Vogue Paris Translation: Editorial, March 2010

Here is my translation from French to English of Carine Roitfeld's editorial for the March issue of Vogue Paris which features Rose Cordero and the headline Spécial Mode Coup d'éclat militaire:

La mode s'inspire de tout, formidable machine à lifter le passe, digérer l'air du temps et répercuter sur les podiums les sautes d'humeur de la société. Effet crise oblige, flambée des doutes, perception soudaine de la vie comme un combat : il n'en fallait pas plus pour que la saison encense le kaki, les épaulettes d'officier, les vêtements lacérés comme après un tour au front, et que les créateurs, de Jean Paul Gaultier à Balmain, s'emparent de l'esprit militaire. Une tendance délicate s'il en est — il n'est pas question de ressembler à une Che-guevarette premier degré — que ce numéro de Vogue a choisi de décoder en misant sur les mélanges et l'intemporalite. Également au sommaire de ce numéro, un escadron de femmes dans l'actualité, d'Emmanuelle Seigner à Phoebe Philo, le nouveau capitaine de Céline, en passant par l'Anglaise Antonia Fraser qui publie ce mois-ci un livre inspiré de ses journaux intimes, de ses trente-trois ans de vie aux côtés du prix Nobel Harold Pinter. Une confession émouvante, les brillantes coulisses d'un couple soudé par l'esprit qu'Antonia Fraser ne peut mieux résumer qu'en disant : "Vivre ensemble était merveilleux." Rien de tel pour oublier les tourments du monde.

Fashion inspires all, a formidable machine that puts spin on the passage, absorbs the spirit of the times and reflects on the podiums the mood of society. Crisis requires action, flames the doubts, the sudden perception of life as combat: it was not enough for the season to praise khaki, the officer's epaulets, the clothing lacerated after a tour of duty, and creators from Jean Paul Gaultier to Balmain, seized the military spirit. It is a tricky trend — there is no question of a resemblance to a Che-guevarette in the first degree — that this issue of Vogue has chosen to decode by focusing on the blends and the timelessness. Also summarized in this issue, a squadron of women in the news, from Emmanuelle Seigner to Phoebe Philo, the new captain of Céline, and passing by Brit Antonia Fraser who publishes this month a book inspired by her intimate diaries, of her thirty-three years of life at the side of Nobel laureate Harold Pinter [titled Must You Go?]. A moving confession, the brilliant scenes of a couple welded by the spirit which Antonia Fraser can best summarize by saying: "To live together was marvelous." Nothing like it to forget the torments of the world.

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2010 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Style Revolution]

Thank you for the translation.. I enjoyed the editorial.

[kellina]

I appreciate you saying so, Tracy! I enjoyed it too, I like especially how so many of Carine's word choices contribute to the strength of the military metaphor.

[if jane]

i bought it today mostly because of the interview with phoebe philo..;))

[kellina]

that is a great reason, jane! phoebe is truly an inspiration, i wish there were more photographs of her with the article though.

[Kate]

I love her way with words.

[kellina]

As do I, Kate! And I am happy to report that as my translation skills improve, it seems that Carine's way with words is coming across better in the English version. Slowly but surely...

; )

[Amina]

I'm amazed - Antonia Fraser covered in Vogue, and being quoted by Carine in the editorial! I'm going to buy the issue, though it might be a bit hard to find it in Sydney??

[kellina]

Amina, I would say that Carine is a woman of unsuspected depth, but that's just me wanting to quote Philadelphia Story! Of course La Roitfeld has superb taste in authors as well as couturiers.

; )

I'd be glad to buy the issue and mail it to you (do you do paypal?). Alternately, if you want the bits about Antonia only, I can scan for you. Just let me know how to reach you...

[Amina]

Thanks so much Kellina, very kind, I'll go on a Vogue hunt over the weekend - happy to take you up on the offer if I have no success :)

[kellina]

Sure, Amina, just let me know. One caveat: the new issue often appears in the US around the first of the month so they may be taking the March edition off the shelves this week... If we miss it, I promise to scan so you can at least have that.