
Meet Mimi Slater of COS Bar
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by Photographed by Kelly Christine
Walk into any retailer—be it Bloomingdales’s, Walgreens, or something in the middle—and you’re sure to find shelves upon shelves of all things beauty: makeup, skincare, and everything in between. Whether you choose to purchase your look-good, feel-good go-tos from the drugstore or the department store, one thing we know for sure is the industry is growing every single day, especially online. Within this seemingly ever-expanding category lies a highly sought after, somewhat enigmatic subset of premium products, called luxury, that few of us know too much about. To be an expert in high-end beauty is to have widespread knowledge and clout with some major, coveted brands. In today’s profile, Mimi Slater, Vice President of Marketing at experiential luxury beauty retailer, Cos Bar, and mother to two-year-old, Elle, invites us into her Dallas home where she dishes about motherhood, working from home, and the luxe beauty biz.
-
“We moved from New York to Dallas less than a year ago, rented for a few months, and moved into this house a couple of months ago. We fell in love with our neighborhood—quiet, but walkable, full of young families, old trees, and a beautiful old church at the end of our block.”
Mimi wears Citizens of Humanity jeans and a Maison Margiela top. Elle wears a blouse and jumper from Bella Bliss.
- “Very comfortable, and all fairly kid and dog-friendly. It’s a mix of new, antiques, warm fabrics, and neutrals with pops of color and pattern.”
- “When Elle was born, we were living in a one-bedroom apartment, so we didn’t have too much furniture. Then, we moved to a different neighborhood in the city, then to Dallas a few months later, and moved again before she turned two. So, our living situation has changed every few months, and we bought a lot of our furniture after having her. Nothing is precious. We buy things that are durable, won’t show dirt, and are easily cleaned.”
- A cook's dream kitchen!
- “When we moved into this house, I wanted every room to be done immediately. But, enough people told me to take it slow and do it right—to collect pieces over time that we love. And, of course, I totally underestimated the scope of the project. So, my expectations have changed a lot. We don’t have drapes yet, some rooms are completely empty, and most rooms are at least partially unfinished. I think it will take me years to finish! But, it’s a fun, ongoing project.”
- “We spend most of our time together in the kitchen. It’s connected to the family room and the screened-in porch, so Elle and the dog can run in and out.”
- “I’m most attached to the pieces that were given to us by our families. My desk was my dad’s for 30 years in his office in Chicago, and the drum table in our family room was in my parents’ living room for years. A few of our tables were designed by Ben’s mom, a decorator and furniture designer.”
- “We have a playroom with most of the toys, but we keep enough in the family room, so we can hang out there as well.”
- “It’s feminine and sort of grown up for a two year old! We bought her S&L bed on Craigslist when we moved down here. I found the side table at a consignment store, and the dresser is Bernhardt.”
- “The prints over Elle’s dresser were handed down from my late uncle. He passed away the summer I moved to New York City. When his partner decided to sell their house, he loaded up my U-Haul with antiques they had collected over the years. They fully furnished for my first apartment in Tribeca, and the prints have been with me ever since.”
- “I work from home, so I’m in my office a lot; I love all the light.”
- “Tacos, pasta, couscous salads, and classic diner foods are a big hit at my house. I also keep the freezer stocked with premade meals for Elle.”
- “Her name is Elliott Drews, both of her grandmother’s maiden names. Elliott is Ben’s mom’s maiden name. Drews is my mother’s maiden name, and was my middle name until I got married. She mostly goes by ‘Elle’, though.”
- “She just started school, so she is very into that whole routine and her new friends. She loves playing kitchen, taking her dolls for walks, and playing with our dog, Georgia. She also loves TV and looking at pictures on my phone. What can I say?”
