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.

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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.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld cover for Marie Claire Korea © 2015 MCK Publishing Co Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld L'Officiel Nederland March 2015 cover © 2015 L'Officiel NL.

Kitty Hayes in Versace

For her sixth issue of CR Fashion Book, Carine Roitfeld dares to use seven burgeoning models to illustrate the concept of "Jolie Laide," her theme for the issue. The three covers show Kitty Hayes in Versace; Sarah Brannon, Julia Hafstrom, and Antonina Petkovic in Chanel; and Issa Lish, Stella Lucia, and Molly Bair in Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane as photographed by Karl Lagerfeld and Anthony Maule.  The "Jolie Laide" issue celebrates "individual character over pure good looks… and features the new guard of models that represents the way Carine Roitfeld views beauty for 2015." I simply cannot wait for this issue! Appearing on newsstands beginning 5 March.

Sarah Brannon, Julia Hafstrom, and Antonina Petkovic in Chanel

Issa Lish, Stella Lucia, and Molly Bair in Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

I am excited to see the forty pieces that result as Carine Roitfeld and UNIQLO combine forces to create a line of clothing, but I must admit that I am not surprised by this collaboration… Back in February 2013, when La Roitfeld shared her daily routine via Harper's Bazaar, she described her evening wear and immediately I was possessed with the desire for a UNIQLO puffer for bedtime. In Carine's words: "Going to bed. It's very cold in my hotel. Over my Olatz slip dress, I am going to wear my new UNIQLO light-down puffer. I put on a bit of Opium again, feeling like a brunette version of Marilyn." You want a puffer, too, right?

As for her inspiration for the collection, Carine stated: “I feel joy at creating new mode expressions. I am constantly asking myself what these are, and creating new clothing within the UNIQLO LifeWear concept is a great challenge… I started from the idea of clothes that I would want to wear myself, and developed this into clothes that anyone would want to wear, a woman’s ideal of clothes that make her feel transformed when she wears them.” 

Naoki Takizawa, design director for UNIQLO, supported her vision in his remarks: “Carine goes to see collections all around the world, and the visuals that emerge from this relentless pursuit of leading edge fashion have had a tremendous influence on the fashion industry. I believe that a new type of LifeWear will be created through her work.”

Tadashi Yanai, head of parent company Fast Retailing, commented: “Ms. Roitfeld is a charismatic fashion editor and influential figure in the fashion world and we are extremely happy to present this collection with her as our collaborative partner. UNIQLO’s aim is to create everyday clothing that is functional, comfortable and reasonably priced. I am pleased that this new collection will allow us to present our customers worldwide with a new type of UNIQLO LifeWear.”

Scheduled for release in October, the Carine Roitfeld for UNIQLO collection promises to be unique and chic, bien sûr. Here's hoping the CR puffer appears in the line...

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Carine Roitfeld for UNIQLO image courtesy of CR Fashion Book. Modification by Kellina de Boer.

Three generations of Roitfeld women come together for the April issue of ELLE France in a perfect tribute to spring style. Julia Restoin Roitfeld appears on the cover surrounded by bunnies as styled by her mother, Carine Roitfeld, and photographed by Pamela Hanson. Inside the magazine, Julia exudes sweet, sexy, and chic in an array of denim looks and in one special shot, her daughter, Romy, appears along with her beloved bunnies. To bring it full circle, I haves added images of Julia taken for ELLE France back in the 1980s, including one with Carine. Below is the full interview with Julia (with comments by Carine) which I have translated from French to English, enjoy!

Telle Mére, Tel Style

Julia Restoin Roitfeld, mannequin, créatrice du site Romy & The Bunnies et fille de Carine, prend la pose pour sa mére une leçon de jean sensuel, par deux expertes.

“Je suis moins pointue que maman !”

Un site pour mères stylées, une enfant de 3 ans, Romy… Et des projets plein la tête. La fille de Carine Roitfeld est sur tous les fronts (row).

