I Lost My Luggage on a Ski Trip—These Last-Minute Essentials Saved Me

They say God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers, and he must’ve thought I was awfully strong a few weeks back when my luggage got lost en route to Lake Tahoe for a ski trip. I had painstakingly packed a plethora of cute ski suits and après attire, and although I arrived safely to my destination, my suitcase stayed put somewhere in JFK’s Terminal Five. I know, I know: cue the tiniest of violins!

This was my first lost-luggage experience, and as a fashion editor and chronic over-packer, I almost let it ruin my trip. Still, I knew I had a few glorious days of skiing ahead, and I had to make the most of the clothes on my back and the limited shopping options at Palisades Tahoe. And best believe, I did!

While I’d intended to share with you selects like my color-blocked periwinkle ski suit or my cutesy White Warren cashmere ski knit, you’ll have to settle instead for the few purchases I combined with my airport attire to create an ensemble that took me from a morning on the slopes to an afternoon of fireside cocktails.

I would’ve truly delighted in showing off the outfits I’d originally planned for my getaway, but I ended up having to hone in on only the most versatile pieces to get me through 72 hours in the snow—and I’m proud to say I looked good doing it.

Below, everything I ended up styling and loving.

The Base Bits

Lucky for me, modern-day long johns are essentially just leggings and a fitted long-sleeved tee, so I knew right away that I could pick up some base layers and transition them from chairlifts to happy hours.

Palisades Tahoe had an impressive The North Face store, and while I planned to pick up the Summit Series Base Layer top and bottom in all-black for a practical look, I ended up swapping the leggings for the brand’s Aphrodite Wide-Leg Pants. I liked the looser silhouette, and the sporty, water-repellant finish made these look more like real pants than sweatpants, although the comfy four-way stretch begged to differ. I’d planned to complete my shopping spree with a classic Denali fleece as my mid-layer, but I opted for the Yumori Vest from the men’s section instead for a little more versatility.

Overall, the black-on-black combination felt sleek and practical—and amazing to change into after more than 24 hours spent in my airplane sweats. It can be tempting to opt for funky base layers, but I always recommend going with basic black so you can build multiple different outfits around the same pieces (even if you aren’t forced to, like I was!).

Another favorite set of mine for this comes from Alo’s Winter Warm collection. The full-zip jacket and leggings are a combo I’ve transitioned from ski layers to errands attire for cold days out and about. As someone who isn’t skiing constantly, I appreciate the versatility for the investment.

The Ski Suit

Obviously, there’s no messing around when it comes to securing actual ski attire, so back to TNF I went to pick up the Quest Insulated Jacket and Freedom Insulated Pants. This combo ended up being absolutely perfect for my situation, as both pieces were so well-insulated, I hardly needed to stress about my limited layering options underneath. If bulky layers are your mountain pet peeve, I couldn’t recommend this set more. I didn’t even end up wearing my base pants!

This certainly served me for the trip, but when I have the luxury of my luggage with me, I do gravitate towards brighter, bolder ski attire. When everyone’s got on their goggles and helmets, the mountain becomes a bit of a masquerade, and a highly identifiable snow suit helps your pals to find you.

Over the years, I’ve had some pretty standout styles from Farm Rio, Free People, Adidas TERREX, LoveShackFancy x Bogner Fire+Ice, and of course, the The North Face look I’d intended to wear to Tahoe (she’ll get her moment one day, trust!).

While I’m pro black base layers through and through, I’d still recommend something fun for the slopes, so I’ll share a few fun favorites below.

The Aprés Add-Ons

Last but not least, the key to transforming my base layers into aprés apparel lay within the contents of my carry-on. Had I known I’d be without my checked bag, I would’ve stocked it with real essentials (contact lenses, underwear, et cetera), but instead of preparing for the worst, I’d whimsically filled my bag with fashion essentials: a faux fur coat and my brand-new Moon Boots.

At first, the realization that I’d brought along nothing practical infuriated me. But honestly? I ended up grateful to have a few “fun” elements to make the most of an unfortunate mishap. And all it took was my old Cinq à Sept fur, a cute beanie, and my big, puffy boots to transform those black base layers into a great look for fireside drinks and other post-ski fun by the hot tub (my under-$30 Amazon swimsuit also made it in my carry-on, go figure).

Oh, and a great pair of sunnies to slip on, of course—these Dezi shades have a cool wrap-around side detail that felt like a callback to ski goggles. It’s all about the details!