Aerin by Estée Lauder

(Aerin Lauder photographed by Sebastian Kim, August 2012 Vogue, via Cakewalk.)

August’s issue of Vogue features a piece on Aerin Lauder, the granddaughter of Estée Lauder, and the Style and Image Director for her family’s cosmetic company.  I’ve always kind of followed Lauder and admired her minimal style, and was pleased to learn that she recently created her own product line, based upon the items she uses on a daily basis.  Aptly named Aerin, the collection features a selection of “Weekday” and “Weekend” products, including lip gloss, lipstick, and two separate color palettes for fall, with more pieces to be introduced each season.

But after checking out Aerin Lauder’s website and her new line, I must admit that I’m a little underwhelmed.  While the site is gorgeous and has a bit of a blog-type feel, it seems more thought went into that aspect of the launch, rather than the collection itself.  Vogue’s article describes Lauder as moving out on her own, but the collection is for sale on the Estée Lauder site and, frankly, it looks just like the other Lauder cosmetics we’ve seen in the past.  (Remember the “Mad Men” collection that contained just two pieces?)

Maybe because my grandmother used Lauder products until she passed away, I’ve always associated the company with older women, and the cloying smell of Youth Dew, is, for me, inextricably linked with my memories of greeting elderly church members before Sunday morning services.

I had high hopes for Aerin Lauder’s line and anticipated a more, um, youthful approach, but the colors and shades seem lackluster to me.  Still, I’m staying tuned to see what she plans to release for spring.

Oh, and it seems Lauder and I both share a love for a certain SUNO print, which she’s wearing in the first picture in the Vogue article.