‹‹J’adore tes chaussures››, dit Julia en admirant les escarpins fatals de sa mère, Carine Roitfeld. ‹‹Elle ne me les piquera pas, elle fait une pointure de plus que moi››, s’amuse la maman. ‹‹Heureusement, je peux lui piquer ses vêtements››, rétorque Julia. Nous sommes dans un studio photo parisien où se déroule le shooting de notre série mode. Carine affûte les looks de Julia, fille modèle de 34 ans. Yeux de chat et sourire ultra-bright, Julia dégage un charme tout en douceur. Cette Frenchie habite Manhattan. Elle y est arrivée, il y a onze ans, pour étudier le design management. Et elle y est restée. ‹‹ J’aime la vie aux Etats-Unis on y connaît moins ma famille (son père, Christian Restoin, a créé la griffe de chemises Equipment, sa mère est encore plus photographiée que les people des premiers rangs des défilés). Cela me motive pour mener des projets, car j’ai tout à prouver.›› Et les projets, elle les multiplie en tant que mannequin, réalisatrice, consultante et fondatrice d’un site d’e-shopping. Julia aimerait aussi lancer une collection de dessous pour femmes enceintes. ‹‹Je ne comprends pas pourquoi on ne pourrait pas porter de soutien-gorge sexy quand on allaite ?›› Pour le moment, Julia est surtout très occupée par romyandthebunnies.com, un site Internet pour mères en quête d’astuces et de conseils shopping. Elle l’a créé juste après la naissance de sa fille, Romy, 3 ans en mai. ‹‹C’est pour les mamans qui ne veulent pas sacrifier leur vie d’avant. Tout est dans le nom du site : Romy, c’est ma fille, elle adore les lapins, et les bunnies, ce sont les créatures sexy du magazine “Playboy”. Enceinte, j’ai pu constater que l’univers de la maternité manquait cruellement de glamour.›› Le site se développe à la vitesse grand V : Romy & The Bunnies sortira une capsule pour enfant cet été, en collaboration avec la marque Love Shack Fancy. Puis un projet avec Bonpoint pour les 75 ans du livre culte des enfants américains ‹‹Pat The Bunny››*. Si Julia a reçu quelques coups de pouce via le réseau de sa mère, elle a largement prouvé que sa place était dans le milieu de la mode. En 2005 à 24 ans, elle fut l’image du parfum Black Orchid de Tom Ford. ‹‹Je connais Julia depuis qu’elle est toute petite, elle n’est pas seulement belle, elle est talentueuse, bien élevée et professionnelle››, salue le créateur. Avec cette première pub, sa carrière décolle. S’ensuivent les campagnes de Jil Sander, Lancôme, Givenchy…

APPLIQUE-T-ELLE LES LEÇONS DE MODE DE SA MÉRE ? ‹‹Je suis plutôt très basique, jean-pull-ballerines. Je suis loin du look hyper pointu de ma maman, toujours en talons, mais c’est aussi certainement parce que je marche beaucoup plus qu’elle !›› Quand elle était petite, Carine pouvait l’habiller comme elle le voulait : ‹‹J’étais bien plus facile que Romy au même âge. Elle a déjà ses préférences, notamment pour l’imprimé léopard. Comme ma mère››, s’amuse-t-elle. Quand elle était élève de l’Ecole active bilingue, à Paris, Julia devait porter un uniforme bleu marine. Mais Carine préférait l’habiller en noir. ‹‹Tu leur diras que c’est du bleu marine ! m’enjoignait-elle. C’est une super-maman. Elle était très présente, se levait à 5 heures du matin le weekend pour m’emmener à mes compétitions d’équitation !›› C’est aussi une super-grand-mère. Dès qu’elle est à New York, Grandma Carine emmène Romy déjeuner et faire du shopping avec elle. Côté éducation, Julia se garde bien de donner des conseils. ‹‹Chacun a ses solutions, c’est très personnel. En ce qui me concerne, je passe ma vie à culpabiliser. Je m’étais toujours dit que je ne serais pas aussi sévère que mes parents et, finalement, je le suis ! Etre mère célibataire n’est pas évident : je dois jouer tous les rôles.›› Si elle est séparée du père de Romy (le mannequin Robert Konjic), il n’y a pas de garde bien déterminée entre eux. ‹‹On a tous deux des plannings difficiles à prévoir, alors on s’arrange. Quand je suis seule, j’en profite pour manger n’importe quoi en regardent la télé.›› Comment voit-elle l’avenir ? ‹‹J’espère développer Romy & The Bunnies et avoir d’autres enfants, il ne me reste plus qu’à trouver le papa››, sourit-elle. Alors que se termine notre interview, Carine passe devant nous, accaparée par son shooting. Julia la rappelle à l’ordre : ‹‹Maman, dis au revoir.›› Décidément, cette fille a reçu une très bonne éducation. — Sophie Gachet

*Disponible chez Harrods, à Londres.

