Breaking News: AERIN Lifestyle Brand

High Point Market isn't the only exciting thing happening this week.  It was just announced that Aerin Lauder will launch her own lifestyle brand named what else but AERIN.  The brand would include a cosmetics line to be sold at Estée Lauder counters as well as fashion, accessories, housewares, china, and jewelry much of which would be inspired by pieces owned and collected by Aerin's grandmother, Estée Lauder.  “I’m thrilled to continue playing an active role in the iconic Estée Lauder brand, including serving as global brand ambassador and spokesperson,” she said in the statement. “At the same time, I look forward to pursuing my vision to create the AERIN brand.”

I for one applaud her.  It would have been very easy for her to continue on at Estée Lauder but to tackle a new project is always exciting and challenging and what makes life interesting.  Aerin Lauder is one of the most searched names on my blog so I know that this new venture will be a huge success.  I'm especially excited about her plans to enter the home market and who knows, maybe we will see her at High Point someday!  In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of her own fabulous homes including the one in the Hamptons that she inherited from Estée Lauder.  It was shot most recently for Elle Decor but also for Vogue Living and decorated for Christmas for House & Garden.  Her Manhattan apartment isn't too shabby either and the closet which was photographed by Harper's Bazaar is still one of my favorites.  I will definitely keep you posted when I hear more about AERIN the brand and woman.

Aerin Lauder's New York apartment was designed by Jacques Grange.  The living room includes art by Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana.

The arm chairs in the living room are by Jean-Michel Frank while the floor lamp is by Alberto Giacometti.

In the Manhattan dining room, the ceiling fixture is Ruhlmann, the painting by Alberto Burri and don't ask me the paint color because it's a custom color by Donald Kaufman.

"I like houses that are cozy but not cluttered," Aerin Lauder told The New York Times. "And I like things that are inviting and warm — plump pillows, soft blankets, comfortable sofas. Even the colors I favor — browns, golds, soothing blues — are welcoming."

In the library in New York, the coffee table is by Jean Royere.

The chairs in the entry also seem to match the one in her dressing room.

Framed artwork by her sons hang along side portraits by Neil Winokur in the breakfast area in the kitchen.

The enviable dressing room that also serves as a home office features gorgeous hand painted wallpaper by Gracie.

The vintage desk from the 1970's by Gabriella Crespi came from Estée Lauder.

A dressing table tableau of children's toys and jewelry.

Another view of the dressing room.

Shoes glorious shoes!

Aerin and her family expanded the East Hampton house she inherited from her grandmother to suit the needs of her family.

Love the burnt orange walls in the Hamptons living room.

The coffee table is by Willy Rizzo.

The main living room mixes pale lavender walls with blue and white porcelain.

Another view of the main living room.

When the main living room was shot for House & Garden, you could see the fireplace wall.

The blue dining room with more blue and white porcelain that Aerin says Estée loved.

In the House & Garden feature, a console was filled with holiday treats.

And the table was set with gorgeous china and presents for Christmas.

The kitchen in East Hampton also features her son's artwork and an Elsworth Kelly.

Aerin in the kitchen for House & Garden.

A Chip Hooper photograph sits behind the desk in the library in East Hampton.

Another shot of the library as seen in House & Garden.

I love the graceful curving staircase.

The master bedroom features fabric by Michael Divine and linens by Leontine.

Mementos on the bedside table.

Another view of the master bedroom.

A guest bedroom is clad in toile. 

In Estée Lauder's former bedroom, Pierre Frey fabric covers the walls, chairs and bed.

The dressing table with a photo of Estée Lauder and lots of her perfumes.

One son has an Andy Warhol silkscreen hanging in his room.

Her other son has a room clad in fabric from Quadrille and a stuffed animal chair by Fernando and Humberto Campagna.

The beautiful gardens in East Hampton.

Aerin was photographed for Jonathan Becker in 2005 for Vogue.

The chic pool house and a fabulous vintage Mercedes convertible outside the house below.

