This week, in the first of our new fashion series, we present Nikita’s Autumn/Winter streetwear and outerwear collections.

Photos by: Daniel Blom and John Webster

Nikita’s streetwear collection for Autumn/Winter 08-09 is an explosion of new styles, new colours, new patterns and prints. The already desirable collection has more to offer, including a new knits category, some not-so-basic hoodies and coloured denims to add a splash of colour to your winter wardrobe.

With 17 styles of coat and jacket, there’s plenty to keep you snug this winter. Choose from new styles plus the best of last year’s collection updated and developed. A couple of new introductions include a long wool button up coat and shorter wool jacket. A retro down hooded vest and shell windbreaker are classic Nikita style, while new lengths and options for lighter insulation are also on offer. If you need an extra layer, there are seven stylish and totally functional fleeces, with a variety of reversible, optional hooded, micro and bonded fleeces including embroidery detail, contrast colours in stripes and multi-colours.

Pants take a slimmer cut with a great selection of colours, stitching and all over prints. A short sleeve jumpsuit, zipped to the waist and slimmer in cut had the Nikita designers drooling! If you’re keen to flash those legs, an extended category of dresses and skirts has also been designed with layering in mind. Whether worn with hoodies, over slim jeans or leggings there’s a style to suit all.

New colourways and prints take over tops and a new knit range will keep the winter chill at bay. A basic long knit cardigan will last all winter and can be worn with anything, while the more girlie short button cardi is peppered with polka dots. From cute to a classic, imagine the best Xmas knit jumper and you’ll want to get this winter Nikita one, sporting origami teddy bears all over. It’s a special après ski look for sure.

Hoodies this season are not so basic. Main differences include a couple a reversible versions, heavier cotton and more variations in both cuts and colourways. Prints are big and obvious with all over origami dinosaurs, giant ink splashes, handdrawn illustrations and geometric shapes.

The main colour trends include purple, royal blue and bleached colours which are consistent throughout the collection. Mixing the bleached mints and yellows with stronger bright colours is a visual feast for the eyes!

The Winter 2008/2009 Outerwear line features many more styles and colours than seen in the previous two collections. With a choice of ten different jackets and six pants, streetwear influence meets mountain needs in this unique collection led by head designer and founder Heida Birgisdottir and Nikita’s dedicated team riders. The functional part of product development is continually pushed whilst also driving forward with a fashion focus. After all, we girls are style conscious and “we need to make sure we’re looking hotter than hell” according to the enviable wisdom and vision of Heida!

At Nikita, Heida and her team of designers lead with what they would want to wear each winter. There’s a high standard to be met in their technical needs and a natural progression taking Nikita’s street style to the mountain. Waterproof / breathability ratings range from 3,000mm/3,000gm to 15,000mm/10,000gm and there’s plenty of Iceland-inspired crazy weather details to keep you warm and dry, even in the harshest winter conditions. The idea is to provide every opportunity for girls who ride to stay out as long as they want on the cold mountain.

Being useful and indeed practical, all of the technical jackets have a removable powder skirt and can be connected together to the pants. This isn’t limited to same styles but can be mixed and matched among the different styles, colours and patterns to create a truly individual outfit according to personal taste.

This season also sees varying lengths of jackets based on the demands by girls who ride and new and improved details like rust proof metal detailing, a rubber music pocket eyelet to prevent wearing, soft Tricot lining on chin and pockets and fleece features on the butt, waist and knees. Generally pants are slightly slimmer cuts than last winter but the designers have still kept in mind to create different cuts for each pant based on personal preferences, still allowing for maximum movement on the slopes.

Nikita drives hard in outerwear both in style and development to specifically meet the needs of snow bunnies everywhere. In the words of Austrian snowboard team rider Julia Baumgartner, “Nikita do it ‘easy style’ baby!”