Carine Roitfeld: In Peru

In August 1993, Carine Roitfeld collaborated with photographer Mario Testino and supermodel Helena Christensen to create one of her most famous editorials for French Glamour, "Au Pérou, chez les Incas," (or in English, "In Peru, home of the Incas"). The shoot pays tribute to the style of Martin Chambi who was renowned for his photographs documenting the provincial society of Peru at the turn of the 20th century. Interestingly, both Testino and Christensen have roots in Peru: Mario was born in the capital city of Lima and Helena's mother is of Peruvian descent.

In another familial connection, Christensen wore a sweater that belonged to Carine's father for one of the shots. As La Roitfeld explains, "My life is mixed with my work, so there’s no weekend, it’s everything mixed — fashion and life. I have a picture of my dad where he is wearing a Peruvian sweater and then we have Helena Christensen wearing the same sweater in a fashion shoot for French Glamour in Peru. Everything is mixed. I think this is charming. It’s something personal."

Also from 1993
"Gold Rush" Marie Claire
"Sacrée Christy" Glamour France

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French Glamour August 1993 editorial © 1993 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld: Make Love, Not War

For the November 1992 issue of French Glamour, Carine Roitfeld styled an editorial titled, "Faites l'amour pas la guerre," or in English, "Make love, not war." The spreads feature Helena Christensen and Kate Moss as well as other models that I am unable to identify, please let me know if you can help. Mario Testino shot the images in which our favorite stylist clearly displays her allegiance to military chic. I always love Carine's way with words and her opening line for the editorial is brilliant: "Imbattable sur le front de la mode :  le genre militaire. Version chic ou vraie fripe, l'uniforme a retourné sa veste : il est passé dans le camp du Flower Power." (or in English, "Unbeatable on the fashion front: the military type. A chic version true or thrifted, the uniform has turned his coat: he went into the camp of Flower Power.") My favorite detail is the inscription of "love" and "you" on the eyelids, trés chou.

Also from 1992
"Monaco" Glamour France

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French Glamour November 1992 editorial © 1992 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld: Le Pin-Up Style

Today’s treat is a glamorous editorial by Carine Roitfeld from 1991, “Le Pin-up Style” which appeared in the January issue of ELLE France that year. Inspired by the work of legendary pin-up artist Alberto Vargas, Carine arranged models Yasmeen Ghauri, Estelle Lefébure, Angie Everhart, and Beri Smither in classic pin-up poses as Mario Testino captured the fantasy on film. I adore the film noir influence, the old-fashioned telephone makes a clever prop and the winged eyeliner with red hot lips and nails is perfection.

Also from 1991
"Le jean libertin" Elle France

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Carine Roitfeld for ELLE France © 1991 Condé Nast and courtesy of kelles via Fashion Spot.

Carine Roitfeld: Mosaiques Orientales

In the editorial "Mosaïques Orientales,” Carine Roitfeld teamed with supermodel Helena Christensen and photographer Friedemann Hauss for the June 1990 issue of ELLE France and it looks a lot like The Night Porter filmed against the backdrop of the cavern of Ali Baba. I love the names that Carine imagined for each of the photos: “La préféré du sultan”... “Shéhérazade 90”... “ Divine”... “Les motifs font impression”... Helena Christensen is radiant amongst a mélange of jewelry and treasured tile as fashion and art blend to form a memorable mosaic against the blue sky.

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Carine Roitfeld for ELLE France © 1990 Condé Nast and courtesy of automne-roi20.livejournal.com via Fashion Spot.

Relating To Carine Roitfeld

I am happy to introduce another winning essay from our The Little Black Jacket contest — “Relating To Carine Roitfeld” by Jessica Eritou. She is truly inspired by Carine Roitfeld: she finds the motivation to pursue dreams that she once thought unattainable by emulating Carine's kinder and gentler approach to fashion. Many thanks, Jessica, for sharing your passion!

Relating To Carine Roitfeld
By Jessica Eritou

I find fashion intimidating. It is intimidating from the notion of if you have taste or if you do not — you are born with or without it. Carine Roitfeld helped me ease into the fashion world, making it not such a scary place after all.

When I was much younger, I would look up to older girls in awe of what they would wear and try to emulate it similarly with the hand-me-downs sent from my cousins. Usually they were elasticized denim leggings or crewneck sweaters. I dreamed of the day my Nike tracksuits would be as cool as the girls in the upper grades wearing Club Monaco sweatshirts.

Now I do merchandising at one of Canada's higher end retailers while I am working on my degree to later work in the industry. But at the beginning of this, I thought this was as far as I could get and I would never dream of meeting anyone who is anyone.

Being from Canada, fashion was never considered important or emulated yet I had the urge to be a part of it. Thankfully I could escape with Fashion Television in the afternoons and watch Jeanne Beker go backstage at Gucci to see Tom, or congratulate John at Dior (which I could never relate to), or thank Marc (back in his Coke bottle glasses days) for a great collection. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a part of the fashion world, but it seemed so exclusive and inaccessible. Everything looked to be extravagant and deemed “cold” like Anna Wintour's alleged personality.

Before I could never relate to the cold glares coming from the first row at fashion shows. Fashion to me is not something that you should hide with your emotions. It is an outlet. It is freedom to show your thoughts, ideas, and imagination. I think the giddiest I have been was when I saw Carine at the latest Dior show (being a fan of Raf since I was 16 or so and he was at Jil Sander).

It was not until I discovered Carine Roitfeld that I felt I could be part of the fashion world. Carine's effortless and refined style was relatable to me. I could connect with someone with such a prestigious career who does not look like the catwalks of Galliano-era Dior, or McQueen at McQueen. Her maximal minimalist style was what I found so endearing in the first place. Here is her sweet, genuine, charming, and gracious personality which is still chic and can still do a great job styling and being an editor at Vogue (at the time). In her shoots or her campaigns, I can always connect with her ideas, her impressions, and her overall aesthetic which keeps me motivated to become even better at my current job in merchandising which funds all of my schooling. Because of Carine, I continue my path to apply to graduate studies in fashion in hopes of styling and journalism.

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Carine Roitfeld photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot.