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Aspen is a beloved destination for both regulars and first-timers, with four distinct ski mountains: Snowmass for long runs, Buttermilk for families and beginners, Highlands for advanced terrain, and Aspen Mountain for a classic resort experience. Snowmass and Aspen Mountain offer unique après scenes. The downtown area, surrounded by Victorian homes, boasts luxury hotels, art, and top-notch restaurants.
I'm here to help you start planning your trip with cozy cold-weather outfit ideas: cashmere, a sleek puffer, and faux-fur trimmed boots to keep you looking Aspen-Chic-ready!
Historically, Aspen Mountain's base is dominated by three major hotels: The Jerome, the St. Regis, and The Little Nell. The Jerome, now operated by Auberge, offers moody interior design and the iconic J-Bar. The St. Regis features a heated pool with mountain views and fantastic programming. The Little Nell is renowned for its food and wine program and remains a popular spot. For a more relaxed vibe, consider the Limelight with a great bar.
No matter where you stay in Aspen, the après-ski scene is consistent. Festivities kick off at Cloud 9 on Aspen Highlands, where skiers gather in their boots at day's end, with ski instructors spraying champagne. Chair Nine at The Little Nell on Aspen Mountain is another popular spot for spiked hot chocolate at sunset. Aspen is definitely a town that knows how to party, and whether you plan to ski, or not there's absolutely plenty to do here, so much that it's a place people come back time and time again.
What to pack for Aspen-Chic in the winter?
So, you're headed to Aspen? Yippee!! (We actually just booked our hotels and flight for February) and it's never too early to start to think about what to pack. Aspen is a SCENE, and people are dressed to impress, so you're going to want to plan out your outfits well in advance.
Things to pack
Base Layers. This might sound boring and dull but hear me out. Base layers help you take a not-so-warm outfit to a winter ready outfit easily. There are so many options available now, and they can also double as a cute après outfit when paired with a pair of snow boots and puffer jacket.
Wear a base legging and top combo under jeans and a sweater to make it extra cozy, or under a ski suit when you're hitting the slopes. Try to pack one set for every 1.5 days.
Après Ski Boots. Whether you're skiing or not, you're going to want a cute pair of warm and comfy boots to wear out during the day for lunch, shopping or just chilling by the fireplace. There are literally hundreds of styles out there, and all budgets ranging from the cheap and cheerful to eye wateringly pricey. I bought a pair of Frauenschuh moon boots at Gorsuch that I love, but there are just so many amazing options out there.
The Stylish Sweater. Sweaters can double duty as a cozy layer under your ski jacket, and also as an appropriate top for evening wear. Just be sure to choose one that's made of high-quality merino wool or cashmere for breathability.
Puffer Jacket. Whether you're skiing or not, you're going to need a nice warm jacket for the daytime. This can be worn over the top of your base layers for après wear, or over a pair of jeans and a sweater for lunch and shopping. If you're like me and want to get the most bang-for-your buck, get a ski jacket that's also chic enough to wear as a day jacket.
Leather Boots. So now were moving on to the dressier aspect of Aspen outfits, the nighttime attire. Aspen is jam-packed with restaurants such as Casa Tua, Cache Cache, Campo di Fiore, Catch, Matsuhisa not to mention the vast array of bars and watering holes such as the J-Bar at Hotel Jerome, Element 47, the Wet Deck, the Lounge at the Limelight Hotel, the list is endless. You're going to want a nice pair of leather boots to dress up your evening outfit, and you can't go wrong with a stylish pair of winter combat boots or stay on theme in a western style ankle boot.
The Statement Fur Coat. it IS Aspen, after all. This is the place to bring your most luxurious fur coat, (faux or real, that's up to you!) No evening outfit is complete without it. Is fur isn't your vibe, you could switch it out for an oversized teddy coat, or sherpa jacket, just make sure its extra luxe!
Hats and Headbands. No outfit, day or night is complete without either a hat or a headband. If you don't currently own a Kemo Sabe hat yet, wait until you get to Aspen and have one made for you. The hats can be worn daytime or evening time and are fully customizable. I got my Kemo Sabe hat on my first trip to aspen, and I've since worn it in New Mexico. If you want to have some headwear packed in the suitcase, beanies and fur headbands are a really cute option.
In conclusion...
So, there you have it, my rundown of what to pack for a winter trip to Aspen to be Aspen-Chic.
Daytime dressing incorporates a more casual aesthetic, that still includes luxury brands. You can throw on a pair of leggings, a luxe sweater, a Kemo Sabe hat with a puffer and go effortlessly from shopping to lunch to meeting friends for Après.
In the evening time, prepare to be dressed in a luxurious yet casual fashion. A pair of leather trousers, or jeans paired with a sweater, and luxurious fur coat is a look that can't be beat.
Combat leather boots, or western style ankle boots will help you when trudging through the snow from restaurant to bar, leave the heels at home, nobody wears them here anyways.
It goes without saying that you should pack a few pairs of extra thick long socks. same goes for gloves, Leather gloves work beautifully for the evening time, and nylon gloves work during the day.
If you haven't got your full winter outfits sorted yet, have no fear, shops such as GORSUCH in Aspen literally have everything you'll need, and then some.
Happy packing, and we can't wait to share our Blondes Abroad Aspen trip with you guys! Carlin, Keva and I are all headed to Aspen together, and there will be loads of winter wonderland content to share with you guys!!
Fallon xo
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