Aspen’s Summer Secret: How the Town’s Only Five-Star Hotel Keeps the Après Spirit Alive After the Snow Melts

Aspen’s single-runway airport sees more private jets than commercial flights each year. The message is clear: this is a place where exclusivity and money set the tone, and with that comes an unwritten dress code that applies whether you’re on the slopes or just grabbing coffee downtown.

I checked into The Little Nell, Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond property, which has been a magnet for well-heeled skiers since 1989 thanks to its ski-in, ski-out location. As a first-timer, I kept asking everyone the same question: “Why is everyone wearing fur hats?”

Après-ski style—the look people put together after a day of carving black diamonds, when they’re ready to relax with a glass of Champagne—has fascinated tastemakers for decades. The best outfits balance polish, comfort, and a retro-athletic vibe that feels timeless.

But here’s the thing: that après attitude doesn’t have to end when winter does. The Aspen Collection, a performance-and-lifestyle brand owned by the same company that runs The Little Nell, proves it. Their Cascade Jacket, with its PrimaLoft insulation and bold red colorway, works just as well for a spring hike as it does for a chairlift ride. Their graphic sweaters and lightweight cardigans are perfect for layering on cool summer evenings. And accessories like a packable bucket hat or a knit headband with an Aspen leaf pattern let you carry a piece of the mountain with you year-round.

Beyond clothes, my stay at The Little Nell showed me that après-ski is really a mindset. The hotel’s spaces—from the outdoor sauna to the hidden speakeasy behind a bookshelf to the buzzing Ajax Tavern—hum with energy and conversation. Complimentary Audi rentals, fly-fishing trips, and dinners at Michelin-recommended Element 47 only add to the feeling.

I left Aspen mildly obsessed—not with skiing itself, but with how people dress to celebrate it. And I’ve been applying that same spirit to my summer wardrobe ever since.