The Luxe List: A look back at the winter that was and wasn’t 

Well, that was a weird winter, huh? Moncler certainly showed up, but the snow never did. What we lacked in precipitation, we made up in fashion happenings. 

Major fashion brands opened stores, staged global fashion shows and hosted pop-ups. When people couldn’t ski, they shopped and partied. They also partied while shopping. There was a lot of partying and shopping — after all, what else is a person to do in Aspen when the skiing is subpar?

Marfa Stance, the modular, reversible outerwear company from across the pond, branched out from their usual schedule of hosting trunk shows and opened a perfectly-located boutique at the corner of Hunter and Cooper at the onset of the winter. Its prime location a block from the gondola made it a spot for a few rocking après parties this winter. Hard to say if anyone actually skied before them, but of course that wasn’t required. 

Fashion-girl’s favorite fine-jewelry brand Foundrae opened an absolutely perfectly-appointed store on Hyman Avenue in January. If you haven’t been inside, I highly recommend popping in to see how the brand reimagined the space. Hanging on the walls behind glass are the gorgeous and highly-coveted medallions the brand is known for, each representing a tenant that allows the wearer to create custom pieces that hold meaning — “modern heirlooms” as the brand refers to them. Color-coordinated books line shelves along the ceiling of the green walls, and creative home goods that make thoughtful gifts (candles, trays) are displayed in the back of the quaint space. There is even a “mouse house,” proving that truly no detail was left unconsidered. This is not your average jewelry store, truly setting a new standard for how brands create retail experiences in Aspen.

After several years of pop-ups and private shopping experience, Chanel opened a permanent boutique on Hyman Avenue in February, causing a fashion frenzy when Matthieu Blazy’s first collection launched in March. An unusual sight for Aspen, an actual line formed outside the store on the launch date, drawing the style-obsessed — all looking to get their hands on a piece of the new creative director’s initial creations. Expect more of that as his upcoming collections make their way to the boutique. 

Burberry opened a pop-up at Hotel Jerome in March, outfitting the hotel’s courtyard with the heritage brand’s iconic check for a very chic few days of British-born style. During their brief run in town, it seemed the company’s trenches and scarves were everywhere you looked. 

Other new doors included technical skiwear-turned-street-style juggernaut Arc’teryx, which opened a standalone store on Cooper Avenue. Once mostly a line for serious athletes, the brand has somehow become a status symbol among hipster New Yorkers. Obviously, this location will still cater to the people actually using the clothes for their original intent. 

On the other side of the fashion spectrum, East Coast-based Alice Walk opened its second outpost on Hopkins (The original is on Nantucket). Its approachable price point and classic styles (cashmere sweaters, elevated loungewear, lightweight outerwear, etc.) make for easy additions to any female Aspenite’s wardrobe. 

And who could forget Moncler’s town takeover at the end of January? The Italy-based powerhouse has redefined what luxury outerwear and sportswear looks like, and we were lucky enough to have them choose Aspen for their first-ever U.S. Moncler Grenoble fashion show (read: spectacle). The out-of-this-world, global event was staged at night at T-Lazy-7 Ranch and still has people talking, setting a new bar for fashion events in Aspen. If you weren’t able to score one of the super-coveted invites, pop into the truly spectacular Moncler Grenoble store, which opened just before the show, located cattycorner from the original Moncler boutique. It houses the brand’s Grenoble collection, which was what came down the snowy, mogul-filled runway earlier this year. I don’t know if we will ever see a fashion event of that scale again, but it’s a testament to Aspen’s influence that we were the lucky host of this one. 

Say what you want about this winter’s disappointing snowpack (I certainly did), but show me another mountain town in North America that has as much to offer in a dry winter? You won’t find one. I’ve looked. I am praying winter returns next year, but until then, I remain thankful that Aspen is still the chicest, most vibrant and  —  of course —  fashionable mountain town in America. With or without the white stuff.