Vogue Paris Covers: Milla's Picks

Continuing our tribute to the influential covers created by Carine Roitfeld for Vogue Paris, our editor-at-large in Paris, Milla Msa, reflects on her favorite covers from the last decade.

Carine Roitfeld has done some amazing work and as I looked through her 100+ covers, I realized just how diverse her styling can be. After ten years of Vogue Paris, how does one top that? As we await our first glimpses of Carine's collaboration with Barneys New York, here are my five favorite covers:

Sofia Coppola by Mario Testino
December 2004/January 2005

Sofia, Sofia, Sofia — can you think of any other non-French celebrity more fitting for Vogue Paris? No, neither can I! When this issue came, I was in Asia and despite knowing that my issue would arrive at my home in London, I couldn't wait another few weeks so I snapped up a copy there and then and I have to say that the cover, photographed by legendary Mario Testino, is one of my all-time favorite images as it perfectly captures the essence of the subject.

Kate Moss by Craig McDean
December 2005/January 2006

One of Vogue Paris' regular cover models and my favorite model, Kate Moss, looked angelic on the cover of the December 2005/January 2006 issue, which she also guest edited. I'm keen to learn more about these Christmas guest edits; how do they work? Did Carine have ultimate control? Will Emmanuelle Alt continue them? With four different covers produced, Kate looked divine as she sported couture from Chanel and Valentino as well as prêt-à-porter pieces from Giorgio Armani Privé and Dior Homme.

Scarlett Johansson by Mario Sorrenti
April 2009

Given my strong disdain for celebrities on the covers of magazines, this comes as a surprising selection. Carine chose well with Scarlett and the message that she embodies: sexy, healthy curves and playful. Scarlett's killer body and rockin' new hair color disgruntled some readers but to me, this was yet another Roitfeld/Sorrenti collaboration of fabulousness!

Kate Moss by Mario Sorrenti
June/July 2010

When I saw the cover online, the seduction of Kate's tanned skin as she poses in her gorgeous swimsuit, red lipstick, et al instantly hit me and I spent the next few days literally waiting by my post box for my issue to arrive. Photographed by Mario Sorrenti, this cover was actually styled by Emmanuelle Alt. The editorial alone got me signing up for aerobics class.

Tom Ford and Daphne Groenveld by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott
December 2010/January 2011

Instantaneous love. I don't know how else to put it. It's as though Mr. Ford is taking a step back, admiring his own work, not giving two hoots as to your view, and calmly telling Mert & Marcus to take the shot. Mr. Ford has always exuded a level of confidence that borders on arrogance, yet never quite crosses the line. I find this trait so incredibly alluring. He seems to have a very similar mentality to Carine — determined, perfectionist, and self-aware. Many people were disappointed that such a young model (Daphne was just 15 years old at the time of publication) was fronting Vogue Paris, but on this rare occasion, I'm going to let that slide.

Do you have a favorite set of Vogue Paris covers?

Vogue Paris cover images © 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld For Barneys

Amidst all the flying rumors, I never heard a peep about Carine Roitfeld's new gig: Mark Lee, the new CEO for Barneys New York, has chosen her as guest editor, stylist, and muse for the fall campaign — catalog, mailers, windows, web site, even a short film! Barneys is famous for discovering and developing innovative and talented designers, so our favorite arbiter of style seems like a natural in this role. Carine will work with Barneys creative director Dennis Freedman (formerly creative director of W) and photographer Mario Sorrenti to create the new campaign. Freedman talks about the development of the relationship between Carine and Barneys: "Carine is a one of a kind talent. She is both a muse and an inspiration. She has extraordinary individual style and infectious passion, and I have always admired her work... We had a discussion about how extraordinary she is and the possibility that we might do something together. [Roitfeld] is the ideal muse as well as editor... She appeals to all ages. She is independent and strong, and yet she is completely feminine. She is a woman of the world, which we like to think our customer is, as well... the perfect reflection of our customer." 

What does Carine think about all of this? I have aggregated the various quotes she has made about her new role: "It's very exciting. It's a new kind of project for me. It's good to have a new life, because now I can do projects that I never dreamed of before. For me, Barneys has always been the biggest name in luxury department stores, so to be able to participate in this project with them, and be visible during the next fashion week in New York, is my dream come true. To a French girl, it's a big, big dream. To be on the other side with the retailers and buyers is new for me, and I always like new opportunities in my life. When I was doing my styling, most of the time I was thinking about a real woman who was going to wear the clothes. Sometimes I was thinking about myself, sometimes about a woman who really inspired me, but it was always about the woman. Working with Barneys, and choosing the looks, I was thinking about whether a real woman would buy this outfit and feel beautiful and comfortable. To be able to work in the US, with Barneys, is a dream come true. It is my first time working on the retail side of the fashion business, and I am so excited. Barneys is my favorite store in the States and partnering with them has been thrilling for me.  I am sure that one day I will, even if it’s not my own magazine, do special stories for magazines and maybe something on the Internet. I have projects and opportunities coming on. The only sure thing I know is that I will keep my freedom. I can be a muse for a designer, I can do work for some magazines, and do advertising, and maybe something like Barneys, but still keep my freedom. What I know is that I now have my freedom and I will keep my freedom forever. I am very excited to have this freedom and to have projects like the one at Barneys."

