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Carine Roitfeld photographs courtesy of Fashion Spot, Getty Images, and Condé Nast. Birthday love by Kellina de Boer.

Several readers have inquired about the poster promoting the film Mademoiselle C starring Carine Roitfeld and I am delighted to report that the poster is now available on Amazon. This piece is sure to become a collector's item so don't delay, order your print today. Have you seen Mademoiselle C? I would love to hear your impressions of the film if so...

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Carine Roitfeld Mademoiselle C promotional poster and film stills © 2013 Fabien Constant and Cohen Media.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld For Stella
By Montse Ocejo

Julia Restoin Roitfeld models the autumn 2013 collections for the September issue of Stella as styled by Charlie Harrington. She looks more confident and sexier than ever, posing for British photographer Damon Baker, his images are know for being experimental and mysterious with heavy contrasts. The dark artistic style of Damon Baker is a perfect match for Julia's sense of style and they make an explosive combination full of sensuality. Julia shows her fierce and stronger side in this editorial, dressed in the latest autumn collections of Givenchy, Dior, Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, and Gucci, every piece of clothing reflects her personality.

In the first shot we see Julia in a a black and cerulean ombre dress by Gucci with Swarovski crystal jewelry.

The second look is a very sophisticated one in a white twill skirt and bustier with printed art by Warhol “Female Head” paired with leather pumps by Dior and finished with jewelry by Eddie Borgo.

In this one Julia is the definition of classic rock look in a black dress with metal nail detail by Versace. The jewelry that she wears is designed by Lara Bohinc.

Very sexy look in a pink jacquard jacket by Miu Miu, bra and knickers by Triumph, and jewelry by Kenneth Jay Lane.

Julia is rock and grunge personified in a complete look by Saint Laurent with shoes by Pierre Hardy.

In this shot, Julia works a modern vamp look in red and black printed floral wool shirt jacket, and shorts with a black chiffon skirt, all by Givenchy.

The make up is high impact and very glamorous with two looks created by Steven Canavan for Julia Restoin Roitfeld, smokey eyes and hot pink lips and very strong eyebrows and the other a beautiful sophisticated cat eye with very shiny and wet hair.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld photographs courtesy of jedroot.com. All Rights Reserved.

On Carine Roitfeld, Minimalism, and Creative Success
By Sarra Salib

It is a simple idea that dates back to the writings of Socrates and Thoreau: declutter and edit your life in order to pursue a truly meaningful motive and focus on the creative outlets. It seems that Carine Roitfeld — and her family for that matter — has applied and mastered this art of minimalism and through it continues to push the envelope when it comes to creative confinements.

But before one can go on to illustrate how minimalism can lead to creative success, one must define the ever-challenging word “success.” According to the ultimate modern minimalists Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus — which if you have not heard of them, I urge you to visit their website, The Minimalists — success is comprised of “happiness, constant improvement, and contribution.” Carine Roitfeld easily embodies these three elements.

In CNN’s documentary Revealed, Carine states that she is doing what she is doing because it’s what she loves. She has been working in fashion for over thirty years — if that is not a testament of happiness, what else can be?

Next is constant improvement. Mademoiselle C is the perfect example of an individual constantly growing in what she does. Ever since she flew from her “golden cage” that was Vogue Paris, it has been non-stop fashion action. From Irreverent to The Little Black Jacket to her very own CR Fashion Book, not to mention the numerous legendary campaigns in which she has participated recently. Carine Roitfeld just doesn’t get stuck in one place, ever.

Last, but certainly not least, is contributing to other people in a meaningful way. The first thing that occurred to me is Carine’s role curating the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala which raises millions each year to help fund research for the cure of AIDS. Who would have known a charity could be so chic and creative? If it involves Carine Roitfeld, you best believe it will.

Now that we have defined what it means to be creatively successful, we must analyze how the art of minimalism ties it all together. In order to do that, we must revisit Carine’s former Vogue Paris office. One need only look at a few images of her office to realize how minimalistic it is. In an interview, Carine claimed that, “It’s very minimalist because it’s better for my mind when everything is clean and empty. It cools me down; if someone brings in pictures or articles to show me, I can see them better.” Juxtaposing Carine’s minimalist lifestyle to the iconic and not so politically correct images she produced at Vogue Paris can only add up to make so much sense.

Thus concludes my venture on the cause and effect of minimalism and being [outrageously] creatively successful. Carine Roitfeld’s way of life makes her a triple threat.

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Carine Roitfeld photos courtesy of Fashion Spot. Irreverent, The Little Black Jacket covers courtesy of Amazon. CR Fashion Book cover courtesy of crfashionbook.com. Vogue Paris cover © 2010 Condé Nast.

Mademoiselle C: Leather Clad Heroine
By Jascmeen Bush

I was granted a prescreening of the Mademoiselle C documentary for press only and wanted to share my review of the film (without giving too much away) with my fellow Roitfeld enthusiasts.

Surely they expect "press" to view the film once, write about it, then move on with their lives. Do you think I did that? Absolutely not! I watched it over and over and over!

How could I resist re-watching my leather clad heroine, in all her smokey eyed glory, recount the first time she listened to Jay Z, what keeps her relationship working, and what it's really like collaborating with Karl Lagerfeld? There was an adorable cameo by Kanye West, with appearances by Alber Elbaz, Riccardo Tisci, and Tom Ford to name a few, each of whom were nothing less than enchanted by our beloved Carine.

Watching Carine jet set, or rather, helicopter set from one fabulous event to the next is truly awe-inspiring, but the most inspirational part of the film had to be her eloquent, delicate inability to describe her occupation for customs.

(Come on, how fab is that?)

There's so much more I'd love to divulge, but I'll exercise a bit of restraint (just this once!) in hope that you all will treat yourself to a little Parisian chic and check out the movie for yourselves.

