Katherine Chloé Cahoon

That’s Leonard Lauder in a nutshell. Last week when he graced a Nordstrom store, several members of the cosmetic staff had been lined up near their counters awaiting his entrance well before his ETA. The moment he stepped inside, a wave of applause erupted. You might have thought such enthusiasm was reserved for a major celebrity. In the minds of those who know him, Mr. Lauder is much more than that.

For starters, he is the chairman emeritus and senior board member of a cosmetics empire that includes the flagship, Estée Lauder, along with 24 other brands, including Clinique, MAC, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox and La Mer. The company acquired these under his leadership. He is also a generous philanthropist – with 78 pieces of his cubism collection being showcased this month at the Metropolitan Museum of Art – and a distinguished naval officer. But what keeps Mr. Lauder in the hearts of those who are honored to know him is his love for people.

That day, even though he was on a tight schedule, Mr. Lauder stopped and spoke with me as if I were the only girl in the world and time had stood still. I have no doubt that he treated every person he met the same way. One counter manager told me that all his employees were well-prepared to answer any business question he had, but all he wanted was to tell them how much he appreciated their dedication.

The above picture is of Mr. Lauder and his wife, Evelyn, who was taken from him by breast cancer. Because of his love for her, a portion of the proceeds from all his products is donated to research for eradicating this disease.

When I was a child, Mr. Lauder’s work helped me overcome a baffling medical problem. A rash broke out on my face with large welts. My dermatologist prescribed product after product, but nothing could conquer this mysterious malady. Finally, a Bobbi Brown makeup artist suggested to my mother that we try Crème de La Mer. This natural product made from sea kelp healed my skin. Every time I see any Lauder-owned ad or product, I will now think of this extraordinary man and be grateful that I had the privilege of meeting him.

Here’s a picture that I received with a nice note from someone who got my book. Do I have the best readers, or what? I love you all!

The other day, I was reminiscing about my book tour. I met so many fascinating people. One that stood out was the guy who bought my book as a gift for a lovelorn friend. She was feeling low from going through a rough breakup. He was sure that reading true, romantic – and often funny – dating stories was just the perk-up she needed. Then there was an adorable grandpa who chose what he termed a “cool” gift for his college-aged granddaughter. Good memories of good people!

While scanning through my phone, I ran across this footage that I shot at The Bellevue Collection’s Fashion Week. So I pieced it together to bring you a slice of what the style setters are flaunting this fall.

Banana Republic was all about black, white and gray. And friends, hashtags aren’t just for social media. They’ve inspired tonal block plaids and been turned on edge to create diamond patterns.

https://instagram.com/p/t-7s6yifLk/

The Façonnable show was a series of blacks, navies and grays. Are you afraid to be red hot with a red-on-red pantsuit? Just look at this model working the look and you’ll fear no more!

https://instagram.com/p/t_h5UBifID/

On one of my business trips to LA, I had only one meeting so I didn’t see the point in getting a hotel room. I figured I’d fly in, catch my meeting, and fly out the same day. I survived, but my appearance didn’t. This was an extremely important meeting with high-level producers and I wanted to look my best. So I spent extra time getting ready in the morning and even added some special shine serum to my hair.

Well, all the shine serum in the world wasn’t going to help me. By the time I landed, the pressurized cabin had turned my once-sleek hair into a frizz ball, and my dress was a rumpled mess. There wasn’t enough time to remedy my disheveled look before hailing a cab.

The next time I only had one meeting in LA, I still couldn’t see the point in staying over, so I came up with tips to survive a crazy plane commute in style. If you’re in a similar situation, here they are.

Bun It… If you’re planning on wearing your hair down to your meeting and your hair is long enough, throw it in a loose bun while you’re in the air. This is a proven frizz fighter. Upon landing, take the locks down and they won’t look like you’ve endured a tornado.

A Clothing Bag… on a flight is a clothing saver. After that awful experience, I’ve always worn sweats onboard, put my business outfit in a hanging clothing bag at the front of the plane, and changed in the airport.

Eye Cream… isn’t just designed to prevent wrinkles. It puts moisture in your skin. Cabin pressure is extremely drying, so I always pack some on the plane. Upon landing, I pat a little bit under my eyes to look fresh.

I was touching down in Seattle to spend some time with family over the weekend before jetting off. And a girl never gets too old for a daddy-daughter date! We did in Salmon Days. Or, as my dad put it, “An excuse to eat a lot of good food.” I’m definitely my dad’s girl. We treated the event like an extended three-course meal. In between indulging, we watched the beautiful fish swim upstream at the end of their lives, returning to where they were born to spawn and start again the cycle of life. One of the best parts of this day was hearing the excited voices of children squealing as they watched the fish jump.

