Peak Chic Off-Piste! Inside Net-a-Porter’s Destination: Ski at Montana’s One&Only Moonlight Basin
With the Winter Olympics set to kick off during fashion month, it’s clear that sub-zero-temperature sports and polished performance style have never been so intertwined. With that in mind, Net-a-Porter got together a cohort who were down to put its luxury ski assortment to the test—whether that meant on a bunny slope or an advanced black diamond.
Not that they needed more convincing, but the getaway also gave guests the opportunity to check in to the first American outpost of the renowned One&Only resort family. Situated on 240 acres offering panoramic views of Big Sky’s pure and pristine mountain peaks, the newly-opened Olson Kundig-designed One&Only Moonlight Basin is a Pinterest board actualized. In other words: the most fitting and content-friendly backdrop imaginable for a top-tier alpine retreat.
After jetting in from all over the world, attendees donned warm knits and accessories by We Norwegians and Yves Salomon, as well as their trusty Moon Boots, and made their way by mountain defender 3x3 jeeps to the nearby Moonshack. Inside the wooden cabin—which was reportedly lifted in its entirety from a neighboring state to ensure authenticity—a cozy evening with live music, poker, hot toddies, and s’mores ensued. As Jody and the Woodflowers Band serenaded the room with bluegrass, guests helped themselves to heaping plates of foie gras-topped almond croissants, crudités, salads, and sliders. It was a chose-your-own-adventure kind of night. Outside, while content creators and sisters Venetia and Natasha Alia warmed marshmallows by the fire, others headed up a small hill towards an observatory to enjoy unrivaled views of the constellations thanks to a NASA-worthy telescope. “I still can’t believe this set-up,” the on-site astronomer told the group of the elevated site and its proximity to the sky, as she pointed out Orion’s Belt, Jupiter, and, everyone’s favorite, “a stellar nursery—stars that have just been born.”
After a good night’s sleep—in REM-inducing Olivia von Halle silk nightwear—it was time to face the music and get out onto the slopes. First up, a beginner-friendly snowshoeing expedition to get better acquainted with the climate and scenery. Taking the assignment seriously, The Gilded Age actress Louisa Jacobson opted for a pillar-box red Perfect Moment ski suit that she said was calling her name thanks to its vintage-leaning ‘80s-style glamour. Colorado-native Jordan Rand, a model and online personality who’s been skiing her whole life, showed the group how it’s done, teaming her crisp cream Cordova suit with retro goggle-size sunglasses, and a suede cowboy hat sourced from Amazon. Kitted out in a padded bronze Perfect Moment jacket and her inaugural pair of Moon Boots, which she quickly found herself obsessing over, Emma Roberts was ready to upskill too. “My fiancé and my mom, who are here with me, are both amazing skiiers,” the actress said, preparing to try her hand at snowboarding again. “I loved it, and I’m hooked now. This place is amazing. I can’t wait to bring my son back here someday too.”
As the group trekked through the mountains, taking in breathtaking views of the Madison Range—perhaps winded both by the natural beauty of the scene and the sheer energy exertion—their efforts were rewarded once they happened upon a Net-a-Porter-branded DIY hot cocoa station, complete with a cheeky bottle of Baileys (11 a.m. is fair game to start après ski, no?). Later on, a relaxed al fresco lunch unfolded against a mammoth wall of ice blocks, with long tables draped in fur blankets, frozen flowers, and personalized fondue skewers. “We’re taking notes for our outdoor wedding next year,” Rand said, laughing with her partner Alaire Thomas.
A tenet that the One&Only brand firmly believes in is plentiful, mouth-watering food. This hospitality non-negotiable was evident at a late-night dinner party that played out over ten courses at Akira Back; a modern Japanese restaurant from the namesake Korea-born, Rocky Mountain-raised chef. The fashion stakes were elevated to match too, with supermodel Shanina Shaik in a slinky Toteme jersey maxi dress underneath a glossy calf-hair coat, Jacobson in a cropped white silk matador jacket and barrel leg trousers by Alaïa, and designer Aurora James mixing her runway-fresh Chloé with a vintage Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag. Inspired by the baked-in style codes of the American West, Roberts teamed her black High Sport outfit with a turquoise necklace and chunky fur stole. Taking it all in, Heather Kaminetsky, CEO of Net-a-Porter, was on cloud nine—even while readying to hop on red-eye flights all the way back to London HQ for meetings the next day. “This trip was about celebrating our amazing ski offering with friends of the brand,” she said. “Hosting an intimate event in Big Sky gave us the chance to reconnect, have fun and experience something special together in a way that felt personal and authentic.”
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Photo by: Ben Rosser1/33Shanina Shaik, Louisa Jacobson
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Photo by: Ben Rosser2/33Jordan Rand
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