Carine Roitfeld: La Panthère Ose

Milla Msa, editor-at-large in Paris, shares with us her views on the controversial editorial “La Panthère Ose” styled by Carine Roitfeld and shot by Tom Ford for the December 2010/January 2011 issue of Vogue Paris. In the twisted “La Panthère Ose,” Crystal Renn is made to look like a vain, rich cougar, fighting against age for all she is worth, surrounded by a cast of assorted young male models tending to her vanity and aiding in her illusion. Thank you, Milla, for your important message; I hope anyone considering cosmetic surgery will think twice due to your wisdom.

La Panthère Ose
By Milla Msa 

I made no secret of the fact that the December 2010/January 2011 issue of Vogue Paris, guest edited by Mr. Tom Ford himself, was by far the best issue of the year. Carine Roitfeld and Tom Ford are an editorial dream team and therefore a complete delight for the reader. One of their most bizarre editorials from the issue, “La Panthère Ose,” features Crystal Renn post-plastic surgery as styled by Madame Roitfeld and photographed by Monsieur Ford. Knowing how beautiful Crystal is only serves to amp up the shock of seeing her recovering from what I view as pointless operations.

Wearing emerald green Gianvito Rossi sandals and a Carinesque zebra print by Azzedine Alaïa, it is easy to be seduced by those perfectly toned legs and rich-chick jewels but not even a beautiful Lanvin silk scarf can distract from Crystal's bandaged visage as she recovers from a full face lift and nose job. I have seen the documentaries, I know the bandages!

As we progress through "La Panthère Ose," poor Crystal just gets worse and worse. Following the full face lift, we see the beautiful model recovering from a breast augmentation. There she is, gorgeous figure, with her boyfriend (and yes, I mean “boy”) washing her. One can only imagine her pain and her fear. Why do we put bodies through this? Yes, Vogue Paris is distracting us with high fashion pieces but the reality of post-surgery remains the same for the average person. The toy-boys, a well-placed can of Diet Coke, and the bling-bling lend credence to my theory that this woman is looking for something to make her feel complete and relevant: a younger man who despite the pick of younger women wants her, a skinny figure, because in her world that's the only way to be sexy, and most of all, luxury items to keep her feeling like a goddess, all whilst covered in bandages. Oh the irony...

Few images are as powerful and disturbing as Crystal lying back with the blood from her eyelid lift clearly visible and swollen lips as she holds her head and chest in pain, whilst her boy toys attend to her every whim, including ensuring she is wearing just enough Chanel N°5 — vital post-boob lift treatment, of course! Her eyes captivate me and her true fragility is exposed. I feel some connection to this image, some need to share it as I feel like her eyes are asking “How did it come to this?” — I wish I had the answer.

Wearing a silk and python Altuzarra dress and posing with a Tom Ford clad hunk, a scary looking, plump lipped, and feline eyed Crystal shows off her new look much to the horror of the viewer. Gone are the youngsters; she has her new face to make her feel good now. Her sunken cheeks and raised hairline only add to the severity of the look. Ladies, is this really attractive to you? I know people have plastic surgery but nothing pushes me farther from the surgeon's knife than images like this. Imagine what the real thing looks like.

Carine went to great lengths to produce a story so tragic it is almost comical. The relationship among wealth, style, self-worth, and cosmetic surgery is constantly questioned here; how can one be stylish when bandaged up like a mummy? The main question I feel the editorial poses, and one very relevant to all ages, is “How can we understand the beauty of Lanvin, Hermès, and Cartier, yet be blinded to our own natural beauty?” Honestly, I have no idea but I hope that long after my wrinkles become more apparent, I will always view elective plastic surgery as unnecessary and so very unglamorous.

[Editor's note: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld shares her mother's disdain for plastic surgery, recently telling Glamour, “Wrinkles can be beautiful. They’re part of who you are, your charm and your history. And I’m not for plastic surgery — I’d feel like I was cheating on myself."]

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

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent

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.

Vogue Paris Translation: Editorial, February 2011

Below is the editorial that Carine Roitfeld authored for the February issue of Vogue Paris and my translation of her words from French to English.

Ce premier numéro de l'année met le cap sur l'Italie, les Pouilles précisément, et expose au soleil les 65 total looks de l'été prochain élus par Vogue. Couleurs débridées, imprimés en liberté, audace assumée... la saison est à la mise en scène extrême de soi. ‹‹J'ai adoré la mode››, dit Edmonde Charles-Roux, écrivain, seize ans à la tête de Vogue, présidente du Goncourt, que nous avons rencontrée et qui évoque une vie comme un roman. Celle de Colin Firth basculera peut-être bientôt. Époustouflant en souverain bègue aux prises avec ses complexes, il est en pole position pour décrocher l'oscar et se confie en exclusivité. On croise les doigts pour lui.

This first issue of the year sets sail for Italy, Puglia specifically, exposed to the sun and the 65 total looks for this summer selected by Vogue. Unbridled colors, printed in freedom, audacity assumed... the season puts the self at center stage. "I adore fashion" said Edmond Charles-Roux, author, sixteen years at the helm of Vogue, president of Goncourt, whom we met and who evokes a life like a novel. That of Colin Firth may switch soon. Astonishing as a sovereign struggling with his stammering complex, he is in pole position to win the Oscar and confides in us exclusively. Our fingers are crossed for him.

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

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.