Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/129660
LIVING OUT LAUD The Lauder family has been visiting and impacting our community for three generations. Estée Lauder's granddaughter, Aerin, now champions her own global brand. INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL KORS H aving known Aerin Lauder for nearly 20 years, I was pleased to partner with her on this story; we spoke of new topics. Who knew such a glamour gal was the outdoorsy type, enjoying summer biking and hiking in Aspen? And although I surmised she always had a love of beauty pulsing through her veins, it was interesting to hear how her career has unfolded. When Aerin first started working at Prescriptives, one of her first jobs post-college, she was photographed by The New York Times in a little camel double-faced T-shirt minidress, a Michael Kors design. I love all things camel, and I remember thinking: Uh-huh, she's a tawny girl, I'm a tawny boy; this is meant to happen. And we became fast friends. Throughout the years, our memories involve dancing, shopping, and eating—dancing like crazy at a wedding until Aerin's dress hem came down; partying on the beach in Wainscott at a chic AERIN party; sitting with her, Marilyn Manson, and Dita Von Teese at Bungalow 8 after the Met Ball one year; or going for late-night burgers (everyone ordered their own fries and no one would share!). Our mutual admiration has blossomed into an enduring friendship, and I'm thrilled to see her evolve her successful career beyond beauty, incorporating accessories and home goods with her new brand, AERIN. With a penchant for fashion, style, and all things luxury, Aerin's lifestyle brand seems a logical next step. Here, we discuss how her famous family and lineage in beauty informed her profession, why now was the time to expand her brand, and how her love of Aspen as a teen has only grown, culminating in the purchase of her first mountain home. Let's talk about Aspen. I can't really ski. The only way for me to stop is to sit down. In my mind, unless I can be Audrey Hepburn in Charade, on a terrace, that's my only skiing moment—only après, not during. You would have loved skiing when I was in Aspen two weeks ago. It was so warm. You could sit outside in shorts and a T-shirt. It was perfect, from my point of view. When you were growing up, did you think you'd go into the family business and beauty? I always loved beauty and fashion. When I was a very little girl, I used to play with that Barbie doll that was only just the head. Remember that? It was this doll where you could do her hair, makeup, and jewelry. And it was probably my favorite toy. I always loved beauty and accessories, and it's always something I was passionate about. So I think it was the next step. People always ask what I would have done if I weren't doing what I'm doing. And I say I'd [still] be in fashion or in beauty. It's such a dream come true now because I have the ability to go into home [goods] and accessories as well. When did you start working at Estée Lauder? Every summer during college, I would work in a different brand of the company—whether it was Clinique or Prescriptives. One summer I worked at Estée Lauder, and I really enjoyed the whole creative process. After college— I [studied] at the Annenberg School for Communication [at the University of Pennsylvania], which focused on visual communications such as advertising, film, and art history—I came to Prescriptives first for a few years, working with Jane Hudis. Then I went over to Estée Lauder, and I was there until just two years ago. Now I'm just a consultant, but it's still been a brand that I've ASPENPEAK-MAGAZINE.COM 118-121_AP_FEAT_CS_SUM_Fall_13.indd 119 119 5/6/13 11:05 AM