“There’s something really interesting about that as a trend, that whole idea of lifestyle and being happy in your surroundings.”

I have a lot of passion. I have a lot of pride. I think I do get that from my family. But you can be driven and be nice.

When children are little, they really need you in one way. When they’re bigger, they need you as a friend.

Even if I wear jeans, I still wear a blazer and jewelry. I think there is something nice about coming to work and dressing nicely.

Beauty is my heritage, but home decor is very much my passion.

I have always loved books, and as a mother, I wanted to share my passion for reading with my children.

I worked at Prescriptives. My uncle [Leonard Lauder, chairman emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies] smartly had wanted me to go into a small brand – to figure out what part of the company I loved.

I come from an environment where the men actually say, “Is it OK if I take off my jacket?” in a meeting. Everyone wears suits; it is a very dressed-up world.

AERIN is saturated with the qualities that have surrounded me my entire life, many of which came from my grandmother, Estee: passion, style, hard work, family, and, of course, all things beautiful.

I think to make your home as comfortable as possible is so important.

So the idea of being able to shop cross-category to buy the beach bag, the summer lip gloss, and the pillows for your pool house makes it into very focused, easy life.

I think it’s so much fun to create a space. As the world has gotten more and more hectic – with these horrible catastrophes [happening] – people are going out less, ordering in, [having guests over]. People love to be in their homes.

When I was creative director [at Estée Lauder], I was always being asked about my beauty must-haves. From there I had this fun idea to create a line of what was in my makeup bag. But I also love accessories, and people associate me with home, family, and beauty.

When I took the job as Estée Lauder’s creative director, the first thing I did was go into the archives! I love taking our heritage and making it modern.

In terms of pots and pans, I just use the basics – Im not a snob like that.

One summer I worked at Estée Lauder, and I really enjoyed the whole creative process.

I always loved beauty and accessories, and it’s always something I was passionate about.

I have this thing about being acknowledged and accepted by institutions.

And the curt truth is that, in a deep secret way, the state of being loved is intolerable to many.

Sometimes I feel like being real and open to them, but at the same time, I know how much I can give you.

Everything has Divinity latent within itself. For she enfolds and imparts herself even unto the smallest beings, and from the smallest beings, according to their capacity.

If we evolved a race of Isaac Newtons, that would not be progress. For the price Newton had to pay for being a supreme intellect was that he was incapable of friendship, love, fatherhood, and many other desirable things. As a man he was a failure; as a monster he was superb.

Every human being must have a point at which he stands against the culture, where he says, this is me and the damned world can go to hell.

Being here feels like I’m out of prison. This is the right place, the right time, the right team.

The thing is, I don’t do these things for recognition, being a good teammate, being a positive member of the community. I do them because those things make me whole and complete.