After appetizers, we strolled through the exhibits, sampled the wares, and watched the artisans plying their crafts.

Then we entered the fish-painting station and joined in.

Dad said, “There’s no sign saying, ‘Kids only,’ so there’s no way they’re kicking us out.” We were about the only adults there, but we didn’t let that stop our good time:)

Our art wasn’t exactly on par with that of the exhibitioners, but don’t tell my dad:) Mine is the Tie-Die Fish, or as Dad put it, Save the Planet. Very fitting since this event was hosted in part by the City’s Office of Sustainability and Recology CleanScapes. Green was a big part of the celebration. Food venders used compostable items and fair shuttles were run on biodiesel fuel.

My dad is going through a picture-shy phase, but hopefully he’ll be back in the mood by the time the holidays roll around. He was far too popular in last year’s Christmas Dance Wars to bow out!

That is the name of the Philosophy serum that the stunning host introduced at a cosmetics trend show I recently attended. She explained that it is formulated to work wonders with overall smoothing, preventing skin impurities, correcting redness and reducing darks spots.

And does this stud look familiar? I featured Cam and his dating tips yesterday. He was enlisted on the runway to show off the product. As our beautiful host explained, “No Reason to Hide makes any woman wake up feeling comfortable.” Then she glanced at Cam and added, “And even wake up feeling comfortable next to this!”

Trend show attendees eagerly tried out the product and noted its instant smoothing effect.

Last week, a girl stopped me and said, “Hey, you’re the one who has that blog with the awesome guys.” No pressure on me to keep finding those “awesome” ones! Well, I think you’ll enjoy today’s pick. Cam works in sales, is passionate about surfing, models on the side, and is a huge hit on the runway. But what means the most to me is that he comes across as genuine. Here are his dating insights…

Chase the Girl. Cam isn’t afraid to go after a girl he likes. He told me, “Dating is like surfing in the fact that when you find the right woman, you instinctively know how to catch her.” Oh Cam, we all already love you!

It’s in the Eyes. Cam agrees on this principle with Chris, the actor I told you about two weeks ago. As this salesman sees it, eyes say everything you need to know about people—whether they’re happy, upset, or care about someone else. So in life and in dating, remember, you don’t always have to verbalize your thoughts to reveal your feelings.

Flirtatious First. Being flirtatious is one of the oldest tricks of attraction, and Cam thinks it’s one of the best. He doesn’t want the coquettish energy to be overdone though. So what’s the right amount in Cam’s mind? “Be a tad bit flirtatious.”

You’ll be seeing more of Cam tomorrow. And when I say more, I mean that literally:)

Yesterday, for Travel Thursday, I featured my friend Min and her favorite shopping spots in Seoul. Today is all about her style sense. She’s like a walking Korean art exhibit with an infusion of fun patterns, colors and textures inspired by her heritage.

For this shoot, we chose a garden with a Korean vibe.

As Min explains, South Korea looks like it has been drenched in a waterfall of vibrant hues. Everything, from clothing to buildings and night lights, erupts in color. Min applies this heritage to pull together outfits that are uniquely her own. For our photo shoot, she mixed a colorful Diane von Furstenberg skirt with traditional Korean shoes and a modernized hanbok top, both of which she purchased in Seoul. Her ring was hand-painted and enameled by a Korean artist. And her earrings, which perfectly complement them, were discovered in a thrift shop.

After hearing about Korean fashions, I tried to emulate the look for our photo shoot with a colorful dress. This inspired Min to pose me up for a portrait. She has a career as an ultra-creative event planner—but then you’re probably not surprised to hear that having seen this photo. She tucked me into the hydrangea bush, making the picture resemble a Korean painting. When I became a little worried about the bees buzzing all around me, she said not to worry and explained, with her adorable smile, that they were friendly:) That’s Min for you!

With all her impressive qualities, what I admire most about my friend is her attitude. When I met Min, her dad and best friend had just passed away in the same week. Then she left South Korea, which she also loved, to live close to family. But she refused to let grief destroy her. She had such an aura of positivity that if I hadn’t gotten to know her, I would never have realized the difficulties she was facing.

I absolutely love receiving emails from readers. Some of you have poured out your hearts regarding lost relationships…mostly romantic ones. That is a major reason why I am so thankful that Min let me feature her. Although she didn’t lose a romantic love, the three loves she lost have a similar effect. I’m sharing with you a poem she wrote about losing her dad. I hope these beautiful sentiments will help some of you who are going through trials of your own.