Photos by Francois Halard for House & Garden, William Waldron and Simon Upton for Elle Decor and Eric Boman for Vogue Living

My View at Derek Lam

Only fashion could get me up and out of the house at 8:00am on a chilly Sunday morning.  Estee Lauder was kind enough to invite me backstage at the Derek Lam show and I'm excited to share my behind the scenes experience with you.  It's amazing how much work goes into a ten minute runway show. Tom Pecheux, Estee Lauder Creative Makeup Director, was shown sketches and fabric swatches prior to the show and created a few different options for the makeup.  He and Derek then worked together to finalize the look which can be seen tacked to the mirror above. Like the clothing he said, it is "sophisticated, feminine, and minimal without being boring."

It was very exciting to watch Tom Pecheux work his magic while describing the process. Even the way he applied moisturizer was mesmerizing.

Of course, all the products were Estee Lauder including the new Idealist Skintone Illuminator that will launch this summer.

A look at the long beauty table.

Tom Pecheux told a story about model Stella Tennant who once arrived from another show in tears.  She was crying because of how ugly the previous makeup artist had made her look.  It was at that moment that Tom said he realized that he didn't ever want to make the models not feel beautiful.  I thought this was really sweet.

Orlando Pita was also backstage working his hair magic.

There is a lot of multi-tasking that goes on before a show and it's quite chaotic.  I spent most a lot of time trying to not be in the way or get trampled by the photographers.  Although, as I joked on Twitter, perhaps I should have let them trample me because they are usually the only straight me at fashion week!

The nails were painted by the team of Jin Soon Choi for Estee Lauder in a winter white shade called Porcelain that will debut this fall.

Another look at the beauty team at work. Beyond the curtain lies the dressing area with the clothes.

Tom Pecheux said that the makeup look for a fashion is show is about creating a statement and having fun. 

The Estee Lauder eyeshadow used was a combination of silver mettalic and black shimmer that will also debut this fall.

Tom said this is more of a night look and he kept the face matte and the lips beige.  After all the bright lips for spring, it seems like they will be paler for fall.

“This look is very versatile; it almost changes with your movement. The silver metal on the eye reminds me of modern architecture, hard and strong and plays delicately against Derek’s minimal but sophisticated collection. These clothes, you want to keep forever,” described Pecheux, “This look is very confident and lovely.  It evokes the fantasy of the Derek Lam woman.”  Tom poses with Estee Lauder models Constance Jablonski, Liu Wen and Joan Smalls.

A slightly blurry shot of the model board.  While I was backstage, I ran into Emily Weiss writes the fabulous beauty blog Into the Gloss who was also covering the action.

One of the most exciting thing about being backstange is seeing the clothing before everyone else sees it on the runway. When I asked Derek what inspired him for fall he said it was the George Balanchine quote, "There are no new steps, only new combinations." He also said that he didn't want a crazy pop of color for fall but instead "something that would translate into a woman's wardrobe. Colors that would mix in with greys, black and camel."

Each outfit is steamed, de-linted and carefully hung along side a card that lists the model, number in the line up and accessories. 

As I mentioned in another post, red is a hot color for fall 2011.  This tomato red and a blue shade not shown were absolutely gorgeous in person.  I mentioned how much I loved them and Derek told me that they were inspired by the classic colors of uniforms.

Derek Lam is also an Aries and rams appear on many of his hangbags.  I think I need to buy myself one!

Grey is another big color for fall.

All of the shoes had labels with the model's nams in them to prevent confusion.  I was really impressed by the organization and sense of calm before the show in this area.

My all time favorite coat from fashion week!

Derek Lam was interview by many before the show including Moda Operandi here.  I was beyond honored that he took a minute to speak with me. 

Derek being interviewed by Louise Roe for Elle.com.

I was invited to stay for the runway show and this is a look at the calm before the storm!

I spotted interior designer Nate Berkus and his mother in the front row.

Others in the front row included Joanna Coles, editor in chief of Marie Claire, Nina Garcia, Aerin Lauder of Estee Lauder, and Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman.

I ran into J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons looking very chic.  I also happned to sit next to Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power of Who What Wear but I wasn't quite sure it was them until after the show.  I wish I had known earlier so I could have talked to them about their new book What to Wear Where.

Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her daughter Bee Shaffer sitting front row near Bill Cunningham.

Big thanks to Estee Lauder and Derek Lam for this wonderful treat during fashion week.  For complete coverage of all the looks, visit Style.com or Vogue.com.

Beauty photos courtesy of Estee Lauder and all others by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic