Aspen.

Guys, I’m heading to Aspen, CO for a glorious week-and-a-half vacation with my siblings, their significant others, my parents, and my sweet nephew at the beginning of July.  I don’t know how you feel about vacations of this duration, but they pretty much serve as the apex of the entire year for me.  I have been planning for and dreaming about this much-needed time to unplug for months now.  July can’t come soon enough.  (Well, not quite.  My birthday is in late June, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  Late June can’t come soon enough…)  I spent many of my summers growing up in Aspen.  My parents would pack all five of us kids up for a month-long retreat to the mountains, and we’d go horse-back-riding, hiking, camping, swimming, fly-fishing for a few weeks every summer.  I recall Aspen as a unique place — very chic and sophisticated but with a distinctively cowboy vibe.  High-end designer stores next to small fly-fishing shops.  Marmot next to Chanel.  I don’t quite know how to pack for this, so I’m just going with my gut.  A mix of casual denim with funky accessories — a hint of the West with some higher-end mix-ins.  Below, some of the items on my radar:

+Aspen t-shirt (on sale for $45);

+Joie booties ($360);

+My Current/Elliott distressed denim overalls — they’ve unfortunately sold out everywhere, but you can get the look for less with these from Madewell ($118);

+Tassel clutch ($45);

+My new favorite top from J. Crew ($80 — love this, for some reason, with a bright pink lip);

+Zimmermann ankle tie sandals ($310);

+Cotton woven towels ($110 for 2);

+Illesteva shades ($175);

+Mara Hoffman textured maxi ($175);

+Ancient Greek gladiators ($395);

+Coach Dakotah bag (on sale for $210!!!);

+Etoile Isabel Marant top (on sale for $255);

+Denim shorts ($80);

+Gianvito Rossi boots ($1,140).

Lastly, a few special extras to toss into the suitcase: this Aztec-print off-the-shoulder dress (super affordable! — $62) and this handkerchief-print dress ($150).  And, of course, for outdoor excursions, gotta stock up on Patagonia: I love this windbreaker in the neon yellow ($129) and my absolute favorite pullover has got to be the Patagonia snap-t in the oatmeal/linen/white color ($119).  And PS – for hiking boots, these Merrells came highly recommended.  Not the most stylish shoe I’ve ever seen, but doable.