Vogue Paris Translation: Editorial, October 2009

Here is my attempt to translate Carine Roitfeld's editorial for the October issue of Vogue Paris from French to English. If native French speakers have suggestions to improve the translation, please do let me know.

On sait que la mode a pour vocation de créer de l'éphémère. De souffler sans cesse sur les braises du désir, de huiler la mécanique de l'envie et, pour ce faire, de brûler ce qu'elle a inventé six mois plus tôt dans un éternel cycle de création-destruction grisant mais implacable. Dans ce tourbillon du glamour, elles incarnent la stabilité, le rêve sans fin. Top models. Avec elles, sont nées au milieu des années 80 ces trois syllabes synonymes de beauté défiant le lois de la raison, de mensurations vertige, de charisme à faire pâlir les stars de Hollywood, de contrats en millions de dollars, de love-stories paparazzées au kilomètre. Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova, Yasmin Le Bon, Kristen McMenamy... sont les grandes actrices de la ‹‹gloss épopée›› de la mode, des fantasmes pour des millions d'hommes, des idoles pour autant de petites filles. Elles trustent le haut de l'affiche et leur aura cloue le bec au temps qui passe. Quel est leur secret? Un mystère. Et c'est mieux ainsi. On ne sous-titre pas la légende.

We know that fashion aims to create the ephemeral. Constantly fanning the embers of desire, oiling the mechanics of lust, burning what she invented six months earlier in an eternal cycle of creation and destruction that is exhilarating but relentless. In this swirl of glamour, they embody stability, the endless dream. Top models. With them an era was born in the mid 1980s in which the three syllables became synonymous with beauty that defies the law of reason, the measurement of giddiness, the charisma that makes the stars of Hollywood fade, the contracts in the millions of dollars, the paparazzi love stories by the kilometer. Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova, Yasmin Le Bon, Kristen McMenamy... are the great actresses of the "glossy era" of fashion, the phantasms for millions of men, the idols for as many young girls. They monopolize the top of the bill and they grow silent as time passes. What is their secret? A mystery. And it's better this way. The legend is not subtitled.

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

Carine Roitfeld On "Sept à Huit"

Carine Roitfeld appeared on "Sept à Huit" in Paris this week with host Harry Roselmack. They include lots of wonderful outtakes from the runways, the front rows, and back stage at Paris Fashion Week, including Carine's early years as a stylist, c'est fantastique ! One sour note: you can clearly see Carine holding a cigarette in one of the scenes pictured here, whereas I had read in interviews that she did not smoke. Notice that two of the only objects cluttering Carine's minimalist Vogue Paris office are the books by Martin Margiela and Raphael Mazzucco. You can watch Carine Roitfeld on "Sept à Huit" here.

Carine Roitfeld photo stills courtesy of "Sept à Huit"

Vogue Paris October 2009 DVD Gift

Bundled with the October issue of Vogue Paris is this DVD cadeau entitled Dans les pas d'un maquilleur star Peter Philips en 80 jours (80 Days in the Life of Makeup Artist Peter Philips). Also part of the DVD gift: more than 19 minutes with Carine Roitfeld as she shares her observations on the Autumn/Winter 2010 collections designer by designer. Elle est superbe !

Dans les pas d'un maquilleur star Peter Philips en 80 jours images © 2009 Condé Nast.

Carine Roitfeld Interviews

I am delighted to see that videos of Carine Roitfeld at Paris Fashion Week are being posted online, here's a compendium of the highlights thus far for you to see:

• Vogue covers expo sur les Champs-Elysées
• 90th anniversary of Vogue Paris
• Balmain Spring/Summer 2010

Carine Roitfeld at Paris Fashion Week photo still courtesy of dailymotion.com

Update on mardi 13 octobre 2009 by kellina

• Carine Roitfeld on Spring/Summer 2010
• Alexander Wang Spring/Summer 2010

Roitfeld: Black, Brown, and Brava

Speaking of best dressed, I am so smitten with Carine Roitfeld's recent looks blending black and brown with complete aplomb. I consider it a challenge to combine brown with black tastefully but Carine does it with ease. The boots she is wearing here are killer, I love the way they lace up over the knee. The coat is by Prada and I like how the classic details are exaggerated ever so slightly.

Carine and Kate Moss are seated front row for the Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2010 show last night and as you've probably heard, Kate's shirt left little to the imagination. For example, notice where eye level falls for the gentleman two seats down. He's not imagining things, it's his lucky day. Personally I'd rather look at Carine's boots. Kate is the face for YSL's new fragrance, Parisienne.

John Richmond just opened his first Paris boutique and Carine was on hand to help him celebrate his newest location. Situated on rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, the flagship store is a physical expression of the brand's evolving philosophy including installations of art and new architecture. Other John Richmond stores are located in Kiev, Capri, Porto Cervo, and Milan.

Carine Roitfeld in Prada coat photographs courtesy of stockholmstreetstyle.feber.se
Carine Roitfeld and Kate Moss at Yves Saint Laurent for Paris Fashion Week © 2009 Splash
Carine Roitfeld and John Richmond photograph © 2009 Dominique Charriau/WireImage for John Richmond. All Rights Reserved.