shirt: madewell (similar) // sweater: j crew // jeans: madewell (similar) // boots: sam edelman // beanie: rossignol // scarf: asos // sunglasses: warby parker // necklace: maya brenner // bracelets: david yurman (here, here and here) // ring: david yurman
I love a good pom beanie. This Rossignol beanie is my latest addition. There’s actually a funny/not so funny story behind it that I am somewhat embarrassed to tell you.
Jim and I were in Vail last November for our annual kid-free vacation. We stayed at Hotel Talisa the weekend before the ski season opened. I saw the cutest beanie in the hotel boutique. As we passed the boutique again and again, I pointed the hat out to Jim.
Upon check-in we had received a 50% off promo for one boutique item. I’d done a quick search online of Rossignol hats to find out they were typically priced around $50.
The boutique was closed, but I saw a hotel employee nearby and asked her if I could see the beanie. I discreetly tried to look for a price, but couldn’t see one and instead asked her. Of course, there wasn’t a price on it and we had to go to the spa to look up the price and purchase. Off we went down the hall, stairs and around the corner.
At the spa, they told me the hat would cost $70. To which I responded “plus the 50% off promotion?” No, that was the price after the promotion!
But then I tried it on. It was so soft around my ears. And the faux fur pom was so cute. And the sales associates told me how great it looked. And that the pom was real fur (it is most definitely not).
Jim encouraged me to get it if I wanted. That was all I needed to hear to rationalize the purchase. I immediately put it on and walked out into the falling snow.
I briefly debated returning the beanie. When I couldn’t find the exact color anywhere online, I decided to keep it.
So the moral of the story is I paid $70 for a $50 hat and hotel boutique mark-ups are insane.
The good news is my overpriced beanie makes me happy every time I wear it. I store it separately from our other winter stuff to keep it safe from toddler hands. And it will always remind me of a wonderful stay in Vail with my luv. That’s priceless, right??
photos by ana of rosemary & rye