Such A Mother, Such Style

Julia Restoin Roitfeld, model, creator of the site Romy & The Bunnies, and daughter of Carine, poses for her mother in a lesson in sensual jeans by two experts.

"I am less sharp than Mom!"

A site for stylish mothers, a child of 3 years, Romy…  And projects in mind. The daughter of Carine Roitfeld is on every front (row).

"I love your shoes," said Julia admiring the fatal heels of her mother, Carine Roitfeld. "She does not pique me, she is one size larger than me," teases the mother. "Fortunately, I can nip her clothes," retorts Julia. We are in a Parisian photo studio where the shooting of our fashion editorial takes place. Carine sharpens Julia's looks, girl model 34 years old. Eyes of a cat and ultra-bright smile, Julia emits a gentle charm. This Frenchie lives in Manhattan. She arrived there, eleven years ago, to study design management. And she stayed. "I love life in the United States, less is known about my family there (her father, Christian Restoin, created the Equipment brand of shirts, her mother is still the most photographed of the people in the front rows of fashion shows). This motivates me to carry out projects, because I have everything to prove." And the projects, she multiplies them as a fashion model, director, consultant, and founder of an e-shopping site. Julia would also like to launch a lingerie collection for pregnant women. "I do not understand why we cannot wear a sexy bra when breastfeeding?" For the moment, Julia is especially busy with romyandthebunnies.com, a website for mothers seeking tips and shopping advice. She created it just after the birth of her daughter, Romy, 3 years old in May. "This is for moms who do not want to sacrifice their previous lives. It's all in the site name: Romy, this is my daughter, she loves rabbits, and the bunnies, they are the sexy creatures of the magazine 'Playboy.' While pregnant, I observed that the universe of motherhood was sorely lacking glamour." The site is growing at the speed of light: Romy & The Bunnies will release a capsule for children this summer, in collaboration with the brand Love Shack Fancy. Then a project with Bonpoint for the 75th anniversary of the cult book of American children, "Pat The Bunny"*. If Julia has received some nudges through the network of her mother, she has amply demonstrated that her place was in the world of fashion. In 2005, at 24 years old, she was the image of the perfume Black Orchid by Tom Ford. "I have known Julia since she was little, she is not only beautiful, she's talented, well-educated, and professional," salutes the designer. With this first ad, her career took off. There followed the campaigns of Jil Sander, Lancôme, Givenchy...

DOES SHE APPLY THE FASHION LESSONS OF HER MOTHER? "I tend to be very basic, jeans-pull-ballerinas. I'm far from the super sharp look of my mom, always in heels, but also probably because I walk a lot more than she." When she was little, Carine could dress her as she wished: "I was much easier than Romy at the same age. She already has her preferences, including the leopard print. Like my mother," this amuses her. When she was a student at the Ecole Active Bilingue in Paris, Julia wore a navy blue uniform. But Carine preferred to dress her in black. "'You tell them it's navy blue!' she enjoined me. This is a supermom. She was very present, got up at 5 a.m. on the weekend to take me to my riding competitions!" This is also a supergrandma. When she is in New York, Grandma Carine takes Romy to lunch and goes shopping with her. On the side of upbringing, Julia is careful not to give advice. "Everyone has their own solutions, it's very personal. As for me, I spend my life feeling guilty. I always told myself that I would not be as severe as my parents and ultimately I am! Being a single mother is not easy: I have to play all the roles." Though she is separated from the father of Romy (the model Robert Konjic), there is no definite custody between them. "Both of our schedules are difficult to predict, so it is arranged. When I'm alone, I take the opportunity to eat just about anything while watching TV." How does she see the future? "I hope to develop Romy & The Bunnies and have more children, it remains for me to find the dad," she smiles. While ending our interview, Carine passes us, monopolized by her shooting. Julia calls her to order: "Mom, say goodbye." Definitely, this girl has received a very good education. — Sophie Gachet

* Available at Harrods in London.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld for ELLE France © 2015 Condé Nast.

Carine Roitfeld For Givenchy: With A Little Help From My Friends
By Jessica Eritou

With the help of Carine Roitfeld, Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci released his latest campaign alongside another designer. As much as we are shocked by his choice, we are happy to see Tisci push Givenchy's envelope by featuring well-known designers of other fashion houses. Tisci brought his friend, and now star of the new campaign, Donatella Versace, designer of the label with the same name, for his Fall 2015 collection.

