Fashion / Style

High On LSD: Lauren Santo Domingo

BY Kate Stukenberg // 10.01.14
photography Claudia Grassl

She whirled into Dallas a few months back, with up-and-coming designers Emilia Wickstead and Paul Andrew in tow, for a cocktail-fueled trunk showing at The Joule. Lauren Santo Domingo and Moda Operandi host these intimate pop-up fashion fêtes around the globe, gathering a city’s chicest girls to acquaint them — and the milieu they influence — with the charm and insta-grat of the online trunk-show concept, Moda Operandi. The site, which launched in 2011, brings luxury designer trunk shows to a broader, albeit still monied, audience. Here, one can pre-order choice pieces — “Most Wanted,” in Moda talk — from next season’s collections (Spring 2015 is on-site now) or shop a carefully curated selection of clothing, jewelry and accessories from the ready-to-ship online boutique. Santo Domingo knows what the Moda shopper wants because she is the Moda shopper.

Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Santo Domingo attended the Kent boarding school and spent her college years on the sunny West Coast before starting her career as a fashion assistant at Vogue, where she rose to the position of associate market editor. She then handled public relations for designers J. Mendel and Carolina Herrera and eventually made her way back to Vogue as a contributing editor. Along the way, she polished her prowess for effortless style — with a smart wit to express it. The entertaining advice she penned for vogue.com is memorable: “Don’t do buffets for dinner. Standing in line for food reminds me of a prison — not that I’ve ever actually been.” She haunts flea markets for Murano glass for small gifts: “Flowers die, but a Murano ashtray lives forever.” Or, this one: “Easier to buy a sarong than a gym membership.” We can’t get enough.

In 2008, Santo Domingo married her music executive husband, Andres Santo Domingo. They travel the world in superb fashion — follow her on Instagram @thelsd to see. Trips to their pied-à-terre in Paris and her husband’s native Colombia are peppered with jaunts off-roading in Hawaii and journeys to a friend’s wedding in Morocco, the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Euro Disney for a day and, most recently, the London opening of the second Moda Operandi boutique. Her life is a dream. You want to not like her… but you do … because she’s too cool, too authentic. She’s LSD.

PERSONAL STYLE.

I like to think that I’m both exacting and spontaneous at the same time. I enjoy the process of curating and tailoring my wardrobe so when it comes time to get dressed, I need only to consider my mood and the weather.

WHAT DO YOU BUY IN BULK?

Cashmere.

TOP FIVE DESIGNERS TO WEAR THIS FALL.

Delpozo, Ellery, Rochas, Rosie Assoulin, Emilia Wickstead.

STYLE ICONS.

I am inspired mostly by generations before mine — women like Beatrice Santo Domingo, Annette de la Renta, Deeda Blair, Jayne Wrightsman and Marella Agnelli.

WHAT’S THE LATEST MODA FASHION DISCOVERY?

I love our iPhone app. It just relaunched, and it is amazing. The collections are available to preview an hour after walking the runway — meaning you can swipe your way to a new wardrobe.

IF YOU COULD CREATE ONE FASHION RULE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

No tights.

LEATHER OR DENIM?

Proenza Schouler denim.

IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED?

The Devil Wears Proenza.

THE PLACES YOU VISIT EVERY TIME YOU’RE IN PARIS.

La Maison du Caviar for dinner. Cafe de Flore is a proper French cafe. Lachaume, and Odorantes are the best florists. Muriel Grateau for tabletop pieces. And DuPont for desktop accessories.

FAVORITE LIPSTICK?

Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in B*tch Perfect.

FAVORITE FASHION MOMENT OF ALL TIME?

Kate Moss with Johnny Depp at Cannes, circa 1998.

STATIONERY.

Cartier.

FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM.

Derek Blasberg, Alexa Chung … and Moda Operandi, of course.

BEAUTY PRODUCTS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT.

Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum is great, and a facial from Georgia Louise always helps.

ONE THING EVERY GIRL SHOULD HAVE IN HER CLOSET THIS FALL.

A go-to party dress. Carven, Cushnie et Ochs and Thakoon all have fantastic options.

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