Rebecca was raised in the Bahamas until she was seven, then moved to Paris to study “because you can’t have your entire education on an island”. But the barefoot, island-life remains as part of her sensibility; “Not wearing shoes was a huge part of my life, and I find that the hardest part of my wardrobe because I really like being bare foot. My father used to check the bottom of my feet when I walked in the house to see how dirty they were, to see if I was allowed in the house or if I have to wash my feet outside, because I literally do not wear shoes if I can help it.”

She followed a creative path with a career in fashion and interior design, working in PR with such houses as Gucci and Tory Burch before completing her degree at Parsons. She then returned to the Bahamas and established her own interior design firm, but after a few years, decided she “had to go back to the mainland”, so moved to Los Angeles and began her earring collection.

We met over tea while Rebecca was visiting Hong Kong. In her amazing vintage silk pajamas, she shared her discoveries from her last trip to India where her silk ball drops are produced and her inspirations for work and life. Rebecca a gentle eccentric, and she has managed to keep a strong creative compass while building a business and managing all aspects that entails. We asked Rebecca to be our KOTUR Muse for what she represents and conveys through her work: a celebration of individuality and personal style. Here she answers our questions.

What’s in your make-up bag?

Lip gloss and blush.

Do you have a beauty secret?

Lots of water and a coconut juice in the morning. I scrub my body with sand, so it’s always shiny, and moisturizer. Having clean pretty looking skin, healthy skin is the secret to any beauty.

What do you wear on a fat day?

A huge peasant dress, hides all evil!

How would your female friends describe your style?

Different.

What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?

My mother’s old Yves Saint Laurent couture hot pink gown that I just love. It’s the best dress that I’ve ever had, and I wish I could wear it everyday, but you simply can’t walk around wearing black tie.

Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?

Yes a lot of things, a lot. But I don’t have essentials. I don’t have a lot of black pants, I have a lot of vintage jackets that go with nothing else, and so I mix and match patterns all the time, so there are a lot of things that could go.

What do you never leave home without?

Luna my dog.

When home alone, what do you wear?

A dress. I always wear a dress.

What do you wear to bed?

Nothing.

You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?

Fur. I don’t like fur, I don’t like animal goods.

Have you ever worn anything you now regret?

Oh a thousand things, but I think you learn by your mistakes.

How high is too high a heel?

There is never too high a heel. If I’m going to wear a heel, it’d better be high because I don’t wear them often, so I better look damn good!

How old is too old for jeans?

I don’t like jeans myself, but you are never too old for jeans. They’re just not my thing.

What is your most recent purchase?

A Chinese coat that I bought 2 days ago. It looks vintage, but the embroidery is extraordinary – It’s red satin with blue embroidery and it had fur on it, and I made them take it off.

Can you judge a book by its cover?

I do but you shouldn’t always.

What are your bad habits?

Oh my God, the list is too long, and I can’t tell you.

What’s your greatest extravagance?

Massages.

What are your guilty pleasures?

Dancing to the wee hours. I love dancing. I think having grown up in the Bahamas I just love dancing. It’s my favorite thing.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Smile a lot and say yes to everything.

What’s your favorite smell?

I don’t like smells. I don’t like perfume- I don’t like things that smell too strong.

What’s your idea of a great holiday?

Discovering a new world.

What are you most proud of?

I think having started something that I’ve stuck with, and that I’ve worked really hard to build. I think you don’t get that many chances in life. You get a few chances, but when you get a really good one you should stick to it. And it’s sometimes really hard, so I am very proud I followed through and built a business.

What are you least proud of?

I think not following through with some of my friendships. Because in life as you get older, and when you move far away, and I’ve always moved across the world, I think it’s sometimes hard to follow through with friends. But thankfully, your really close friends will always be friends. I think with some, people get neglected by time, space, and life.

What is your pure bliss?

Hanging on the beach in the Bahamas with my dogs.

Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?

Bianca Jagger.

What would you eat for your last supper?

Probably cheese, it’s my fave.

Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?

No, but I say no now. I might say yes later.

Do you have a favorite purse or bag?

