparkles. Not only would she make a splash with her outfit, but her skiing matched the level of confidence she exuded, too.
“I think there’s some prejudices inside the snow industry that if you are really into fashion and style and you’re trying to do a little something with your look, that somehow makes you less of an athlete — I reject that wholeheartedly,” Benharris explains. “It doesn’t make me less of a skier because I wore a sparkly belt today.”
Benharris and Rink are in the business because they want to see a more confident world, a world that encourages everyone to reflect their inner style, vibe, energy, aura or the like. When we are truest to ourselves, we feel our best and can pass that along to those around us.
When I caught up with Benharris and Rink post-show, we did a little Q&A about the trends for the upcoming season, their hopes and dreams for the snow-style fashion industry and the importance of feeling good in the skin you’re in.
Kathy Benharris: “Gorsuch and Bogner sent some animal prints that were smoking hot and beautifully done, that paired well with creams and rich browns. I think the bone and animal print combo was really striking for me. My Achilles heel is going to be something pretty luxe.”
Karlee Rink: “My favorite was TaraShakti’s line. It was cool and functional. The colors really stood out and the fact you could wear the pants and jacket separately or zip it together to make it a one piece. It fit really well on all the models that tried it on.”
Blending style and function, these models (left and center) showcase Bogner’s luxury sportswear, crafted for effortless movement from slopes to streets. With roots in Munich since 1932, Bogner defines the intersection of performance and elegance. Nivis delivers precision with limited-edition skiwear, designed in the USA and tested worldwide. This jacket (right) offers the perfect balance of form and function for those seeking high performance gear.
KB: “My dream is to develop this into an American snow-style fashion week where every March we are showing the world — beyond the industry — what is out there and what is coming to get the consumer excited and to get their temperature on these goods.”
KR: “For the future, I hope to continue to working with Kathy and I think there’s so much potential in this industry. We have fashion weeks for every other type of industry there is. There is such a large industry for ski and snow with a lot of luxury brands. Having a whole week dedicated to it is completely realistic. The consumer base is there.”
KB: “I’m beyond thrilled for this year. We are going to be doing this fashion show on the Lake Placid Olympic ice rink. Some of our models will be on skates and spectators will be seated on ice.”
Benharris and Rink are thrilled to be working together again on this year’s fashion show set to take place March 28, 2025. Leaning into the Olympic history of Lake Placid with the rink as center stage will be a must-see.
As Benharris and Rink continue to build traction for their dream of a snow style fashion week, they continue to remind us along the way that feeling good in what you’re wearing, being true to yourself and tapping into your inner confidence is something that can be — and is encouraged to be — brought to the slopes.
Photos by Alex Johnson.