Aerin Lauder

by Annie Tomlin

When you're the granddaughter of Estée Lauder, it's only natural to gravitate toward the beauty world. Aerin Lauder has been doing exactly that as global creative director of Estée Lauder, but her newest project is even more personal. This week, she launches her lifestyle brand, AERIN, with a well-designed and tightly edited collection of cosmetics.

Like Aerin herself, it's all about easygoing luxury and excellent taste. "There isn't much out there that's modern and feminine," Aerin said at a launch event last night. "I wanted a balance between the two." The result is nothing flashy, nothing dramatic — just everyday-wearable colors and elegant brushes, all wrapped up in gold and pink. And while the AERIN debut may focus on cosmetics, it's just the beginning; shoes, accessories, and home decor are coming next year. For now, things are off to a beautiful start.

by POPSUGAR Fashion News

>> While Aerin Lauder is working on her upcoming "luxury lifestyle brand" Aerin — which is expected to encompass beauty and fragrance, accessories like sunglasses, and home accessories — she will remain a global ambassador and creative consultant for Estee Lauder, in a deal that will net her $700,000 annually.

The agreement runs through June 2016, with the $700,000 retainer fee increasing 4 percent at the end of each fiscal year until its expiration. Lauder is also required to put in at least 35 days of personal appearances worldwide for the Estee Lauder brand; for each day past the 35-day requirement, she will be paid $20,000 a day, with the daily stipend increasing $1,000 with each contract year.

Estee Lauder, meanwhile, has the exclusive licensee rights to "core beauty products" produced by the Aerin label — cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries, skin and hair care, and beauty accessories — while licenses like eyewear are being arranged with other companies.

Lauder described the positioning of Aerin as luxurious, but "easy" luxury: "It’s not fashion in the sense of clothing.” Instead, she says, Aerin will be targeting a luxury customer who “want things made simple.”

Merchandise is expected to begin hitting stores next Spring, with the Aerin lifestyle brand preceding the Aerin cosmetics collection.

by Annie Tomlin

Rumors have been swirling all week about Aerin Lauder possibly departing the family business. Today, the details have been released. Aerin, the granddaughter of Estée Lauder, is launching her own lifestyle brand. Aptly called Aerin, the luxury lifestyle brand will include a beauty collection to be sold at select Estée Lauder counters beginning in 2012. She'll continue to serve as an Estée Lauder global brand ambassador and spokesperson while developing her own brand. Judging by her favorite spots in Paris, expect nothing but high style and impeccable taste.

by POPSUGAR Fashion News

>> Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estee Lauder and the SVP, creative director, and third largest shareholder in the cosmetics brand, is reportedly prepping the launch of a fashion and lifestyle brand. "Aerin wants to be the next Tory Burch," a source told Page Six.

The forthcoming collection launch, on which Anna Wintour is reportedly advising and former president and CEO of NBC Universal Jeff Zucker is consulting, is said to include accessories, housewares, china, and jewelry. Some of the latter will reportedly be based on pieces from Lauder's grandmother's private collection.

Word is Lauder has already acquired office space in the same building as Tom Ford and hired White House deputy social secretary Ebs Burnough, who left his post on Friday, telling friends his next position was in New York.

A Estee Lauder spokeswoman seems to confirm that Lauder is working on something: "Aerin Lauder is a vital part of the Estee Lauder Companies and the Estee Lauder brand. She will continue to have a senior creative role with the brand and will continue as a member of the board of directors of the company. An announcement is forthcoming about her future business plans."

by POPSUGAR Fashion News

>> It's a good time to be a Chinese model.  Particularly when it comes to cosmetics contracts, widely considered the bread and butter of the modeling world. Shortly after Estee Lauder tapped Chinese model Liu Wen — the brand's first Asian face — earlier this year, Lauder global brand president Jane Hertzmark Hudis acknowledged: “China is our fastest-growing market. What better way to honor that than to hire a native of the country?” And Aerin Lauder, SVP and creative director, added: “We’re doing very well in Asia, and we’re No. 1 in China. So Liu Wen sends the perfect message at the perfect time.”

Now Maybelline is jumping on the idea »

by POPSUGAR Beauty

When Estée Lauder welcomes new people into its family, it does so in a big way. Spokesmodel Constance Jablonski and Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux are both French, so why not celebrate with a cocktail party and dinner in Paris? I was among more than 70 editors hosted by the brand at the launch of its new limited-edition Pure Color Night collection. Champagne flowed freely as style icons such as Aerin Lauder, Hilary Rhoda, and Vogue Paris editor Carine Roitfeld celebrated the launch of Pecheux's first makeup collection for the brand. L'Espace Pierre Premier was transformed into a makeup wonderland, with previews of Pecheux's forthcoming Pure Color lip glosses, eye shadow palettes, and nail polishes. It was also decorated with dreamy Frenchmen, if that's your thing. (It is very much mine.)

Why such a grand affair? This is the first time that Estée Lauder has officially attached another name to its brand, and Pecheux aims to expand the makeup's appeal to younger women without alienating its loyal fans. To that end, the three-piece Pure Color Night collection comprises a light rose lip gloss, a smoky eye shadow trio, and an illuminating face powder that is blowing my mind. (Think your skin, but with a lit-from-within glow.) Inspired by Parisian women, the collection is available almost exclusively in Paris; only a handful of units will be available at Selfridges (the Oxford Street location in London) and Bergdorf Goodman next month.

So what's next? Pecheux's fall Blue Dahlia collection hints at a sexy, sultry direction. Expect cool violet and dark blue eye shadow hues, and a lavender nail polish that was the talk of partiers young, old, and in between. And that's exactly how Pecheux wants it. "This is makeup for any woman, of any age," he told me before dinner. "A young woman might wear it, her mother might wear it — even her grandmother if she's daring." It won't be long until we find out.