High Life

Outdoor (life)style

Published on January 20, 2026

The mountaineer, always with a harness slung over one shoulder. The rider in oversized trousers. The trail runner in shorts all year round. And the tourists wrapped in sheepskin coats. Really? Style in the Valley is so much more than a mountain of clichés. Cool outdoor clothing was part of local life long before athleisure became the buzzword of fashion.

Technical clothing, the new object of desire

Originally crafted to tackle muddy trails and summit peaks, today the outdoor gear that defines the Cham style has found its way into the wardrobes of luxury brands.
Here, climbers, riders, trail runners, activists and true mountain lovers share the same obsession: protecting their playground — and their place of life.

Our local shops are leading the way.
At Snell Sports, most brands now offer lifetime repairs for textiles and accessories. Ravanel & Co has added winter sportswear hire to its equipment rental service. And After Ski Chamonix stocks only second-hand items. Consume less, choose better,keep longer. A sustainable wardrobe is also a desirable one: sharp cuts, robust fabrics, and pieces as practical as they are stylish. At the concept store Sentier, specialising in trail running, the sleek, design-forward collections prove (if proof were needed) that performance and fashion can share the same path.

When the high mountains inspire ready-to-wear

Outdoor wear — worn daily and far beyond our mountains — is no longer just a trend, it’s second nature. In 2023, Celio opened a pop-up store in the heart of Le Marais to celebrate its Chamonix-Mont-Blanc collection launched in 2022: a concise series exploring menswear through a technical lens, designed for both city streets and high-altitude escapes. In 2025, the collaboration extends to womenswear with Be Camaïeu: soft, chic knits made for warmth and flair, even far from the slopes.

Here at home, in quiet resistance to the logic of mass-market fashion, Florence and her niece Camille have created a micro-brand of ready-to-wear and accessories, produced in very limited runs. Beanies in gentle hues, embroidered sweatshirts... Parenthèse Rock&Romance champions a heartfelt, human approach to outdoor style — where the mountain is not a marketing prop, but a true point of belonging.