With the demise of C&A, finding ski wear can be tricky but you can still look stylish on the slopes without spending a fortune as Shoptalk discovers.

GOING skiing and want to get kitted out, be snug and warm and not spend a fortune? Cheap ski wear is no bargain if it's not good enough to keep you warm and dry. There's nothing so miserable - or dangerous - as being cold and wet on top of a snowy mountain.

Prince Charles may well wear his old faithful grey ski suit year in, year out, but if this is your first skiing trip, or you're buying for children who'll soon outgrow their kit, it's daft to splash out on the most expensive options, however long they might last.

But you can still be warm and chic on the cheap.

When C&A closed its doors a few years ago, it left a big gap on the ski slopes. The store was famous for its ski wear that was cheap and cheerful but still performed well in sub zero temperatures.

But for this season only, C&A's range is available from Argos Additions. Women's jackets range from £39 to £69, salopettes from £29 to £69. There are lots of sleek styles so you shouldn't look too much like the Michelin Man.

Children's ski trousers start at £19, all-in-ones at £29, salopettes at £25, jackets at £39. Children's clothes come with adjustable cuffs and straps to ensure a good fit.

There are also lots of accessories, including children's embroidered fleece tops at £12 for two, ski gloves from £10 and fleece hats £9.

Other cheaper options include Milletts and Blacks, where you can get good, reasonably priced outdoor clothes, a range of nice warm under layers plus accessories such as gloves and goggles. Blacks have men's and women's salopettes from £49.99

Next Directory has a small range of good-looking ski wear for children, especially boys, for whom they have a grey camouflage range including ski pants for £24.99 to £30.99. For girls, there are ski jackets from £41.99 to £47.99 and trousers from £24.99 to £30.99. Sizes go up to age 16, so small adults could be in luck.

And if you're quick off the mark, you can get some real bargains at Aldi. Each week they have Special Buys, a limited amount of goods available just while stocks last. Their ski wear range is in the stores from Saturday, December 27 until Friday, January 2, but it's first come first served.

Amazing bargain buys include two-piece suits of salopettes and ski jackets for £39.99, snowboard trousers for £17.99, snowboarding jackets £17.99, Lycra roll-neck tops for layering at £3.99, technical ski socks £1.99 and technical gloves £4.99.

Children's all-in-one ski suits are £14.99, two-piece suits £14.99 and infant snowsuits £6.99.

With all those savings, there should be more cash to enjoy the apres-ski.

* Argos Additions tel: 0845 304 0008 www.argosadditions.co.uk

* Next Directory tel: 0845 600 7000 www.next.co.uk

* Aldi ski wear in store Saturday, December 27 until Friday, January 2.

Stock up on sparklers at the supermarket

GET some carats with your carrots. Asda have launched a range of diamond rings, pendants and earrings from £12 to £499. They're available in their George department. Each jewellery counter has around 1,500 items, including fashion jewellery from 97p, nine carat gold, silver and cubic zirconia jewellery from £3 and diamond jewellery from £20.

Christmas dinner for under a tenner

IN this region, we spend an average of £114 on festive food and drink, according to Kwik Save. They've been sprucing up their image lately and smartening their stores and this year, for the first time, have launched their range of own-brand Christmas products. To celebrate - and keep our bills down - they're offering us Christmas dinner for under a tenner. Ingredients include a turkey for £3.57, plus Kwik Save stuffing, cranberry sauce, sprouts, sliced carrots, roast potatoes, a Simply Cider pudding and double cream; and Bisto Turkey Granules gravy, which all adds up to £9.52.

Shop with a clear conscience

THERE'S fair trade at the Co-op, which is setting a great example. They recently switched all their own instant and ground coffee to Fairtrade and already stocked Fairtrade bananas, mangoes, pineapples and oranges. Now they have added Fairtrade grapes to the range. They come from the Thandi Initiative in South Africa, which has the support of former President Nelson Mandela. The grapes are £2.99 for 500g punnets, in selected Co-op stores.