The Companions Of Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld

Readers have expressed curiosity about the romantic interests of Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, assuredly one of the world's most eligible bachelors, and while my only evidence is photographic, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the women in Vlad's life.

Goga Ashkenazi

Most recently Vladimir has been linked with Goga Ashkenazi, a fascinating woman that owns the label Vionnet and an oil empire, among many other things. The pair first appeared together in October 2013, in Paris at the release party for Mademoiselle C and in Milan at VRR's art exhibition of Nicolas Pol. In November Roitfeld and Ashkenazi attended the opening of Museo Jumex in Mexico City and in December they were seen together at Art Basel, have these two art lovers made the perfect match? On a related note, I loved the work that Carine Roitfeld and Jean Paul Goude did for Vionnet last spring, I wonder if Vladi introduced Carine and Goga… or vice versa… 

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Goga Ashkenazi, Mademoiselle C Party, October 2013

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Goga Ashkenazi, Nicolas Pol Exhibit, October 2013

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, Goga Ashkenazi, Jean Thierry Besins, Dylan Don, Michael Lilelund

Giovanna Battaglia

Prior to this, Vladimir spent three years in a relationship with Giovanna Battaglia. The couple was first documented by fashion paparazzi in Porto Ercole, Italy, in June 2009, and parted company around October 2012. The Milanese beauty started out as muse to Dolce & Gabbana then found her passion behind the scenes as a talented stylist. Gio currently works as Contributing Fashion Editor at W Magazine, Senior Fashion Editor at Vogue Japan, and Creative Director of Queen of The Night, a cabaret theater in Manhattan. To learn more about the life and the work of Giovanna Battaglia, please visit our sister site, I Want To Be A Battaglia.

Lily Donaldson

Before Gio, Vladimir's girlfriend was Lily Donaldson, a model raised in London. Among other claims to fame, Donaldson walked in the three most recent shows for Victoria's Secret. Their relationship lasted about two years, dating from March 2007 to the spring of 2009. I always found it amusing that Carine's cuttingly clever editorial "No Smoking" was published in Vogue Paris in April 2009, right around the time of the breakup between Vlad and Lily.

Mariacarla Boscono

I am not sure when Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld began dating Mariacarla Boscono but I believe they went their separate ways in September 2006. Widely considered a top model of her era, Mariacarla was born in Rome to the couple that invented the Italian brand Saucony. Mariacarla also enjoys the distinction of having introduced Carine Roitfeld to Riccardo Tisci. In Carine's own words, "You know Riccardo, his show, I went for the first time in Milan because my son, he was friends with Mariacarla [Boscono], and Mariacarla gave to my son the invitation of Riccardo, and for me he was no one. And I was like, 'OK, I have a car and I have a bit of time,' and I was like, 'OK, let’s go.' So I went to see that show and it was totally new, totally fresh, and it was very interesting. That’s the way I met Riccardo." Enchanté de faire votre connaissance. Note also that La Roitfeld used Mariacarla and her baby, Marialucas, for the Givenchy S/S 2013 campaign. Boscono is married to Andreas Patti, an Italian entrepreneur.

Visit the photo gallery to see more images of Vladimir with Goga Ashkenazi, Giovanna Battaglia, Lily Donaldson, and Mariacarla Boscono.

connect with iwtbar bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, Goga Ashkenazi, Giovanna Battaglia, Lily Donaldson, and Mariacarla Boscono photos courtesy of instagram/goga_vionnet, purple.fr, bfanyc.com, Getty Images, Condé Nast, Abaca, popsugar.com, wwd.com, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Spot.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld: 34th Birthday Party

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld toasted her 34th birthday with a bevy of glamorous friends at the dinner to launch the Solid & Striped x Poppy Delevingne collection at The Happiest Hour in New York. Among those on hand to celebrate were Karen Elson, Poppy Delevingne, Eugenie Niarchos, Joan Smalls, Giovanna Battaglia, Jessica Hart, Alexa Chung, Donald Robertson, Harley Viera-Newton, Tom Van Dorpe, Elyse Taylor, and Alexia Niedzielski.

connect with iwtbar bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld et al photos © 2014 Abaca. Courtesy of Pure People and twitter.com/bat_gio.

