2007 Outerwear Trend Report

When it gets hot out, and right now it’s nearly 100 degrees, there’s nothing we like better to do than flip through snowboard catalogues and pick out gear for next season. We’ve picked out the key trends so that you can work it on the lift lines.

Eesa Women’s Ridgeline

New Lines for 06/07

This season a couple of well known names introduce new lines and one line makes it debut. Burton is debuting B by Burton, a line of outerwear and streetwear designed with a slightly more mature rider in mind. Nikita Clothing is introducing their first technical outerwear line with two pants and two jackets, all with the distinctive Nikita styling.

Eesa clothing is a brand new line of technical base layers that look like streetwear, or as they like to put it that you can wear from “lift to lounge”. On the outside they may look like your great looking western, button-down, or even a rugby shirt, but deep down they are leading a secret double life as a moisture wicking base layer.

Holden Mila Jacket

Also, look out for Holden’s line of hemp outerwear. This line is based on the styles in the regular line but feature the distinctive look and unique properties of hemp fabric.

Trend :: Textiles

The menswear print trend from last season has evolved into a variety of unique textiles. You don’t have to pay top dollar to get your hands on these fabrics anymore. Ride’s Brisbane Cargo is available in a whole bunch of different textiles including tweeds, herringbones and denim.

686 Smarty Vanity Jacket in Chocolate Tweed

686 has the standout piece in this trend with the Smarty Vanity Jacket and Smarty Pant which both come in Chocolate Tweed. This eye-catching tweed incorporates browns, blues and greys. It‚Äôs just like that jacket you’ve always wanted to steal from your grandfather.

Cappel has another distinctive tweed offering; they blend a plaid tweed with olive suede for the Wellington Jacket.

For herringbones look to Holden. Their Mila jacket employs a more subtle herringbone pattern for a finely detailed jacket. Mission Six also picks up the herringbone trend in the Surplus Jacket.

Cappel Edenberry Jacket

If you really want to work this trend pick up some of the Rose Damask pieces in the Cappel line. The combination of color and the bold floral print will turn heads, especially in the Edenberry Jacket which evokes the styles of 18th century French uniforms.

One caveat with this trend – head to toe suits can jump you to the top of snowboard fashion list, but you have to pull it off with confidence or you‚Äôll look like you’re just wearing the drapes. If you can channel Scarlett O‚ÄôHara, then you‚Äôll stay off Mr Blackburn‚Äôs list.

Trend :: Prints

The collection of prints available this year span the gamut from whimsical to sophisticated to down right crazy.

686 brings us the most variety of choices in prints. Their collaborations with Vestal Watches and Dakine for the Times line resulted in two new prints. The Vestal Jacket and pant has a crackled print that looks very goth in purple, and of course the jacket comes with a Vestal watch. The Dakine Jacket has a stunningly simple bird design, which is surprisingly pleasing in pink.The 686 Yumiko jacket has a cute Japanese inspired looking cloud print, that just makes you smile whenever you see it. The 686 Artist Collaboration Line (ACE) doesn’t disappoint with the Windsor Insulated Jacket. The edgy rose print by artist Pete Campbell stands out in the avocado rose colorway.

Bonfire Flare Jacket	Burton Dutchess Jacket		686 Yumiko Jacket

Camouflage prints take on a techno flavor with the Bonfire Flare Jacket, which has a digital camo print that comes in five different colours. With a more artsy bent, the Bonfire Blur jacket has the very unique Angel of Death print by Seattle illustrator Luke Yates. The same print appears in the men’s line so you know it’s got to be good.

Planet Earth Trooper Plaid Jacket

Planet Earth goes the simple route with the box plaid Trooper Jacket. This simple pattern available in grey, pink and white works with the military styling of the jacket.

Houndstooths, paisleys, and fair isles, oh my! Burton has become well known for some prints that are so bold they need a warning label "Not for the fashion novice". The paisley comes in two colours, but the roasted brown version in the Burton Dutchess Insulated Jacket works best combining the flashy print with a refined color scheme. The Chalet System jacket in the fair isle print are rather whimsical, with their trump l’oeil print leaving people wondering if it’s really a sweater.

