Fashion and function in women's jackets for the slopes

There was a time, not too long ago, when dressing for a day of skiing or snowboarding meant a choice between imitating the Michelin man or getting slick like a 1970s-era hot-dogger, complete with stretch ski pants and fitted jackets.

Fortunately, times have changed and function and fashion are no longer mutually exclusive concepts. In response to several readers' questions about quality women's apparel for a day on the slopes, we had a team of female skiers and boarders (ages 16 to 50) test a range of jackets designed specifically for skiing and snowboarding.

Testers raved about the least expensive jacket in our test, Columbia Sportswear's Lafayette Street. This insulated jacket blends Columbia's waterproof-breathable Omni-Tech shell material with a synthetic down fill insulation. Other functional features include a stretch powder skirt and core venting to prevent overheating.

The Lafayette earned style points for its outer face material of herringbone-patterned nylon and the faux-fur trim on the fitted hood. Deep side pockets, with secure storm flaps, serve both fashion and function demands. Bottom line, the Lafayette performs on the slopes of Mount Baker and looks hot on the streets of Seattle. The Lafayette Street has a suggested retail price of $210, though most stores carry it for less than $200. Details: www.columbia.com.

The other jacket earning top marks from the women came from Patagonia. The Insulated Sidewall Jacket kept our testers warm and dry during freezing rainstorms while backcountry skiing on Mount Rainier and while snowboarding in howling winds on White Pass. The outer shell features Patagonia's H2N0 waterproof-breathable shell (made with recycled materials), with insulation provided by a thick layer of ThermoGreen (90-percent recycled polyester) synthetic fill.

The Sidewall's helmet-compatible hood is removable, leaving a soft fleece-backed collar. Inside, you'll find a stretch powder skirt and an array of secure pockets, including one ported for electronics, and one holding and showing season passes.

Fashion-wise, our gear-testing women — young and old — praised the clean lines and simple design. But they really loved the plaid version. Apparently one tester who used it on the WSU campus had to make sure her dorm room was securely locked or her floor mates would routinely try to borrow it. The Insulated Sidewall retails for $325. See www.patagonia.com for more.