The Ultimate Vail Bachelorette Weekend Guide Part 2: Where to Shop
Few places lend themselves to a beautiful bachelorette weekend quite like Vail.
Designed as an Alpine Village with charming storefronts, Swiss and Austrian architecture, and of course world-class skiing, Vail is picturesque without a doubt, and offers no shortage of chic activities. But it’s more than that—Vail is simply enchanting. It’s a place that must be experienced to be truly understood, in all its exquisite beauty and endless charms. And of course, when it comes to bachelorette weekends, a weekend in Vail can be as activity-packed and as photogenic as they come. Picture yourself gliding down the mountain and après skiing in high fashion or exploring the Village and winding down with a hot rock massage at the spa. For the ultimate guide to a bachelorette Vail weekend, look no further. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself mentally packing a suitcase full of retro ski sweaters, fur coats, and winter boots stat.
Next in our three part series: the most delightful places to shop in one of the most enchanting places on earth— Vail Village. Read on for the list of boutiques I always visit when in Vail!
Where to Shop
1. Gorsuch
Opened by Olympians Dave and Renie Gorsuch, this boutique captures the essence of Vail—a place where skiing (and specifically, dressing for skiing), is treated like an art form, and alpine lifestyle reaches its highest expression. Designed like a Swiss chalet, each floor of Gorsuch is a marvel. One level offers chic mountain and après fashions, the next the finest home décor, and yet another whimsical fur boots and footwear. Gorsuch perfects the “mountain chic but took a turn at Yellowstone” vibe that anyone who spends one second in Vail understands. But it’s not at all kitschy; the interior goods are especially fine and run the gamut from refinished antlers to hand-carved tables, sheepskin chairs, and more. Shopping in Vail is a beautiful experience, but shopping at Gorsuch is something beyond.
If Gorsuch is beyond your budget, at least get something fun, like the moose or beaver or bear in a can toys that are so ubiquitous in Vail souvenir shops. It’s the equivalent of Holly Golightly going to Tiffany’s to have her cracker jack ring engraved (all the better to keep within her $10 budget, you see).
2. Axel’s
You’ll feel like a star at Axel’s, where the owners will immediately start styling you in Italian leather jackets and blouses, black diamonds, gemstone belt buckles, and beautiful western boots. No one—in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado—does mountain Western as delightfully as Axel’s.
3. Pepi Sports
Another place that just feels like Vail. Pepi’s offers fine ski wear and wardrobe essentials; it’s the place to perfect your cashmere collection, that is, if you have one.
4. Blitz
For the younger crowd, Blitz is a feminine boutique brimming with personality. From athleisure to evening, find fun and frothy pieces to wear out to an evening in the Village. The handbag selection is particularly charming, with everything from tiny, hand-stitched baby bags to custom printed, European totes. Blitz also carries the most captivating line of hats with bespoke hat jewelry, including swishy tassels and intricate beadwork, all handmade by a Denver artist. RIP to Roxy, the cutest early 2000’s bou in Vail and Beaver Creek, but Blitz does its best to fill the void in the heart of every millennial.
5. The Golden Bear
The defining place to shop in Vail. The Golden Bear’s jewelry collection is so signature and charming; don’t be surprised if your first piece inspires a lifelong collection. From tiny pave bear necklaces to golden baby bear earrings, and even champagne bear glasses and cufflinks, this is a most enchanting way to take home a piece of Vail. Every time I add to my little bear collection, I imagine passing the pieces down to my someday daughter—it’s that special. I suggest treating each one of your girls to a special Golden Bear piece—a champagne glass, perhaps—for a souvenir she’ll treasure forever.
6. Pano European Boutique
Pano’s two locations—in Vail and Mykonos—instantly reveal its flair, its flavor. Last time I visited, I was besotted by the vibrant, resort-focused pieces: think sequined kaftans, Greek market dresses, and beaded and printed dresses that just beg for a yacht-filled, week in Europe. There are two-piece sets—wide, floating skirts with a cropped, hand-stitched top—and vibrant dresses, perfect for daytime or dinner. The boutique is a veritable kaleidoscope of colors, sparkles, and spangles. It’s just a gorgeous collection, well-suited to a vacation mindset and a European-tinged place like Vail.
7. Swedish Clog Cabin
My seriously underrated tip, the tip you won’t find on any other Vail list. The Swedish Clog Cabin is a darling, family-owned shop and a place that, at least to me, feels synonymous with Vail. When I picture my happiest Vail memories, they involve me wearing a pair of Swedish clogs hand-painted with sweet floral motifs and hearts. I still wear a pair I was given at 11 years old (the perks of reaching one’s full height at an early age) and they are one of the most unique, meaningful, and quirky things in my wardrobe.
I’m sad to say that the Swedish Clog Cabin is no longer located in the heart of Vail, but it may very well be worth the trip to Minturn, where a new storefront includes an on-site factory where the clogs are handmade. You and your girlfriends can each commission a hand-painted, custom pair and pose for group photos afterwards.
Join me next time for Part III of the series— the most exquisite and inviting places to dine in Vail, CO!
