aspen
Shopping
ValleyGirl
Ask a local where she bought her adorable mustard peacoat (or drapey ikat cardigan or coral minidress) and she’ll point you to this well-stocked shop—a must-hit for wearables under $250. 406 E. Hyman Ave., 970-920-4475, valleygirlboutique.com
Shopping
Von Freytag Vintage
Gilded picture frames and wooden birdcages adorn this two-room vintage trove, where cranberry Armani shifts and structured Longchamp satchels are all in pristine condition and reasonably priced (we spotted a Parisian trench for $70). 302 S. Galena St., 970-544-1744
Shopping
Bloomingbird's
This sunny, brick-walled shoe spot carries bejeweled René Caovilla slingbacks, slick Aquatalia boots that are snowproof but don’t look it and what may be the world’s snuggliest handstitched shearling slippers. 304 S. Galena St., 970-925-2241
Shopping
Kali's Denim
Stocked with denim lines you haven’t necessarily heard of and slim-cut Wildfox Couture tees to match, Kali’s is pure West Coast cool. In the back, jeweler Kathryn Penn’s shop-within-a-shop sells the designer’s vibrant amethyst and pearl necklaces. 525 E. Cooper Ave., 970-925-7722
Shopping
The Gallerie
Eric and Sarah Lippincott fill their seven-year-old store with young labels (Vena Cava, Doo Ri) and exciting novelties (one-of-a-kind fringed bags, woven Cobra Society boots), but the real standouts are architectural pencil skirts and tunics by Gray, the Lippincotts’ own line. 520 E. Durant Ave., 970-544-4893, gallerieaspen.com
Shopping
Amen Wardy Home
Simply stepping into this whimsical two-story home store will make you want to throw a safari (or haunted house, or garden of Eden) theme party—the tablescapes, complete with giraffe-print cloth napkins and skull-shaped salt and pepper shakers, are just that fun and inspiring. 520 E. Durant Ave., 970-920-7700, amenwardy.com
Shopping
Pitkin County Dry Goods
It would take hours to scan Pitkin’s jam-packed racks of skinny pants, printed frocks and toggle coats. But it’s worth it. We left with an Aztec-print Amanda Uprichard dress and a locally made leather wrap bracelet. 520 E. Cooper Ave., 970-925-1681, pitkincountydrygoods.com
Shopping
Distractions
Exquisite knitwear is the main attraction at Heidi Semrau’s contemporary boutique. Top picks include a purple silk-screened Libertine argyle and one insanely soft, Navajo-inspired cashmere cardigan we could not stop petting. 465 E. Hopkins Ave., 970-544-9946, distractionsaspen.com
Shopping
Performance Ski
Our favorite ski shop, not for the prices (which can be black- diamond steep), but for chic ski and après-ski apparel, like an unbulky Duvetica down parka and a tough Dsquared2 leather bomber. 408 S. Hunter St., 970-925-8657
Shopping
Koto
Koto loosely means “object” in Japanese, and the ones at this sleek, moodily lit space range from in-demand (tie-neck George blouses, R&Y Augousti octagonal clutches) to totally random (metallic purple piggy banks). Things get even kitschier around the corner at the sister shop. 308 S. Mill St., 970-925-5686, kotoaspen.com