IWTB Contest

In an effort to spur my own flagging motivation, I have decided to conduct the most flagrantly biased contest imaginable just for fun. For your chance to win a fabulous prize package… please write an essay with your thoughts about the IWTB sites, for better or for worse!

Choose one or more of the four IWTB sites and then tell me any, all, or none of the following:

• What do you love about the site(s)?
• What don't you love?
• What would you do differently?
• What would you keep the same?
• What do you want to see or read on these pages?
• Which are your favorite posts?
• Thoughts?
• Opinions?
• Suggestions?
• Scathing criticism?
• Glowing praise?
• All are welcome, speak your mind!

Contest Guidelines

• Open to everyone, including the IWTB team members!
• The winner will not be drawn randomly, I will blatantly choose my favorite.
• All submissions become property of IWTB and may be published at my discretion.
• Contest ends 31 July 2013, don't delay!

Prize Package

• Set of four IWTB mugs (Alt, Battaglia, Coppola, Roitfeld)
• Nostalgia in Vogue
• Alt/Saglio: Quotes + Citations by Wynn Dan
• Your choice of ring from I Heard They Eat Cigarettes

Submit your thoughts here.

connect with iwtbar  bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Carine Roitfeld, Emmanuelle Alt, Giovanna Battaglia, Sofia Coppola photos via Pure People, Getty Images, Fashion Spot.

Vogue Paris March 2011: Audace Manifeste

Vogue Paris March 2011: Audace Manifeste
By Dara Block

March 2011 will forever be known as one of the saddest yet most innovative months in Vogue Paris history. In case you do not remember, that was Carine Roitfeld's last issue of Vogue Paris as editor-in-chief and, as expected, she did not disappoint. Each editorial is a vivacious blend of art, fashion, and fantasy, all done with that Carine Roitfeld sensibility we all know and love. With that stated, let's take an in-depth look inside the pages of one of my favorite layouts from her final issue entitled "Audace Manifeste."

First of all, let's just talk about that title, which simply translates in English as "Bold Manifesto," a very thought-provoking title to go with such mind-bending imagery. The editorial was photographed by Mikael Jansson and styled by Giovanna Battaglia. These photos are definitely eye-catching, what Mikael Jansson does best, and I love the way Giovanna Battaglia incorporates all that jewelry. The layering of necklaces, bracelets, and rings is all very reminiscent of the late Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. It's obvious that Giovanna was very much inspired by her remarkable sense of style and all that jeweled glitz is a beautiful reminder of her work. I so appreciate Giovanna Battaglia's modern take on Elsa Schiaparelli... it's classic, but very fashion forward.

The first photo from the layout is of supermodel Missy Rayder, looking very scary-chic, if I might add. I so love the way in which her face blends in with that mask of Salvador Dalí. It's obvious that Giovanna Battaglia wanted to combine avant-garde fashion and surrealism. There are so many interesting elements going on... the grey dipped hair and, of course, those hands with all that decadent jewelry. The red hands, in particular, pay homage to Dalí's biography entitled The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí where he mentions "the bestial women with red hands." This is a very obscure reference, but I love all the hidden significance behind the styling of this particular photograph! Who would ever think all that could be conveyed so brilliantly....

Next up is another image of Missy Rayder, this time in black and white. There is something kind of Cleopatra and Princess Leia about this look. Once again, we see such amazing styling with all that Bulgari jewelry. Missy Rayder has such an intense look on her face and I can't help but be drawn towards that third eye painted on her forehead. The overall look was very much inspired by Alejandro Jodorowsky's cult film The Holy Mountain which came out in 1973... love the strange connection between film and fashion... it's executed to perfection!

Following Missy Rayder comes a very distorted image of model Arizona Muse in a lavish Alexander McQueen feather dress. This is a very distinct homage to one of Salvador Dalí's most memorable paintings entitled La Persistencia de la Memoria. Just by looking at that warped clock in the background you can identify the inspiration. I also like how her McQueen dress practically melts away at the bottom of the photograph. Mikael Jansson did an excellent job at capturing that Salvador Dalí sensibility. If Dalí was alive today to see this photograph, I know he would highly approve... this is indeed the proper way to transform art into fashion!

