The Luxe List

When I was a 20-something editor in Aspen, my parents were visiting me, and I can’t recall what I did to deserve this, but my mom agreed to buy me a pair of Chanel glasses. At the time, Chanel had a boutique across from the gondola on the second floor (where Christie’s real estate is now). It would be my first luxury item of my very own, and I thought I was incredibly cool. I will never forget those sunglasses: They were black and rectangular, with the Chanel interlocking Cs logo on each side in mother-of-pearl. (It’s worth noting that I found these glasses while moving recently, and while I remember them fondly, in actuality, they looked awful on me. Alas, the things we will do to be on trend.)

Years later, many years into my journalism career in Aspen, I was running a local TV station and working early mornings, long days, and making what — at the time — was a nice salary for a 20-something. I had fallen in love with a Kelly Green Balenciaga bag at Imelda’s (Aspen cred points if you remember the Mill Street boutique). I saved and saved and saved some more, and when I had finally amassed my goal amount, I walked into the boutique and proudly bought my dream purse. It was the first luxury item I had ever purchased for myself, and for that matter, it was the most expensive thing I had ever bought. I remember feeling a mix of excitement and pride: I finally had the purse I had wanted for months, and I had earned enough money to treat myself to this piece of beauty. (It’s also worth noting that I came across this bag, too, in my recent move, and I still think it’s cool, so that’s a win.)

Those two moments heightened my love and appreciation for luxury items — their beauty and craftsmanship — but in reality, my adoration for these brands began long before that. My grandmother was always dressed to the nines; I never saw her in casual clothes save for when I got to have sleepovers at her home and she wore long, silk nightgowns. When she was taken to the hospital in a wheelchair for the last time in her early ’90s, she was dressed head-to-toe in a full outfit, complete with jewelry (a brooch, no less) and a Chanel purse on her shoulder. She believed in always looking her best and presenting herself with an air of elegance and sophistication. I miss her, but I know it’s better she didn’t live to witness the athleisure trend. That would have killed her for sure.

My mother and father, too, are of a different, Tom Wolfe-esque era. They are always the most formal people in any room, still believe in getting dressed up to travel, and are always accessorized to the hilt (My father loves a pocket scarf, and my mother is always decked in multiple necklaces, rings, and often a silk scarf, as well). All of this is to say, I come rightfully by an appreciation for all things sartorial and pleasing to the eye. 

My career, too, has educated me on these things. Years of experience as a magazine editor of luxury publications (including Aspen Magazine and a couple of Los Angeles-based titles), combined with running my own company that works with some of the biggest brands in the world, have given me a unique perspective on what it takes to build and maintain a luxury brand. Spoiler alert: It’s A LOT — a refusal to be ordinary, to accept anything less than the best, and to strive to both innovate and elevate. Working with these brands has inspired me to strive for the best in my own work habits. Witnessing the teams behind these brands strive to respect their company’s long histories while staying relevant is fascinating. It makes me want to continue learning and be highly creative while paying respect to the past. 

And sure, I understand that to some, luxury has become a bad word in Aspen. Luxury brands have taken over storefronts that once housed mom-and-pop shops, as Aspen — and the world for that matter — has become more expensive. None of that is lost on me. And yet, I love beautiful things — incredible craftsmanship, talented designers, and art in all its forms. And that’s what this column will focus on. Within this column, I plan to cover the fashion and beauty happenings in our little mountain town: what to buy for the new season, the coolest new pop-ups and boutiques, the latest trends, and much more. And, of course, there will be subjects that only an Aspenite would understand — what to wear and what NOT to wear to Food & Wine, where the Western trend has gone awry, and why a purse is never OK while skiing. In short, I’ll cover the really hard news. 

I may not look good in those Chanel sunglasses anymore, but I still remember how good I felt wearing them. That feeling has stood the test of time even if that particular style hasn’t. And sometimes that’s what luxury is about — the feeling something so beautiful brings you. I hope this column brings you a little bit of that, too. Thanks for joining me on this luxurious, new adventure.

Sari Tuschman is a longtime local journalist who loves the mountains and pretty things.