Carine Roitfeld styled the duo with simplistic profile head shots with the familiar black-and-white filter in typical Givenchy style. To capture Versace's delicate features and platinum blonde locks, Roitfeld poses her in front of Tisci's dark plaid ensemble, while she complements the photo as well in what appears to be a velvet vintage pattern. Although the two face opposite directions, you still feel a sense of unity in the shot, with the closeness and soft facial expressions from one another. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot the intimate campaign for Givenchy.

[Editor's note: While we are on the subject of Donatella, I love these images of her fitting Carine for the short film "The Client" by Loïc Prigent and Fabien Constant. The shot of Carine and Riccardo from the film is cute as well. Be sure to read Jessica Eritou's thoughts on "The Client" if you missed it previously.]

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Givenchy ad © 2015 Givenchy. Carine Roitfeld photographs © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

In celebration of Mother's Day, let us acquaint ourselves with the few facts known about Nicola Roitfeld, mother of Carine and grandmother of Julia and Vladimir. Born in Paris, Nicola worked for a time as a script girl, likely the setting in which she first met Carine's father, a film producer. The couple reared Carine and her brother, Pierre, in typical bourgeois Parisian style. In her book Irreverent, Carine shared a bit about her upbringing: "I was raised in Auteil, in the 16th arrondissement of Pairs — a very posh neighborhood. I am the daughter of a Russian-born film producer and a Parisian mother. My father had a bit of a mad streak that I think I inherited. The legendary French actor Louis Jouvet was a witness at my parents' wedding, just to give you some idea of the bohemian chic quality of their relationship."

Nicola Roitfeld practicing ballet

Carine considered Nicola well-dressed always, a "very classic Frenchwoman" who loved dressing her daughter in top designers from a young age: "My mother was a real Parisian, which makes you immediately understand fashion when you are very young. It’s the way you live and what you see in shops, even if you are not shopping at Dior or Chanel. You know it exists and it’s in your DNA, seeing beautiful people and knowing couture and parfum… My mother's elegance marked me profoundly. She dressed in couture clothing and was always impeccably turned out, even at home. She used to go to the hairdresser three times a week."

Nicola Roitfeld as a young girl

Carine fondly recollects helping her mother to apply her eye makeup: "I think I was eight or nine years old. My mother was preparing to go out and she wanted me to help her put her eyeliner on. I remember very carefully putting on her designer eyeliner for her — it is such a strong memory…  It was the mid 1960s, and she was wearing a Pucci dress, and I was helping her put on her black eyeliner in a straight line. To be symmetrical can be difficult, so she asked me to do it."

"Corps & Lames" for Vogue Paris (2005)

One of Carine's earliest maternal memories continues to influence her work today: "As a little girl my mother would always ask me to cut up the raw meat to feed the dog… It's not starting today — I was a controversial person from the beginning." See "The Butcher" (1997), "Corps & Lames" (2005), "Plaisir Solitaire" (2009), and "Boucherie Desnoyer" (2015) as examples of the persistence of her memory. As for her formative style impressions, Carine remembers craving a close fitting Shetland sweater at the age of 14 and although her mother protested, she won in the end. This early choice epitomizes the essence of Carine perfectly — her knack for making the classic sexy with the devil in the details.

Nicola Roitfeld with her horse

In comparing herself with her mother in the role of grandmother, Carine is most tender, speaking from the heart: "I would love it if my granddaughter loves me as much as my daughter loved my mom. The relationship my daughter had with my mother was so specific. My mother passed away three years ago, and my daughter added her name to her own name after she passed. Her grandma was so important to her. Julia told her everything, about boyfriends, hairdos, bad notes from school: everything I wouldn’t be happy with! My mother would say, ‘No problem, you’re the best.’ When Julia comes to Paris, the first place she goes is her grandmother’s grave. Can you imagine? That’s how much she loved her. And if Romy loves me as much, my God, I’ve done something great. That’s what I wish. " Note that Julia keeps this image of her grandmother on her bedside table; she also posted it to Instagram with the caption "My beauty inspiration." Trop mignon…

Julia Restoin Roitfeld's bedside photos including her beloved grandmother, Nicola

Carine mentions her grandfather, the father of Nicola, in Irreverent as well: "Her own father had been a leading French writer and was the editor-in-chief of the satirical political weekly, Le Canard Enchainé. He had been an important figure in the French Resistance newspaper. He was a great figure in the Resistance movement, and a great journalist and political commentator." Greatness begets greatness… Happy Mother's Day to all!

