What To Wear In Colorado In Winter: 9 Outfit Ideas You’ll Want To Copy + Packing List

At the top of the list is a fun snowsuit. I wore this printed snowsuit on my trip to Vai and got SO many compliments! I was able to wear it all day - from the top of the mountain all the way to happy hour and dinner. Best part? Felt like I was wearing a blanket all day. If this snowsuit is sold out, you should try anything from Tipsy Elf because they have the best retro and stylish snowsuit.

The best boots to wear in colorado winter for sporty outdoor days are tall heavy duty snow boots that are waterproof and insulated. Snow is sneaky and will get inside your boots if they aren't tall enough. I don't ski but I do go snowshoeing a lot and I wear tall waterproof boots like these that keep my feet comfy and dry all hike.

The heavy duty snow boots are a must but trust me, they are overkill to wear everywhere. (Wandering the the streets of Denver or going to dinner inside? Too bulky and heavy! You'll want a pair of cute shorter winter boots to match our street-style colorado outfits when you aren't on the slopes. These should be insulated and waterproof, too, but aim for lighter boots that hit the ankle rather than mid-calf.

Layers are KEY in the mountains in the wintertime. You'll constantly be going inside and outside, from heat to cold air. Having a cute, quality knit cardigan like this one from Akashi Kama will be your best friend. I wore this exact cardigan on my trip to Vail and found myself constantly reaching for it for lounging around our condo, quick runs to our car and even the market. (They're a Japanese American clothing brand and have a lot of cool pieces!)

I'm a sucker for themed sweaters. Whether it's a snow da sweater like I wore in Vail, or that classic SKI sweater that I see everywhere, they're just super fun to wear in the Rocky Mountains during the winter. And practical, too, since they're warm for the chilly days and cold nights. They pair well with snowpants, leggings, or jumpsuits and beanies, too!

It doesn't matter if you don't ski or snowboard you'll want a waterproof ski style jacket for any outdoor sport you do. But it's especially important if you do hit the slopes! Look for a jacket that has an inner lining, is warm but not too heavy, has inner and outside pockets and either a hood or tall collar to protect your neck. The best jacket for colorado winter will serve you instead of weighing you down. I personally love colorful jackets but black always goes with everything!

On top of a jacket to wear during winter sports, you'll want a long fashion puffer jacket. These babies are great to throw on top of everything and be your go-to daily winter coat. plus, they pack really well since you can squeeze them up small in a suitcase. My friend wore a similar jacket to this in Vail and I was low-key jealous about how chic and comfy it looked!

You're going to want a few base layers. I always pack 1-3 turtle neck base layer sweaters on winter trips in a few different colors. I layer them under heavier sweaters or jackets while I'm winter hiking, or use them to style cuter outfits for dinner. I always end up wearing these a LOT!

Whether you are skiing, hiking, tubing, snowshoeing or doing any other type of winter travel sport, you'll want a solid pair of snow pants. They don't have to cost you an arm and a leg (I got mine for under $35 on Amazon) but you do need waterproof and lined pants to keep your legs warm and dry. Your Denver outfits won't need snow pants in the winter but all the mountain days will!

When I was trying to figure out what to wear in Vail Colorado in winter, I knew right away I had to pack at least one nice sweater dress. Vail (and Aspen) are fancy ski villages with some really nice restaurants and hotels. While "mountain fancy" is totally a thing, It's nice having one upscale outfit to wear to the fancier spots. Like the Fours Seasons in Vail for hot chocolate overlooking the hill! Or the private gondola dinner in Vail that I wore this beautiful tiered sweater dress for. I rented it from Nuuly! 

Hey, it's Colorado winter, you need a good beanie...or two, or three! I personally have one of these cute puff knit beanies in almost every single color so it always matches my outfits.

A lot of travel guides and packing lists skip the loungewear, but you'll want some cute winter cabin outfits or comfy things to cuddle up in at the condo. I always pack a matching PJ or loungewear set, plus slippers, to wear around my ski town rental or curl up in on the couch as we eat frozen pizza and watch Disney movies after a long day on the trails.

Trying to figure out what pants to wear in Colorado winter? If you're not on the slopes or doing some winter hiking, you'll want thick leggings or fabric pants. Not jeans! Trust me, jeans for some reason hold onto cold and won't warm up. If you wear jeans your legs will be cold AF and maybe even a little damp if it snows. You can wear leggings under jeans (or just skip them entirely). I packed 3 different pairs of black leggings to my trip to Vail and Breckenridge and wore them all. Twice. They go with everything after all!

Keeping our feet dry and warm isn't just a comfort thing but also a safety & health thing. You'll need lots of pairs of will or heavy duty socks (tall ones preferred!) to wear during your winter Colorado trip. I always wear wool socks while snowshoeing or hunting down hot springs, and always pack a dry pair for after to change into. Pack 2 pairs per day of your trip to ensure you always have dry feet!