My new one, the Lolli Basket. It is launching in September, and  pre-launched on Moda Operandi. There is a reason why it’s called the Lolli Basket.  So I’m a huge animal lover, and I was going to call it Lulu because Lulu was my dog that passed away. You’re going to laugh at me, but the reason why we didn’t call it the Lulu Basket was because she was quite round, and my basket is long and round, so my father said why don’t you call it the Lollipop Basket because Lollipop was Lulu’s best friend, and she wouldn’t mind being called the Lolli Basket.

On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?

I would say honestly, 4 on a really bad day, and 7 on a great day?

How would you like to be remembered?

For being fun and sweet, and a good friend.

Shortly after college in 1991, Catherine became a young entrepreneur with the launch of her eponymous jewellery business, and has since run her company along with her family of four children with the grace and humour for which she is known. Prior to raising her large brood, Catherine had a Walton street shop, reminiscent of her living room, and a sanctuary during my London visits. Somewhat eccentric, with its Gracie wallpaper and Napoleonic furnishings, I do remember the collection of Roman helmets she used for jewellery displays. It remains my favourite ever shop.

With an older family now, Catherine no longer just caters to us friends and collectors/addicts who covet her bold rings. She can now be found at Five Story in New York, and Neapolitan Collection in Chicago, allowing others to experience the sense of fabulous that is Catherine Prevost…

Here she answers our questions:

What’s in your make up bag..?
My favourite make up for great looking skin by Terry Eclat Opulent and Chanel Lipgloss

Do you have a beauty secret?
Beauty secret? Do Yoga and laugh ALOT

What would be your desert island essentials?
Chanel 50+ Suncream for the face

What do you wear on a fat day?
Fat day.. My favourite Seven for mankind white jeans that are a bit too big and a floaty silk top

How would your female friends describe your style?
Female friends would probably describe my style as Classic Chic ….they would also say I am not good at the Casual look!

What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
Most treasured item in my wardrobe is my first Andrew Gn coat from Bergdorfs

Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
I should get rid of my first Chanel jacket (it’s way too small) but am saving it for one of my daughters

What do you never leave home without?
Never leave home without one of my rings

Hot date night with your husband/boyfriend, what do you wear?
What I wear for date night is a black jumpsuit and my favourite Balmain tuxedo jacket

When home alone, what do you wear?
When home alone .. I wear Lulu Lemon yoga clothes

What do you wear to bed?
To bed I wear vintage Pucci nightdress

You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
As fashion police ..I would ban crop tops and hot pants

Have you ever worn anything you now regret?
Something I wish I had never worn was too much eye make up and big hair in the 1980′s

How high is too high a heel?
I do not like heels that you actually cannot walk in.. I live in wedges !

How old is too old for jeans?
I think that you are never too old for jeans.

If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
If I could have lived in another fashion time it would have to be 16th century Venice.. I loved those cinched in long velvet gowns with flowing trains..

What is your most recent purchase?
My most recent purchase was Gucci red white and blue wedges with snaffle detail.. Love them!

 Can you judge a book by its cover?
I think you cannot always judge a book by its cover

 What are your bad habits?
My bad habits are being slightly OCD, watching ipad in bed, and occasionally late night espresso martini nights with girlfriends!

What’s your greatest extravagance?
Greatest extravagance is always using our best silver and linens

 What are your guilty pleasures?
Guilty pleasures are Net a Porter shopping, eating peanut butter on a spoon, and drinking really good red wine

 What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Best advice I have ever had is … Do not postpone joy

 What’s your favorite smell?
Favourite smell is fresh jasmine, or my husbands cologne

What’s your idea of a great holiday?
My greatest holiday is always on our boat in Capri surrounded by close friends

What are you most proud of?
I am Most proud of my four children

What are you least proud of?
I am Least proud of being insensitive to people’s feelings when I was younger

What is your pure bliss?
Pure bliss is a hot candlelit bath after a day in the snow

Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?
I would like to be reincarnated as my mothers dogs.. They have the a great life

What would you eat for your last supper?
My last supper would be really fabulous Green Chicken curry with sticky rice

If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
If I could meet some one from history it would be Madame de Pompadour or Catherine the Great

Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
A gentle nip and tuck when needed is a good thing .. But never overdone!

Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
Favourite purse is my Kotur gold clutch and my Kotur striped acrylic summer bag

On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
I would have to let someone else decide on my good looking factor

How would you like to be remembered?
And I would like to be remembered as a good friend ,wife and mother who also made some beautiful jewels

Catherine’s Picks:

Catherine Prevost Jewels is sold at her online store, Neapolitan Collection in Chicago, and Five Story New York. 

My fondest recent memory was following Catherine, mesmerized by her French accented commentary, through the Tate Modern, through Turbine Hall from the Boiler House to the new Switch House, hearing animated details and anecdotes about the transformation of the former power station to its current modern art gallery under the architectural oversight of  Herzog & de Meuron. Catherine does feel directly connected to the place, having been hugely influential and actively involved in the gallery’s expansion and evolution. She currently Chairs the Tate International Council having spent the past 14 years as a member of their Latin America Committee advising the Tate on its acquisitions from the region. As well, she serves as a Trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery, Chair of Gasworks Triangle Network, Council of the Serpentine, among other prominent positions that serve to support and champion contemporary art in a meaningful way to the artists, institutions and community.

And beyond that Catherine has in November, just launched her third book on Colombian Contemporary Art, following her previously published works on Brazilian, and Mexican art.

Catherine lives the life of one who is inspired,  by ideas, beauty, intellect, color… and indeed she is herself drawn to color, be it markets in Mexico, the Beatriz Milhazes painting that punctuates her reception room or her favorite Missoni coat. It is in the spirit of her passion, from collecting art, to influencing and inspiring major art institutions and their communities, that we celebrate Catherine Petitgas as our MUSE. Here she answers our questions:

Q:What would be your desert island essentials?
Water colors, pencils and painting paper – because I have wanted to do that forever and I would love to have time to do it.

Q:How would your female friends describe your style?
I would say probably colorful and classical.

Q:What is the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
I would say probably a Missoni coat, bought in Venice when my son was little, and I remember those days when I wear it.

Q:What is the most treasured items on your walls?
That would have to be this work by Beatriz Milhazes, the Brazilian artist, called Summer Parties, which is a sort of Frieze that evokes the procession of the carnival of Rio that makes me very happy when I look at it.

Q:Is there anything in your wardrobe that you should get rid of but can’t?
I would think it’s that same collection of Missoni in various sizes and shapes that I have outgrown, and that I keep for sentimental reasons.

Q:What do you never leave home without?
Probably lipstick. It’s a very French thing!

Q: You’re the fashion police for the day, what do you ban?
I’m not sure I would ban anything. I think people can be free to wear whatever they want as long as they have the confidence to hold it.

Q:What do you love most about what you do?
I think it’s the intellectual stimulation, and sharing the poetry of the artist and the people I work with, I think they open my eyes, to a different reality, and because working with contemporary art, is really working with everyday life and seeing it from a more poetic and spiritual angle, and I think that’s what I enjoy the most, meeting artists and sharing their views.

Q:Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration in the markets of Mexico. I need color, I need dust, I need noise, and I find that in the colorful markets of Merida, where I have this house in Mexico which drives my inspiration.

Q:You’ve had many collaborations. What is your favorite collaboration?
I have written a book on Brazil, one on Mexico and one on Colombia. I’m very fond of Mexico, and I think I put all my heart in while writing the Mexico book, and I think it’s been quite a success, so I really enjoyed the Mexico collaboration.

Q: If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
Probably the 1960s, there was mix of femininity and color and shape, which I quite enjoy.

Q: What is your most recent purchase?
It’s a work of art. It’s a fabulously tall totem, made out of bronze, by a Brazilian artist called Erika Verzutti, and the piece titled La Mexicana. That really had my name on it. I only just bought it in Sao Paulo last week, and I’m extremely excited by it. I love this sort of domestic totem, and I have quite a few… I like this idea of art meeting domesticity.

Q: Can you judge a book by its cover?
You know what? I would say yes sadly, because we do spend so many hours and so much effort finding the right cover for the book that I produced, and I can definitely say you can judge a book by its cover. I think people are a bit like magpies, they like things that are colorful, that are shiny, and especially if you are talking about an art book, then sadly the cover is important.

