n Aspen, we are connoisseurs of the good life. We have Ph.D.’s in luxury and style,andnowhere is thismoreobvious than inwhatwechoose towearonour backs,heads,feet,and,well,almosteverywhere.Namely,cashmere.

Oftenconsideredanextravagance,cashmereisactuallymostpractical,especially forAspenweather.Madefromthefinestgoathair,itisperfectforthemountain lifestyleinbothsummerandwinter,providinginsulationwithoutbulkand,most importantly,keepingyouwarmwithoutsacrificingstyle.

Stop into Prada and check out its tailored cashmere cardigans in deep jewel tonessuchasemeraldgreenandsapphirepink.Elegantandsophisticated,thesesweatersareeminentlyversatileandperfectforaprès-skiattheNell.Anultra-luxeitemformenthisseasonistheBrionicashmereherringbonerobewithmink-furtrim—verymodern-dayNanookoftheNorth.(Beware,though:thismust-havewillsetyoubackacool$4,900.)Whataboutthebestcashmereproductthatyoucanusetogether?ThinkFrette’scashmereblanketsandthrows,madefrom100percentcashmere.AndoveratDistractions,thestandoutthisseasonissurelyfunkmeisterLucienPellat-Finet’sfour-plycashmeresweaters,bedeckedwithgroovysymbolslikeamarijuanaleaforaskullineye-catchinglollipopcolors.

Classic CashmereSue Hostetler on why this luxury fabric’s versatility is perfect for

Aspen year-round.

Malo cashmere neck scarves, $390, 970-925-3111I

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| Aspen Magazine | Spring 200852

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ButwhatreallyexemplifiesthebestincontemporarycashmerehastobethevenerableItalianretailerwhosenamehasbeensynonymouswithcashmereandcomfortformorethan30years:Malo.Frombabybootiestothecompany’ssignaturecashmereknits,Malohaslongbeenthefashionworld’sarbiterofallthingscashmere,andnocompanyrepre-sents theAspen lifestylemoreaccurately.Chic,beautifullydesigned,butmade to last,Malo’swiderangeofcashmereseparatescanbewornmorning,noon,andnight.

Nowunderthehelmofanewdesignteam,thelabelisexpandingandisthetalkofthefashioncognoscenti fromMilan toMoscow—includingAspen.RobertoRimondiandTommasoAquilano,whohadgreatsuccesswiththeirpreviouslabel,6267,havejoinedMalotobuildonthecompany’shistoryofcreativity,exclusivity,andsheerexcellenceintextiles.ThepairburstontothesceneafewyearsagowhentheywerefinalistsonAltaroma,ashowdedicatedtothefinalistsofthe“Who’sonNext”competitionorganizedbyVogueItalia.Theresulthasbeenacollectionofsophisticatedyetfreshandcontemporarycash-merepiecesofexceptionalquality,seeminglymadetoorderforAspen’scasualandglamevents.Thoughtherunwaycollectionandtherecentlyreintroducedbabycollectionaresomeofthemostpopularitems,ourfavoritehasgottobethecashmereslippers.WhatcouldbemoreperfectforAspen?

SueHostetlerisAspenMagazine’sstyleeditor.

Often considered an extravagance, cashmere is actually most practical,

especially for Aspen weather.

| Aspen Magazine | Spring 200854

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Burberry jewel-check multicolored cash-mere muffler, $295;

Burberry caterpillar cashmere scarf, $295,

970-920-3119