This is the Art of Living Well, a column from CULTURED that explores how tastemakers think about luxury: the luxuries that are free, the ones that cost way too much, and the little ones that punch above their weight.
Surprise and delight. Those are the tenets on which Aerin Lauder has built the eponymous lifestyle brand she founded in 2012. Visitors to her storefronts will find decadent dishes, chandeliers, carryall handbags, and, in a nod to her Estée Lauder lineage, a fully stocked beauty line. Now, for the first time ever, West Coast shoppers can peruse this eclectic collection in person at AERIN’s new Pacific Palisades outpost.
“I have always been inspired by the effortless glamor and elevated simplicity of Southern California,” Lauder explains. “I am excited to bring a touch of New York, as well as the brand’s many European influences, to the West Coast.” The space was put together with help from interior designer Stephen Sills, who imported a touch of 1960s Mediterranean flair to Los Angeles.
Like the brand’s other outposts, this California location, opening early October, will offer a selection of home, fashion, and beauty items. It will also be the first to offer a rotation of vintage home items, culled from Lauder’s frequent scouting trips across the globe. “Travel is such an important pillar of the brand, and we have found that experiencing the AERIN lifestyle in person... encourages [customers] to continue to return to our stores no matter the destination,” says the founder.
Ahead of the store’s launch, Lauder offered an inside look at the lifestyle that gave way to a flourishing brand.
What is a splurge you reserve for special occasions?
A trip with family or friends to an exciting destination.
Where do you go locally when you need inspiration? What about when traveling?
I am constantly inspired by many different things, including my friends, my family, travel, museums, hotels, and exhibitions. Nature is something that always inspires me though, no matter where I am. I enjoy going for long walks and taking in my surroundings. A few of my favorite destinations where I always find something new to discover are London, Paris, Vienna, and the Mediterranean.
What’s a generic that’s just as good as the original?
You can never go wrong with a straw bag. Whether it is from a beach hut or a high-end store, straw is an effortless material that is always elevated and easy to wear.
What’s your favorite small luxury to give to someone else?
A fragrance that transports them to a magical place or reminds them of a meaningful memory. I have always found that scent is very powerful in that way.
What’s a luxurious ritual you inherited from someone in your life?
The importance of taking time for yourself every day. Whether it’s picking up the phone to call a friend or going for a walk, I try to do something for myself, even if it is just 10 or 15 minutes.
What advice would you give to a young female founder?
My grandmother, Estée, always talked about the importance of being authentic. She said that if you are passionate and true, success will come. I have valued this idea since I was a young girl and it is my favorite advice to give, especially to young female founders. Through the years, my goals have ultimately stayed the same—to be authentic to myself and do what I love.
What’s one thing a home is incomplete without?
Beautiful picture frames filled with photographs of special family memories.
