I Just Got Back From Aspen—9 Trends I Packed to Get the Après-Ski Look

Is it just me, or are everyone and their mother vacationing in Aspen right now? But unlike last summer when the entirety of my Instagram feed was relaxing on chaise longues in Positano while I set up shop on a patch of grass along the Hudson River, I got to be one of them this time. Ahead of the holiday rush, I spent four days in the celeb-favorite travel destination to celebrate the opening of Canada Goose x Reformation's pop-up shop at the St. Regis. And just like the A-listers who've been spotted there of late, I put a lot of thought into what I packed.

Aspen more than almost anywhere I've ever been gives off the "be seen" vibe. In other words, when you're there, you always want to have on a cool outfit, even if you're physically on the slopes, après-skiing at Ajax Tavern, or simply hanging out in the lobby of your hotel. So naturally, when I found out about the trip, I quickly made a point to source trends that fit that energy. Ahead, see which ones I settled on for the trip. Hint: Expect puffer jackets, shearling coats, and, of course, a balaclava. 

Shearling and Aspen go hand in hand. Just ask Kylie Jenner, who, during her New Year's Eve trip to the ski town, was spotted wearing a shearling-and-leather Alaïa coat dress with nothing but tights and knee-high boots. Though I admire her ability to face the elements pants-less, I chose to pair my shearling coat, a chestnut-colored style from The Arrivals, with a Khaite maxi-length denim skirt, a trend that's just as at home in the city as any super-soft and warm outerwear. 

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Basically every item on my wish list ahead of this trip was made of velvet. Though, I only ended up picking one piece to bring with me: a ruched tube top from Reformation that paired perfectly with my aforementioned maxi skirt. If we hadn't had dinner inside the hotel on this evening, I would've added a pair of fleece-lined tights, but luckily, the lack of outdoor travel allowed me to get by without them.

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To avoid being drowned out by the blanket of snow that more often than not covers all of Aspen this time of year, one must keep their plain white outerwear at home and opt to instead wear bold statement puffers. This year, the accessory to go with it is a padded hood or headscarf—aka the winter topper on everyone's wish list this year. 

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Thanks to fleece-lined tights, winter-ready minidresses have become my favorite trend of the season, especially around the holidays when I was on my trip. Paired with point-toe boots or heels, the look is both hyper-elevated—a must in a locale like Aspen—and surprisingly practical. Specifically, I chose a long-sleeve wool minidress from ACNE Studios that I saw on Hailey Bieber a year prior. As I always do, I wore it with Sheertex tights and satin heeled mules.

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For our one and only ski day, I packed a number of cold-weather items, like Heattech, thermal leggings, wool socks, and a Canada Goose x Reformation vest. But of all the things I wore, the two trendiest pieces were my balaclava, a cashmere option I bought from COS at the coldest point of winter last year, and a pair of Snoga pants, snow pants that fit like yoga pants rather than looking super oversize and baggy. All over TikTok, the weather-ready bottoms will be recognized by all in no time. 

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Reformation's cashmere Corbetta dress was the first item I thought of packing when I learned I was going on this trip, as cashmere and Aspen are a package deal. I'd been eyeing it for a while, but it wasn't until the trip that I got it and subsequently debuted it at dinner one night at Betula. Though good for practically any occasion, a cashmere dress feels particularly at home in a mountainside environment, or is that just me? 

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Coming up next: 9 Pieces I Tried On and Loved From Reformation's New Canada Goose Collab