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Carine Roitfeld Mademoiselle C film stills © 2013 Fabien Constant and Cohen Media.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld's Roast Chicken And Quinoa
By Renee Hernandez

When I think of fashion and models, food doesn’t even register. Think a model’s diet consists of coffee, cigarettes, and air? Wrong. After reading Cesar Casier’s interview I discovered one model who is passionate about food. His cookbook titled Model Kitchen features recipes from Casier and his top-model friends, including Karlie Kloss, Lindsey Wixson, Lily Donaldson, Milla Jovovich, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld. In Model Kitchen you’ll find 75 healthy recipes that are easy and affordable to make. No self-imposed deprivation here. Just a sensible, thoughtful approach to eating. I especially loved Julia Restoin Roitfeld’s Roast Chicken and Quinoa Salad recipe. Her recipe is on the low-calorie side yet tastes like an indulgence and is super easy to make! In this video I show just how easy JRR’s recipe is. Overall time, prepping and cooking, is a little over 30 minutes and happily feeds four.

ROAST CHICKEN

For the roast chicken you will need:

• 2 lbs. (900 g) chicken (whatever you prefer; breast, legs, or wings)
• 3 tomatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons of thyme
• 3 cloves of garlic
• olive oil
• coarse sea salt
• pepper

Preheat oven to 200˚C/400˚F. Place in ovenproof dish, together with tomatoes, garlic, and thyme. Drizzle with olive oil and season with pepper and salt. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

QUINOA SALAD

For the quinoa salad you will need:

• 11 oz. (300 g) quinoa
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• 4 oz. (110 g) cubed feta cheese
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced
• 3 spring onions, cut into thin rings 
• handful of basil, minced
• handful of mint, minced
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice
• paprika powder
• salt and pepper

Cook quinoa and allow to cool in a large bowl. For one cup of quinoa, you’ll need 2 cups of water. Then reduce the temperature of the oven to 150˚C/325˚F. Cook the chicken for 10 more minutes. Add all the vegetables and herbs to the quinoa and pour the olive oil and lemon juice over the mixture. Also add the cubed feta. Carefully fold the ingredients together and season with paprika powder, salt, and pepper. The paprika powder is the finishing touch and gives the dish a pretty color and spicy taste!

Now you can cook like a Roitfeld... Bon appétit!

Order your copy of Model Kitchen on NET-A-PORTER today

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld's Roast Chicken and Quinoa film stills © 2013 Renee Hernandez. All Rights Reserved.

IWTB hosted a contest this summer inviting readers to share their thoughts about the sites for a chance to win a prize and I am thrilled to announce the winner of our contest: Justine Ariel! I must admit that Justine's words moved me to tears, I was so happy that she appreciates our genuine approach and her potent reminder, "Don't give up!" came just at the right time. Justine wins a set of four IWTB mugs (Alt, Battaglia, Coppola, Roitfeld); a copy of the book Nostalgia in Vogue; a copy of the limited edition artist's book Alt/Saglio: Quotes + Citations by Wynn Dan; and the ring of her choice from I Heard They Eat Cigarettes. My sincerest thanks to all of the readers that took the time to share their thoughts! Congratulations Justine!

Keep It Real, Don't Give Up
By Justine Ariel

I have been following I Want To Be An Alt and I Want To Be A Battaglia for some time now. But this essay is in response to I Want To Be An Alt. Yes. The difficult, the inscrutable Alt, with those smartly-written editorials and edgy photographs. With those ideals and images that — sometimes — fall short of the institutional fashion mega-star Vogue Paris. Emmanuelle Alt is trying to do something great — and that is to bring the magazine and its readers into her own vision of the 21st century. This means a lot of mistakes, but when it's good, it's really good. And for this reason, my favorite thing about the site is that you don't give up. That's also one of the things I've learned from these women through your sites. And do you know why it's great that you don't give up? Because you aren't afraid to criticize. You aren't afraid to say, "This is disappointing, I'm not sure where Alt is going with this." In an industry based so much on personality — both fashion and fashion blogging industries — it is refreshing to hear an honest opinion that critiques the work of this woman intelligently and thoughtfully. She makes mistakes! We all do. How refreshing is that? But the other side of the coin is, she doesn't give up. Your blog is inspiring for me not just because I get to see the stylish outfits and compelling editorials, but because I'm actually able to understand the endurance of the work of these women (Okay, now I'm talking about ALL of your sites). No one else is showing this, or analyzing it, in such a focused way. And this is why I keep coming back to your sites — because I know I'm going to get articles that discuss the good and the bad, from writers who aren't afraid to to speak their minds. This is important in all disciplines, but much needed in the fashion world. 

That said, my favorite posts are the outfit posts. I feel like they're my treat for reading and understanding the reasons behind editorials and Alt's different visions. Because Emmanuelle Alt is just so damn chic, every time. And it's so refreshing to see that — gasp! — she wears the same clothes to different events. Whereas Carine Roitfeld and Giovanna Battaglia are known for their eclectic and seemingly endless wardrobes, Emmanuelle Alt is a woman of staples. And I appreciate that. It brings me back to, maybe, what Parisian street style is meant to be. Everyone has their uniform, but it just looks good. I don't know how Emmanuelle Alt's editorship (is that a word?) at Vogue Paris will be remembered — it's too early to tell. But change is refreshing, and, ironically, it's nice to see the same outfits for a change. 

Before I get too caught up in wordplay... Please keep posting great editorials on your site! For those of us living outside of France, a subscription to Vogue Paris is a hefty $180 per year. It's great to see the little gems of the magazine (Vogue Paris: "Tresor National" for example, and the aluminum foil dress in "Couture") and be plugged in to the best of it. What would I change about the site? Well, for me, when I lack inspiration, I change the layout of my site. Maybe give I Want To Be An Alt a makeover. From going super-minimalist to making the post space wider... It might broaden your horizons, open the world! 

