Carolyn Angel
Director of PR, CoachWe love a go-getter who is always up for trying new things, and Carolyn Angel is our kind of girl. She went from a career in editorial—which included a stint at the crème de la crème, Harper’s Bazaar, and a number of years as fashion editor at W—to her newest post: joining the public relations team at Coach. Now totally immersed in the Coach world, Carolyn flutters fashionably about brainstorming ideas for magazine features, putting together look books, meeting with editors, stylists, and bloggers, and doing other can-you-really-call-this-work tasks. One recent project: the re-opening of Chicago’s flagship Coach store on Michigan Avenue (a celebratory event for which boasted 200 guests and raised money for the Art Institute’s auxiliary board). Carolyn was part of a team that rethought the Coach concept this year, and helped Chicago’s store be the first to reflect the new idea (which is actually an old idea, inspired by Coach’s history). All that, and she’s super cute too. We chatted for this week’s Spotlight.
BEAUTY MUST-HAVES>> scent: LE LABO, FREDERIC MALLE, and SERGE LUTENS // moisturizer: KIEHL’S CRÈME DE CORPS, SISLEYA ANTI-AGING FIRMING BODY CARE, LA PRAIRIE CELLULAR HAND CREAM // concealer: CLÉ DE PEAU BEAUTÉ // face: CLARINS BEAUTY FLASH BALM // mascara: CHANEL INIMITABLE INTENSE // lips: TOM FORD BEAUTY IN BLUSH NUDE // nails: CHANEL ROSE CACHÉ // hair: L’OREAL ELNETT HAIR SPRAY // & some other favorites: ELIZABETH ARDEN EIGHT HOUR CREAM and SMITH’S ROSEBUD SALVE
Q: Even though the new Legacy 2012 collection just came out—and is ultra chic, by the way—we’ll give you the entire brand, archives and all, to choose from: what’s your favorite piece?
A: My all-time favorite Coach piece is our iconic classic Duffle. It’s refined enough for the office, but I can wear it on the weekends, too. It is timeless classic design, which is what Coach is all about.
Q: Great pick. There’s a lot of bold brights in the new collection—that’s sort of new for Coach though.
A: In general, I think our products are more subtle than that. Now if you pick a bright red or fuchsia clutch or bag, yes that’s bold! But I gravitate towards the more neutral, timeless pieces. There’s an ivory Duffle I’m carrying right now. It’s based on an archival Coach style. All of the neutral Coach pieces go well with whatever I’m wearing.
Q: We know your bag is Coach, but what are some other designers you love to wear?
A: Reed Krakoff, Junya Watanabe, Phoebe Philo, Nicolas Ghesquiere, and Miuccia Prada.
Q: From fashion…to beauty. What is the best beauty tip you’ve received and from who?
A: Peter Philips [the global creative director for Chanel makeup] told me to wear Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara in shade 50 which is a plum/purple, to bring out the green in my eyes.
Q: And when Peter Philips give you a makeup tip, you listen! What’s your personal beauty philosophy?
A: Natural is better.
Q: And before we go, we have to ask: what is always in your Coach?
A: Two cell phones and lip balm.
Find your new favorite fall accessory on Coach.com.