The biggest names in the fashion world line the streets of downtown Aspen. Prada, Burberry, Fendi, and Ermenegildo Zegna squeeze between coffee shops, restaurants, and art galleries along Hopkins, East Cooper, and Durant. On top of being a world-class ski destination, Aspen has a universal reputation amongst fashionistas as a style hub. Needless to say, the groomed runs of Ajax can resemble a catwalk as much as an outdoor playground. Not everyone rocks the high-end brand names, some people swear by their Patagonia and North Face duds; however, the “you look good, you play good” mantra rings throughout town. We consulted a handful of in-the-know locals about the must-have styles for this winter season, and, while each Aspenite comes from a different angle, all agreed on one thing: Good-looking fashion blended with high-tech functionality are in this year.
The Designer Skier:
Lee Keating, the longtime local style maven, owns Performance Ski. Located just steps from the Silver Queen Gondola, Performance Ski’s colorful racks are full of the most recognizable names in the fashion world. From Prada and Kjus to DSquared and Postcard, Lee Keating has had her fingers on the pulse of the fashion world for years. Keating’s pick for the fashion-minded female this year is Prada. Prada matches its incomparable name with a super technical slopeside line, says Keating. The Tela Accoppiata Stretch jacket ($1,615) combined with the micro-fleece baselayer ($445), and pants ($970) all by Prada are Lee Keating’s picks; in navy blue and black. “This season’s colors are more subtle,” says Keating. “The black, red, and military green aren't so tired looking. The fabric is stretchy and the style is super technical.”
The perfect male complement to Lee Keating’s pick for the ladies comes from Jared Ettlinger, manager at Gorsuch. Bogner’s Bhutan series finds inspiration in the sacred region of the Himalayas, looks stunning, and is as functional as it is aesthetic. The bright green Bhutan T jacket
($999) by Bogner can be found at Gorsuch and will be a hit on the snow. (It also comes in black and orange.) Paired with the insulated Snow Camo pant ($1,299), Bogner’s soft-goods can handle the gnarliest regions of the Himalays, the moguls on Ajax, and the après party at 39 Degrees.
Kids and Snowboarders:
While mom and dad are donning designer names, the clothes for kids, park rats, and freeriders can be found at Radio Boardshop. Travis McLain, owner of Radio and X Games gold medalist, says “80's neon with hints of early 90’s grunge is in. But for a more sophisticated look go a little more subtle color with some texture.” McLain thinks that the Cappel Norwich jacket 
($279.99)—in sulfur yellow plaid—combined with the Cappel Wallingford
navy blue pant ($299.99) is what park rats and X Games-inspired guys will be rocking. For the girls, Nike’s zitron-colored Bellvue jacket ($280) and the X Sevens Jeans pant ($245) by Vans—a collaboration between Vans and Sevens jeans—are the look. To top it off, McLain says the Coal Scotty midnight beanie (~$33) and the Candy Grind Peppermint reversible beanie ($32) for guys and girls, respectively, are “awesome!”
For this year’s looks picture mom in Prada and dad in Bogner doing “powder eights,” a la Aspen Extreme (you need to rent this movie before your Aspen ski holiday if you haven’t seen it already), while the kids are rocking Cappel and Nike, spinning like dreidels in the terrain park.
Hard Core Skier:
Not all Aspen-based skiers are sticking on-piste or in the park, though. For the backcountry enthusiast and tree-skiing powder hound (of which there are hundreds in Aspen), the folks at Hamilton Sports, the Ute Mountaineer, and Pomeroy Sports know what to buy. Kjus and Napapijri apparel stocks the racks at Hamilton, and Bill Miller, owner of the shop, says both are perfect options for the serious skier. At the Ute—Aspen’s core, end-user supplier—the Mountain Hardwear heated jacket (called the Refugium Jacket) is the “new, hot thing for men” (pun intended) according to Loren Gibbs, the store’s manager. “It meets the standards we expect,” says Gibbs. “The new, efficient battery can last an entire ski day.” (Which in the eyes of the diehards at the Ute is nine hours of skinning and skiing.) What's more, the battery power used to heat the jacket can also be used to charge your iPod, iPhone, Blackberry or whatever other device you choose to ride with!
The jackets are also offered in a women's version (the Radiance Jacket) and inventory is somewhat limited as this is the first season Mountain Hardwear is offering them, but you can purchase these hot items right here...
Mountain Hardwear - Men's Refugium Jacket
Mountain Hardwear - Women's Radiance Jacket
For the ladies, Gibbs points to the Arc’teryx Atom ET Hoodie because of its “spectacular warmth to weight ratio” and new insulation technology. Lastly, you’ll find Oakley and Orage gear—in addition to Spyder, Descente, and Salomon—in the windows that look directly up Aspen Mountain at Pomeroy Sports.
Photos courtesy of Jacob Ramsden
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