The Restoin Roitfeld family at grandma's summer house in Uzès

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Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent images © 2011 Rizzoli. Restoin Roitfeld family photo courtesy of instagram.com.

Carine Roitfeld: Take Me To The River
By Jessica Eritou

As most on the A-list were wearing their finest jewels and gowns at the Met Gala on 4 May, another fashionable event also took place at the same time… Carine Roitfeld was seen at the Chanel Cruise 2016 show at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, in Seoul, South Korea. WWD reported Roitfeld sitting in the front row, wearing a ballet pink cropped bolero jacket paired with a slinky black dress. The pop art inspired show in the largest city in South Korea brought the likes of Gisele Bündchen and Kristen Stewart who were also in attendance.

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Carine Roitfeld et al photos courtesy of wwd.com, purple.fr, pinterest.com, nymag.com, instagram.com, harpersbazaar.com.

Carine Roitfeld: Cinema Against AIDS Gala
By Jessica Eritou

For the fourth year running, Carine Roitfeld curated yet another successful star-studded runway show at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes in partnership to benefit the 22nd amfAR Cinema Against Aids Gala which raised nearly $30 million dollars.

The event included top models Gigi Hadid and Karolina Kurkova who were part of a show featuring nearly fifty looks. Among the designers featured were Tom Ford and Alexander Wang with shoes by Gianvito Rossi and jewels by Harry Winston. Since the dresses auctioned off were mostly sample sizes, the prizes were not aimed to be physically worn by each of the top bidders, measurements and sizes vary.

Gigi Hadid in Tom Ford

“What is amazing about the amfAR event in Cannes is that it is not only an incredible red carpet but people are very relaxed. It’s the South of France, it’s the Riviera, and there is a kind of freedom,” Carine Roitfeld told WWD in early May before the event. “The people who attend really enjoy themselves, and that’s why all the models want to be there.”

Hanaa Ben Abdesslem in Giorgio Armani

The Sixties theme drew inspiration from Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Jean Shrimpton, and Veruschka. “I didn’t want to have a show with only princess dresses,” Carine said to WWD. “I think a collection needs a bit of both — day and night.” Charli XCX also performed as part of the show. Roitfeld hoped to have nearly raised $5 million to match the previous year's amount for the fashion runway portion of the fundraiser.

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Carine Roitfeld et al photos courtesy of amfAR, style.com, wwd.com, instagram.com, and Getty Images.

Followers of fashion for men take note: Carine Roitfeld plans to launch a new magazine dedicated to the subject in September. CR Men’s Book focuses on the burgeoning world of menswear as viewed through the Roitfeld lens as Carine takes inspiration from her style icons of the male persuasion, such as Christopher Walken, River Phoenix, and Robert Mapplethorpe, Models booked for her premiere issue include Gabriel Day-Lewis, Kaia Gerber, Presley Gerber, Lucky Blue, Jaden Smith, Oliver Greenall, Logan Flatte, and Love Ronnlund. The first issue of CR Men’s Book will be packaged with the seventh issue of CR Fashion Book Fall/Winter 2015, available on newsstands beginning 10 September; future issues of CRMB are priced at $20. Very much looking forward to les honmes de CR....

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

Gaga… oooo la la… For the seventh issue of her CR Fashion Book, clearly Carine Roitfeld is caught in a Gaga romance. Lady Gaga poses as a bride on the cover as photographed by Bruce Weber, the perfect tribute to the issue’s theme, Classic Eccentric. As for Carine’s thoughts on the issue, she shared her feelings about her choices for the theme and the cover: “The theme for the issue is classic/eccentric because I am interested in what happens when you mix the two. I am fascinated by people who represent both extremes at the same time… It is always better to be a little bit of both. Take me, for example: I love eccentric fashion, but in reality I am quite classic… Lady Gaga perfectly represents what I mean by the classic eccentric to me. She is completely Gaga, but she is also a lady. In her music and art, she is so creative, always pushing the envelope… And yet she is classically trained, as well. As we saw with the jazz music, she can be both the modern pop star and still play the classic songs, giving them a modern twist. That is always what I love.” CR Fashion Book Issue 7 will appear on newsstands 3 September and will be packaged with the premiere issue of CR Men’s Book.

