BOBBI BROWN IS BACK

She built an empire and left it. Now she's doing it all over again.

- KATHLEEN HOU

Bobbi Brown has always been pragmatic about beauty, with the air of a mom who tells you with no-duh confidence that yes, you would look better if you slouched less, and used a little blush. The only contour she likes, she tells me, is Spanx for her middle, and she made a blue eye shadow only once (it didn’t sell well). Common sense and simplicity were at the core of Brown’s brand. That is, until she did a series of things that didn’t seem entirely logical.