Biography

The former Vice President of Public Relations for the Estee Lauder Companies, Phyllis’s debut novel The Spa At Lavender Lane has a 5 star Amazon ranking and was a runner-up for the 2020 American Fiction Awards. Her second book, the inspirational true story Chasing Life, has been widely read in both US and Europe and has a 5 star Amazon ranking as well.  She has been published in TOWN & COUNTRY and several international editions of COSMOPOLITAN, and her short fiction has appeared in Beyond Words, Funny Pearls and Scarlet Leaf Review Literary Magazines. She has also read her work at New York’s legendary East Village Red Room Literary Salon.
 
She was the ghost writer of an internationally best-selling beauty book as well as a syndicated fashion and beauty column. An optioned screen writer, she consulted on the award-winning indie film Hurricane Bianca.  
 
During her 20 year career with the Estee Lauder Companies, Phyllis was instrumental in launching some of the world’s best-known fragrance and beauty products.  She wrote and produced internationally aired fashion and beauty videos, and wrangled diva supermodels Karen Graham, Elizabeth Hurley, Paulina Porizkova and Willow Bay, as well as mega-star Liza Minelli.  She staged major events for both the corporation and the high-profile Lauder family, including the introduction of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the now-iconic pink ribbon.

Phyllis holds a master’s degree in Communications from NYU, a B.S. from Temple University and is a member of The Author’s Guild, New York Women in Film and Television, American Women in Communications, Fashion Group International and The Art Students League. She administers a scholarship at The Curtis Institute of Music, and has served on the board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has also participated in the Volunteers of America after-school initiative as well as the Look Good, Feel Better program for cancer patients.

 On Sundays she can be found painting at New York’s Art Students League. A source of great joy and her muse for all things is Modigliani - her totally swagalicious Schnoodle known as Mo to his legions of friends in and around Central Park.

The Estee Lauder Years

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Photo: Skrebneski, 2018

Evelyn Lauder, Alexandra Penney and Hillary Clinton celebrate the launching of the now iconic Pink Ribbon ​for Breast Cancer Awareness, 1993.

With Mrs. Lauder at The National Gallery of Art, 1984

With Victor Skrebneski in Beverly Hills at the exhibit of his more than 20 years of photographing beautiful Estee Lauder models, circa 1985

At the Met Gala with ad agency Honcho Alvin Chereskin, circa 1990

With Bruce Boxleitner at Lauder for Men signing event

With Mrs. Estee Lauder, circa 1990

With Bruce Boxleitner at the Cosmetic Executive Women Gala in honor of Mrs. Estee Lauder, 1987

With Estee Lauder model Willow Bay & her then soon-to-be husband Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of Disney

I toured with Liza Minnelli when she represented Metropolis men's fragrance. The crowds loved her!

With supermodel Karen Graham and William Lauder, 1980

With Mrs. Lauder, circa 1982

With Cosmopolitan founder Helen Gurley Brown at the launch of Pleasures, 1995

Aboard the Presidential yacht, ​The SS Sequoia, 1983

With Estee Lauder Spokesmodel Elizabeth Hurley & my friend, hotelier Klaus Ortleib, at the opening of Vienna 1800 at the MOMA, 1996

The Lauder family with Willow Bay as the bride for the launch of Beautiful, 1985

Aboard the Presidential yacht, The SS Sequoia, with Evelyn Lauder, Honorary Chairperson of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of The Brooklyn Bridge, 1983

With Evelyn Lauder, ​before one of the four Sequoia sailings

With Estee Lauder supermodel Paulina Porizkova, 1988

Sundays At The Art Students League of New York

16x20 | Oil on Paper | 2017

16x20 | Oil on Paper | 2019

16x20 | Oil on Paper | 2017

16x20 | Oil on Paper | 2018

16x20 | Oil on Paper | 2018

18x24 | Charcoal on paper | 2015

16x20 - Oil on Paper- 2022