You’re Not Mine to Keep

This autumn, I began to fall. Falling without direction, but not without hope. Hello, Time. Would you be so kind to slow? Hello Wind. Would you be so kind to cradle? Please soften the fall for me. I am hurting so much these days. I keep on forgetting that people aren’t ours to keep. And that it’s natural for us to love those more who leave us.  My father told me that forests had hearts. He told me that if I were quiet enough, I could hear the forest’s gentle, rhythmical heave.

The biggest moment in my life did not occur when my father passed away. Instead, it was the smaller moments, the random, the natural, the tiny stirred my heart. It was those stop-and-gaze moments where I thought, Oh, I need to remember this. These are the moments that make my life so meaningful and full of joy. They’re tiny, but they’re special.

I pray that these memories and feelings stay with me always.

I have a dear friend, Min, from South Korea. She’s adorable, resembling a porcelain doll. Her sense of style is a work of art. She’s vivacious, and has an inspiring story. I’ll share that with you tomorrow as well as her personal Korean-influenced fashion. But today, for Travel Thursday, I want to focus on some of her favorite style landmarks in Seoul. As Min explains, “Shopping is quite a thrill over there. It’s a shopper’s paradise for the fashion-conscious.”

The Hongdae area is a must on Min’s hot shopping list. This is the home of Hongik University, best-known for its prestigious art school. The college town has attracted a copious array of clothing and accessory shops, not to mention restaurants and clubs. Many of the fashions are local, the prices are known to be reasonable, and several of the stores stay open late. This is especially true on weekends when students want to shop for their evening outfits, eat out with friends, and hit the clubs. If you’re looking for edgy fashion, the arts, and indie music, this is where you want to be.

The Myeongdong district is considered the center for Korean shopping. It features a mixture of global and native brands. So you can expect to see the likes of H&M, Zara, Nike and UNIQLO housed in their own brick-and-motor buildings. But for local flavor, as Min explained, “It’s quite a sight to see the stores lining the narrow alleyways.”  She summed it all up by saying, “Here, one can find the latest fashion geared for young people.

If you’re looking for high-end, head to Apgujeong. It’s in one of the richest areas of Seoul. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Channel, Armani….they’re all there. This district even has a Galleria. You might be familiar with this traveler-friendly concept from other fashionable destinations. There you can shop duty-free and you don’t even have to carry your bags. They will be waiting for you at the airport. This is a late-night venue too. You’ll want to go there at least once in the evening to see the light show on the outside of the building.

Thank you, Min, for sharing your favorite South Korean haunts. I can’t wait to reveal her style secrets and incredible journey tomorrow.

The real question is, Who wouldn’t? I got to meet up with and get tips from one of Macklemore’s dancers. Jennie Pegouski recently came off his tour. She’s charismatic, articulate and – of course – an A+ dancer!

Jennie described the tour as a whirlwind of travel and dancing—and she loved every minute. The moment she came home from one show, she turned around and headed off to another. So fully unpacking was never necessary:)

I haven’t been to a dance audition in over seven years, but Jennie has some advice for those of you who are doing this regularly. Her top tip? “Being the best dancer is not what’s most important in an audition. It’s being able to 100% mimic the choreographer.” She went on to explain that details like head and arm placement and capturing the style are imperative for making the cut. I am so thankful that I got a chance to dance with Jennie and get to know her.

…George Clooney made a different kind of vow. This Oscar winner has long been considered Hollywood’s most-eligible bachelor, but that eligibility just got eliminated. On Saturday, September 27, he and Amal Alamuddin, a human-rights lawyer, held what was supposed to be a private wedding celebration in Venice, Italy. Oh, but when you’re George Clooney nothing is ever really private:) Here’s what the celeb sleuths spotted.

The above pic of George was snatched en route to the ceremony. Onlookers were cheering him on while accompanied by a gaggle of paparazzi. The festivities reportedly lasted until dawn. Hey, when a man says he’ll never marry again, proves his sincerity by betting Michelle Pfeiffer $100,000 that he won’t, and waits two decades—that’s  an occasion to make last.

The couple wed at the luxurious Aman Canal Grande resort hotel. Clooney met his love in Venice, so for them this was the most romantic wedding destination possible. And according to Giorgio Armani, for George to say I Do, it really took three…George, his wife and Armani…the clothier of Clooney’s wedding suit.

When the couple appeared holding hands, there was just too much love and gorgeousness in one place!

In honor of this landmark Italian wedding and the fact that it’s Beauty Trend Tuesday, I want to touch upon Layla Cosmetics. This worldwide company is based in Milan, Italy’s fashion capital, and about a three hour drive from Venice.

Just like the Clooney wedding, Layla stands out. The founder was the first to bring nail polish into Italy in the ‘30s. Today, the company has a full range of products, but they are especially known for their posh glitter glam—from lip gloss to eyeliner and even mascara. So all you party princesses, this line is where you go to get your sparkle on.