- “A workday involves getting up early, having breakfast together, and playing, then getting ready for school. I go to work, and our nanny takes over until dinner. We play a bit after, then start her bedtime routine. An ideal weekend would mean getting up a little later, taking Georgia to the dog park down the street, and then doing some exploring. More realistically, though, this time is spent doing errands. We have lunch at home, do a kid-friendly activity like the park or a museum, then meet up with friends for early dinner and drinks.”
- “She’s such a happy kid, and she makes me laugh. She’s also obsessed with her dad.”
- Just look at that gorgeous natural light!
-
“Most days, pretty casual and relaxed.”
Elle wears a Crewcuts sweater and a Stella McCartney Kids skirt.
- “There are a lot more sneakers and ‘park clothes’ in the mix now.”
- “Jeans, blouses, boots, and sneakers.”
- “Ulla Johnson, Jenni Kayne, A.P.C., N°21, and Stella Jean.”
- Time for dress-up!
-
“70s-inspired looks, cropped jeans, and layering.”
Mimi wears an A.P.C. blouse and See By Chloé jeans.
- “Net-A-Porter, and after Elle is in bed and all emails are answered. When I can, I love to pop into Canary and Forty Five Ten in Dallas.”
- “Even though the boot season in Dallas is short, Bon Bon boots for Elle and Jenni Kayne for me.”
- “Flexible with most things within reason, such as food, television, and schedules. And, strict on others like manners and bedtime.”
- “I am in the middle of two brothers, and we're all very close in age. It was a very boy-centered household, fun and busy with a lot of laughs, mostly at my expense. My mom stayed home, and my dad worked.”
- “Our lives have changed a lot. There’s a lot of love. I have so much more appreciation for mothers! And, for my parents and the sacrifices they made that I never even realized. But, I do miss my old life sometimes. I miss sleeping in, being lazy, and doing things without the inevitable ‘mom guilt’. I put a lot of pressure on myself to spend all of my free time with Elle because I work full-time.”
- Hello, Georgia!
-
“Seeing Elle grow and change—generally getting to know her—and growing our family.”
Mimi wears a Tory Burch dress and Equipment sweater. Elle wears Zara overalls and a blouse by Bella Bliss.
- “Not knowing what I’m doing. I just hope that my instincts are right.”
- “There are so many things I was not prepared for! I had no idea how difficult and exhausting the first few weeks and months would be. I can’t say I wasn’t warned; they tell you that babies eat every two hours, but by the time the whole song and dance is over, you’re feeding again. I also assumed my husband would agree with me on all things related to parenting, that my way would be his way, but it takes a lot of work, even when your values, hopes, and expectations all align.”
- “You can't be great at everything, so your best is good enough.”
- “Having a newborn was a really stressful time for us. My best advice is just to give yourself a break. Take care of yourself, and your baby will be fine. Ask for help and say ‘no’. Don’t try to do it all. You also don’t have to follow all the rules.”
- “My mom’s level of productivity, positivity, and helpfulness is unmatched. But, despite having fairly different personalities, a lot of our parenting values are the same—lots of love and flexibility, but with high expectations.”
- “Meeting new people! I'm still new here, and still figuring it all out.”
- “I am super grateful for my mom and my sister-in-law for giving me good examples of how to raise happy children and enjoy parenting without making yourself crazy. It’s sort of a low-maintenance, go-with-the-flow approach.”
- “I don’t read a lot of parenting books, but I read Twelve Hours’ Sleep By Twelve Weeks Old and Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child, which was written by my childhood pediatrician. I thought I had the world’s most stubborn sleeper because my child is literally never tired, but I followed both of these books consistently, within moderation, and she sleeps really well.”
- “It’s challenging, but everything shifts and changes, so I just reevaluate our needs every few months and try not to put so much pressure on being perfect. There will be a time in my life when things slow down. For now, I’m getting better at asking for help.”
- “Yes!”
-
“It’s been an adventure. I’d only been here once for a brief weekend before we moved, so it was all new to me. It’s so nice to have a car, space, great schools, and lower cost of living. There is no place like New York, but Dallas is a really wonderful place to raise a family. It’s easy.”