In sum, I really think you are doing a great thing. You are a great resource for the best (and worst) of Vogue Paris — the best on the web, so please remember that! There are people out there (me) who really appreciate it. I'm being honest, I'm not just trying to win Alt/Saglio. Although that would also be great. You never know where this site will take you (even if you just go to the magazine stand to buy Vogue Paris who knows, you could meet the love of your life, and/or a puppy) — so my Alt-ian message is: don't give up! I'm a 25-year-old writer and young artist, finding a voice in photography, fashion, and film. Thank you so much for this opportunity! I wish you all the best.

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

Mademoiselle C and Beyond
By Dara Block

One of the best parts about living in Los Angeles is that you have easy access to films that are not so mainstream. Last week, when I saw that Mademoiselle C was playing on the big screen, I immediately ran to the theatre. I love a good fashion documentary and when you have a storyline based around Carine Roitfeld starting her own magazine... well, you know that is going to be a total fashion extravaganza! I really enjoyed watching the film and rather than giving a detailed plot analysis I thought I would pay close attention to a couple of key moments in the film that I find memorable and inspiring!

First, I must applaud director Fabien Constant for incorporating such visual style in the film. I love the opening of Mademoiselle C with all those glamorous night time shots of New York City and those detailed sartorialist images of various women in high heels. It is very Carine Roitfeld and I am sure she loved those moments, as well. I also liked the music in the film. I read that the band, The Shoes provided the soundtrack for Mademoiselle C and I think there is a great electronic-pop-noir sound that corresponds so well with each scene of the movie.

For a while now, I wondered why Carine Roitfeld left Vogue Paris and I was very intrigued to hear her side of the story and to also see her start from scratch and to brainstorm with her new team at CR Fashion Book. The viewer gets to witness her and Stephen Gan putting together the first issue of her magazine, which was based on the idea of Rebirth. The inspiration came from her daughter Julia's pregnancy and also from Carine herself, as she was in the process of taking on this new project. I guess you could say the first issue was all about new beginnings. I think Carine summed it up best when she said, I gave up my crown to start something new.

I so appreciated how the film went behind the scenes with some of her editorials for the first issue of CR Fashion Book. Personally, I loved seeing the process of how she works when she is on set especially with the layout "A Woman's Life," which was photographed by Sebastian Faena. I have always been intrigued by that image of model Juliet Ingleby wearing that sheer violet veil scarf as she walks through the cemetery with those three girls all dressed in black leather right behind her... that probably has to be one of the best noir chic moments that Carine Roitfeld has ever styled... amazing to see this one being put together!

I also loved seeing the behind-the-scenes of "Lucho and Juliet," which was a fairy tale written and photographed by Tom Ford. As we all know Carine Roitfeld is Tom Ford's muse so we get to see that dynamic creative bond that they share on screen. I think it's great how they both understand each other on such a deep and artistic level. I also love seeing how meticulous Tom Ford is as a photographer... he has quite the eye. The best part of that scene was when Tom Ford included his housemaid in the editorial. It's quite funny to see his housekeeper trying to assimilate with his models. I so love finding out all those tiny details, it definitely adds a little character to the layout.

I also enjoyed going behind the scenes of "Hush Little Baby Don't You Cry." We get to see Carine Roitfeld catch a plane from New York City to Miami and work together on a farm with photographer Bruce Weber and model Kate Upton. It's really fascinating to see her conceive an idea with some goats, models, and newborn babies. I also liked how we got the backstory of the cover with that cute little girl and those rabbit ears holding that newborn child. From watching Mademoiselle C we discover that the baby is actually peeing on her and that is why she had that expression on her face. In addition, I liked the way Carine Roitfeld interacted with that little girl. We see her adjusting her rabbit ears and telling Bruce Weber that she thinks she looks like a young Romy Schneider. It was so delightful seeing Carine Roitfeld in total creative mode... it seemed like everyone that works with her totally responds to her energy and artistic vision.

I think my favorite moment in the film has to be when we see Carine Roitfeld practicing ballet with her instructor. This is a side that we never see of Carine and it was quite intriguing to see her work on her pliés and get down into a full split. Who knew she was that flexible? It's clear that dance and discipline play an important role in her life and I admire that she chose Dance as her next theme for the second issue of CR Fashion Book. Carine Roitfeld beautifully shows that life does indeed imitate art.

As you can see, there are so many key moments in the film and I loved seeing all the behind-the-scenes footage from her first issue of CR Fashion Book. What I appreciated most about the film is the way in which Carine Roitfeld took inspiration from her own life and manifested her vision into such thought provoking editorials that truly go above and beyond. I think Riccardo Tisci summed it up best when he was describing Carine Roitfeld in the film... he said, she loves fashion, she lives fashion, she breathes fashion, she's neoclassic, but still punk. I couldn't agree more. So on that note, if you have not seen the film do yourself a favor and see it. Carine Roitfeld is what true inspiration is all about.

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Carine Roitfeld Mademoiselle C film stills © 2013 Fabien Constant and Cohen Media; courtesy of modelinia.com and untitled-magazine.com. CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

Miss USA: Kim Kardashian, Grills And Glam
By Jessica Eritou

CR Fashion Book's third issue entitled “Hope” sheds light with a refreshing catalogue with numerous celebratory editorials. "Miss USA" captures the essence of America's fascination with the glory of the celebrity figure. Shot in both black-and-white and color, the Fall/Winter cover story depicts socialite-turned-reality-television-star Kim Kardashian in a highbrow editorial spread shot by Karl Lagerfeld and styled by Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci. Coincidentally, Tisci also collaborated with Kardashian's partner, Kanye West, for his album artwork and clothing attire for "The Throne" collaboration with Jay-Z.

