Aerin Lauder’s Little ACK Book
AERIN is one of those labels that just gets Nantucketers. It’s aspirational, refined, and effortless—all adjectives often used to describe the island’s coastal lifestyle. And knowing the beauty and brains behind the brand, founder and creative director Aerin Lauder (also the style and design director of Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv), of course it does.
A Nantucketer herself, Aerin began visiting the island during her childhood: “I have special memories of the incredible beaches, delicious food, famous ice cream shop, and classic, American design on the island,” she says. That, paired with her upbringing in a family credited for shaping the global beauty industry (she’s Estée’s granddaughter) has given her an eye for pinpointing the beauty in all things—fragrance (in fact, she created one inspired by Madaket), fashion, home decor, and beyond—and impressing her own interpretation. “Nantucket has always been a place filled with such authentic inspiration,” she says, “especially the textiles and baskets. Raffia and wicker are seen consistently throughout the AERIN brand, cross-category, which really emphasizes that timeless, American aesthetic. It is a material that I incorporate into my home and my wardrobe, no matter the destination or the season.”
Below, Aerin shares her Little ACK Book to Nantucket including her top-ranked restaurants and hotels, as well as what she’s packing, what she’s leaving, and one thing every island home needs: “A Nantucket basket and fresh flowers from the garden.” And we couldn’t agree more!
Hotel(s): The White Elephant or The Faraway
Restaurant for Breakfast: Black Eyed Susans
Restaurant for Lunch: Cru, The Chanticleer
Restaurant for Dinner: Straight Wharf
Bar: Cisco Brewers
Café: Juice Bar, Aunt Leah’s Fudge
Your Ice Cream Order: Vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone
Small Business: Centre Pointe
Activity or Attraction for Groups: Taking a boat out on the water for the day
Activity or Attraction for Children: The Whaling Museum or Children’s Beach
Activity or Attraction for Yourself: Siasconset Bluff Walk
Activity or Attraction for Pets: Going for a walk at a dog-friendly beach
Beach: Jetties Beach
Beach Read: Magic Eyes by Lauren Fornes
Must-Pack Items: Sunglasses, a Sarah Bray straw hat, the perfect summer dress, a La Ligne striped sweater, and an AERIN Adelina Wicker Clutch.
Items to Leave at Home: Heels. The streets are cobblestone and I love to walk as much as possible.
Souvenirs: A Nantucket basket and a classic Nantucket sweatshirt from one of the many local shops.
Time of Year: Summer
Rainy Day Plan: A delicious lunch and visiting my favorite shops in town
Spot on Island: Siasconset
Morning or Night?: Morning
Sun or Fog?: Sun
Land or Sea?: Land
Follow Aerin: @aerin