Elle wears Zara jeans, a blouse from Dondolo, and a Mademoiselle À Soho sweater.
- “Our families aren’t here, but Elle’s grandparents will be here at the drop of the hat. Literally, I texted my mom in the middle of the night once, and she was on the next plane to Dallas. We also have some close friends in the city who we can always count on, and a nanny who shares our values for raising Elle. And, of course, my mom friends for moral support and advice, even if we’re not in the same place physically, and non-mom friends who get it and don’t expect too much of me right now.”
-
“The weather, the space, our yard, and living in a kid-friendly city where there are high chairs at restaurants and changing tables in the bathrooms.”
Mimi wears an Ulla Johnson top and J Brand jeans.
- “Yes, I am totally open to wherever our lives take us.”
- “On weekends, we check off some errands, go out to eat, see friends, and have people over. Elle's still young enough that she doesn't mind doing a lot of adult things on the weekends. She’s just happy to hang with her parents. I know those days are numbered, so we're taking advantage.”
- “We spend a lot of time at the Dallas Arborteum, no matter what the weather. We also love the Dallas Museum of Art and Perot Museum. We love the Rustic or Truck Yard for live music and food.”
- “It’s super easy to go out because everything in Dallas is so close. We like to do drinks at The Honor Bar or Sachet, and dinner at Neighborhood Services, Gemma, Nonna, and Bolsa. We also see a lot of live music here.”
- “I’m in charge of marketing for Cos Bar—a luxury, multi-brand beauty retailer—for our 19 stores and counting, and our e-commerce site. Cos Bar was founded in 1976 in Aspen by Lily Garfield as the first speciality luxury beauty store in the U.S. It’s an unbiased, high-touch, fun beauty buying experience with the best brands in the world. Beauty is so personal, so we really focus on the needs of each individual client.”
- “After college, I moved to New York City and sort of stumbled into beauty marketing. It seemed like a natural fit for me. I worked at Bond No. 9 and Batallure Beauty before getting my MBA at Columbia. Then, I went to Net-A-Porter where I did U.S. fashion marketing and global beauty marketing, and joined Cos Bar in 2016. Our headquarters moved to L.A., and my husband’s job took us to Dallas, so I’ve been lucky enough to continue my work remotely, and spend a good amount of time with the team in California and Aspen, and visit our stores across the country. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that every company I have worked for has been founded by a woman. I have always been drawn to companies that empower women in senior leadership roles, value entrepreneurship, and give everyone a seat at the table. We’re a small company, so a lot of the bureaucracy that comes along with a bigger organization doesn’t exist here. We are growing quickly, but everyone has a say in the changes that are happening.”
- “I love working with really smart, passionate, driven people. I’m surrounded by individuals who teach me new things every day. We move fast, and the world is changing quickly, so I’m never bored, and I’m always being challenged. I also genuinely love beauty. Discovering and testing products is fun for me; I love visiting our stores. I really thought I had a solid grasp on products and ingredients from a decade spent in this industry, but every time I go into a store, I learn something new about what is best for me and my skin.”
- “I don’t think my career path has changed because I became a mother. But, I think my approach to work has changed for the better. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to leave a 12-week-old at home, but I’m so glad I forced myself to get to work in those early days. It took me a while to get back into the swing of things, but now I think that being a mother is a total asset in the workplace. I don’t waste a minute of my workday. I’m better at juggling priorities, and I think I’m more empathetic, certainly towards other working parents.”