This is one of the few times Kardashian has been featured with very natural looking makeup and hair, as well as being eight months pregnant for the shoot. Perhaps this makes the feel of the shoot more serious, so the editorial is focused on the clothes rather than her being seen in the clothes. Highlights of this shoot include the opening shots featuring Kardashian sporting the grey cashmere sweater paired beautifully with a Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal mask, Givenchy Haute Couture earrings, and a vintage crown from Christian Daubanay Paris. This could represent the symbolic as the focus of "Miss USA," a direct approach to how the public's fascination with the Kardashian “empire” crowns her the queen of pop culture in the past few years.

Another highlight is the black-and-white shot with Kardashian wearing a Céline dress with a vintage bomber jacket, Chanel brooch, and Agnelle gloves. This look Tisci styled her in creates a serious, ladylike undertone to the editorial. Next to it, a more playful, but dark, eerie shot captures her in a Jennifer Behr veil, vintage cap, and a vintage Ralph Lauren sweater. She is wearing a veil, almost in mourning. Again, one could suggest this is a significant statement about the idea of the ideals of Americana, since the label Ralph Lauren goes hand-in-hand with the idea of conceptual American lifestyle.

What also makes this shoot significant is how the behind-the-scenes footage for CR Fashion Book was captured by Fabien Constant, the director of the Carine Roitfeld documentary which premiered this month in select cities. Although this shoot did get mixed reviews — some thought it was a joke to feature her in such a high profile magazine, with this editor, stylist, and photographer — lest we forget, Carine Roitfeld always pushes the buttons of controversy.

Watch Fabien Constant's video of Kim Kardashian shooting for CR Fashion Book.

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Carine Roitfeld, Kim Kardashian and Karl Lagerfeld photographs courtesy of CR Fashion Book, Fabien Constant, Facebook.

Carine Roitfeld has opened a whole new door to her life, an avenue that is sure to thrill her loyal fans… Carine Roitfeld is on Instagram! I regret to say this happened a month ago without me noticing, I am not actually a member yet myself, but I am utterly delighted to note it now. I adore the shot above of Carine with her granddaughter, Romy, très adorable in black-and-white. Further, dispelling any doubts that it is truly herself, La Roitfeld posted a handwritten note asking for a photo she had seen previously on Instagram and styledumonde kindly obliged with the gorgeous image of Carine in the garden below. Then of course as a new member, CR added the requisite selfies of her own feet, ooooo la la! Looking forward to lots of inspiring images to come from Carine Roitfeld's personal perspective...

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Carine Roitfeld and Romy Konjic photographs courtesy of instagram.com/carineroitfeld.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Five Rules For French Dressing
By Jascmeen Bush

Our beloved Julia Restoin-Roitfeld lent her beauty to Matches Fashion in a shoot photographed by Nik Hartley and styled by Vickie Keeble. Our "heiress" modeled Roksanda Illincic, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and more in the 60s style spread. In the accompanying article, Julia goes on to introduce her new site, Romy & The Bunnies, a "style guide for mothers and expectant mothers." I don't want to spoil the article, but here are a few tidbits I loved: she doesn't love to shop (online shopping only), she doesn't care about brands or the latest items, oh, and her diaper bag is a Chanel shopper. If that doesn't make you want to be a Roitfeld, we don't know what will! Visit the gallery to view more images from the spread.

Julia also shared her five rules for dressing with true Parisian style:

1. Keep your palette simple: French women are into neutrals — a lot of beige, grey, navy, black, and white.
2. You won’t see many products in a French woman’s bathroom – it’s about looking polished in a very natural way.
3. Even on the red carpet, French celebrities keep it minimal. Think of Charlotte Gainsbourg – the look can be quite undone.
4. The French like to play the intellectual card; they don’t like to be over-sexy. The sexiness comes from the way they walk and hold themselves.
5. If a French woman wears jeans, it’s never with flats, always heels.

[Editor's note: In case you are interested, note that a few of the couture pieces that Julia models are available currently via Matches Fashion, ooooo la la...]

Honor Heart Cut-Out Dress $1,480

Marc Jacobs Sequined Pencil Skirt $1,900

Jason Wu Ostrich Feather Mini Dress $4,950

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Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photographs courtesy of Matches Fashion.

I am thrilled to announce the promotion of Dara Block to style editor for I Want To Be A Roitfeld. Ethereal and earthy all at once, Dara is a true original: visionary, imaginative, inspiring, while at the same time always kind, gracious, modest. It is with gratitude and admiration that we recognize Dara and her work today with the announcement of her new role; in celebration I am delighted that Dara agreed to respond to a few questions about herself, I hope curious readers will enjoy this opportunity to learn more about her intriguing life. Merci mille fois et félicitations, Dara !

Your photographs will be part of a book that Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani is publishing, what can you share with us about the experience?

The whole experience is quite surreal as it all started when I found Franca Sozzani on Instagram. I have admired her vision at Vogue Italia for many years and what I loved about her Instagram page is the way she used it for her followers to display their photography skills. Each month, she chooses a different hashtag like #people, #travel, and #beautyinwonderland, which allows the photographer to take a picture of something that goes with that theme. To be honest, I just submitted some photos for fun and came up with unique ideas along the way. I was completely surprised that she actually liked the photos I was taking. Last month, it got more exciting when Franca Sozzani decided to use 4 of my photos in a book she put together for the Beauty in Wonderland exhibit, which happened in Milan during fall fashion week. It's really strange how this all happened, but I love how supportive and generous Franca Sozzani has been throughout this whole creative process.

