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

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.

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.

Mom used to frame everything we made, and now I’m following her example. It makes children so proud to see their work on display instead of hidden away.

Hip-hop is bigger than the South; hip-hop is bigger than New York.

Man, me and Biggie were the biggest artists in New York. When he passed, I was so messed up. My attitude was messed up about him dying. There was an East-West thing back then, and I was in war mode.

If people around you aren’t going anywhere, if their dreams are no bigger than hanging out on the corner, or if they’re dragging you down, get rid of them.

In me is working a power stronger than every other power. The life that is in me is a thousand times bigger than I am outside.

The 31th of May, I perceived in the same water more of those Animals, as also some that were somewhat bigger.

I’m a thousand times bigger on the inside than I am on the outside.

My experiences in life are getting bigger and better.

There’s a lot there to enlarge you. That’s part of the value of being in an extended family is that it enlarges you. It makes you bigger. It makes you more.