Carine Roitfeld: Stylist

In 2007, Rizzoli published a fascinating book, Stylist: The Interpreters of Fashion, which collects the work of sixteen legendary image makers as selected by Style.com, and of course Carine Roitfeld made this exclusive list. Browsing the lavish volume is a fashion education unto itself, with influential stylists such as Polly Mellen, Grace Coddington, Edward Enninful, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, and Karl Templer sharing memorable collaborations and sources of inspiration via interviews with Sarah Mower. Among the talented photographers that collaborated on these iconic images are Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, and Juergen Teller. Raul Martinez provided the creative direction for Stylist and Anna Wintour penned the foreword, in which she admits that as a fashion sittings editor she was never particularly good, although she certainly recognizes and champions editors that are particularly good. Which of her most memorable works did Carine Roitfeld choose to share in Stylist: The Interpreters of Fashion? I was hoping you would ask…

"The Butcher" 
The Face, 1997
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld
Model: Eva Herzigova
Photographer: Mario Testino

I love that Carine selected three images from her unforgettable editorial, "The Butcher," the work she considers her most compelling. Also notable, a print of the image above hangs in the home of art connoisseur Simon de Pury.

"Au Pérou, chez les Incas"
French Glamour, August 1993
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld
Model: Helena Christensen
Photographer: Mario Testino

This is one of the most famous of the Roitfeld/Testino collaborations for French Glamour, as well as personal: the location honors the photographer's Peruvian childhood and the model wore a Peruvian sweater belonging to the stylist's father. Trop mignon, non ?

"Néo-Moderne"
French Glamour, 1994
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld
Model: Nadja Auermann
Photographer: Mario Testino

This is the other most famous of the Roitfeld/Testino collaborations for French Glamour, again with a personal angle: the spread is shot in the néo-moderne apartment of Carine Roitfeld and Christian Restoin. Note also that the model lounges about wearing Gucci loafers, attracting the attention of Tom Ford and leading to one of the sexiest collaborations in fashion history.

Gucci by Tom Ford
Collection stills and ad campaign, 1995
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld
Photographer: Mario Testino

While Tom Ford is a talented designer and Mario Testino is an accomplished photographer, Carine Roitfeld must be credited with conducting the electricity that created the iconic Gucci look of 1995. As The New York Times observed at the time, "Imagine waking up one morning expecting Harriet Nelson to be making your breakfast and instead found Raquel Welch, circa 1968, beating the eggs."

"Corps & Lames"
Vogue Paris, February 2005
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld
Model: Gemma Ward
Photographer: Mario Testino

Gemma Ward is anything but innocent in "Corps & Lames," Carine's bizarrely beautiful homage to meat… and polka dots… and sheers… oh my…

Other material that Carine chose to share were images of herself as a young girl, with her family, with her Vogue Paris staff, and of her inspiration board, as well as the portrait below captured by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in March 2003 for V Magazine.

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Carine Roitfeld editorial images © 2007 Rizzoli. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Mike]

Très magnifique! Kellina, you have outdone yourself. My favorite is Gucci by Tom Ford, 1995. I love the way they are all looking in different directions.

[kellina]

My darling Michael... your comments buoy me... how I would love to model these visions in velvet and silk and mohair for you...

[Cca]

Amazing work. I am interested in every image

[Bernie]

I love all her work! They're all divine! They all like at the perfect moment during that time! Just hate the fact that she helped promoted the stupid kardashian-jenner-gigi hadid ugh

[kellina]

Cca, I am delighted to hear that this one interested you and I am happy to know that you are still reading along, thank you!

[kellina]

Bernie, such an interesting choice of words:"They all like at the perfect moment during that time". You reminded me of the very first sentence introducing the book, which I loved, so I will quote it here: "Image-makers, trendsetters, tastemakers, visionaries: Stylists possess the rare ability to cast a spell over the world around them and tap into the creative consciousness of a moment." Now, on to your intense dislike for reality TV stars: that's where we are in this moment! Carine is simply tapping into it as a stylist must. Frankly I was embarrassed by my interest in RHOBH (caused by Carine, fed by Yo and Gigi and Bella oh my!) until this month's Interview in which Jennifer Lawrence and Eddie Redmayne discuss their obsession with the Real Housewives. Like it or not, it is real and it is now. (Note: I KNOW you don't like it!)

;-)

[Paul Kolyer]

Love this book! Now Stylists are reality stars, (Rachel Zoe) , remember little gold chairs and models holding numbers???

[kellina]

Incroyable n'est-ce pas, Paul...