Carine Roitfeld's Last Vogue Paris

Just in time for the release on newsstands tomorrow, our Paris editor-at-large Milla Msa shares with us her monthly review of Vogue Paris; the news is bittersweet because of course the March issue is Carine Roitfeld's last. One bit of sweetness: I was thrilled to see that Carine chose a photograph of herself to illustrate her last editorial and best of all the photograph was taken by Pierre-Alban HF from The Crowd, a regular contributor to the site. In fact, I am delighted to note that this same photo appeared on I Want To Be A Roitfeld last December in "Carine Roitfeld In The Crowd." Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Pierre!

Carine Roitfeld's Last Vogue Paris
By Milla Msa 

Everybody you know and their priest has been talking about it for months and here it is, on my dining table: Carine Roitfeld’s last issue of Vogue Paris. How lucky am I?! Very, people, very. The cover, which some find dull and, well, lacking in Carine’s usual controversy is considerably better in reality though I’m still not sold on Saskia de Brauw’s eyebrows. I’ll get the negatives out of the way first: far too much advertising. It’s like the September issue of Vogue US, and that’s not a good thing.

Carine’s handwritten "Edito" is positive, grateful, and there is a real you-have-not-seen-the-last-of-me vibe. Her sign-off reminds us to look out for our girl. I love the final line:

“C’est parce que tout doit finir que tout est si beau... À bientôt.”

The more I learn about Carine — and it only hit me recently when I read her Style.com interview — the more I respect her. This is a woman who does her best and as long as she’s happy with that, who cares what others think. Of course I don’t know her, and what you see of any public figure isn’t enough to judge, but I get the impression that Carine is strong, honest, and very genuine. Sweet, no, but yes, there is something very genuine about her. I love the personal touch of her words by her hand and add the background image of Madame Roitfeld with her trademark hair-in-face pose which just screams confidence. [Editor's note: This is the photograph by Pierre-Alban HF.]

She thanks Condé Nast chairman Jonathan Newman for allowing her to completely express herself. More importantly, she thanks us — the Vogue Paris readers for our loyalty to the magazine. Was Carine sacked? Did she agree to start Vanity Fair/Harper’s in France? When will we next see her? I don’t have the answers (yet) but this issue could not have arrived at a better time. It has reminded me to stay focused and to do what is right for me as Carine’s tone mirrors the motto I adopted at 18 years old: “Absolutely no regrets.” I cannot wait to see what she does next. I am going on record as calling this the best Vogue Paris "Edito" ever.

One thing we don’t see very often in Vogue Paris are new designers, so why now? Sonia Rachline write about several new London-based designers from Louise Gray to Mary Katrantzou to Michael van der Ham — names to watch. I love that Vogue Paris is bigging up my city!

“Coeur a corps perdu” is the first Madame Roitfeld editorial of her last issue and features the cover model, Saskia, and Daphne. It’s sexual, confusing, and... well... odd but in the best possible way. The grainy, film-like images set this editorial apart from the rest, though I still don’t know what film it is based on. If it’s obvious, I’m sorry. I only started watching television and film three years ago when I met my husband. Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, we see stunning pieces from Vivienne Westwood, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, and Miu Miu. Does anybody else feel a voyeurism vibe here? Hmmn...

So there you have it. She is gone and now Madame Alt is at the helm of my favourite magazine. I have been an avid reader of Vogue Paris since 2001. I’m curious about the changes and I must admit that Emmanuelle putting Gisele on the cover doesn’t bode well with me. We will see... Tell me, what do you think about Carine’s last issue?

À bientôt Madame Roitfeld...

Read the full review

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

I Want To Be A Roitfeld: New Look

I am excited to share with you a brand new look for I Want To Be A Roitfeld! The lovely and talented artist Isabelle Oziol de Pignol has illustrated a wonderful new banner for the site featuring the three Roitfelds wearing my favorite outfits: Julia is characteristically adorable yet sexy in a simple white sheath paired with black Yves Saint Laurent Tributes and the Alexander McQueen skull clutch to complete her look; Carine is elegant in black leather and denim, the epitome in rock chic; Vladimir is dashing in his typical black on black ensemble. Visit Isabelle at Accro de la Mode to view more of her amazing fashion illustrations. Isabelle, je vous remercie de tout mon cœur.

