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Après-Ski Shopping Guide for When the Ski Lifts Close
Aspen Airport has a single runway, and it hosts more private jet landings than commercial ones every year. In other words, it’s impossible not to associate the town with exclusivity and wealth, which also implies a certain unspoken set of dressing rules that both first-time visitors and longtime regulars have to adhere to, on and off the mountain.
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When I dropped anchor at Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond hotel, The Little Nell, whose ski-in, ski-out status has attracted a refined, snow-riding crowd since 1989, I found myself part of the former crowd: an uninitiated newbie who kept asking one question the whole time, “What’s with all the fur hats?”
Après-ski style — referring to what people wear after they’ve completed a certain amount of runs, hit those challenging but ultimately rewarding black diamonds, and are finally ready to unwind with Veuve Clicquot in hand — has captivated the imaginations of tastemakers worldwide from time immemorial, some of whom have never even seen real snow before. Intimately tied to old-money luxury, the best après-ski ensembles typically balance polish, comfort, and a certain kind of retro-athleticism that transcends both time and place.
Sorel Callsign Horizon Low GTX Women’s Waterproof Sneaker
Sorel makes winter-proof boots that are ideal for the post-skiing Champagne celebration, yes, but its waterproof sneaker (Gore-Tex membrane; Vibram outsole; exquisite stitching) is just as worthy of your time after all the snow melts.
Price upon publish date of this article: $200
Alo Cable Knit Winter Bliss Cardigan
Cable-knit sweaters are all the rage in ski towns. Make them last past winter by repurposing the fabric in the form of a stylish cardi (this chunky, roomy Alo one is WWD Shop’s go-to).
Price upon publish date of this article: $178
NikeSkims High-Waisted Slim Flared Leggings
Curve-skimming pants at the chalet? Say less. Luckily, the silhouette is a no-brainer choice for many other settings and occasions, working overtime to ensure your gym and casual weekend stroll ‘fits alike benefit from no shortage of attractiveness. For bonus points, these NikeSkims bottoms have side-dart details and absorb sweat before they have a chance to ruin your day.
Price upon publish date of this article: $128
Refined knits are a non-negotiable, and so are throwback sunglasses styles, like aviators, that succesfully shield their wearers from the surprisingly intense sunshine at high altitudes. Shearling-lined outerwear and the aforementioned fur hats? Yes, indeed as ubiquitous as they seemed when I stumbled upon my first-ever après situation at The Little Nell.
So too are matching coordinates in eye-catching hues a thing: often carrying over from the slopes, where proper visibility is of utmost importance, to the chalet. For Aspen’s rich and famous (or aspirants to that lifestyle), diamonds are equally crucial, providing sufficient visual contrast to all that cashmere. In this department, you can’t go wrong with a tennis bracelet, drop earrings, or even a blinged-out chain belt.
Zara Jacquard Seamless Ski Collection Bodysuit
This textured Zara bodysuit + your favorite pair of leggings = a head-turning outfit equation, not only for the ski bums.
Price upon publish date of this article: $47.94
Blue Nile Tennis Bracelet With Diamonds in 14K White Gold by James Allen
When your entire après getup is fur, body-hugging silhouettes, and monochrome color palettes, how do you make a lasting impression? Diamonds, obviously, which are perfected in Blue Nile’s James Allen collection and can be donned year-round.
Price upon publish date of this article: $3,625
How The Little Nell factors into all of this, besides being the exact place you should go if you want some après-ski fashion inspiration? It’s part of the Aspen One company, which unites the area’s ski operations, premium accommodations, and luxury retail experiences. That last part is epitomized by the Aspen Collection, a performance and lifestyle apparel brand that draws inspiration from its place of birth to create clothing that’s equal parts technical and chic.
Spend even a weekend in Aspen and you’re bound to spot ski patrols, waiters, fellow gondola users, and 100 Days Club members all wearing the label. My time in the town this April proved that even springs and summers there, when the snow starts to melt and skiing is replaced by hiking, are utterly glorious; so does the Aspen Collection demonstrate that the après-ski dress code can be applied well beyond the chilliest times of the year… and effectively.
The brand’s Cascade Jacket, for instance, is a PrimaLoft-insulated and drawcord-equipped beaut with a removable hood and a vibrant-red colorway option. Its breathability and moisture-wicking properties, but especially that vigorous shade, are easily transferable to transitional-weather months that see their fair share of midday showers.