What inspires you about Carine Roitfeld? Do you remember when you first became conscious of her influence?

There is so much that inspires me about Carine Roitfeld... .where do I begin! I think it all started when I saw Kate Moss on the cover of the Vogue Paris February 2001 issue in a sleek blonde haircut and a Balenciaga white dress. I totally thought to myself... something has completely changed and who made Kate Moss look this way. It was such a cutting-edge, chic look that I have never seen before on the cover of Vogue Paris. As I flipped through the issue, I saw an editor's note with Carine Roitfeld looking very much like that Kate Moss cover and I knew something special was happening with the publication. A couple of months later, I read an interview with Carine Roitfeld in the August 2001 "Age Issue" of US Vogue and I very much connected to her style and her frame of thought. She not only had a unique look all her own, but she had a great sense of humor. I liked how she didn't take fashion too seriously. I will never forget when she said how much she loves a fur coat in the summer. She just totally gets it and I love how she understands that style isn't just about wearing a label head to toe, but more about individuality and being yourself.

You practice African Dance regularly, when did you begin your study? What do you typically wear while dancing? You have such a sporty chic approach to life, are there other ways you stay active?

I started African Dance in my teens. My dance class in high school had a special seminar at UCLA and I was completely drawn to it. I loved the movements and the live drummers. African dance is not so much about choreography, but more about expressing emotions as you dance and I love that it is a group effort. It's very tribal and also a great way to stay in shape. Generally, I like fun and energetic forms of exercise like hip-hop and jazz, but I also like yoga and Pilates to build strength. When dancing I always like to be sporty-chic. Typically, I like to wear solid colors... normally, all black or white. I generally like loose pants with a flowy top... together, they both look pretty when you dance and it feels nice on your skin. Calvin Klein makes great workout wear. I tend to wear his pajamas as my dance wear. It's all about soft material when exercising and he is an expert at making comfortable yet stylish active wear.

We'd love to know a few of your favorites in Los Angeles...

Favorite Bookstore: Book Soup on Sunset Boulevard is by far the best bookstore in LA. It's small, quaint, and they have everything, including international magazines... I could spend all day there reading!

Favorite Boutique: To be honest, I don't shop much in LA, but one store I have liked for years is a vintage boutique called Playclothes. I always find such great vintage hats and the prices are not outrageously expensive. This summer I bought a fabulous vintage orange hat from the 1960s. I actually incorporated it in one of my pics that was chosen by Franca Sozzani for the Beauty in Wonderland book. This store will always be special to me as it is where I found my one of a kind vintage Lanvin dress from 1966... so much style in this store and it is one of the best kept secrets in Los Angeles.

Favorite People Watching Spot: This may sound strange, but I love watching Hasidic Jews walk the streets, especially on La Brea. They tend to walk every Saturday in groups and I love the way they wear all black and dress in uniform fashion. It's interesting and inspiring to watch them when they travel in unity. I love minimal and sleek black fashion and I think Hasidic Jewish men surprisingly fit in this category. Probably the best spot in Los Angeles to see noir chic on the streets.

Favorite Museum or Gallery: As far as galleries go I really like the PRISM Gallery on Sunset Boulevard. Every couple of months, they feature a different artist or photographer. I love both not only for the art, but I always find some inspiring sartorial fashion moments. I guess you could say art and fashion do go together. Recently, they held two shows that caught my attention. One for photographer Mario Testino and the other for photographer Daido Moriyama. I love the space and I love how non-pretentious it is. I hate it when art is snooty. I also like the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. Recently, I saw the Inez & Vinoodh photo exhibit as well as the Cecily Brown show. Two very different shows, but inspiring, nonetheless.

You seek inspiration in the most interesting places, what are the sites you read regularly? Which magazines garner your interest to the point of subscription? Where do you turn when seeking inspiration?

Nowadays, it is so difficult to keep up with all the websites, but I tend to always look at Stockholm Street Style and The Sartorialist for style inspiration. For photo inspiration and keeping up with what is going on in fashion I turn to Vogue.it. The sites are pretty innovative in their own ways and keep me updated on what is chic, without trying too hard. It's more about style than trends with these sites and I really gravitate towards that. I really hate boring cliche blogs that talk about the same celebrities and designers... there is nothing original about that. As far as magazines go, I really like Interview Magazine. Fabien Baron has an amazing eye, I can definitely see that visual aesthetic that he brought to Harper's Bazaar and Vogue Paris. It's all resurrected in the pages of Interview Magazine. I also like CR Fashion Book. As we all know, Carine Roitfeld has such a distinct sense of style and I love that she has fun with fashion. W Magazine is on my list too. The magazine has an amazing team of stylists such as Giovanna Battaglia and Edward Enninful. These two always know how to bring cutting edge style to fashion editorials. I have been really impressed with W Magazine this past year. Lately, I have also been finding inspiration from travel magazines. I love National Geographic... always such great photography and I love how they showcase such non traditional forms of beauty. I was really taken with their February issue on Libya... so inspiring!

If it were your decision, who would you put on the next cover of Vogue Paris? Vogue Italia? CR Fashion Book?

I would love to see some of my favorite 90s supermodels on the cover of Vogue Paris, especially the ones I haven't seen in years like Meghan Douglas, Claudia Mason, Shana Zadrick. These girls were so beautiful in the 90s and I would love to know what they are up to and how they feel now about beauty and glamour. For Vogue Italia and CR Fashion Book, I think for either magazine, it would be interesting if they made a cover on the idea of jolie laide. The term is French and it basically means a good looking ugly woman. I think it's an offbeat beauty concept, but I would love to see women like Angelica Huston, Sofia Coppola, Rossy de Palma, and maybe even model Saskia de Brauw on the cover, to show how you can be beautiful in a non-traditional way. I think that would make for a groundbreaking cover... it's time we celebrate being non-perfectly pretty!

