Squash Blossom Launches Vail Dance Festival Pendants in Gold and Silver

Aspen —Why does a jewelry boutique in Vail Village need to turn dance into gold? Because Hilary Magner, who owns Squash Blossom with her husband Kevin, believes wearable art should do more than just look good. It needs to connect people to the community and give back.

The result is a limited-edition Vail Dance Festival pendant created by local designer Alex Fitzgerald. Magner commissioned the piece to commemorate the 38th annual festival, which kicked off last Friday with a patron event. The pendants debuted on that opening night, but they are available for preorder now and will ship in a few weeks.

Let’s look at the numbers, because they matter when you’re deciding whether to buy a piece of jewelry or just another souvenir. The pendant comes in two styles: 14-karat yellow gold and sterling silver. Both measure 20 by 7 millimeters — a rectangular shape Magner describes as "kind of like a dog tag." Each style contains a diamond.

The 14-karat gold version costs $1,980. The sterling silver is $575.

On the front sits a dancer. On the back, it reads “Vail Dance Festival — Vail, CO.”

Magner noted that Squash Blossom hasn’t done a commemorative jewelry piece for the event in a couple of years. This new rectangular design is meant to pair with their existing round Vail Dance Festival medallion, which was created a few years ago. It’s not about replacing what locals already own; it’s about expanding the collection.

Fitzgerald, a Colorado designer who teaches dance to kids in Breckenridge, designed the pendants. She’s also a former tech executive who left a 14-year career in San Francisco to found Alex Fitz Jewelry in 2018. Her approach is fashion-forward and sustainable, using ethically sourced stones and recycled gold.

For Magner, this is more than a fashion statement. It’s about continuity. Squash Blossom has supported the arts for years, even before Magner and Kevin took over six years ago. The former owners, John and Patti Cogswell, also gave back to the Vail Dance Festival and the Vail Valley Foundation’s Youth Power organization.

The connection runs deep for long-time festivalgoers, too. Magner shared a story from the debut event about a woman who loves her medallion because it sparks conversation, especially when she travels to Florida. That customer has attended the Vail Dance Festival every year for 15 years. To her, the medallion is "a piece of Vail that goes with you."

Fitzgerald’s mission aligns with this sense of community. She loves collaborations that give back, and she sees these pendants as a way to create that connection through wearable art.

If you want to meet the artist and see the pendants, Squash Blossom is hosting another event this Friday. You can preorder now. The gold will set you back $1,980, and the silver is a more accessible $575. It’s not cheap, but it’s not arbitrary pricing for tourist trinkets either. You’re paying for local design, local manufacturing, and a direct link to an organization that supports local youth.

The pendants are available for preorder now and will be in stock in a few weeks.