Vogue Paris Translation: Editorial, November 2009

Here is my translation from French to English of Carine Roitfeld's editorial for the November issue of Vogue Paris:

‹‹Dans le mot luxe, il y a l'idée de "think different." Ce qui vous permet d'émerger, c'est votre originalité››, dit Youcef Nabi, le nouveau président de Lancôme, étonnante personnalité au générique de ce numéro. Si le luxe et l'originalité sont deux traits de caractère de Vogue, ce mois-ci, nous allons plus loin et vivons la mode à l'extrême. Extrême dans les idées, l'inspiration et la démesure. Jungle fourrure à la ville, style ethnique et corps tagués façon Keith Haring, haute couture et ‹‹street spirit››… l'audace et la personnalité sont les armes de la saison. Deux qualités dont Leonor Scherrer ne manque pas : fille de couturier, ce prototype de la Parisienne idéale fourmille de projets, dont le lancement d'une ligne de vêtements de deuil en collaboration avec les plus grands créateurs baptisée ‹‹funeral couture››. Vous ne connaissez pas Aby Rosen ? C'est normal. Ce magnat de l'immobilier basé aux États-Unis est réputé pour sa discrétion. Pour la première fois, il ouvre les portes de sa maison de New York, véritable objet de curiosité qui renferme l'une de plus étonnantes collections d'art au monde : Bacon, Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Twombly, etc. Une visite privée qu'apprécierait sans doute l'artiste italien Francesco Vezzoli, invité par le MOCA de Los Angeles à imaginer un happening pour les trente ans du musée. En exclusivité pour Vogue, il dévoile les premières images d'un projet fou, espérance de vie quelques minutes, qui mélange au shaker le Bolchoï, Damien Hirst, David Hockney et Lady Gaga. Un coup de folie né d'un désir extrême. C'est on ne peut plus tendance.

"In the word luxe, there is the idea of 'think different.' What permits you to emerge, this is your originality," said Youcef Nabi, the new president of Lancôme, an astonishing personality with the credit for this issue. If luxury and originality are two character traits of Vogue this month, we go further and live fashion to the extreme. Extreme in the ideas, the inspiration and the disproportion. Jungle fur in the city, ethnic style and body tags in the fashion of Keith Haring, haute couture and "street spirit"... audacity and personality are the weapons of the season. Two qualities which Leonor Scherrer does not lack: daughter of a dressmaker, this prototype of the Parisian ideal swarms with projects, including launching a line of mourning clothes in collaboration with the greatest creators baptized "funeral couture". You do not know Aby Rosen? This is normal. This tycoon of real estate based in the United States is famous for his discretion. For the first time, he opens the doors of his house in New York, a true object of curiosity which contains one of the more astonishing collections of art in the world: Bacon, Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons, Twombly, etc. A private visit which would undoubtedly be appreciated by Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli, invited by the MOCA of Los Angeles to imagine a happening for the thirtieth anniversary of the museum. Exclusively for Vogue, he reveals the first images of an insane project, with a life expectancy of a few minutes, which mixes with the shaker Bolshoi, Damien Hirst, David Hockney and Lady Gaga. An act of madness born of an extreme desire. This could not be more in vogue.

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Bellissima Battaglia

Giovanna Battaglia photograph courtesy of easyfashion.blogspot.com

Indochine Now In Print

J'adore the cover of the newly published Indochine: Stories, Shaken and Stirred, a beautiful book that captures the beautiful people celebrating, merrymaking, moving, and shaking in this hallowed fashion hangout over the last quarter of a century. Notice I didn't actually say eating... Look at all the special occasions the Roitfelds have spent at Indochine as proof of its goodness: birthdays, graduations, art opening afterparties. Contributors to the book include Julianne Moore, Patrick McMullan, Moby, Tom Sachs, Salman Rushdie, Narciso Rodriguez, Patrick Demarchelier, Francesco Clemente, Helmut Lang, Julian Schnabel, Roxanne Lowit, and many other notables. T Magazine held a fascinating interview with Jean-Marc Houmard about the 25th anniversary of Indochine and the publication of the book; Houmard joined forces with Huy Chi Le and Michael Callahan to buy Indochine in 1992.

Indochine: Stories, Shaken and Stirred cover image courtesy of Amazon

Restoin-Roitfeld Curates Pol's "Martus Maw"

Only a few days now until the opening of the next exhibit curated by art dealer Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, "The Martus Maw" featuring the interesting art of Nicolas Pol. Clearly influenced by graffiti, Pol's work is a perfect choice to follow Vladimir's most recent exhibit, "Richard Hambleton—New York," tying the old school street art to the new. I just read that Carine is flying in from Paris to help Vladimir set up the show, what a mom! Vman conducted an excellent interview with Vladimir on Pol's work, I love that the space is a converted meat market.

Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld and Nicolas Pol photograph courtesy of vman.com
Puaka almond [mixed media and silkscreen on canvas 132 x 217 cm]  © 2009 Nicolas Pol. All Rights Reserved.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld In London's West End

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld was seen in London's West End yesterday looking a bit more dramatic than usual. Is it the Louis Vuitton scarf she is wearing? She declared to reporters that she is on a hunt for vintage, "Mairead Lewin tomorrow and Portobello Market on Friday." Julia's boots are also by Louis Vuitton, her bag is by Marc Jacobs, and her skirt is by Balenciaga.

Photograph of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld © 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.