In addition to shooting the campaign, Mario Sorrenti will create a short film of Carine "being fabulous," an intimate look at her style and her world,  “allowing the retailer’s customers a more personal view of her, from her views on fashion and style to her world at large.” Sorrenti notes, "I am hoping to capture something very personal, a portrait of her in a way. When Carine and I are together, it's fun, and she is really cool and really herself, and it's that intimacy that I want to capture. She has a great sense of humour, and she is very provocative and very free in the way that she doesn't plan about who she is and what she is going to say. She is very natural, which is great." Freedman says, "Collaborating with Mario Sorrenti to capture a more intimate side of Carine that few people know is an incredible gift to be able to bring directly to the Barneys New York customer." The campaign launches in September at the Barneys flagship store on Madison Avenue so we need wait only a few months for this goodness. Happily Carine can spend more time closer to her children as a result, as she notes: "New York is my dream city, and part of my family is in New York." and we will see her seated front row for New York Fashion Week this autumn.

Carine Roitfeld photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot

Vogue Paris Covers: Kate's Picks

As a tribute to Carine Roitfeld's influential work at Vogue Paris, we have selected our favorites from her decade of amazing Vogue Paris covers. First we will hear from our editor-at-large in New York, Kate Ringo Suzuki, as she shares her thoughts on the covers that truly shine for her among Carine's brilliant creations...

Vogue Paris covers styled by Carine Roitfeld were the Sirens' call to girls like me — fashion-loving girls slumming it in the Big Apple, without a clue how to speak much less read a stitch of French. Never mind. The Vogue Paris cover called us and its melody was too seductive to ignore. Perhaps what drew us in was the dream that someday, somehow, we too could be as chic as a Parisian femme fatal temptingly clicking her way down Avenue Montaigne in her tight-ass pencil skirt and 4 inch lace-up Alaïa heels. And so despite the cost of our rent, we shelled out $15 a pop without hesitation. Oh, Carine, how you seduce!

As we bid adieu to Carine Rotifeld’s styling for Vogue Paris, let us take a walk down memory lane. I have chosen my top three personal favorite Vogue Paris covers as styled by Carine Roitfeld:

Kate Moss by Mario Testino
February 2001

Ms. Roitfeld’s first Vogue Paris cover comes out with a bang! A striking, sharp image of Kate Moss stops us in our tracks as she peers at us from behind a stick-straight platinum bob. The cover is clean and icy-cool. It has a clarity that is as crisp as a ripe apple and as sharp as a samurai’s sword. Carine, you had us at “Bonjour.”

Vanessa Paradis by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott
November 2008

Vanessa Paradis looks as if she were carved straight from marble. The Orientalism of this cover cannot be denied. Red lacquered nails frame her classic visage — made even better by her gap teeth. With red lips to match and perfect black liquid liner, I am mesmerized by her languid look.

Scarlett Johansson by Mario Sorrenti
April 2009

A vision of classic sensuality and unbridled sexiness, Scarlett Johansson practically bursts from her Dolce & Gabbana corset as we catch a voyeruristic glimpse of her from her bedroom. Her smoky eyes communicate far more than words. Oh my, we have caught her in an intimate moment. Can you say, “smoulder”? Her long, amber, wavy mane perfectly suits her creamy porcelain complexion. I cannot tear my eyes away from this image. I even love her signature at the bottom in the orange font.

Vogue Paris cover images © 2001, 2008, 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent (Again)

I am reading about the new book Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent as new news today so I am reposting my mention from a couple weeks ago in case anyone missed it. I would hate to think anyone might miss the opportunity to own the coolest fashion book ever produced! Do I sound excited? [wink]

Woo hoo! Just a quick update on the forthcoming book about the life of Carine Roitfeld that Rizzoli is publishing, it is slated to release 4 October 2011. Now titled Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent, the book is edited by Olivier Zahm with Carine, Cathy Horyn, and Amy Larocca serving as authors. The stylish 300 page hardcover biography, or "scrapbook" as Zahm calls it, is designed by Buero New York and is available for pre-order on Amazon. I can't wait to possess a copy!

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent cover image courtesy of Amazon.

Carine Roitfeld's Last Vogue Hommes International

Perhaps it is due to the infrequency of publication but we certainly paid little respect to Carine Roitfeld's other former role for Condé Nast, editor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International. The editorial torch passed to Olivier Lalanne and the Spring/Summer 2011 issue featuring James Franco is Carine's last. Terry Richardson shot the cover; inside are interviews with Riccardo Tisci, Ian McEwan, Juliette Gréco, and Jann Wenner among others. The issue appears on newsstands beginning March 18. We wish Monsieur Lalanne well in his new position, may I suggest himself for the next cover? Grrrr....

Vogue Hommes International Spring/Summer cover image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.