I also love how the editorial features a non-distorted version of that McQueen dress. We really get to see all the gorgeous details of those feathers and of course all that extravagant jewelry. Let's also not forget that stunning crystal ball. If you look closely, you can see an eye staring right back at you... which I assume is that of Salvador Dalí! I so love that mysterious reference and how freakishly chic the styling is... Giovanna Battaglia totally went above and beyond fashion with this look!

The last two images of "Audace Manifeste" are all about the eyes… which was a continuous theme in Salvador Dalí's art. First we see Arizona Muse looking so darkly chic with those black eyes painted on her eyelids. This is actually a reference to Jean Cocteau's avant-garde 1930 film entitled The Blood of a Poet. I have noticed that Vogue Paris frequently loves to pay homage to film director Jean Cocteau... just look back at the December 2005 issue with Kate Moss and you can see what an influence he has been in the magazine. He truly was ahead of his time, and I love that Giovanna Battaglia was very much inspired by him for the styling of this particular image. There is even more visual stimulation going on with those red nails and lips... it's all so striking and I love that expression on her face. There is something very sinister but yet so breathtaking about this photograph.

The layout ends with another image of Missy Rayder and some extra added eyes and brows. She almost even looks like Salvador Dalí in this photo. Perhaps the idea was for Missy Rayder to see life through Dalí's eyes. I guess that is up to the viewer to decide and, whatever the inspiration may be, I so love how her grey dipped curls somehow end up on that man's chest. I am not really sure why this man all of a sudden shows up in the end of the layout, but I can certainly see some male and female symbolism. The overall effect is all so surreal, and so frighteningly stylish, a perfect way to end such an oddly gorgeous editorial.

As we can see, "Audace Manifeste" totally takes art, fashion, and fantasy to a whole new level. I am totally creeped out yet so inspired by it all. Those hands, painted eyes, and dramatic jewelry are all styled to perfection. In addition, I can't help but also admire that Salvador Dalí and Elsa Schiaparelli influence and how Giovanna Battaglia was able to combine all that together into something so imaginative and cutting edge. It's always a treat to see a thought provoking and visually stimulating editorial, like this! Thank you Carine Roitfeld for leaving Vogue Paris on such a high note. This is really such a gem of a layout and "Audace Manifeste" will always remain a psycho-chic classic!

More from Vogue Paris March 2011

Vogue Paris March 2011: Body Secrets
By Bernie Rothschild

Vogue Paris March 2011: Coeur À Corps Perdu
By Kate Ringo Suzuki

Vogue Paris March 2011: Expression Figurative
By Jessica Eritou

Vogue Paris March 2011: La Fee Toxique
By Kellina de Boer

connect with iwtbar  bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

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

Carine Roitfeld: Black Tie, Smoky Eye

Last evening in Paris, Carine Roitfeld requested the honor of the presence of the beautiful people and they came as instructed by the world's most brilliant stylist — Black Tie, Smoky Eye. Yes, La Roitfeld invoked her own image as the theme for her ball, hosted with M.A.C. to celebrate her CR makeup collection, and appeared in a Givenchy jumpsuit fresh off the runway. Carine is renowned for her decadent parties during Paris Fashion Week and this one spared none of the lavish staples, champagne and karaoke were in full swing as the crowd packed the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild. Among the glamorous on the list: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld wearing a black dress by Dolce & Gabbana, Giovanna Battaglia, Sara Battaglia, Haider Ackermann, Azzedine Alaïa, Cara Delevingne, Poppy Delevingne, Anna Dello Russo, Peter Dundas, Valentino Garavani, Nicolas Ghesquière, Karlie Kloss, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Gareth Pugh, Gaia Repossi, Mario Testino, Riccardo Tisci, Giambattista Valli, Natalia Vodianova, Alexander Wang, Kanye West, Vivienne Westwood, and Rachel Zoe. Guests were treated to a performance by Paloma Faith and in classic Carine style, the elegant affair concluded with a group pillow fight.

Carine Roitfeld et al photographs © 2012 Allure Media, Getty Images, Styleite LLC, M.A.C., instagram/fashion_critic_, fashion.telegraph.co.uk, purple.fr