“Snow Princess” Eileen Gu Conquers Fashion as Artistically as She Conquers the Slopes
When not performing daring acrobatic stunts on her skis, freestyle skier Eileen Gu continues to captivate the world with her beauty and distinctive fashion sense, fully deserving of the new-generation “IT-Girl” title.
From becoming the youngest freestyle skier to win a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu (Gu Ailing) – a Chinese-American athlete born in 2003 – went on to secure one gold and two silver medals for Team China at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. These achievements place her among the freestyle skiers with the most Olympic medals in history and solidify her reputation as a rising IT-girl in the global spotlight.
With consistent success early in her career, Eileen Gu’s influence has extended far beyond sports. She quickly caught the attention of luxury fashion houses, attending Paris Fashion Week as early as 2019 and walking the runway for Louis Vuitton. Her historic triumph in Milan further elevated her status, making her a highly sought-after guest at the Fall/Winter 2026 shows of brands such as Prada and Brunello Cucinelli.
Eileen Gu once shared that fashion is her way of connecting with her femininity:
“Growing up in a sports environment traditionally dominated by men, I never thought a girl could be treated equally, until I entered the fashion world.”
The “Snow Princess’s” Competition Fashion Reflects Her Heritage
Having started skiing at the age of three, Eileen Gu understands the importance of outfits that balance comfort, flexibility, and standout appeal. On the slopes, she often wears goggles, windbreakers or hoodies, paired with sweatpants or nylon trousers and furry bucket hats for warmth. Her signature bold red outfits contrast strikingly against the snow—red being a color symbolizing luck in East Asian culture.
Her taste for luxury jewelry is equally remarkable. She favors gold-toned bracelets from Tiffany & Co. and durable rubber-strap watches from IWC Schaffhausen, combining resilience with refined elegance even during competition.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she impressed audiences not only with her athletic performance but also with a competition outfit she co-designed with a friend from Stanford University. During the women’s slopestyle final, she wore a white ensemble adorned with dragon motifs on both sleeves, inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain art.
The dragon imagery—closely associated with her since the Beijing Olympics—symbolizes strength and courage while honoring her East Asian roots. She incorporated modern personal details such as graffiti lettering, a color-changing thermometer referencing her childhood love of rings, a compass representing her academic spirit, and cloud motifs symbolizing the sensation of soaring after a successful jump.
An “IT-Girl” in High Demand on the Red Carpet
The sports world’s “Snow Princess” has attended the Met Gala three times, appeared at the Cannes Film Festival, and become a focal point at numerous high-profile brand events. Born in 2003, Eileen Gu particularly shines in long gowns, effortlessly carrying even the most dramatic structured designs thanks to her balanced physique and vibrant charisma.
Beyond the red carpet, she also boasts an impressive academic background, studying international relations at Stanford University. As a result, she frequently appears as a speaker at major brand and magazine events. For these occasions, she opts for impeccably tailored suits, adding creative touches such as wrap blazers with flared sleeves or modernized three-piece-inspired sets featuring cropped blazers and peplum gilets.
Athletic Energy in Everyday Fashion
In her daily style, Eileen Gu channels her athletic energy into stretch pants, varsity jackets, jersey tops, and racing suit-inspired mini skirts. Standing at 1.75 meters tall with strong shoulders, she skillfully highlights her physique through high-waisted flared trousers, sleeveless tops, and form-fitting silhouettes.
The IT-Girl of the sports world masters proportion in fashion just as confidently as she dominates the slopes. Her favorite formula—high-waisted pants paired with a crop top—is a styling tip that modern fashion enthusiasts can easily incorporate into their own wardrobes.
