You may recall that I am new to skiing, and thus whenever I travel to the mountains I feel a bit like a foreign exchange student visiting a faraway land. Everything is so new and different: the (dry, frigid!) air, the snow-blanketed terrain, and of course the frost-defying fashion. As you might expect, in addition to learning the art of getting down the mountain alive, I spend some time studying my surroundings, surveying the customs, and scouting for women with ski fashion mastered. From the proper way to carry your skis to what to drink apres ski to how to work a Michellin-man-like-jacket, there is much to learn. Last week I was in Vail, where on some mornings it was 20 degrees below zero. I was freezing, parched and, to be honest, a bit style challenged. Fortunately, I was at least in the game since while packing for my trip, I happen to find a Vogue story on Aerin Lauder, shot in Aspen (outtake above). It inspired me to bring some key items, including a fur trapper hat, like , along with a bevy of cute print sweaters, similar to and . Being in Vail with my friend Annie, a French Canadian who grew up skiing in sub-zero temperatures, also advanced my cause. She ended up loaning me a warm puffy jacket, like , that stood up to the cold (and the chicest girls on the chairlift lines), and her uber chic and summit-worthy prompted me to hunt down some lookalikes like and . She also gave me this to keep my lips from getting crazy chapped. I am getting there, but am still a work in progress, so if you have any insidery styling tips for the ski-life, please let me know!

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