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

CR Men’s Book, Carine Roitfeld’s new publication devoted entirely to menswear, debuts on 3 September and she has selected Lucky Blue Smith as her cover model for her premiere issue. Photographed by Sebastian Faena, the image focuses on Lucky’s famous blue eye as he gazes into the looking glass. Among the other models sharing the pages of CRMB Issue 1 are Fetty Wap, Gabriel Day-Lewis, Kaia Gerber, Presley Gerber, and Jaden Smith. The initial issue of CR Men’s Book will be wrapped with CR Fashion Book Issue 7 with subsequent issues sold separately; however, I cannot find a way to order either a subscription or a single issue of CRMB, please let me know if you have any information.

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CR Men’s Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

As we anxiously await the release of CR Men's Book tomorrow, let us amuse ourselves with the editorial “Evening Dare,” a daring take on menswear by Carine Roitfeld and Mario Testino published in Vogue Hommes International in 2007. Merci mille fois to the amazing Paul Kolyer for sharing his insights as well as the images.

Carine Roitfeld: Evening Dare
By Paul Kolyer

This flashback could be called “Roitfeld/Rewind” or “I Want To Be A Male Model Styled By Carine,” either way the team of Roitfeld/Testino created another fabulous editorial for Vogue Hommes Spring/Summer 2007. Just so happens that Taschen has released Mr. Testino's new book, SIR. This volume covers thirty years and will no doubt contain many images styled by CR.

Always ahead of her time, the "gender debate" in menswear was a non-issue for Carine Roitfeld. Her styling here borrows a dress, a bag, and a turban from the Prada line for women. The Prada evening bag is soft and so in style for men now. I love how she uses the single Tiffany diamond at the throat throughout. I wonder if t-shirt sales dropped after seeing this, if you've got the body, leave the tee at home!

All of Carine's fetishes (black, Le Smoking, nipples, waist, pubic hair) are on full display in “Evening Dare.” La Roitfeld really saw the future of menswear with her take on track pants, broaches, jackets over long tunics, and sequins for men — the Fendi sequined cardigan is so sexy for evening under Le Smoking.

The modern man has so many options now and with menswear seeing global double digit growth, Carine Roitfeld may want to use her design skills for a men's collection, sure to be a sell out. And she can style the ad campaign, bien sûr !

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Vogue Hommes International cover image © 2007 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

I am pleased to be in possession of CR Fashion Book Issue 7 as well as CR Men’s Book Issue 1 and my first thought is to salute Carine Roitfeld: C’est fantastique, brava ! My second thought is to clarify information previously published here: CR Men’s Book will be packaged as an annual supplement to CR Fashion Book and will not be sold separately. This is according to Carine’s letter introducing the publication, I find it charming so I am reprinting it here:

Fashion doesn’t look good on men. It’s very difficult to strike a balance between trendy and traditional. Go too far and you look like a victim. Play too safe and you seem like a bore. In between, though, there’s an ambiguity that is seductive — a vagueness of style, of sexuality, of gender, of generation. I love this look on a man.

For the first issue of this annual supplement to CR, I thought to create a cinematic tribute to five legendary men who’ve inspired me with their subtle masculinity and quintessential looks. Over the years, their style — a bit offbeat in each one’s heyday — has evolved to simply be men’s style. Who can forget Kurt Cobain’s distressed cardigans or Christopher Walken’s polished camel coats? What about Robert Mapplethorpe’s penchant for sensual, low-riding black leather and not much else? Or the way River Phoenix made any old white t-shirt look like the coolest white t-shirt in the world? Bob Marley wore his tracksuit like a tuxedo — always cool and together.

Obviously most of these stars have passed. So I selected modern personalities to channel their spirits. Boys like Lucky Blue and Jaden Smith can’t be compared to Christopher or Bob, of course. They’re all such strong individuals. But in their personal freedom, their striking faces, and their embrace of ambiguity, they are one and the same.

— Carine

I love that Carine chose to focus her first issue of CRMB on five of her male style icons: Robert Mapplethorpe by Oliver Greenall, River Phoenix by Love Rönnlund, Kurt Cobain by Logan Flatte, Christopher Walken by Lucky Blue Smith, and Bob Marley by Jaden Smith, all photographed by Sebastian Faena. Also notable is the appearance of Kate Upton in each editorial, adeptly portraying the muse to each of these men: Patti Smith, Winona Ryder, Courtney Love, Natalie Wood, and Cindy Breakspeare, respectively. The Smiths make the issue: Lucky Blue as Walken and Jaden as Marley are exceptional and I found both of their interviews intriguing. It is painful to think that we must wait a year for the next issue of CR Men’s Book but I am certainly looking forward to more of Carine Roitfeld’s way with menswear.

