Rules of Style – Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer

In 1946 Estée Lauder and her husband Joseph began their well known and respected cosmetic and beauty company. Currently, Estée Lauder has a total of 27 brands including La Mer, Jo Malone, Bobbi Brown, Clinque, and Bumble and Bumble (to see the entire list, click here). Granddaughter of Mrs. Lauder is the stylish Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer who is currently the Executive Director of Creative Marketing for the company.

Quite often she can be spotted at New York Fashion Week at Michael Kors’ or Oscar de La Renta’s shows, as well as CFDA’s events and other premieres.  And with each snap of the photographer’s camera, she radiates a sense of calm confidence, simplistic, classic style that comes from knowing what she’s doing when it comes to style.

So what is it that works? How does Aerin achieve such impeccable style?  Well, below I’ve gathered some images and tried to translate what I believe are a few ideas we can all take back to our wardrobes as we’re pulling things together. Have a look.

 

The Little Black Dress

Time and time again, women hear that they must have a little black dress, or dresses, in their closet. Aerin demonstrates exactly how versatile this necessity can be in almost any evening situation.  Whether you are glamming it up for a gorgeous cocktail affair or simply heading out for dinner at a bistro, a short black dress can take you there in style.

 

Add Camel

A camel coat is a staple to include in your wardrobe, whether it be a trench or an evening coat.  A classic color that works with just about every outfit you can pull together, you too will look striking, sophisticated and wise.

 

A Healthy Tan

Now to have perfectly porcelain skin like Anne Hathaway would be a stunning genetic fantasy, but alas, this is not the case for many of us. While some are blessed with beautiful olive skin, the rest us dream of this natural appearance.  Just about any outfit looks smashing on a body with a hint or color, and Aerin’s gorgeous glow seems to help bring it all together. Now, do not misunderstand me, I am not suggesting damaging your skin.  As a matter of fact, I am a religious visitor to my airbrush salon which leaves me looking and being a healthy proponent of the this bronze effect.

 

Let The Accessories Speak

Even while wearing a pair of flattering jeans, the addition of a statement necklace (as seen above) or a gorgeous pashmina scarf can take your outfit from ordinary to extraordinary.  But always keep in mind that less is more.  In other words, add one quality accessory and you will grab the right kind of attention.

 

Two Tones

Wearing two contrasting, yet complimentary colors can be tricky, but if done well can have a very beautiful effect.  The key is where the meeting of the colors falls on your body.  Make sure that it doesn’t cut you in half, but instead near your upper third. By paying attention to this seemingly minor detail, your legs will appear longer and your waist thinner.

 

Neutral Navy

Navy is a go-to favorite of mine when it comes to neutrals. It can be rich and ideal for evening attire or casual and comfortable for a relaxing day on the weekend.  However you choose to include it, the gift is that you can pair it with quite a lot, so keep your eyes peeled the next time you go shopping.

 

The Pedicure

A small detail, but so very important. A magnificent pair of heels become all the more exquisite when the toes peeking out are adorned and pampered with a beautiful hue.  The wonderful truth about this necessity, as everyone knows, is that it is a fantastic and simple way to pamper yourself as well.

 

Don’t Forget Gray

Grey was all over the fall runways for this season and while some may think it to be too boring, let me first make a case for bringing it into your closet.  The difference between style and fashion is that with style it is the woman who stands out because of the combination and understanding of the clothes that adorn her.  While on the other hand, fashion is about the clothes themselves.  The strength of grey is that it is a wonderful basic palette to work with, to use as a foundation and a wonderful alternative when black becomes redundant. So pair your grey sheath dress with a stunning belt or a colorful pair of heels or a clutch.  Or yet another idea, toss a grey cardigan over a sequin blouse, jeans and pumps.

 

Keep It Simple

A sure way to remain classic and gorgeous is to stay with one color. This, in and of itself, demonstrates that you have a quality piece of clothing that flatters your figure perfectly and nothing else is necessary. Whether it be a neutral hue – black, cream or camel, or a rich jewel tone, you will stand out for your simplicity, but more importantly your taste.

 

A Simple Print

Sometimes, however, a girl needs to step out of the comfort of solids and choose a creative print. Aerin does this beautifully not only in her wardrobe, but also throughout each of her homes (Manhattan and East Hampton). The strength lies in using only one print and being confident that it isn’t overpowering the woman who is wearing it.

As you can see, luxury abounds in Aerin’s life of style, but regardless of the life you are living, you too can look pulled together and confident by keeping in mind a few of her style secrets.

More Rules of Style:

*Katie Holmes

*Lauren Hutton

*Sarah Jessica Parker

*Cameron Diaz

Images: (1) Source (2) Mind Food (17) Vanity Fair (23) Source All remaining images courtesy of Style.com