What to wear in Telluride starts with winter boots and a warm jacket, then a small group of knits and trousers for town, après-ski and dinner.
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My photo of the flowers and lounge chair at Fairmont St Andrews is my reference for the hotel-lounge side of this edit: soft knitwear that still looks dressed. This Scottish hotel detail is the mood for the indoor layers, not a Telluride location photo.
What to wear in Telluride for walking around town
The useful winter suitcase has two parts: clothes for being outside and something dry to change into afterward. Start with waterproof winter boots and a hooded down jacket, then add bootcut corduroy trousers for dry town plans. Keep the color palette small: black outerwear, bronze trousers, cream knitwear and a little pink.
Photo credit: FRAME
Photo credit: Mackage
Photo credit: L.L.Bean
Photo credit: SOREL
Bronze bootcut corduroy trousers: FRAME
The bronze bootcut corduroy trousers bring some color to the black outerwear. The high rise and slight flare work with a fitted base layer or a sweater tucked at the front. Keep them for dry town plans and dinner rather than snow activities. The regular inseam is listed at 31 inches, so check the length with the boots you will pack. Shop here
Black hooded down jacket: Mackage
The black hooded down jacket has a fitted, mid-length shape and stretch shell. It is the practical outer layer in this town edit, with the hood ready when the weather changes. Keep the cream knits and brown corduroy underneath for contrast. The brand describes a smaller-than-true fit and recommends sizing up. Shop here
Pale-pink ribbed cashmere beanie: L.L.Bean
The pale-pink ribbed cashmere beanie softens the black jacket and adds a little color above a cream knit. It is 100% cashmere, unlined, and can be worn cuffed or uncuffed. Keep it for town walks rather than assuming it belongs under your ski helmet. Shop here
Tan waterproof winter boots: SOREL
The tan waterproof winter boots are the practical starting point for town walks. Waterproof suede, a faux-fur collar and tongue, and fleece lining make the Ona Ave Alpine Snowcap a different proposition from a leather dinner boot. The moc toe and cream sawtooth rubber sole give it a chunkier shape, so check the trouser hem with the boots you plan to pack. A winter sole is not a promise of grip on every icy surface. Shop here
Mountain Village layers and time outside
Telluride and Mountain Village are connected by the free gondola when seasonal service is running. Check the operator’s current schedule before building a day around it. For time on the snow, the merino quarter-zip base layer, stretch ski pants and leather ski mittens are the technical part of this edit. They are not a complete ski kit: add suitable ski outerwear, a helmet, goggles, ski socks and properly fitted ski boots, with the layers matched to your activity and the forecast.
Merino quarter-zip base layer: Smartwool
The merino quarter-zip base layer is the close-fitting layer for the colder outdoor part of the day. The zip lets you open the neck indoors, while the black-and-white patterned sleeves make it less plain when the jacket comes off. It is 100% merino wool, with a slim fit rather than the easy shape of a town sweater. Shop here
Cork leather ski mittens: Hestra
The cork leather ski mittens belong with the snow kit, not the wrist warmers. Their treated cowhide outer and removable synthetic liner make them practical for a ski day, with a wrist strap to help keep a removed mitten from disappearing. Dry and care for the leather as the brand directs. Shop here
Straight-leg black ski pants: BOGNER FIRE+ICE
The straight-leg black ski pants are for the snow part of the suitcase. The brand lists a two-layer, four-way-stretch fabric, taped seams and snow guards at the hems. The adjustable waistband is useful over a base layer; change into the corduroy trousers for dinner rather than asking one pair to do both jobs. Shop here
Cashmere and corduroy for après-ski and dinner
For a higher-tier dinner boot, consider mocha shearling mid-calf boots beside the practical waterproof pair. Change out of wet clothes rather than asking the town outfit to do every job. The olive Fair Isle sweater gives the bronze trousers a little pattern. For a quieter dinner outfit, choose the wheat cashmere V-neck or ecru button-front cardigan and the camel wool wrap coat. The cashmere wrist warmers are the small indoor layer, not a replacement for the snow mittens.