…from University of Chicago and a complete campus hunk! If you haven’t seen my latest sports skit, do yourself a favor and catch John’s cameo. You just know that any guy willing to hoist me on his shoulders for the sake of a fun project is easygoing. But John’s also insightful. I receive quite a few emails from college girls. So I presented some of their questions to him, and he was more than happy to give you the honest answers. Are you ready?

Leave the Drama on the Stage. I asked John what he wants in a relationship. FYI ladies, he is currently in the market for a girlfriend. But he explained, “She has to be down to earth and not dramatic. I want someone who I can look at as a friend as well as a girlfriend.”

Sprint vs Marathon. John is in agreement with some other men I’ve featured on my site regarding this relationship topic. When he hopes to date a girl seriously, he won’t go full throttle ahead when it comes to getting physical. If he cares about a girl, he wants to wait to have sex until it feels special because he knows he’s going for the long term. As he says, “When you really like someone, you make love to her, you don’t have sex.” Is this guy a keeper or what?!

One Night or Many? I keep receiving similar emails from girls. They go something like this: “I met a guy last week. We had a terrific night and I thought there was a strong connection. We had just met, but I felt like I knew him instantly so we hooked up. Then he never called me. Why?” I asked that why to John. But first, I want to explain that you don’t know anyone – and I mean ANYONE – the night you meet him. Trust me.

John’s take is that, “Guys look at one-night stands selfishly. They’re interested in satisfying themselves, not the girls.” He went on to explain that once the night is over, the guy is no longer thinking about the girl. Frankly, he was never really thinking about her. Whereas, as John explains, “In a relationship, the guy wants to make not only one night special for the girl, but many. He’s thinking about pleasing her over himself.”

So for you girls who emailed me, I want you to forget about those one-nighters who never called. You are jewels. Remember that. Realize your worth. There are guys who will want to be with you for way longer than one night!

Thanks John, for appearing in my skit and answering these relationship questions. And girls, if you attend a University of Chicago game later this year, you will get to see John in action on the court!

This fall, fashion houses are receiving inspiration from Scotland. Last weekend, I attended the Nordstrom Fall Trend Show where guests were greeted with an array of tartan looks.

Nordstrom is just too clever. My local store places Milly’s most mesmerizing pieces on the path to Habitant, the new gathering spot for drinks and small plates. When a girl is in the middle of a serious shopping session, she’s bound to get hungry;)

And then she runs smack into Milly. That’s how I discovered this sweater with a detachable collar and Scottish-inspired skirt. Frankly, this is how I’ve fallen for several of the Milly items I’ve showcased on my site recently.

Being Scottish, and from the Colquhoun clan, I’m fully embracing this fashion front. My ancestors were the governors and keepers of the Royal Dumbarton Castle. I wish I could claim that I’m royalty. I’m not, but in this Scottish-inspired garb I could step inside the castle and feel right at home.

On a more serious note, it you haven’t seen my analysis of the important historic decision Scotland made last week, here it is.

Considering my Scottish heritage, I watched with a vested interest as the bid for independence played out last Thursday. The United Kingdom survived losing Scotland by an unexpected 54%-45% margin after polls predicted the vote too close to call. A record 86% of Scots weighed in, and emotions ran deep on both sides. They still do.

The yearning for national self-determination is imbedded in the Scottish soul, but the dangers of going it alone in the current geopolitical climate are sobering. Overall, three centuries of unity with England have brought freedom and prosperity in a rocky world.

When my book Meeting European Men launched four years ago, I made the campy travel host skit below. A global recession was underway, but there was hope for ending it soon based upon history, and Europe was at peace.

Today, four years later, the economic downturn drags on and Europe is again ravaged by war.

When there is a wolf at your front door, a bear in your backyard, and terrorists lurking in your home, sometimes the best idea is to band together with your neighbors for strength. That seems to be what the majority of Scots decided…but they need to work out a UK solution that will assuage the concerns of the minority.

I love the European people, and pray that they will overcome the difficulties they are facing in these pivotal times.

Picture Guide 1. Eilean Donan Castle in the western Highlands, founded in the thirteenth century. 2. Braveheart, a creative portrayal of William Wallace, a 13th century Scot who led his country to war against England for independence. 3. My Edinburgh Festival video. 4. The Sligachan Bridge on the Isle of Skye. 5. The Union Jack, combining the flags of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and dating back to 1603.

…basketball, dance, and rabble-rousers come together? This video skit! We had a blast coming up with the concept.

If you haven’t seen Chris’ tips for acing a first date, here they are.

If you are wondering about the dunking hottie? Well, you’re going to be seeing more of John next Meeting Men Monday!!