Q: What are your bad habits?
I have a real problem with punctuality. It’s pathological. I’m making efforts though!

Q: What are your greatest extravagance?
I would say having this house in Mexico. It’s a dream come true. I’m not sure how much I am going to be going to it, but owning a piece of Mexico is definitely my biggest extravagance.

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
Chocolate in any form of size or shape. When I don’t have it for two weeks I start dreaming about it.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
To not give up. To believe in the future. To keep hope.

Q: What is your idea of a great holiday?
A holiday where I can swim before breakfast, and where most of it is swimming in the ocean, or the sea, and where most of it is spent barefoot.

Q: What are you most proud of?
Certainly of my son and his achievements, and also my contribution to the art, and how I think that a little contribution can change an artist’s career or perspective, and I think that’s a big reward.

Q: What is your pure bliss?
Having a house full of friends, and sharing my passion with them.

 Q: If you could meet someone from History, who would it be?
It would have to be Marcel Duchamp.  He is my great hero and after whom my dog is named after of course. I just think he will still have a lot to share and he is sort of everything in art and I’m sure he has more to share with us and to enlighten us.

Q: How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who helped others achieve their dreams.

Q: 1-10, how good looking are you?
I think how good looking you are depends on how happy you are, so I think it’s variable.

Catherine Petitgas’s book collection is available to buy online here.

Now a nutritional therapist and naturopath, Rosemary’s career path has taken quite a turn – less about the parties than it is about green juices, these days. A mother of three, she lives in the English countryside with her husband the artist Jake Chapman and her three daughters, pursuing a life that, on the face of it, seems far away from those catwalk days. What we love about Rosemary, however, is her fresh and upfront approach – be that to the lifestyle she leads or to her own personal style. Refreshingly honest the realities of healthy living, she’s a firm believer in the 80% good, 80% of the time school of thinking – still as up for kicking her heels up with her friends as she is for the wholesome country life. For her, living a life in balance, one that celebrates the finer things whilst still allowing time and room for a bit of looking after oneself, is the way to go – and we’re inclined to agree with her. Factor in the sort of easygoing attitude to fashion we at KOTUR love to celebrate (though it helps when you look that good in jeans and a T-shirt,) and you have an all round lovely lady to look to for all sorts and kinds of advice. Here, she answers our questions.

Rosemary’s book Juice is available on Amazon.

Q: What’s in your make-up bag?
Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Sisley lip balm, Laura Mercier blush, Shu Umura eyelash curlers and La Roche-Posay Factor 50 Suncscreen – I wear sun protection every day.  

Q: Do you have a beauty secret?
I use Aromatherapy Associates oils because they are wonderful for giving your skin that lovely glow, and I try to help my skin from the inside out by kicking off the day with one of my skin juices, like my Fresh Faced Green Juice. Food wise, anything orange is also really good for the skin because it tends to contain lots of antioxidants and beta-carotene, so that’s things like carrots, papaya and sweet potato.

Q: What would be your desert island essentials?
My phone, plenty of avocados and my little dachshund. I’d be so happy with that. I should probably say my husband and my kids, too though!

Q: What do you wear on a fat day?
I’ve got quite a lot of long, jersey tops that I wear over jeans – they’re pretty good at covering it all up when you want to.

Q: How would your female friends describe your style?
Pretty lazy! I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, I like to keep it simple. Girly doesn’t really suit me because I’m tall. There are occasions when I’ll put a dress on, but they’re getting more and more rare.

Q: What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
At the moment, it’s some silk kimono dresses my friend made because they’re going to be great for summer.  I’ve also got a Versace dress from Gianni’s last collection that I treasure and two dresses from Lee McQueen’s last collection that I love and will always look after.

Q: Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
The Ugg boots should probably go, but I live in the countryside and sometimes you just do need to wear slippers outside.

Q: What do you never leave home without?
I try not to leave without my wallet and keys, but that doesn’t always happen! And I normally take my perfume with me, too. At the moment I’m wearing Bella Freud’s signature scent. I also love a bit of Prada, Iris for summer.