You have an incredible knack for random encounters with artists that you admire, designers, photographers, editors, and so forth, what can you tell us about your recent rendezvous with talent?

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting photographers Inez & Vinoodh. In July, they had a photo exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills and I was so honored to meet them the opening night. Both Inez & Vinoodh are extremely kind and we had an interesting conversation about one of my favorite covers that they photographed for Vogue Paris back in August of 2011. It was so cool to hear their thoughts about that cover and some of their favorite photos inside. It was also such a highlight to take a photo with them and to have them both sign the cover. I am so touched by what they wrote... by far, that was one of my most memorable encounters of 2013.

Which designers do you prefer to wear? Which pieces from the most recent collections caught your eye?

That is always a hard question to answer... but as of now I am liking Yohji Yamamoto... I loved his recent fall 2013 collection, especially those hats. Calvin Klein is always nice too... I like sleek minimalism and I think Francisco Costa really exemplifies that at CK. For drama and drapery I turn to Rick Owens and Haider Ackermann. These two designers get that you can be sexy and stylish by covering up in a sleek leather jacket and a dramatic skirt. I also like Issey Miyake... just because it is so innovative in terms of material, but also completely wearable. My favorite sporty chic designer would have to be Norma Kamali. I recently bought this amazing long black dress with wings and I love how soft and dramatic, it is. That is what I love about her clothes... it can go from sporty in the day to fancy in the night. Normally, I respond to designers who make clothes just like that. In general, it makes me really happy when I can find a sleek black frock... perhaps, that is why my sister and I named our blog Sisters in Black Frocks. For us, black will always be such an inspiring color!

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Dara Block photos © 2013 Dara Block. Other images courtesy of Condé Nast.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld's Lobster Spaghetti With Fresh Tomatoes
By Renee Hernandez

Food and style have always gone together so lure some luxury into your kitchen with Julia Restoin Roitfeld’s lobster spaghetti recipe. I love how Julia brings a little health consciousness to every recipe she develops. In this recipe she uses fresh and naturally nutrient-rich ingredients like ripe tomatoes, basil, and garlic — calling for just enough olive oil to deliver fantastic flavor and richness without overdoing the calories. I was slightly intimidated about selecting and cooking lobster so I opted for frozen lobster meat. It is super easy to cook and still has great flavor.

LOBSTER SPAGHETTI WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Ingredients

• ½ cup fruity extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large cloves garlic, sliced thin
• 2 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled and very finely chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 one-pound lobsters, cooked and shelled, or ¾ pound cooked lobster meat
• 3 tablespoons finely slivered fresh basil, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 pound spaghetti alla chitarra or spaghettini
•  Red chili flakes

Directions

1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 5 quart sauté pan or a wide saucepan. Add garlic, cook over low heat until it softens, then add tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook 3 minutes over medium heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for spaghetti.
3. Dice lobster meat. Place 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add lobster and cook until just warmed through. Fold in half of the basil. Cover and set aside.
4. When water boils, add pasta and cook until barely al dente. Drain and place in pan with tomatoes. Stir in remaining oil. Cook, stirring gently over low heat, about 5 minutes, until pasta and tomatoes are warmed and well incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper; fold in remaining basil.
5. Transfer to 6 shallow soup plates. Top each portion with lobster, garnish with basil sprigs and serve, with red chili flakes on the side.

In this video I demonstrate the simplicity of Julia’s recipe which is perfect for a romantic dinner. Overall time for preparation and cooking is about 45 minutes and feeds six. So go ahead and cook like a Roitfeld... Bon appétit!

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld's Lobster Spaghetti With Fresh Tomatoes film stills © 2013 Renee Hernandez. All Rights Reserved.

Molte grazie to the marvelous Francesca Berti for today's guest post, she graciously offered to translate from Italian to English an interview that Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld granted to Candela Novembre for Redmilk. I hope readers will enjoy learning more about the latest exhibit organized by Vlad, "After Modern Vermin Control," as well as a few of his personal preferences, particularly his feelings for stilettos...

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld For Redmilk
By Francesca Berti

Candela Novembre incontra per Redmilk Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld. In questa occasione il talentuoso gallerista le ha presentato in anteprima la mostra che ha curato insieme a Nicolò Cardi, "After Modern Vermin Control" dell'artista francese Nicolas Pol in esposizione fino al 15 dicembre presso la Cardi Black Box di Milano.

Qual è la prima cosa che fai quando ti svegli?
Mi lavo i denti.

E l’ultima prima di andare a dormire?
Mi lavo i denti.

Che cosa ti viene in mente se ti dico arte?
Creatività.

Quando capisci che ti trovi di fronte a un capolavoro?
C’è sempre un’emozione quando si vede un quadro e io credo che sia tutta questione di occhio e buon gusto. Quando vedi qualcosa di buono lo sai subito. Non hai bisogno di ricevere tante informazioni dall’artista riguardo quello che stai osservando. Devi solo seguire il tuo istinto quando ti trovi di fronte a un dipinto.

Se tu potessi essere un supereroe, quale sceglieresti?
Zidane.

Un sogno di quando eri bambino?
Diventare un giocatore di calcio.

Hai sogni per il futuro?
Fare il mio lavoro nel migliore dei modi e per più tempo possibile.

Il tuo pasto preferito al mondo?
In casa a Parigi, cenando in cucina con mia madre, mio padre e mia sorella: il miglior posto per una riunione di famiglia.

Vladimir è molto bravo nel…?
Sono molto bravo nell’organizzazione.

E invece cosa ti riesce male?
Nulla.

C’è qualcosa che non indosseresti mai?
Stilettos.

Qual è l’ultima cosa che hai comprato?
Un dipinto di un artista americano.

