Spotted on the slopes in Aspen: The après-ski collaboration that everyone with stylish taste is buzzing about in 2026.

      In case you missed my 500 Instagram Stories over the weekend, I was quite occupied skiing at J.Crew's slope-side pop-up in Aspen, Colorado, during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix—a significant event for Winter Olympics contenders trying to qualify for this year's games in Italy. The pop-up took place on Buttermilk Mountain, located just steps from the halfpipe, providing fans and athletes the chance to shop the inaugural release from J.Crew's three-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard. This collection, I should note, almost sold out online within hours. Fortunately, there was still an ample selection available on the mountain, making the pop-up highly desirable for anyone in Aspen interested in retro-inspired ski and snowboard apparel, including Fair Isle sweaters and knit puffers.

      The Pop-Up

      As explained by J.Crew's creative director for women’s and children’s design, Olympia Gayot, who collaborated with men's creative director Brendon Babenzien to create the brand's first Ski & Snowboard collection, the journey of establishing this partnership began as it always does—by diving into J.Crew's archives and core brand elements. They then turned their attention to "sport itself," focusing specifically on skiing, the Olympics, and the spirit, discipline, and teamwork of top-tier athletes. Rather than opting for a modern approach, the designers drew inspiration from the ski and alpine culture of the 1960s by referencing classic films, catalogs, and early ski communities. "Films like Downhill Racer featuring Robert Redford or Charade with Audrey Hepburn, along with early 1970s ski fashions like sweaters, balaclavas, and cowboy boots, contributed to creating a timeless and powerful aesthetic," she explains. "That sense of tradition and community resonates closely with our perspective on American style, making this partnership feel very organic."

      Since J.Crew serves as the official lifestyle apparel partner for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Gayot was keen on avoiding overly technical aspects for the collection. She opted instead to reflect on her own experiences as a Canadian who has been skiing since childhood and the culture surrounding this cherished winter sport—considering how individuals dress and how that style translates beyond the slopes. Consequently, the items launched in the initial drop provide a perfect mountain wardrobe, as I noticed numerous people sporting them at popular restaurants and sports-related events throughout Aspen this weekend.

      For styling tips, you can follow Gayot on Instagram, where she has already showcased a variety of inspiring outfit ideas for settings ranging from the office to the chalet. "You can pair them with jeans, a belt, and cowboy boots, or layer them beneath ski gear on the mountain," she advises. "That versatility is crucial—each piece can transition throughout the ski season in various ways, and when you take it out next year, it will still resonate as timeless, nostalgic, and steeped in tradition."

      Styling Inspiration

      

      The collection’s versatility isn’t the only reason for its rapid sell-out; commenters on the brand's Instagram posts from the weekend are already requesting restocks, even though the collection was released just days prior on January 8. Its genuine tie to ski and snowboard culture also contributes to its widespread popularity. One athlete I chatted with at the pop-up, 19-year-old halfpipe skier Izzy Worthington, expressed that it reminded her of vintage U.S. team gear from the 1990s—gear that her father, Trace Worthington, who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics in freestyle skiing, used to wear. "It’s really cool to see that again," she remarked.

      The Campaign

      To align with the vintage vibe of the 26-piece collection, J.Crew launched a now-viral campaign video titled "Alpine People," featuring athletes from the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team, including free skiers Colby Stevenson and Rell Harwood, freestyle mogul skier Tess Johnson, slope-style snowboarder Hailey Langland, alpine ski racer River Radamus, and Paralympic snowboarder Zach Miller. Each athlete embraced a character, from Harwood's "Après Aficionado" to Stevenson's "The Gear Head." Everything, from the voiceover to the background music, Harwood's goggle tan lines, and of course, the attire, exuded a distinctly retro atmosphere, as if the short film was captured in the same era that inspired the collection’s designs. The entire campaign was filmed in the mountains of Austria, an apt backdrop for showcasing some of today’s most prominent talents in professional skiing and snowboarding along with the most talked-about collaboration for 2026 so far.

      Continue scrolling to explore what remains of the popular debut collection.

      Shop the Collection

      U.S. Ski & Snowboard by J.Crew

      Alps Rollneck Sweater

      U.S. Ski & Snowboard by J.Crew

      Graphic T-Shirt

      U.S. Ski & Snow