After all, we’ve seen bold-and-bright anoraks and raincoats walk the recent runways of fashion houses from Prada to Miu Miu to Rabanne. This time, visibility isn’t the reason for all that saturation; instead, it’s the “wrong coat theory” at play again, encouraging tastemakers to make as unforgettable a first impression as possible.
Asos Design Cropped Rubberized Rain Jacket With Hood
This zip-up with pockets is a head-turner, sure, but that’s exactly what you need this month — after moving away from fresh powder and onto the city streets.
Price upon publish date of this article: $49.99
Lands’ End Squall Packable Waterproof Raincoat
When it comes to functional outerwear, Lands’ End delivers, no exceptions. This coat has seamed seals, hits at the top of the thigh, and can be adjusted at the waist. Convinced yet?
Price upon publish date of this article: $149.95
Similarly, the Aspen Collection’s graphic sweaters — especially the most lightweight of the bunch, blessed with varsity stripes and the on-the-nose word “ski” written across the chest — are too darling and personality-laden not to resurrect for spring, to be worn solo or under a trench on the coldest of days. Wish to push merino wool to the back of your closet after a long winter? Go for something breezier as an alternative, like a graphics-adorned sweater shell or even cardigan that you can wear unbuttoned.
Ralph Lauren Cotton Bear Crew Neck Pullover Sweater
The Polo Bear will never not be en vogue, so you might as well wear him loud and proud on a 100-percent cotton pullover — just the thing to throw over your camisole when the breeze creeps in.
Price upon publish date of this article: $498
Tuckernuck Navy Cotton Rollneck Americana Sweater
Ring in the United States’ 250th with this sweater, dolled up by an American flag at center and ready to layer over all your button-ups. Another win: It’s personalizable!
Price upon publish date of this article: $198
True après warriors know that when you’re all layered up and protecting yourself from the cold, a thoughtful accessory arrangement becomes one of the only ways to make a statement, apart from those sumptuous textures, of course. For spring, the Aspen Collection’s standout items in that category include a packable bucket hat and a knit headband with a repeating Aspen leaf pattern, nodding to the location’s quintessential symbol, taken straight out of the natural world.
Wide-brim hats, I should mention, were just as prevalent in Aspen this year as their fur-based counterparts. Kemo Sabe, a veritable Aspen institution, has a lot to do with it, but so do the conditions — mandating head coverings that protect against the sun, the wind, and other elements. Reluctant to part with your favorite ski run? An Aspen-inspired hat will make you think of the path each time you put it on, until you’re reunited once more come November.
Golden Goose Coffee-Brown Hat With Studded Leather Strap
Crafted out of pure wool and dotted with studs, this luxury hat is outspoken — while managing to never say too much.
Price upon publish date of this article: $450
Kemo Sabe Camel Beaver Blend Hat
You can’t leave Aspen without a Kemo Sabe purchase in hand, but you don’t need to go to enjoy all that the high-end Western brand has to offer. This Texas-made hat is composed of beaver: a quality that makes it waterproof and impressively soft in equal measure.
Price upon publish date of this article: $925
Beyond the realm of the sartorial, my stay at The Little Nell made one thing clear: Après-ski is a mindset. Each of the hotel’s elevated yet never-pretentious spaces — from the outdoor sauna surrounded by pristine landscaping and the award-winning spa (which recently finished hosting celebrity esthetician Georgia Louise, who was the facialist-in-residence at The Little Nell for about four months, finally expanding her coveted client list and allowing guests to experience her namesake product line) to The Board Room (a speakeasy hidden behind a bookshelf) and the “see and be seen” Ajax Tavern — perpetually hums with lively conversation, energy, excitement, and, at times, locals-only gossip.
This joie de vivre, made even more joyful with the help of experiences like complimentary Audi rentals, fly-fishing excursions, and nightly feasts put on by the in-house, Michelin-recommended restaurant Element 47, is something that followed me back home to New York.
Better yet, the trip prompted me to become mildly obsessed with skiing. Not the athletic part, to be sure, but how people — ruddy-cheeked and proud — get dressed to celebrate its completion.
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on seasonal style trends and unlikely pockets of fashion influence around the world.