Photo credit: Boden
Photo credit: Max Mara
Photo credit: Johnstons of Elgin
Photo credit: Gabriela Hearst
Olive-and-cream Fair Isle sweater: Boden
The olive-and-cream Fair Isle sweater is the patterned piece to wear with the plain black jacket and brown trousers. The wool, alpaca, cotton and polyamide blend has a regular straight shape that falls between waist and hip. Keep the rest of the outfit quiet so the yoke is the point. Shop here
Camel wool wrap coat: Max Mara
The camel wool wrap coat is the dinner layer, with wide lapels and a matching belt that gives the long straight shape some definition. It is pure camel wool with a viscose lining. Wear it over the dry indoor outfit, but keep it out of the ski kit: this is not waterproof technical outerwear. Shop here
Light-grey cashmere wrist warmers: Johnstons of Elgin
The light-grey cashmere wrist warmers are the small layer for a coffee stop or hotel lounge when you want your fingers free. They work beside camel, olive or cream without another pattern. They are not insulated ski mittens, so keep the leather pair packed for time on the snow. Shop here
Mocha shearling mid-calf boots: Gabriela Hearst
For a softer dinner comparison to the tan waterproof winter boots, the mocha shearling mid-calf boots trade a chunky lace-up shape for a rounded toe and a low heel. Wear them with the wheat cashmere sweater and camel coat, keeping the trousers clear of the shaft. The upper is shearling with leather lining and a leather-and-rubber sole. Keep them for dry plans rather than treating shearling as waterproof snow protection. Shop here
Wheat cashmere V-neck sweater: Reformation
The wheat cashmere V-neck sweater is the lighter neckline for a dry dinner outfit. Wear it with the bronze corduroy and camel wrap coat, with a warm layer ready for the walk. This is a deep V-neck rather than a high-neck cold-weather knit; the fabric is 95% recycled cashmere and 5% cashmere. Shop here
Ecru button-front cardigan: Sézane
The ecru button-front cardigan gives the hotel outfit a softer shape, with a round neck and pearl-effect buttons. Leave it open over the merino top for an extra indoor layer, or button it with the corduroy for dinner. The brand recommends going down a size if you are between sizes. Shop here
What to pack separately for skiing
A town coat and winter walking boots do not replace ski clothing or ski boots. Keep your ski layers, socks, helmet and eye protection together, and check the resort’s current advice and the forecast before leaving. Pack a dry change for afterward. The camel coat, corduroy and cashmere are for the off-slope part of the trip.
Can you wear corduroy in Telluride?
For dry town plans and dinner, yes. Keep bronze corduroy trousers separate from the snow kit; they are not ski pants or waterproof trousers.
Do you need a separate coat for dinner?
You can keep wearing your warm outdoor jacket. The camel wrap coat is an optional dressed-up layer for dry conditions, not a packing requirement or technical shell.
More winter packing ideas
See what to pack for a ski trip for the larger packing list. For another Colorado wardrobe, see Aspen in winter. For the Scottish setting in my lounge photo, see Scottish designers and St Andrews.
Shop the full collection: buy it here.
Shop the Post
- Mackage: black hooded down jacket
- BOGNER FIRE+ICE: straight-leg black ski pants
- Boden: olive-and-cream Fair Isle sweater
- Smartwool: merino quarter-zip base layer
- Hestra: cork leather ski mittens
- Max Mara: camel wool wrap coat
- Johnstons of Elgin: light-grey cashmere wrist warmers
- FRAME: bronze bootcut corduroy trousers
- Reformation: wheat cashmere V-neck sweater
- Sézane: ecru button-front cardigan
- L.L.Bean: pale-pink ribbed cashmere beanie
- SOREL: tan waterproof winter boots
- Gabriela Hearst: mocha shearling mid-calf boots
