For those who adore alpine chic style, après-ski gatherings are as much about the fashion as the festivities. While some prefer to cozy up in the lodge, others relish showcasing their best winter looks during a lively happy hour. And this season, FRESCA Mixed is elevating the experience with a stylish twist.
Known for its exclusive yet attainable vibe, FRESCA Mixed has teamed up with renowned designer Christian Cowan to create a limited-edition accessory that’s perfect for the season. A chic muff with a built-in compartment to pair perfectly with your favorite FRESCA Mixed flavor.
From December 10 through December 19, fans 21 and older can visit FrescaMixed.com to enter for a chance to win this glamorous accessory. The muff brings a touch of vintage feel to modern winter fashion, perfectly embodying the brand’s fun and sophisticated identity.
The Knockturnal recently caught up with Christian Cowan to discuss his partnership with FRESCA Mixed and what makes this collaboration so special.
Photo Credit: Jean Toir
The Knockturnal: I would love to start by you telling me a little bit about your partnership with FRESCA Mixed and how it connects to your brand and how it connects to you?
Christian Cowan: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it’s been a fun one because, I mean, I’ve drunk FRESCA Mixed for ages, and when we do partnerships, we always want them to speak authentically, to what we’re about. And what we’re about is having fun, having a glam old time, and enjoying social times with people like you. My clothes aren’t really for like sitting at home alone. They’re for like, you know, getting together with people and connecting, we’re so big on the holidays and the festive season, and it kind of just made so much sense, because I, you know, I’m sure there’s been lots of people wearing my clothes, drinking the drink before. So it’s nice to just get together and kind of celebrate this, like vintage, kind of glamor vibe, and this is a bit camp, and it’s kind of everything that we are as a brand. So it kind of made perfect sense.
The Knockturnal: I love the line, It looks really fun. Were there any surprises, challenges, or even creative breakthroughs while creating and designing during this collaboration?
Christian Cowan: I’d say, like, I got to learn more about FRESCA Mixed, which was cool. Finding out that they started in 1966 it really allowed me to kind of just the 60s are one of my favorite areas of all time. I just think the fashion is IT… so cute and it was simple, but it was also like a sense of fun. I was like, What’s the thing that’s been around in the 60s that we don’t necessarily see as much anymore? And I think the muff is iconic. And you can look back at, like, old vintage movies and all the glamorous ladies are always like shuffling around with their muff that matches their like gown and their cape. And, you know, it feels like something that you’d seen, like a Bob Mackie costume in a movie. And so we just thought it’d be fun to lean into that and kind of do this, like chic but flamboyant item. And I think it was just kind of discovering that part of the history that was the most surprising to me. But then, honestly, it’s so lovely. So there were no challenges. It was just, fun, you know, like FRESCA Mixed was so wonderful about all my ideas, and it was such a collaboration. The whole thing was just such a dream, and so easy and fun, which we love.
The Knockturnal: I love that. The line is really dope. it gives like a proper lady, just strolling down Fifth Avenue.
Christian Cowan: Exactly! It’s very dynasty as well. It’s very like Alexis Carrington would turn up with it. love it.
The Knockturnal: With fashion week around the corner, can you share like, or give a little hint of what we might see for your upcoming collection?
Christian Cowan: Yeah, absolutely, the upcoming collection is just very flamboyant. It definitely is probably my most flamboyant collection ever. I think for this collection, I was, like, less worried about making sure I do the right thing, and I’m like, just doing what I want to do, which is so fun. I was definitely a bit inspired, in a way, actually, by working on this project, because we were leaning into this whole, like, Apres-ski Happy Hour vibe. And then I just started thinking of, like, all these glamorous ladies who could be attending these, like fabulous events, who, you know, they’ve not not gone on the ski slope once in their life, but they love the Apres ski vibe, and maybe that kind of trickled into the collection a bit. It’s very flamboyant.
The Knockturnal: I Love that, and I know that you mentioned camp, and I love the era of camp, and how they did it with the MET this past year, and I’m so excited to see that coming back, especially how you’re mentioning the flamboyant and just having fun with clothing. Do you feel like that’s missing?
Christian Cowan: I think… it’s always kind of like, I think fashion’s always wanted to make sure it’s taken very seriously, which, of course, it’s such a serious, huge, incredible industry, which I adore. But I think there’s always, because everyone always wants to make sure that it’s taken seriously. Sometimes camp can be almost like that, the fun aunt on the side of fashion who’s like, that fab one who turns up, and it’s just something that I think we need to lean into more. You know, I think there’s always those people who champion it, but maybe we are in a period where there’s a bit less fabulousness.I think it’s always important, fashion should always be some form of escapism for people in therapy as well, and make people smile. And that’s definitely something that I’ll always do. But so yeah, as someone who loves the camp and the flamboyant, I love to see it coming back in bigger and bolder ways, but it’s kind of always there for the people who want it.