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CR Men’s Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

Carine Roitfeld certainly keeps busy, running her own magazines, CR Fashion Book and CR Men’s Book, while contributing heavily to Harper’s Bazaar; yet her well of editorial ideas never runs dry. Her most recent tour de force for HB, “Icons,” shines with her genius. Carine picks nine icons of today and presents each as his or her favorite mythological being, all costumed in the current season of fashion amidst the most divine settings. I particularly enjoy CR’s adaptation of Katy Perry, paying tribute to both Elizabeth Taylor and Andy Warhol with the image, quel génie ! Jean-Paul Goude photographed “Icons” and Stephen Gan provided creative direction but the imagination could only be Carine Roitfeld.

ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY AS DIANA VREELAND

"Diana was such an influential, powerful woman who changed fashion from the inside out."

Chanel jacket and tights; J.W. Anderson earrings and boots

Special thanks to Xianzhong Zhai of Chinese Theatre Works

JESSICA CHASTAIN AS JOAN OF ARC

"Individuality makes an icon. Joan of Arc inspires me because she fought against society's constraints. She went against the grain."

Balenciaga dress; Alexander Wang socks and shoes; Fannie Schiavoni gloves

Special thanks to France Vitrail International

OPRAH WINFREY AS GLINDA THE GOOD WITCH

"The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite spiritual tales, and Glinda is a spiritual goddess. I love when she says to Dorothy, 'You've always had the power.' That is the message for all of us: You're born with it, you always have it. It doesn't matter how many yellow brick roads you go down, it's always right there in your heart."

Ralph Lauren Collection dress; Walter Steiger shoes; Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet

MARIAH CAREY AS MARIE ANTOINETTE

"I'm pretty much the opposite of Marie Antoinette, but it's always fun to throw on a costume."

Tom Ford corset; Manolo Blahnik shoes; Le Vestiaire jacket, skirt, petticoats and stockings

DAKOTA JOHNSON AS APHRODITE

"In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the primary image of feminine divine love. To me, she embodies the power of love and pleasure and represents the mystery and intricacy of women."

Neosport wetsuit; Dior boots

LUCKY BLUE SMITH AS LIBERACE

"I like Liberace. He was cool, he was blingy, he was rad, he killed it. He was a performer and I'm a performer."

Burberry Prorsum jacket and pants; Roberto Cavalli shirt; Jacob & Co bracelet; Beladora ring; Jacob & Co ring; Doyle & Doyle ring; Jason of Beverly Hills shoes; Cape and bow tie, courtesy of Ellen Mirojnick

Special thanks to the Liberace Foundation for the Creative & Performing Arts

WILLOW SMITH AS KALI

"When I was little, I would go into my mom's meditation room and read her books about goddesses. Kali stayed with me because she is terrifying yet beautiful."

Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci corset, skirt, and face jewels

CHRIS LEE AS COCO CHANEL

"In China, we say that when a person passes, their soul remains. I really felt that Coco was among us on this day."

Chanel dress, shoes and belt; Ghost of Coco wears vintage Chanel

KATY PERRY AS ELIZABETH TAYLOR

"An icon transcends time. Liz was so fabulous and decadent and had a style that evolved with the years...and I'm sure I'll be married just as many times!"

Azzedine Alaïa dress; Dior Fine Jewelry earrings

Andy Warhol Artwork, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc./ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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Harper’s Bazaar images © 2015 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

I always enjoy a glimpse of the beauty products of Julia Restoin Roitfeld and the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar kindly provides a look at her current favorites. In this month’s “Beauty Diaries,” the magazine shares insider secrets to be fabulous at any age (up to 60) and Julia was chosen to represent women in their 30s. Which products does JRR consider top shelf? What tips does she offer? Let’s take a peek…

MAKEUP

“I love 60s references. Sophia Loren’s winged eyeliner was always super sultry.” Essie Nail Polish (Muchi Muchi)Everyday essentials: Bobbi Brown concealer, Luma blush, Eyeko mascara, Kiehl’s lip balm. Evening picks: M.A.C. taupe shadow, Eyeko liquid liner, and M.A.C. nude glosses. Preferred polish: Essie’s Muchi, Muchi pink:  “I get a manicure twice a week and a pedicure once a week. This color is neutral enough to go with everything.”

