Julia Restoin-Roitfeld: Woman of Fashion

It is unusual to have advance notice of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's whereabouts, so if you are in the New York area tonight, be sure to scout out the New York Palace Hotel. Men.Style.com will be there hosting the 2009 Women of Fashion with Kanye West as master of ceremonies. The evening honors women of influence in the fashion industry including Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Alexa Chung, Pamela Love, and Milla Jovovich. Email me any candids you snap...

Image of 2009 Women of Fashion poster courtesy of men.style.com

Update on jeudi 11 juin 2009 by kellina

Garance Doré was another one of the 25 Women of Fashion honored last night in New York City. Even though Carine Roitfeld was not officially recognized in the evening's ceremony, host Kanye West dubbed her his most favorite woman of them all because she's just so hood.

The Roitfelds in Cannes 2006

I love the extremes of the two all black Roitfeld styles: Julia is simple, severe, and refined; Carine is detailed, playful, and elegant. If Carine had styled Julia, I don't think she'd have made the obvious choice that is the Grecian headress as acessory to this particular gown. Personally I'd have gone for her hair down and a bit wild à la Et dieu crea la femme to counter the symmetry of the dress. Also, I find it interesting that Julia appears to be wearing no jewelry at all. Just the headband then?

Carine Roitfeld has the eye of an artist, she sees the entire female form as the canvas and she makes memorable images of the body by painting pictures with the clothing and accessories as the paint (in some cases perhaps as the frame). Carine uses the sum of the parts to create the whole in every single image that she styles, whether she is dressing herself or a model. She considers the movement of every piece, the contrasts of darks and lights, the symbolism that is transmitted by the garments, making every line count like a true artist.

Photo of Carine Roitfeld and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld © 2006 Francois Durand/Getty Images Entertainment

Avenue: The Venue

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld was most recently sighted at the sweet soirée Marc Jacobs threw for his fiance Lorenzo Martone Tuesday night in Manhattan at Avenue. This brand new—as in opening that night—lounge/restaurant is the very latest in New York hot spots as evidenced by the 150 hot guests in attendance. Julia looks to be a very happy single woman in the city, pictured here with her friend Genevieve Jones. Though I am interested to see with whom she is linked next...he should be fairly hot, all things considered.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Genevieve Jones photograph © 2009 by Neil Rasmus for W. All Rights Reserved.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld On Page Six

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld recently did a Page Six interview complete with behind the scenes video.† As she herself describes it, it's all very sexy chic, very provocative, all about selling ideas, feminine but tomboyish.

Also, if anyone is at a loss for the perfect gift for me, the Wolford Medallion Tights that Julia is wearing are sure to add a certain allure to virtually any girl, non?

† I had posted the video but then I couldn't view the blog from my phone so the embedded link had to go. It's available on the New York Post site, click and then enter "Behind the Scenes: Julia Restoin." Interestingly she does not use the name "Roitfeld" here.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photograph © 2009 Matt Jones. All Rights Reserved.

Update on jeudi 11 juin 2009 by kellina

OMG, I am so excited, I just ordered these!! They are on sale through Saks Fifth Avenue for $45.90 instead of $78; be sure to enter the promotional code SAKSSHIP9 to receive free shipping.

Julia For Jil

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld has made a new deal to be the face for a fragrance by Jil Sander called "Jil" being released by Coty in August. Photographer Jan Welters will shoot the campaign as well as a behind-the-scenes video which was recently available online but pulled temporarily. As New York Magazine points out, the video boasts irony as well: "She wears a sheer top and talks about being an independent woman." I did catch it on YouTube and mostly I am sad that her English keeps improving. Do you remember her endearing French-tinged phrasings just a few months back? Watch the last year's Gap campaign video for example.

Jil Sander's "Jil" by Coty campaign photo courtesy of Jil Sander and New York Magazine