Q: Hot date night, what do you wear?
My jeans, but I’ll jazz them up with high heels, a scarf by Rockins, something like one of Kate’s great shirts for Equipment and a bit of eyeliner.

Q: When home alone, what do you wear?
I’ve got some pretty slinky silk pajamas from Equipment that I wear with a simple vest top.

Q: What do you wear to bed?
I love a little cotton babydoll nightie.

Q: You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
Padded push-up bras. Not a fan.  Not for me!

Q: Have you ever worn anything you now regret?
I’m sure I have, but I’ve probably blocked it out of my memory. Oh, I did wear a very silly hat to my brother’s wedding. I was trying to be grown up and sophisticated and when I look at the photos I just cringe. Never again.

Q: How high is too high a heel?
I’m not great in super high heels. A bit of a platform always helps, though.

Q: How old is too old for jeans?
I definitely haven’t got there yet – I’m going to be wearing them for a very long time.

Q: If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
Probably the 1970’s

Q: What is your most recent purchase?
Some bikinis for the summer from Melissa Odabash

Q: Can you judge a book by its cover?
No, I don’t think you can. Because I can think of many times when we can all be a little bit judgmental, and not always in the best way.  

Q: What are your bad habits?
I’m always late, and always in a rush – I annoy myself with it. And I probably drink a little too much.

Q: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Holidays. I do love a holiday!

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
Crisps from time to time! And ice cream. I really do love it. I’ve got to stop buying it.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Just the other day, I was having a flap about something and someone said, “Stop looking at the top of the escalator. Just look at your feet and take one step at a time.” I think that’s pretty sound advice.

Q: What’s your favorite smell?
I love the smell of fresh cut grass in the English countryside I get in my garden. And I love the smell of the sea and the heat that you only get on holiday when it’s really, really hot.

Q: What’s your idea of a great holiday?
Being by the beach, somewhere I can swim in the sea everyday, with my girls. That’s what I love.

Q: What are you most proud of?
My kids, I think. I’m proud of them and quite amazed by them a lot of the time.

Q: What are you least proud of?
To be honest, I try not to beat myself up; it’s such a negative thing to do.  Its not useful and it doesn’t help.

Q: What is your pure bliss?
A lazy duvet day with the kids at home, all cozy on the sofa together, is my idea of heaven.

Q: Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?
My little dog Ruby Red has the nicest life.

Q: What would you eat for your last supper?
A piece of buckwheat toast with avocado, crushed garlic, tomato, salt and pepper. I could literally eat that forever.

Q: If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
I’d love to be in a room with Lee McQueen again. Just because we had such a great time, and I wish I’d paid more attention. You take things for granted, and then they’re gone.

Q: Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
At the moment, no. But in ten years, who knows. Why not?

Q: Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
The classic Balenciaga motorcycle bag. I’ve had mine for ages, it’s all beaten up now and I still use it all the time.

Q: Do you have a favorite KOTUR bag?
Your raffia Morley would be great on holiday.

Q: On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?\
Oh wow. Lets go for seven!

Q: How would you like to be remembered?
It would be amazing if anyone remembered me full stop!

Q: What’s in your make-up bag?
Chubby stick intense from Clinique, Terry de Gunzburg concealer and Elizabeth Arden hand cream.

Q: Do you have a beauty secret?
I’ve always been very careful with the sun and I make sure to put sun block on my hands. 

Q: What would be your desert island essentials?
A great sarong and a big hat. 

Q: What do you wear on a fat day?
A pair of black trousers, a beautiful shirt and an cool accessory.

Q: How would your female friends describe your style?
Eclectic

Q: What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
A beautiful evening jacket / cape by Romeo Gigli from 1985.

Q: Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
I’m actually quite good at getting rid of things I don’t need. 

Q: What do you never leave home without?
Lipstick

Q: Hot date night with your husband, what do you wear?
I would wear something he has given me.

Q: When home alone, what do you wear?
A caftan

Q: What do you wear to bed?
In the winter I wear one of my husband’s shirts, and in summer I wear a very light muslin slip nighty. 