La tua canzone preferita?
Dipende dal mio stato d’animo, non sono un tipo molto musicale. Posso godere ascoltando la radio o un vecchio mix degli anni ’80… In generale mi piace ascoltare musica che sollevi il mio umore o che mi dia più energia quando corro e faccio esercizio fisico.

Non puoi vivere senza…?
La mia famiglia.

Puoi vivere senza…?
Le persone cattive.

Candela Meets Vladimir
Redmilk, 17 October 2013

Candela Novembre met Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld for Redmilk. On this occasion the talented gallerist showed her a preview of the exhibition he has curated with Nicolò Cardi, entitled "After Modern Vermin Control," by the French artist Nicolas Pol, at the Cardi Black Box in Milan, until 15 December.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
I brush my teeth.

And the last before going to bed?
I brush my teeth.

What occurs to you if I say "art"?
Creativity.

When do you understand that you are in front of a masterpiece?
It’s an emotional reaction when you see a painting and I believe that it’s all about having an eye and trusting in your own taste. When you see something good, you know it immediately. You do not need to receive much information from the artist about what you are observing. You have only to follow your instinct when you stand in front a painting.

If you could be a superhero, which would you choose?
Zidane. 

[Editor's note: In case you have never heard of Zidane, Francesca filled me in: "Zidane is not a real superhero but a French football player. He is famous for his rude/violent character and also for hurting an Italian football player during the World Cup!!"]

Your dream when you were a child?
Becoming a football player.

Do you have a dream for the future?
Do my job in the best way and for as long as possible.

Your favorite meal in the world?
At home in Paris, dining in the kitchen with my mother, my father, and my sister: the best place for a family reunion.

Vladimir is very good at…?
I’m very good at organization.

And you are very bad at…?
Nothing.

Is there something that you would never wear?
Stilettos.

What was the last thing you bought?
A painting by an American artist.

What is your favorite song?
Depends on my mood, I’m not a very musical type. I can enjoy listening to the radio or an old mix of 80s. In general I like listening to music that lifts my mood or that gives me more energy when I run or I do exercise.

You cannot live without…?
My family.

You can live without…?
Bad people.

Translation from Italian to English by Francesca Berti

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Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld photos and text © 2013 Redmilk - P.IVA. All Rights Reserved.

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Carine Roitfeld for 7Hollywood cover via huffingtonpost.com

Find Your Personal Style With Carine Roitfeld
By Jascmeen Bush

Leave it to Carine Roitfeld to make the eternal quest for personal style fulfillment sound so easy, so effortless, so French. The super-stylist/mogul/leather-clad heroine recently dished her seemingly simplistic style secrets to Telegraph. Let's break them down, shall we?

Rule Number One: Stick To What Suits You

The glorious paradox of Carine Roitfeld is that she evokes a strong powerful mood whether she's dressed sharply or femininely. I was surprised to read the quote below where she mentions having fun with fashion, which we all can agree is a lost art.

She told Telegraph, "I have dressed in the same way for the past 20 years; only the length of my skirt has changed. Consistent style shows confidence, and knowing what suits you saves time when you are choosing what to wear. I only have one fashion personality — the Carine one — which I would describe as sober and almost classically Parisian. She is tough, my woman. It's important to have a sense of humor about dressing, so I always add a twist to my outfits. My Givenchy sweater with a Bambi-cartoon print is one of my favorite pieces."

Rule Number Two: Highlight Your Strengths

This one's a doozy; Carine recommends focusing on playing up what you like instead of trying to downplay unflattering features. I for one literally clapped when I read that!

"Find something you like about your appearance and accentuate it," she stated. "My eyebrows and legs are my best features. I like to wear black eye make-up to draw attention to my eyes and brows, and my wardrobe contains mostly fitted clothes. With my black eyes, black clothes and skinny legs, my style can appear quite rock 'n' roll."

Rule Number Three: Don't Shop The Trends

I'm not a big fan of trends and as a result have often been called boring (can you imagine?!) But the next time I get hit with the B-word, I'll be sure to remind the naysayers that I have a very stylish ally. Here's what Carine had to say about those evil trends:

"Only buy clothes that you plan to keep forever. It's important to see trends for what they are: a game. I think finding a well-fitting garment is more exciting than buying into a crazy fad. My panther-print Azzedine Alaïa dress (autumn/winter 2010) is one of my signature pieces and fits me perfectly. Black items are an investment, and though colors have a place in my wardrobe too, I never mix them: my outfits are all-black, all-white, or all-khaki."

Rule Number Five: Choose Pieces With Character

Well I guess we can stop Google Image searching "Carine Roitfeld in leggings." She made it pretty clear that comfort is NOT key.

"'Comfort' is not part of my fashion vocabulary," she says. "You lose attitude when you feel too comfortable, so I prefer to wear clothes that have a certain edge to them. I think of my lace negligee as sexy rather than relaxing, and I keep that feeling in mind when I wear it under my clothes for fittings or shopping."

Rule Number Six: Dress From The Head Down

Brace yourself for this one: your perfectly styled hair and blended-to-perfection makeup might be hurting your overall look. Carine suggests sexy messiness above all.

"My hair and make-up secret is 'the messier the better,'" she said. "It's easy for me as I can't see anything without my glasses. I never put my eyeliner on very well in the morning, so it's usually smudged. I think it's sexy, plus it always looks better come the evening. And messy hair adds a certain youthfulness to a look. Like everyone, I am trying to hide the signs of ageing as I get older, though I do respect my age."

What I found most refreshing is that following these tips won't break the bank. Steer clear of trends? I can do that. Only spend on clothes I can wear forever? Ease up on the hair and makeup? I can handle that, too. Cost effective Parisian chic, that's what we have here, people. And I'm loving it.

