Like the children of many successful hoteliers, New York-based fashion designer Lindsey Thornburg grew up bouncing around western states as her mother, a respected general manager, took top posts at hotels from Colorado to Seattle. She spent her formative teenage years living in Aspen, learning to snowboard on the powdery pistes of the Colorado Rockies and cruising Independence Pass in summer months. Now, her iconic collaboration with Pendleton and Hotel Jerome brings her back to the snowy peaks that always feel like home.
Tell us a little bit about the collaboration with Pendleton and Hotel Jerome?
Growing up in Montana, Colorado and The Pacific Northwest, I was raised with Pendleton blankets. From a young age, I dreamed of adapting their iconic designs into a wearable piece. In my early 20s, I began producing cloaks out of vintage blankets. A few years later, after a bit of momentum and celebrity attention, I approached Pendleton with my designs and we teamed up for a collaboration.
Given the inherent beauty of Pendleton blankets my intention was to create an all-encompassing design that had no style lines. I wanted to create a wearable canvas—a place for the sacred geometry and heritage of Pendleton to live. Each garment is hand-cut and sewn in my New York City atelier. I strive to make each one an heirloom piece.
What are your favorite mountains to hit while you’re in town?
The mountains I like to ride is always shifting. But when I am around now, I head to Highlands if I want a proper local’s day on the hill. Aspen Mountain for quick and easy access. And Snowmass if I really want to reconnect with my childhood and have a run down memory lane—the top of Elk Camp is my happy place.
When the snow melts what do you like to do?
I love driving along Independence Pass. It’s an impossibly scenic high-mountain road that runs from Aspen to Vail and it’s only open from May to October. I’ll pack a picnic and head to Difficult campground with old friends, or we’ll hang out by the river at Punch Bowl or hike the Grottos. Sometimes, I’ll rent an e-bike at Radio Board Shop and cycle the Woody Creek Trail to Woody Creek Tavern and have a drink and some nachos. Taking the gondola up to the sundeck is also a nice way to spend an afternoon.
I also like driving around the West End and looking at all the new architecture and how they have adapted modern constructions to an alpine setting. I’ll never miss a chance to walk around the Aspen Meadows and the Art Institute. It’s spacious over there in a way that town proper is not; it feels like one of the few remaining relics of Aspen’s past.
What are your go-to spots to eat?
Having a barbecue with local friends is always my favorite way to après. If we do go out on the town, Clark’s has a lovely après menu: Order the oysters and the shoestring fries. J – Bar at the Jerome has the best homemade chicken soup. Meat & Cheese is the best little market for charcuterie snacks and it has a farm-to-table restaurant. Monarch is one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in recent history—the rack of lamb is outstanding. Matsuhisa and Kenichi are sushi classics. Cache Cache is a local favorite.
Where do you like to throw one back?
My favorite bars are Bad Harriet’s (a really beautiful little speakeasy), and the vibey bar at hat shop Kemo Sabe. The Elk’s Club is always fun if you actually want to hang out with the 10 remaining Aspen locals.
What’s at the top of your shopping list?
Kemo Sabe! This is one of the greatest shopping experiences you’ll ever have. I promise. It’s stop one for so many people visiting Aspen. There is this unorthodox mash up of custom hats, silversmithing, trading post, upstairs bar, and retail therapy courtesy of owner Wendy Kunkle and her crew of beautiful milliners. It’s a real western store with a modern sensibility. You can have a hat made or pick up a Stetson, and shop Navajo turquoise, custom cowboy boots, silver belt buckles, knives, etc. Kemo Sabe really honors what Aspen used to be.
If you’re looking for a fashion-forward ski experience, Performance Ski has an in-house label produced in Italy with styles you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re a snowboarder, hit Radio Board shop. They give a really specialized tune-up. Explorer Bookshop is set in an old Victorian house on Main Street—it’s very sweet.
Do you have a favorite spa?
I typically go to my favorite spas when I’m home in New York, but in Aspen I love going to my friend’s retreat behind Ruedi Reservoir called Beyul. If you really want to decompress, take a little day trip and use their sauna and cold plunge pool. It is heaven.