The Luxe List: A summer in review

Recently, I ventured East to visit a friend in the Hamptons. I was craving a dose of East Coast summer — a good lobster roll and some humidity to plump up my high-altitude skin. The trip was fun, beautiful, and jam-packed. Unsurprisingly, the Hamptons is where seemingly every brand known to man goes in the summer to throw an event, host a dinner, or open a pop-up, which got me thinking that Hamptons summer is Aspen’s winter in terms of fashion events. But then I realized how many fashion events actually took place this summer in Aspen. And then that made me think a thought that I think all the time (Did you follow that?): While it may have its issues, Aspen is a pretty incredible place. I mean, where else in the country does so much happen in such a small place, all year long? Aspen may be small, but man, oh man, it’s mighty. 

Truth be told, I am of the mindset that Aspen shines brightest in the winter. It is more comfortable to wear sweaters than sundresses, in my humble opinion. However, even in the hottest season, when snow only exists at the top of the highest peaks, the fashion events and happenings have been nonstop, which made me want to look back at the chic-as-hell summer that was. 

This summer, Veronica Beard, TWP, and Goop all opened their doors to become permanent Aspen retail residents. British brand Me + Em held a pop-up in The Aspen Times building at the Hotel Jerome. So did La Double J, Libertine, and Oscar de la Renta. LA cool-girl brand High Sport drew crowds to AM7 to sell their uber-popular kick pants. Dior threw parties; Gucci did too. Recently, Vuori finally opened its store, giving us one more place to buy workout wear because — like ski clothes — Aspenites can never have enough. 

All of this doesn’t even begin to touch the countless other events and happenings that took place this summer: the performances, the lectures, the music festivals, and so on and so on and so on. Locals and visitors got dressed up for Food & Wine and Art Week; they showed their butt cheeks for Rufus du Sol (Seriously, what is up with that trend?!?), and they put on their best Western outfits for the Snowmass Rodeo. Where else, other than Aspen, can you feel as comfortable in workout clothes as you do in sequins? Where else does a town only a few blocks deep offer literally endless options of things to do, see, and get dressed up for? 

My friends and I have often looked at each other and said, “If you can find another place as fun as Aspen, let me know — I’d love to try it.” The truth is we can’t. The truth is, Aspen looks cute in all seasons. Aren’t we lucky?

And even though we are now on the precipice of fall, the events have not ended quite yet. Marfa Stance has been super active in Aspen this summer, hosting multiple trunk shows in a variety of locations. Their reversible, modular vests and jackets are the perfect layer for the transitional season, so their return to town — this time with a pop-up at the Jerome — could not be more ideally timed (Aug. 31 to Sept. 3). If you’re looking for something to do on Labor Day, then from 2-5 p.m. on Monday, Marfa Stance and Savannah Friedkin (the 100% responsible fine-jewelry brand with a brick-and-mortar on Main St. in The Aspen Times building) will be serving cocktails, popcorn, and sweets in the Jerome courtyard. Lab-grown diamonds and outerwear with a side of Champagne? Sign me up. 

Somehow — in the blink of an eye — here we are at the beginning of the best fashion season of all: Fall.

I, for one, can’t wait.