I Want To Be A Roitfeld image © 2011 Kellina de Boer. All Rights Reserved.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld At Fashion Week

Earlier today in London, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld was brilliant at the Burberry Prorsum A/W 2011 show in a silver python biker coat by the label. Notice how she heightens the effect of the stunning piece by wearing it against an entirely black background. Très sexy, très chic !

For a retrospective of Julia's looks last week at New York Fashion Week, visit the photo gallery.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photographs courtesy of daylife.com and bellasugar.com.au

Roitfelds At New York Fashion Week: Wild, Tough, Money

I have so many tidbits about the Roitfelds at New York Fashion Week for you! First, clearly, we see Carine Roitfeld enjoying her freedom from the bonds of Vogue Paris, errr, dancing in her booth at Indochine following her son Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld's New York premier of RETNA. Carine is joined by makeup artist Tom Pecheux, not sure who they are beckoning to join them sur la banquette... lucky soul...

Next up, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld walks us through a week from his wardrobe by way of "SoHo Gallery? Black, of Course" in The New York Times. He certainly does wear a lot of black and like his mother he tends to repeat the same pieces. Poor Vlad had an unlucky week — in a mere seven days, he ruined a pair of black Dior jeans while meeting with artist José Parlá and then fell ill with a sinus infection just in time for his mother's amfAR gala benefit and his own RETNA opening the following day. But Vladimir is a trooper and he was there to make sure the show went on despite his illness. He even managed to hold down a booth at Indochine afterwards. Only to meet with another stroke of bad luck: Vlad mentioned to Swide Magazine that he and Giovanna Battaglia could not be together for their second Valentine's Day as a couple, "Her grandmother is very sick at the moment so she has to stay with her family." At least RETNA's works are selling at upwards of $30,000 apiece, hang tough, Vlad!

Both Vladimir and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld attended the party that V Man held to celebrate their Kanye West cover at which it literally rained money. Approximately $5,000 in real money and untold amounts of fake cash showered party guests on the dance floor of new hot spot Mondrian Soho including Kanye West, Keri Hilson, Alexander Wang, Harley Viera-Newton, Bryanboy, Vera Wang, Sean Lennon, Sean Avery, Zoe Kravitz, Prabal Gurung, Leigh Lezark, Brad Goreski, and Richard Chai. I hope the Roitfeld duo got lucky and picked up legit bills. View more party photos at wwd.com.

Carine Roitfeld photograph courtesy of refinery29.com, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld photograph © 2011 The New York Times Company, V Man party photos courtesy of stylecaster.com, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photograph courtesy of daylife.com.

Carine Roitfeld's First Vogue Paris Cover

I am proud to feature the first article contributed by Milla Msa, our newly appointed editor-at-large in Paris — a very special review in which she reflects on her memorable first encounter with not only Carine Roitfeld, but her personal favorite (as well as Carine's), Kate Moss in the editorial "Noir Blanc"...

Carine Roitfeld's First Vogue Paris Cover
By Milla Msa 

Back in February 2001, when I was just 19 years old, a platinum blonde Kate Moss peeked out at me from the cover of Vogue Paris and there at the newsagents in Victoria station, I was hooked. All of those years ago, I was oblivious to Carine Roitfeld's name and status but what I knew, even in my state of fashion ignorance, was that Vogue Paris was different, and by different I mean better. Way better.

If you have followed Carine's personal style, you will see that this editorial, featured in her very first issue of Vogue Paris and titled 'Noir Blanc,' epitomises her minimalist Parisian chic and sets the tone for the magazine over the next decade. Wearing the likes of Balenciaga, Dior, Gucci, and Jean Paul Gaultier, Carine introduces a short-haired Kate Moss to Vogue Paris readers with her trademark 'understated luxe.' The dream team pairing of Kate modelling, Carine styling, and Mario Testino behind the lens perfectly captures the coolness of La Roitfeld, then new editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, and boldly hints at the provocation to come.

As to what Carine does next, who knows? One thing is for sure: her timeless first issue will never go out of style.

Read more of Milla's incisive insights on fashion (and life!) at Not Just Another Milla.

Vogue Paris editorial images © 2001 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.