Q: You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
Nothing! If worn well anything can work. 

Q: Have you ever worn anything you now regret?
Fashion and tastes evolve. There are things I have worn in the past I wouldn’t wear today but they were right at the time. 

Q: How high is too high a heel?
When you can’t walk in it. 

Q: How old is too old for jeans?
With the right pair of jeans never. 

Q: If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
The 1930s; I love the silhouette of the dresses and the proportion of the clothes. And I also love the 70s; the clothes are so free and cool.

Q: What is your most recent purchase?
A pair of trousers by Dries van Noten

Q: Can you judge a book by its cover?
Of course not! 

Q: What are your bad habits?
Good television series. 

Q: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Having married a Neapolitan!

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
Chocolate

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
That whatever happens in your life, your talent is yours and no one can take that away so you can do whatever you want with it. 

Q: What’s your favorite smell?
Rose

Q: What’s your idea of a great holiday?
The sea on a boat with my loved ones. 

Q: What are you most proud of?
Obviously my girls.

Q: What are you least proud of?
The times I got scared. 

Q: What is your pure bliss?
Freedom

Q: Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?
I would like to be reincarnated as a giraffe. I don’t know how clever they are  but hey, I’ve always loved patterns….

Q: What would you eat for your last supper?
Salad of raw artichokes, with sea bass sashimi, cherries, and marron glaces. I know they don’t work as a menu…… but those are my favourite things!

Q: If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
I would have liked to meet Mozart. He was notoriously naughty and fun and was the most extraordinary genius. 

Q: Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
To each their own. 

Q: Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
An evening bag of my grandmother’s. It is a very simple black satin with a jade and silver clasp.

Q: Do you have a favorite KOTUR bag?
Yes, it was given to me by my very close friend. 

Q: On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
I’ve never been good with numbers! Some days I look better than others. 

Q: How would you like to be remembered?
I would like the people that remember me to be happy at the memory. 

Photo Courtesy of Caroline Gavazzi

As a person, Barbara is as memorable as her designs, both rarefied and intelligent. From her career as a costume designer in Hollywood, she designed her first red carpet dress for Uma Thurman at the Oscars in 1995 while working as a consultant for Prada. The Lavendar dress was published everywhere, and featured in Hal Rubenstein’s book, 1000 Unforgettable Dresses. From there, Barbara launched her eponymous line in Barneys, and has built a loyal following since. “I was always interested in making clothes for the woman who wants to look unique, has her own sense of style…” … and for that spirit, we celebrate Barbara Tfank as our MUSE.

Here, she answers our questions:

What’s in your make-up bag?
By Terry Baume de Rose, Anastasia eyebrow wiz, Mavala cuticle oil

Do you have a beauty secret?
Wash my face 2 daily with Cera Ve. I do not use any creams at night.

What would be your desert island essentials?
Sun block, a hat, By Terry Baume de Rose, a few good books, sunglasses and my husband.

What do you wear on a fat day?
Black pants. T shirt and a glamorous coat.

How would your female friends describe your style?
“Approachable elegance”, “Wearable luxury” and “Regal but of the people”

What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
My Cocktail coat in vintage Bianchini Ferier brocade.

Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
Many pairs of black pants.

What do you never leave home without?
My antique gold drop earrings and gold bracelet.

Hot date night with your husband/boyfriend/lover, what do you wear?
Slim dress with opera coat and high heels.

When home alone, what do you wear?
Black pants and t shirt

What do you wear to bed?
A collection of white cotton night dresses from Peress on Madison Ave.

You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
Poorly fitted clothing. Almost anything can look good if it fits properly.

Have you ever worn anything you now regret?
Yes the same pink coat as one the models in my show. The model was a foot taller than me!

How high is too high a heel?
I only wear high heels with a platform 4 “ limit.

How old is too old for jeans?
I never wear them but admire how others of all ages carry them off.

If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
18 century and 1920’s.

What is your most recent purchase?
Black thick heeled suede booties.

Can you judge a book by its cover?
Absolutely. Having been a costume designer it’s definitely a habit.

What are your bad habits?
Too Self-critical, second guessing situations.