-
“Mornings are rushed, so I have a super quick routine: exfoliate and cleanse, then serum, lightweight moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen. I use a variety of products and often change it up day to day. I think the most effective part of my skincare routine is making sure that I exfoliate. Right now, I use Lancer’s Polish. It immediately makes your skin look brighter, and I feel like it creates a smoother foundation for any skincare or makeup I put on after it. I love Tata Harper’s cleansers, specifically the Nourishing Oil Cleanser and Regenerating Cleanser. They go on dry skin, smell amazing, and never dry out my complexion. The oil-based cleansers can also work as a makeup remover. For serum, I love BioEffect’s EGF Serum. I let it sink in for a bit, and then apply a lightweight moisturizer. I love one that illuminates. If I’m feeling dry, I put it over a face cream. For the eyes, AmorePacific and Sisley have some amazing products. Finally, I follow with a sunscreen like Chantecaille’s Ultra Sun Protection, which is super lightweight, or La Prairie, which is heavier.
Before bed, I repeat the morning skincare routine, but add oil and a thicker moisturizer. La Mer is an all-time favorite; I swear it has changed my skin. But, I also love the Goop Night Cream. For oil, I’m currently using Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil.
A few times a week, I do some skincare treatments, like a mask or a peel. I also only do my hair a couple of times a week; heat styling spray, blow-dry, and curl. In between, I use dry texturizing spray and the reliable ponytail.
-
My thirty-second makeup routine consists of quickly applying concealer under my eyes and around my nose, followed by DiorShow Iconic Mascara and a hydrating tinted lip balm. I keep tinted lip balms in my car, bags, and desk. If I have a few more minutes, I add some steps. Cle De Peau’s cream foundations are amazing, and never cake or feel too heavy. I had never used foundation before I was introduced to this product. So that I’m not all one color, I follow with blush, bronzer, and highlighter. I gravitate towards cream formulas that I can apply with my fingers and throw in my bag. Sometimes, I’ll add a neutral eyeshadow. Right now, I’m loving Chantecaille’s Save The Forest Palette. It has some bronze-y browns that are beautiful. Finally, I layer a few coats of mascara, and I’m good to go.
Some products I love include: Tata Harper’s Be Adored, Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noir Lipstick, Rodin Lip Balm, and lipsticks by Kjaer Weis and Tom Ford for lips; Clea De Peau for concelear; I love highlighters by Chantecaille and Tom Ford, and stick-cream bronzer by Trish McEvoy; Finally, Cle De Peau cream blush.
Some other products I am currently loving include: the Tata Harper Purifying Mask and Boosted Contour Eye Mask, the AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel and Time Response Targeted Eye Mask, Natura Bisse Inhibit Patches, and the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and Gold Lust and Beautiful color lines.”
- “I love sleeping! I never get enough, but if we’re going through a particularly difficult sleep phase, I just try to go to bed earlier. I’m pretty good about taking vitamins and supplements. 8G tablets are so easy, I keep them in my purse. I don’t have much (read: any) time for exercise, so that’s a future goal—someday!”
- “There’s being a parent and work, but there’s also marriage, family, and friends. There aren’t enough hours in the day to do them all. Work is always on. It’s easy to find myself glued to my phone when I’m with Elle. But, I do my best to be present. When I’m traveling, we FaceTime as much as possible, and when I’m in Dallas, we spend mornings and evenings together. I take what I can get!”
- “A pedicure or haircut. My sister-in-law told me that even the dentist counts as her ‘me time’. I’ve taken a few girls’ trips. Other than that, having friends over and a good TV show. I love TV.”
Write a Comment
Share this story
Oh where to start with this gorgeous, barefoot mama! Mimi is breathtakingly barefoot, and for the first time I find it so difficult to pick any favorites. They all are! We can start with picture #16. Her bare soles look so alluring, so sensual. Then we have the series of pictures where Mimi is wearing the long floral skirt and black top. I can’t even find the words to describe the barefoot beauty of it all. Picture #57 is simply exquisite. Jeans, black top and bare feet go so perfectly together. Mimi’s dark pedicure and her yummy toes facing the camera so sensually make this series one of the best. Mimi, thank you for sharing your home and your gorgeous bare feet with us!