HAIR

“I’m bad at styling my own hair, plus it tends to get very dry, so I keep it simple and let it air-dry to a soft, natural wave. When I have an event, I go to my local Drybar salon.” Tress prep: Rahua shampoo, Amazon Beauty Rahua ShampooKiehl’s olive oil mask, and Moroccanoil Treatment. Hair pro: Colorist Christopher John at Alessandro Mangerini Salon “colors my gray roots, but I hate getting haircuts — it always looks too short! I get trims on shoots.”

DIET & FITNESS

“Whenever I’m on a diet, all I think about is eating, so when I don’t restrict myself I feel better. But I do try to stick to organic foods.” Breakfast: Juice Press kale smoothie. Juice Press Kale SmoothieBest brunch: Eggs, pancakes, and oysters at Soho House. “I love mixing savory with sweet.” Lunch: A sandwich, a Cobb salad, or sushi. Dinner: “I eat my daughter’s leftovers — roast chicken and mash or fish and vegetables.” Guilty pleasures: Rubirosa pepperoni pizza and Häagen-Dazs. Fitness routine: “I feel guilty if I don’t work out.” SoulCycle three times a week and Ballet Beautiful twice a week “for toning.”

Bonpoint Fragrance

SKIN & BODY

“I’ve never done Botox. I spend a lot of money on products because I prefer to prevent aging rather than have to fix things later on.” Skin savers: Eve Lom Cleanser, LaPrairie moisturizer, Sunday Riley moisturizer and eye cream, and Natura Bissé Glyco Extreme Peel “to remove dead skin and get a glow.” Favorite facial: Mist Beauty’s laser facial to “tighten my skin” once a month. Body basics: Kiehl’s body butter and Aurelia oil. Fragrance: Bonpoint. Indulgence: Massages at the Prince de Galles hotel in Paris.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld for Harper’s Bazaar © 2015 Hearst Communications, Inc. Images courtesy of amazon.com and twitter.com.

I must admit that I gasped in delight when I flipped to the centerfold of CR Fashion Book Issue 7… behold the Carine Roitfeld for UNIQLO collection in all its glory! Carine has styled model Lexi Boling in her image, a convincing likeness indeed. Better yet is the clothing La Roitfeld has created — blouses, skirts, jackets, coats, accessories — all with the distinctive CR touch. The Carine Roitfeld for UNIQLO collection debuts 29 October and I simply cannot wait! What do you think of Carine’s collection? Are you planning to buy any pieces?

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Carine Roitfeld X UNIQLO images courtesy of CR Fashion Book.

If you are seeking style advice from Julia Restoin Roitfeld then I suggest The Net Set! As an extension of their magazine, The Edit, Net-A-Porter has released an app known as The Net Set through which their Style Council shares fashion insights and experiences. In addition to JRR, the Style Council includes Poppy Delevingne, Chloe Nørgaard, Nicole Warne, and Laura Bailey, all of whom appear on the cover of the 27 August issue of The Edit as styled by Tracy Taylor and photographed by Victor Demarchelier.

Browse The Edit

Join The Net Set

Enjoy the Style Council video

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld et al photographs © 2015 net-a-porter.com.

Ever the loyal friend, Julia Restoin Roitfeld turned out to support the burgeoning careers of two women last night in New York City. First Julia appeared at the debut of the fashion collaboration between her friend Margherita Missoni and Peroni Nastro Azzurro, looking luminous in a black satin and lace camisole tucked into a black pencil skirt belted at the waist. The collaboration launched on the rooftop of Gramercy Park Hotel. Others in attendance included Jessica Hart, Rachel Zoe, Margherita Missoni, Teresa Maccapani Missoni, and Charlotte Ronson, pictured below with JRR.

Julia then moved on to the first solo art exhibition by her friend Rebecca Dayan at Catherine Ahnell Gallery. I really like the style of Dayan’s watercolor portraits, she has a beautiful touch. Regarding the inspiration behind her work, the French artist shared: “I became fascinated by religious iconography depicting religious ecstasy and the inherent human need to find meaning and solace in altered states — communing with a higher power through religion, sex, drugs, money, etc. There is an inherent need in all of us to imbue ideas, symbols, and people with meaning in order to fight the inevitable. Most of the time we distract ourselves to not face the truth, until we reach moments of freedom and bliss. It is in these small fleeting moments that I am interested.” The Rebecca Dayan exhibition “MORES” runs through 11 October in NYC if you would like to see her paintings for yourself.

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld et al photos courtesy of instagram.com and © 2015 Getty Images. All Rights Reserved.