Aspen Shops

Some may argue that Aspen is known for its shopping as much as its snow (Prada, Ralph Lauren, and even Kith have stores here). We’re especially excited about this winter's arrival of Dallas import Forty Five Ten, which will bring its sharp edit of Saks Potts coats, pretty Hunting Season bags, and cozy, Brock Collection knits to a stately corner of East Hyman Avenue. Photos: David Marlow for Forty Five Ten

Some would argue that summer in Aspen is even better than winter ski season—and we would be among them. All it took was a hike through a field of wildflowers on the Rio Grande Trail and we were hooked. So we decided to stay and open up shop inside a cozy chalet (is there any other kind?), which has been reimagined as goop’s summer residence—until August 12. Designed by Kate McCollough and Max Zinser of KMZ New York, the space holds an Aspen-centric edit of home, fashion, clean beauty and wellness items, like organic cashmere and wool throws and cushions from Texidors, handbags from What Goes Around Comes Around, Staub cookware, and goop’s own lines, G. Label and G. Sport. And goop being goop, there are also wellness elixirs from Moon Juice and Sun Potion. Think of it as a way to get fresh mountain air—with really good benefits.

This charming indie bookstore is the kind of place you go for a vacation read and end up walking out with a stack of historical novels, detective stories, and hard-to-find biographies. They also host a children's storytime (a great rainy-day or après-ski activity), as well as a range of literary events for adults—from author readings to a writer's open mic night. If you get hungry while browsing, or after an event, head upstairs to their Pyramid Bistro, which is also open late.

The J.Crew outpost in Aspen is legendary for consistently carrying the best edit of the brand’s classic-with-a-twist apparel and accessories (the shoe edit is especially impressive). It’s a small space—nowhere near as sprawling as the average mall location—but the minimal build-out makes it easy to grab what you want and go.

This little boutique across from the Little Nell is an automatic go-to for denim (they carry tons of brands) and other basics, like cozy cashmere sweaters, oversized scarves, and mid-priced accessories. Basically, it's the kind of place that becomes an invaluable resource when a critical piece of clothing didn't make it into the suitcase, or when you need to shop for a last-minute gift. Fair warning: They're closed until 1pm on powder days.

With a sleek wooden interior and a roster of hard-to-find European ski brands, Performance Ski is a far cry from your typical ski and snowboard shop. In addition to some seriously gorgeous casual wear (including stacks of Elder Statesman cashmere), they carry every imaginable piece of equipment, from long johns and ski pants to helmets, mittens, goggles, boots, and skis.

Max Martinez and his eponymous stores (there are also locations in Boulder and Denver) are really the cream of the Colorado fashion crop. An early buyer of now-household name brands like Isabel Marant, Martinez's boutiques always carry a mix of name-brand classics and little-known newcomers. It's probably the most luxurious of Aspen's boutiques, so go for investment pieces like Nili Lotan sweaters, Céline bags, and Pierre Hardy boots. If you can, try to stop in when Max is in the store—in addition to being the warmest host imaginable, he has an amazing eye for pieces that flatter specific people.

The clientele in Aspen is famously flashy, so it's no surprise that this upscale, exquisitely curated consignment shop is home to some serious gems. It's ideal for picking up things that are fun to wear in Aspen but too impractical to buy full-price, like faux-fur snow boots, Gucci ski goggles, or turquoise-studded belts.

Distractions has been an Aspen shopping staple since 1997, when owner Heidi Semaru opened the shop in an effort to bring younger, newer brands to the Aspen market. Today, her buy is a combination of tried-and-true favorites like Thomas Wylde and The Row juxtaposed against up-and-comers like Greg Lauren. It's also a great destination for unique jewelry.

From the shelves of cowboy boots on the left to the endless array of western hats hanging from the ceiling (you can actually have them branded with your initials), Kemosabe is as close as you can get to a one-stop-shop for Western wear. And while it's certainly a no-brainer for the classic touristy stuff, the collection of Pendleton blankets and displays of vintage turquoise jewelry are also powerful draws.