Burton really stepped up their houndstooth offerings this year, toning down the print and kicking the colours up a notch. The Henna Jacket and Pant come in Equestrian Antique Ivory houndstooth, and either paired up with the green or pink is really striking. One of the best colours in the Burton palate is Wrigley Blue, which you can find in the Burton Concert Jacket Equestrian Roasted Brown houndstooth.

Trend :: Long & Belted

Bonfire Voyage Jacket

If you’re tired of a cold wet butt, this trend may be for you. Jackets with a longer length and a belted waist create both a slimmer silhouette and a more sophisticated look. Bonfire does this look with the Voyage jacket. The plaid fabric and fur hood take this look from Park Avenue to the Park.

Holden’s Leather Belted Jacket is full of details that usually mark designer pieces like the buttons, top stitched pockets, chained zippers, and fur hood. Holden took the longer length that is au courant in tops right now, and added a leather belt to cinch the silhouette.

Ride Levac Pants

Trend :: Suspenders

Suspenders are snapping their way into snowboarding fashion this season. Of course they are a functional way to keep your pants up, but the best way to rock this trend is suspenders down. If you want to be known for your fashion nose jump on this trend now, as I think this will get even bigger next season.

Priscalla Levac’s signature pants for Ride, the Levac Ergo, have more than just suspenders. With faux snakeskin and rivet detailing, these pants have a slight goth look that you won’t see anywhere else.

The other option is Burton’s Cargo Elite pants. These pants have one of the baggier fits available for women, several cargo pockets and, of course, the suspenders. The Cargo Elite pants even come in that sexy roasted brown houndstooth.

Trend :: Topstitch Quilting

Ride Rose Jacket

Down jackets are well known for their ability to make even Kate Moss look like the Stay-Puffed Marshmallow man. Outerwear designers have wised up in the past few years to make down jackets with more flattering cuts, and this year they got even smarter by adding topstitch quilting which cuts down on bulk.

The Ride Ellis Down jacket has all over floral quilting, a fur lined hood, and button detailing that manages to look clean and feminine but not too girly. If flowers aren’t your thing, then Ride also has the insulated Rose jacket, which despite its name, has swirly ribbon quilting and knit ribbing on the lower hem for a flattering fit.

Sepia Happy Hour Jacket	Bonfire Strobe Jacket

Geometric topstitching cuts down on bulk and creates interest. There are several options out there for this trend, but that doesn’t mean they all look the same.

The 686 Plush jacket, the Bonfire Strobe jacket, and Burton Reversible Down jacket all have unique stitch designs.

The Sepia Happy Hour jacket combines topstitching with some of the previously mentioned trends – a belt and box patterned rip-stop fabric.

Trend: Accent Stripes

Do you remember those puffy jackets people wore when you were kids? They were all one color with a couple of stripes of color on the chest. Well they’re back and they’re not just down jackets anymore.

Burton Convertible Jacket

If you’re looking to channel this look circa 1986, there are two old school offerings. The Burton Convertible jacket comes in several modern colour combinations and it even converts to a vest. The Nikita Down4Good jacket doesn’t do the vest thing, but it’s got stripes and that Nikita cut that girls love so much.

Bring this look a little more up to date by wearing the Ride Marianna jacket. This insulated jacket has two stripes across the chest, showing that style can be subtle too. Roxy’s Sunstar jacket goes for the bold with three bright stripes angling across the front of the jacket. Roxy’s offering has some fresh colour choices like a brown jacket with stripes in pinks and orange.

B by Burton Ride Suit

 Trend :: One Piece

Last year we wondered whether the Oakely one piece was a statement or a joke. Apparently it was start of a new trend. One pieces really are making a comeback, but with a helluva lot more style than any skibunny suit.

For style alone, the B by Burton Ride Suit just can’t be beat, and you’ll spend a lot less than buying a jacket and pants. In this simple piece with flattering lines and a low grommeted belt, no one will mistake you for a mechanic.

Roxy also has a one piece this season. The Skylab suit has similar styling to the B by Burton piece but comes with a fur hood and in several plaid prints.

And they are functional too, since nobody enjoys an avalanche down their pants.

Are you ready to shop?

Before you hit the stores, one last bit of advice – there’s a difference between fashion and style. If you want to to have as much style on the liftline as you do off those kickers, then remember that style is about making something your own. Don’t wear the exact outfits you see in the catalogs and don’t be afraid to mix different colors, fabrics, trends and even brands.