There is a chill in the air. Misty, frosty mornings are upon us, and Christmas is just around the corner. With the arrival of all the festivities, our minds are beginning to turn to the arrival of the most significant mark in the winter calendar: the ski season.
Rumours from the continent are that snowflakes have begun to fall, and preparations are being made for the arrival of the glamorous, sporty and adventurous snow seekers. We are on the cusp of dusting off the carvers, twin tips and all-mountain skis, polishing the goggles and accumulating the base layers.
However, 2025 is the year of upgrading your skiwear… Gone are the days of banal and functionless jackets, poor quality ski-suits that do little against the biting cold and mundane evening wear.
Cue, the new face on the block, X2 NYC, who have announced themselves on the luxury women’s skiwear landscape and committed to the seemingly tricky endeavour of amalgamating luxury, extravagant design, with tried and tested functionality. But better yet, creating skiwear that can be worn seamlessly from slopes to suites; mastering a “blend of evening and sportswear… with pieces that are sophisticated, glamorous, and functional.”
So as you wait with anticipation for your trips to St. Moritz, Megève, Gstaad, Aspen, Cortina and Lech et al. we have arrived just in time to bring your attention to the name whose skiwear you should be cramming in your suitcase: X2. And because we don’t skimp on the details, we spent time talking to co-founders and twin sisters, McKaelyn and McKinley Guidry to unpack all the details of their fresh faced, yet hard-hitting brand, and how they are planning to take the slopes back to the “glamour and extravagance of the 1930s - a time of regal style in Hollywood and high fashion.”
“When you love to dress up as we do, dressing decadently throughout the day feels natural...”
But with this philosophy, there is surely a standout issue? Ski and evening wear are not traditionally compatible, you could almost say two disparate worlds. However, as the Guidry twins state “when you love to dress up as we do, dressing decadently throughout the day feels natural.” So immediately, their design philosophy had to incorporate opulence. With a firm grounding in design and fashion gained from time at Parsons School of Design prior to establishing X2, both were no strangers to understanding the technical aspects, gained from a “passion for materiality and womenswear.”
To combat this challenge and to achieve success in their vision, there has naturally had to be innovation. Looking at the drawing board, McKaelyn and McKinley understood from the outset that “designing functional skiwear requires balancing warmth and aesthetics. Insulation is the first priority, with ornamentation coming after.”
It is in this process where the brainstorms were essential, with unique approaches integrated such as “detachable sleeves” serving as a “prime innovation, catering to winter and spring skiers alike.” For those who enjoy indulging in a spot of après? No problem, the “modular ventilation system is also ideal for après-ski festivities, allowing wearers to easily shed layers.” One has to make sure all boxes are ticked!
It is a bold task establishing a skiwear label, even more so with the added complication of making pieces exuding evening style, so you may question, why? Why bother with the extreme hassle of rigorous testing and meticulous functionality design? Well, first and foremost, the booming après-ski culture is such an intrinsic part of the ski lifestyle that it inspired the twins “to create pieces that transition seamlessly from day to night. As avid skiers, we understand the desire for outfits that work on the mountain and in the evening, whether for après-ski or straight to dinner.” Simple really: see problem, fix problem, and as they rightly point out “these two worlds don’t have to feel different.”
“When customers invest they should receive garments that can serve them across different settings and seasons..."
Alongside the desire to create an osmosis between dressing for the slopes and the evening, care was taken to incorporate their love of travel, in which exposure to “unique interiors and designs inspired our fabric choices and styles.” Similarly, their own stylistic penchants and seasonal versatility, embraced within their wardrobes has “shaped X2’s all-season approach, extending skiwear to resort wear with layers and modular pieces that adapt year-round,” aiming to set a “new standard in the industry.”
But what about luxury? What does it mean in the current day? X2 have rooted themselves within the luxury market and they are here to stay. But how has the definition of the word, held by McKaelyn and McKinley shaped their approach to launching X2? For them it “means a dedication to craftsmanship”, no compromises.
Furthermore, the twins quickly point out that “when customers invest they should receive garments that can serve them across different settings and seasons. Versatility in pieces isn’t just practical; it elevates the value of luxury by creating a lasting wardrobe that suits a year-round lifestyle.” Is there a more refined, and pure vision of luxury? I don’t think so.
However, it is not enough to just sell on craftsmanship alone, and it is here where X2 have all bases covered; they understand the importance of aspiration and lifestyle. Hence, the concept of a bespoke ski chalet under the X2 name would spare no expense. Imagine, “a vintage 1960s house car”, an “extensive dessert wine bar” with “signature Murano glasses crafted just for the chalet” and of course, a “first-class butler, dressed in formal tails, greeting guests slope-side with a silver tray offering warm towels, caviar bites, and bellinis.” Elegance personified.
“Après-ski festivities would be a must, followed by a Michelin-style dinner with muses dressed in custom X2 evening wear..."
How about a winter getaway with X2? Again, McKaelyn and McKinley know how to impress guests. Days would be full of sumptuous experiences, exemplifying the essence of X2. “A chalet picnic on the mountain with seafood towers, fondue, and Japanese whiskey sours” would be the standard. Whilst “après-ski festivities would be a must, followed by a Michelin-style dinner with muses dressed in custom X2 evening wear."
Fundamentally, the Guidry sisters have a complete knowledge and understanding of the essential facets that define luxury in the modern day, and more importantly, they have a firm grounding in the principles of high-quality design and skiwear.
So, as you look to pack your Rimowa suitcase, brimming with X2 clothing, you may ask, what is their essential skiwear piece? Undoubtedly, McKaelyn and McKinley cite the X2 “signature French Alps Ski Suit.” Designed to meet their clients' needs “both on and off the mountain”, and “paired with our fur sport stole and slope skirt”, the French Alps Suit is the piece to purchase for an “effortless transition from day to night.”
Innovation and versatility steal the show with the “the stole, perfect for an evening out” whilst the “the skirt can be worn over the ski suit or around town.” And perhaps most importantly, the adaptations integrated within the suit ensure that when the champagne is flowing and the music booming, “mobility for dancing is assured," they say laughing.
X2 has carved out the perfect foundation. The future is teeming with excitement for McKaelyn and McKinley with further originality already at the forefront of their plans. An evolvement “towards a more vintage, tailored aesthetic with custom engineered evening-inspired fabrics for sportswear,” is in the works.
Meanwhile, the twin sisters have also begun “experimenting with alternative furs and enhancing the versatility of our pieces,” ensuring X2 is at the forefront of adaptability and most importantly, luxury. The womenswear skiwear market was long overdue a shake up, and it has firmly arrived from across the pond with McKaelyn and McKinley’s X2.
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