LE CATCH

It makes sense that secondhand clothing is now the biggest growing category in retail-- considering how much re-sale shopping I partake in (LOL)! For me, it just feels better than regular shopping: I'm keeping clothes out of landfills, buying at a discount, gleaning a treasure-found high, and re-selling when I am done wearing. My favorite sources: The Real Real (for reasons like this, this and this), Celebrity Owned (love, yes, please!), Etsy (score, find, gold), and the just-launched ReCollect, Rebecca Taylor's past and present season's greatest hits, like the forever-chic blazer, above, or this cute faux fur jacket. Customers trade in their gently-worn Rebecca Taylor items for store credit, and in turn, these pieces will be sold, with half of the proceeds donated to Cool Effect to support the recycle economy. See what I mean? It's all good!

Aspen's sub-freezing weather ushered out a strong sweater game, as you can see for yourself in the snap, above. The name of the game: anything but boring! Southwest-inspired prints, Nordic fair isles, tie-dyes, ruffles, braids, fringe--everything goes! Lots of these stylish winter statements are, yay!, on sale, including the Ulla Johnson (second in from right), this Isabel Marant Etoile Fair Isle, this chunky balloon-sleeve Zara, this BLOUSE tie-dye sweatshirt and this vibrant jacquard Caslon. (This fringed Tory Burch and striped Rebecca Taylor are not on sale, but so, so tempting!)

For me, one of the best things about Aspen is the people I randomly meet on chair lifts. Among the highlights: a former Swiss chef turned ski instructor, who is also Matsuhisa's landlord; a 12-year-old boy from Caracas, Venezuela, who had never seen snow before; a Mardi Gras bead-wearing local ski bum who told me how to extend the life of hand-warmers (put them in an air-tight Ziploc bag); another ski instructor who used to be the CTO at Apple, and a USC college freshman from New York City, who turned me on to Dior's just-launched Lip Glow Oil. Poised to be a cult product, if not already, these lip glosses make, plain and simple, your lips look sexy! Even on the ski slopes! They're infused with nourishing and softening cherry oil (a mountain-air must) and leave a glossy finish that, I swear enhances the shape of your lips. I love the Cherry hue, I mean, LOVE!

Is anyone else struggling to remember what day of the week it is? Or forgotten what green juice tastes like? My self-diagnosis: a severe case of holiday burnout. The antidote: a healthy days-long dose of sweat! These cute new Nike sneakers make me want to jump into action in myriad ways: the low-key runners, bottom, are for long runs and gym classes, the wintry-hued middle retro sneaks work for lapping the park and running errands, while the (nearly sold out everywhere) maximalists, top, pound the streets and treadmill in style.

Seems as if the fashion gods (Celine, Gucci) have our best interests in mind, post-holiday decadence, by sanctifying long, wide-leg, boot-cut (read: forgiving) jeans for 2020. This leg-lengthening, flared denim silhouette is universally flattering and super versatile, making them a must for us! The best versions out there, in my opinion, are from Mother, Levi's, GFLFRND, Citizens of Humanity, J Brand, L'Agence, and Topshop.

Next time you're consumed with wanderlust, venture over to Sofia Sanchez de Betak's Instagram feed, packed with transporting images of her in Argentina, Spain, France, Japan, Uruguay, Sweden and Greece--and that's just in the last few months! Inspired by her never-ending globe-trotting, the South American-born, New York-based stylist recently launched a clothing line that's as enchanting as her well-traveled life. Take the American Southwest-print mini dress, above, imbued with Arizona-sunrise hues, that would look equally at home in the Far East (at less than first class prices). Also anywhere-worthy: this ruffle-neck silk blouse and this gorgeously vivid tiered dress (below).

I celebrated the new year a night early at a WellSoul workshop at Goop's pop-up store in Aspen (a must-visit!). The fireworks lit up my insides, ignited by a method I learned called Focused Attention: what I focus on, I create, where my attention goes, energy flows! In other words, I set my intentions for 2020 and here I go! I recommend you write yours down and go for it, too! Happy and Healthy New Year! Love, Marlien

I'm in Aspen, A.K.A., land of lost expensive mittens. I don't want to enrich Ajax's vast stockpile during my trip, with my new heavy, knitted, crazy-cute and oh-so-warm mittens, above, that look the expensive part--but aren't! I snapped them up for $10 at Target. Yup! I actually bought two pairs, the other in versatile TSE Cashmere-looking gray. (I swear, they look hand-knit and major bucks!) My more dressed-up (er, grown-up) hand-warmers are by Draper James.

According to the astronomical calendar, we're nine days into winter and yet the coolest winter coats are already on sale! Just in time, I guess, for us to nail Nor'easters, Arctic Blasts, thundersnow, and wintry whatnot. The most desirable include the above check-lined trench (also in navy), the below Marc Jacobs I'm wearing, the Stand Studio, last pic, (shorter version also reduced here), this amazing boucle military-inspired Ganni, this spot-on (faux) patent-leather L'Acadamie, and this Coach shearling-trimmed puffer (extra 20% off today--love!!!).

2020 has me going from turf to surf in perhaps the most epic way, Buttermilk Mountain for Byron Bay.