Last winter I made a custom ski jacket out of gore-tex and ballistic nylon. It’s getting up near winter again, and I am thinking about designing a matching pair of trousers. I’ve been wearing a cheap pair of waterproof overalls for the last five or six years, and while they do the job they are neither flattering nor especially comfortable. The cuffs are also pretty well slashed up by errant ski edges.

My concept is a slim, bell-bottom style pant with a contrasting quarter-panel on the front outside thigh, plus articulated ballistic nylon knee inserts and wide cuff covers. A double waistband with integrated poly-webbing belt would keep snow out. Contrasting, top-stitched patch pockets with hidden zippers would provide a safe place to stash keys or a cell phone, and a thin line of retroreflective piping would add a hint of flash to the side seams.