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Carine Roitfeld photographs courtesy of buro247.ru, zimbio.com, harpersbazaar.com, style.com

Carine Roitfeld In "The Client"
By Jessica Eritou

In spirit of Carine Roitfeld's documentary Mademoiselle C, IWTBAR explores the documentary short “The Client,” filmed two years ago by the same director and producer of the full length film, Fabien Constant. The filming took place during Paris Couture Week in 2011 covering over twenty fashion shows for W Magazine.

What makes this short significant is that fans of Roitfeld can watch as she selects, fits, and models the couture gowns she usually styles for herself, only this time for W, in the editorial "The One and Only" for their October issue in 2011.

Constant follows Roitfeld as she ventures all week to various fashion shows, in her car, meeting fans who want to put her signed photos up on eBay. In classic Roitfeld fashion, she dryly admits it's a good idea since you can see how much you are worth.

The short includes coverage from Giorgio Armani Privé, where, at an early 10 a.m. show there is already champagne flowing for the guests. “I'm here to be fitted in the clothes,” she explains to Giorgio himself after the show.

We see Roitfeld meeting Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy Couture as the location was set up in a quaint showroom as if it were for Louis XVI.

The best part of the short captures Roitfeld explaining how she is wearing all these different pieces but still wants the clothing to be about her with shirts and skirts since they are her staples. You can see her genius reaction to what she is wearing and in what she feels most comfortable. Constant filmed Roitfeld outside speaking to him where she says, “To be Carine, it's mostly a skirt.” And it's true.

At her stop at Alaïa, the designer himself said to her, “Listen, when you look after clients, that's how you learn. Because if you don't see how a design is worn or what women want, or how they want to wear it, you're just designing in a void. And that isn't good.” Frankly, this is some of the best advice for anyone in the design world.

The W issue featuring Roitfeld, shot by Paolo Roversi, captured her feminine yet strong aesthetic. We are able to see Roitfeld's personality through the clothes immensely. A favorite would be the black-and-white image of her in the military gusset pocketed day suit by Chanel which leads off this article.

Despite her privilege and connection in the fashion world, Carine Roitfeld comes across as humble throughout the short. For those who may not have been able to catch Constant's full documentary in theatres, this will give you a sneak peek while we wait for the home release of Mademoiselle C in 2014.

View "The Client"

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Carine Roitfeld photographs © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld For Motilo
By Sarra Salib

One is seldom blessed to find a fashion site that is practical, functional, helpful, and aesthetically appealing, that also encourages one to give and take on any fashion issue. Thankfully, we have Motilo, curated in 2011 by Anna Machkevitch and Sofia Barattieri to answer any “fashion dilemma” and to provide a “second opinion,” which seems like the most perfect outlet for many women. The London-based Motilo is different, however, in that it is run by a very special set of “Motilo Girls”(who happen to be some of Tommy Ton’s favorite people to stalk during fashion week), including Susie Lau, Shala Monroque, Julia Sarr-Jamois, and none other than the ethereal beauty Julia Restoin-Roitfeld. The list goes on, of course, but our main focus remains on Miss Julia.

Along with the recent revamp of the site, Motilo chose the lovely Julia to be a brand ambassador, and in good spirit. Her role as an ambassador includes modeling for the site, contributing answers to questions, and providing editorial content. If you are a member, you can choose to follow or ask Julia any pressing questions you might have, and who wouldn’t want fashion advice from a French creative director?

If you happen to explore Julia Restoin-Roitfeld’s page in detail as I did, you will notice that she has successfully answered several interesting and tricky questions, all with effortlessly chic solutions. What is exciting and noteworthy about Motilo is that everyone’s answers reflect and remain true to their personal style. You can basically go to another stylist’s page and easily decipher his or her style based on the answers provided. For example, with Julia, you can conclude that her style is very classic and simple, and that she prefers to wear mostly black. And that is completely true and representational of her style! Her style is very simple and feminine but still edgy and bold due to her love for black and sharp heels.

Another noteworthy aspect of Motilo is that you can shop any piece your heart desires from the answers provided because it is readily available to you in its own “pin,” if you will, at the bottom. This concept cleverly coincides with their beautifully styled editorial “EXCESSORISE,” starring Queen Julia. I’m not for excess, but I think the tongue-in-cheek “excessorise” and the definitions of “baroque” and “decadence” with several other synonyms along with the editorial were brilliant and I was won over in a heartbeat. Finally, who can get over that photograph of Julia that resulted from the shoot? Pure heavenly vision.

So are you having a fashion dilemma? Would you like to know how to dress for a chic picnic the Roitfeld way? What will Julia wear on Christmas morning or New Year's Eve? Head over to Motilo and check in with Julia herself for all the answers. Who knows, you might even become a Motilo Girl!

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Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photographs © 2013 Motilo. All Rights Reserved.

You Know You Want Carine Roitfeld's Kim Kardashian Tee
By Jascmeen Bush

No Home Depot onesie this time around, for Carine Roitfeld's latest "7 Ways" she reinvents a Comme des Garçons vest beautifully. Carine wears the vest backwards, sideways, diagonally, and even tucked into a Louis Vuitton logo belt with a… What is that? A CR FASHION BOOK ISSUE 3 COVER TEE! Even if you're not a Kim Kardashian fan, this tee is definitely a collector's item. You can buy it on the CR Fashion Book site, it comes packaged with a copy of Issue 3 and a CR Fashion Book tote. What I want to know is, who's willing to pay $50 for the set when they already have the issue just to get the tee? Just me? Am I alone over here?

[Editor's note: I find it extraordinary and so Carine that the seam of her stocking is painted on with eyeliner here, quelle chic !]

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com

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Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot. Birthday love by Kellina de Boer.