Aerin Lauder as muse, not a surprising choice, given her natural beauty, classic style and graceful manner. As the public face of the formidable cosmetics empire over which her family have presided since the 1940’s, Aerin, grand-daughter of the legendary Estée, in her role as senior vice president and creative director behind the Estée Lauder brand, also manages the delicate balancing act of ‘mommy/mogul’.

Having known Aerin Lauder since our childhood together in Manhattan, from the schoolyard and on play-dates with my sister Alexandra, it is the woman that she has become today that inspires me, a great hands-on mother, balancing and coping with the same issues as any woman working in the corporate world -myself included, and doing so with solid values – and an immaculate blow-dry – at all times.

KOTUR: Do you have a beauty secret?
Aerin: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, sleep and tons of water

K: What do you wear on a fat day?
A: Black pants and heels

K: How would your female friends describe your style?
A: Classic

K: What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
A: My Tiffany gold wedding band

K: Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
A: Old Levi’s

K: What do you never leave home without?
A: My blackberry

K: Name your desert island essentials?
A: Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess SPF 30 for Face, straw hat, Eres black bikini, my husband, my children, boogie boards

K: Hot date night with your husband, what do you wear?
A: Jeans and a blazer with a great piece of jewelry and a fun bag

K: Do you have a favorite bag?
A: The Collins penshell minaudiere from KOTUR, and a black Birkin bag for work or travel

K: When home alone, what do you wear?
A: My husband’s Old Charvet oxfords

K: You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
Aerin: Wet hair to work

K: How high is too high a heel?
A: Never too high if you can walk properly

K: Are you ever too old for jeans?
A: Never too old for jeans

K: If you could live in any other time for it’s fashion, what would you choose?
A: 1920’s

K: What is your most recent purchase?
A: Lanvin beaded belt

K: What quality do you most admire in a person?
An: Honesty

KOTUR: Can you judge a book by its cover?
Aerin: Yes!

KOTUR: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Aerin: Cashmere scarves from Loro Piana

K: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: French fries

K: What are your bad habits?
A: Diet Coke in the morning

K: Do you have a cheap thrill?
A: Candy stores

K: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
A: Whatever you do, do it well. From my grandmother

KOTUR: What’s your favorite smell?
Aerin: Fresh gardenias

KOTUR: What’s your idea of a great holiday?
Aerin: Aspen for Christmas, with family and friends

KOTUR: What are you most proud of?
Aerin: My children

KOTUR: What are you least proud of?
Aerin: My children when they are naughty

K: What’s your pure bliss?
A: No plans for a day

K: What would you eat for your last supper?
A: Sushi

K: If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
A: Grace Kelly

K: Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
A: No

K: What would you most like to achieve in your life?
A: Helping children in education

KOTUR: Which of your Kotur bags you have is your favorite?
Aerin: My JB Renna Shagreen clutch

KOTUR: On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
Aerin: Hmmm, maybe a 7?