The Knockturnal: Oh yeah, for sure, I think it’s a staple. When I think of camp like, I immediately think of Nicki Minaj!
Christian Cowan: Yes!
The Knockturnal: Oh my gosh, especially, like at the Met Gala this past year, she embodied it all. And it really is like, Yeah, we need to enjoy our clothes and stuff.
Christian Cowan: It’s so true, like, and I definitely think, as a very camp, flamboyant designer in my clothing, it has been those artists like Nicki Minaj and like the singers who really are unafraid, who have helped champion my camp artistry. And I love that you mentioned her, because she’s also one of my favorites of all time. But just such a Yeah, artists like that really help bring camp to the world and hopefully inspire other people to lean in a little bit
The Knockturnal: Yes, which, other winter accessory do you think needs a little revamp as well?
Christian Cowan: I mean, I guess, alongside the muff, I miss… I should know this, because I’m a designer. I don’t know what it’s called… when people have those, like big fluffy, like tall hats, you know, like the woman would be in the fab big coat, she’d have a muff, and then she’d have this, like, big fluffy thing, sometimes made up, with like feathers or, like, fluffy fabric. I guess just, you know what? Just in short HATS, people need to be getting more into hats, when you see old footage of people in the 60s and the 40s it’s like, millinery really just brought such like, Polish and expression to everyone’s looks. So I’d love more hats, but not like baseball caps.
The Knockturnal: I love that.
The Knockturnal: If you could take a FRESCA Mixed anywhere in the world for the ultimate ski experience. Where would you take it and why?
Christian Cowan: Oh, okay, where would I like to go skiing? I don’t ski often, but when I do, I think I slay the slopes. I would want to go skiing in Japan. I don’t know what the slope is called, but I’d 100% choose Japan, and I take my little muff and my FRESCA Mixed, and have a cute old time there. I love Japan so much. I’ve never done skiing there, but I imagine it’s awesome.
The Knockturnal: Oh, okay, I love that.
The Knockturnal: Can you share any fun details about how fans can enter? for their chance to win some limited pieces?
Christian Cowan: Of course, yeah, so we’re doing a sweepstake. It’s on FRESCAMixed.com it’s the 10th, the 19th of December, and yes, you just go to FRESCAMixed.com and you can enter the sweepstake and get your cute muff, hopefully, And I think it’s more exciting, rather than just it just being readily available. I think it’s fun to add that kind of like, will you or won’t you element, I like to keep people excited.
The Knockturnal: Do they have to do a video or anything, or, like that or post their style?
Christian Cowan: It’s easy you just go to the website and you just enter some details, and then you’re in, and it’ll be, it’ll be really fun. You just follow the instructions, and then we’ll be posting some bits and bobs that people can see with some more info, but, yeah, it’ll be fun. My favorite part about doing collaborations like this.. is always just seeing the audience’s reaction and people living their best life with it. So I love that part.
The Knockturnal: This is so exciting. What are you looking forward to the most with all of this?
Christian Cowan: You know what? I think it’s, it’s so funny. There’s so much time leading up to something coming out. So it’s that moment of being able to post the imagery that we all worked hard on that is so gorgeous. And you know, we came together with the set designer and the models and the hair and makeup artists, and just having that lovely, speak, fab moment. And then also, I’m just excited to see people using the muff, I guess and hopefully getting kind of quite merry while they do it.
The Knockturnal: As you see here in New York the season is definitely here we need those muff’s
Christian Cowan: The season is here!, it’s very festive here
The Knockturnal: Last question, how long did it take for you to, like, work on this? Because as you said, it didn’t happen overnight.
Christian Cowan: I think it’s been, like, it’s been definitely over two months, maybe three Yeah, I’d have to get back to you on that, but like, two or three months my sense of time is atrocious. Sometimes I’m like, Oh, that was last week and it was like, seven weeks ago, but like, Yeah, I think it’s about two to three months
The Knockturnal: Well, thank you so much. We’re so excited to see everything that you have in store and very proud of your collection and how far you’ve come as a creative. Your work is incredible!
Christian Cowan: Thank you. That’s very sweet. That’s very, very kind. Like, yeah, thank you. And this was such a lovely chat. You’re so wonderful.
As the festive season approaches, Christian Cowan and FRESCA Mixed have successfully merged the worlds of fashion and fun, delivering an accessory that is both practical and glamorous. With Cowan’s signature flamboyance and vintage-inspired creativity, this partnership captures the essence of winter sophistication while adding a playful twist. Whether you’re hitting the slopes or enjoying après-ski vibes, this collaboration is a must-see for the season. Be sure to enter the sweepstakes for your chance to own this exclusive piece and make your winter moments unforgettable.
https://www.frescamixed.com/pages/ski-muffs
Photo Credit: Jean Toir