What’s your greatest extravagance?
Pratesi sheets

What are your guilty pleasures?
Coffee, very good Bordeaux.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Take it day at a time.

What’s your favorite smell?
A huge bouquet of sterling silver roses

What’s your idea of a great holiday?
A quiet moment in a beautiful natural setting.

What are you most proud of?
My latest collection Spring Summer 16

What are you least proud of?
My tendency to worry.

What is your pure bliss?
A Sant Ambrose cappuccino and long Madison Ave walk.

Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?
A cross between an opera signer and a film director

What would you eat for your last supper?
Grilled salmon with farm to table vegetables followed by cheese and salad and an expresso.

If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
A tie between Frederico Fellini and Marie Antoinette

Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
Yes

Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
My black Hermes pouchette

Do you have a favorite KOTUR bag?
My Gold minaudiere with vintage brocade lining.

On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
Too difficult to answer

How would you like to be remembered?
A designer who created beautiful clothing in gorgeous fabrics that uplifted the spirit.

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Tfank’s Instagram, getty images

A firm believer in the transformative and positive powers of make up, (she says she discovered mascara aged 13 and never looked back,) Charlotte Tilbury, herself a bonafide bombshell with her tumbling red hair and wonderfully feminine style, has been urging women to make the best of themselves – for themselves – for decades. Never seen out of her trademark dresses and heels no matter what the occasion, the powerhouse and mother of two is a wonderful example of the authority we can channel by harnessing our own femininity.  Throw in a childhood growing up in the free spirited, barefoot chic enclave of Ibiza and you have a potent mix of the glamorous, the bohemian and the wonderfully womanly that is pretty much impossible to ignore.

In 2014 Charlotte branched out, launching her own brand of skincare and make up to international fanfare. Now stocked all over the world and adored by women in their hundreds of thousands for it’s easy to follow instructions, wonderfully succinct looks and incredible efficacy, it has made made big waves – fast. From her secret ‘Magic Cream,’ formulated back in the day for exhausted models who needed to look good quickly to her failsafe ‘rock chick’ make up kits, she has set about giving us all the tools and know how to look our very best.  Her mantra? “Give a woman the right make-up and she can conquer the world!” With her infectious self-belief – and her incredible products – it’s hard not to agree with her. Here, she answers our questions:

How old is too old for jeans?
Darling, I am all about high heels and the little black dress! But I am a big believer in 18-80, my mantra is age doesn’t define you, and so if you feel like wearing jeans and a Red Carpet Red Matte Revolution bombshell lip – go for it!

If you could live in any other time for its fashion, when would you choose?
That’s so difficult! But probably the era of Studio 54. The 1970s bohemian glamour was amazing.

What is your most recent purchase?
I recently bought some incredible Alice Temperley floor length 1970s inspired dresses. I liked them SO much, I bought them in 4 different colours: Night Crimson, Emerald, Black, and Cream. I think they are the perfect desk-to-disco dress.

Can you judge a book by its cover?
Never.

What are your bad habits?
It is not a bad habit, but I am a perfectionist. When I am creating a new product, the labs MUST hate me. I am so careful about the perfect, most finely milled formulas, the deepest, rarest colours and the most beautiful packaging. That’s why some of my products are 5 years in the making – I will never put something out there without being 100% behind it!

What’s your greatest extravagance?
I am constantly travelling, which I love!

 What are your guilty pleasures?
I love ice cream, truffle chips from the Bowery  – and Champagne.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Sock it to them Charlotte, I know you’ll be a star.

What’s your favourite smell?
I have a favourite scent but I keep it a secret! Scent is SO important!

What’s your idea of a great holiday?
Being with my husband George, and my two boys Valentine & Flynn. I love Ibiza, it’s the most magical island and I grew up there. It’s a home away from home, full of gorgeous, creative people.

What are you most proud of?
My sons.

What is your pure bliss?
Goddess Skin Clay Mask in the bath. Spending time with my family!

 Who or what would you like to be reincarnated as in your next life?
Ha! Cleopatra?

What would you eat for your last supper?
I love FOOD. Truffle fries or Essenza’s bolognese.

If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
Marilyn Monroe, she was infinitely glamorous.

Yes or no to a nip and tuck?
I don’t believe in surgery, but I do believe in nose contouring if you don’t adore your nose, and carving in some FIlmstar Killer Cheekbones if you are feeling self-conscious about your weight…

What’s in your make-up bag?
a Tom Ford Bronzing powder and “Lip Laquer”

Do you have a beauty secret?
Maroccan unroasted Argan oil for hair and skin 

How would your female friends describe your style ?
Casual and down to earth 

Most treasured item in your wardrobe ?
My striped beige and blue Navajo poncho once purchased in Santa Fe …

Anything in the wardrobe you should get rid of but you can’t?
A pair of battered cowboy boots dating back to my Wellesley College days …

What do you never leave home without ?
A smile ..

What do you wear on a hot date night?
Nothing !

What do you wear to bed?
Always a white T- shirt …

How old is too old for jeans?
Never too old!

What is your most recent purchase ?
A very fat lens – The Canon 85/ 1.2 ” dream lens”  as I like to call it !

Can you judge a book by its cover ?
Generally no BUT ……

What are your bad habits?
The ones I don’t like but keep repeating !

What’s your greatest extravagance?
Creative dawdling …

What are your guilty pleasures?
Being where I’m not meant to be, seeing what I’m not meant to see 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Know Thyself”!  

What’s your favorite smell?
Persian nights aired with Jasmin…

What’s your idea of a great holiday?
Not knowing where you’ re going to end up …

What are you most proud of?
My children and my life in reflection.

What are you least proud of?
Reflecting on regrets..

What is pure bliss in your mind?
Moments lost in Nature …

What would you eat for your last supper ?
SMALL portions of BIG ideas 

If you could meet someone from history …who would it be ?
Omar Khayam , 12 th century Persian polymath and lover of life 

Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
why not !

Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
|A black vintage quilted Chanel flap from the 80s , a hand- me – down from my mother and a classic  forever!

Do you have a favorite KOTUR bag?
My large navy Morley Snakeskin Clutch- love the shape,  love the size !

On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
Mirror mirror on the wall……

How would you like to be remembered ?
As one who cared  …as one who loved …

Angelica Cheung (Editor-in-Chief, Vogue China)

 ‘A red dress my mother made for me when I was a teenager. I haven’t worn it in over 20 years, but I will always keep it.’

Tory Burch (Designer, New York Fashion Week)

 ‘A sunflower pendant my father had made for his mother.’

Sarah Rutson (Vice President, Global Buying at Net-a-Porter)

‘It’s a family signet ring, a very large signet ring which was unusual for a woman, it comes from about 1720, so it was a great great great great grandmother, and she was a very bold dresser’

Anna Dello Russo (creative consultant, Vogue Japan)

‘I collect clothes…it’s not about this piece, another piece…all of them are a treasury. It’s an entire collection…’

Mary Katrantzou (Designer, London fashion week)

‘I’d say my Alaia dress. It has really intricate embroidery in it, and comes out for very very special events. I only wore it to see the Queen and to the British Fashion Awards. And a pair of Miu Miu earring’

Jenna Lyons (Creative Director and President, J Crew)

‘My ten-year-old Okura jeans’

Aerin Lauder (Senior Vice President and Creative Director, Estee Lauder)

‘My Tiffany gold wedding band’

Photo courtesy of businessoffashion.com, Noah Griffel, Vogue

In the throes of Fashion week, we asked our KOTUR Fashion MUSES the most important question any handbag designer must be able to address… What do you never leave home without… Here are our answers, and yes, they all fit into KOTUR

Sarah Rutson (Vice President, Global Buying at Net-a-Porter)

‘Wearing scent. Perfume is very important to me, which is why I’ve got a very large nose – for a reason. I never leave home without wearing my perfume which is one of 3 brands: Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin, the other is Bulgari and Clarins in the red bottle. I never walk out of the house without scent on – I feel naked’

Jenna Lyons (Creative Director and President, J Crew) 

‘My 1969 Gold Rolex’

Cornelia Guest (Handbag designer and Animal Advocate)

‘My Amex Card’