Grace Jones

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld recently reported that one of Carine Roitfeld's idols is Grace Jones, "They worked often together when Grace was engaged to Jean-Paul Goude." This Jamaican-born singer, model, and actress is considered an icon of the 1980s. Famous for her severe, androgynous look, Grace was muse to Andy Warhol and her body served as canvas for Keith Haring's tribal patterns on a few occasions. Her number one dance hits include: "I Need A Man," "Slave To The Rhythm," "Love on Top of Love (Killer Kiss)," and "Sexdrive." Carine and Grace also share a love for Alaïa; in fact, Grace once carried the designer on stage in her arms to receive a French fashion award.

Keith Haring painting Grace Jones photograph courtesy of lipsticktracez.com
Grace Jones and Azzedine Alaïa photograph courtesy of nohway.wordpress.com

St. Tropez

When asked to describe her favorite holiday, Carine Roitfeld chose "St. Tropez, 1973. I arrived outside a café not knowing a soul; in five minutes I'd made lots of friends." This photo was actually taken in St. Tropez four years earlier in 1969 when Carine was fifteen years old. She is totally boho chic, wearing a purple tshirt as a dress with a wide brown belt slung around her hips, a purple silk scarf on her head, a silver pendant from Morocco for good luck, and bare feet. Carine reminisces, "I'd just come back from London, bought the tshirt, and seen Hair. It was that very purple time. I remember David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' that summer. And that was sort of my Jane Birkin look." It's easy to see why Carine had no trouble making friends in a strange new world.
Carine Roitfeld in St. Tropez photograph © 2007 by Carine Roitfeld. All Rights Reserved.

Carlyle Hotel

Carine Roitfeld's favorite place to stay in New York City is the Carlyle Hotel. This Upper East Side landmark recently added a luxurious new spa that is the epitome in relaxation, decorated in sleek grays and blacks and accented with chrome and glass. Since its opening in 1930, the Carlyle has hosted a seemingly endless parade of stars, celebrities, and world leaders. This Art Deco pièce de résistance on Madison Avenue is also home to the Bemelmans Bar which features wall murals painted by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeleine series of books for children. If you seek a private, refined, elegant sanctuary while visiting New York, the Carlyle is your destination.

Carlyle Hotel photographs courtesy of Carlyle Hotel. All Rights Reserved.

David Chipperfield

When they decided to rework their seventh arrondissement space, Carine Roitfeld and Christian Restoin chose British architect and renowned modernist David Chipperfield. This stunning belle époque apartment was stripped to its bones and remade in contemporary style by Chipperfield's design. The serenely modern space overlooks the shining dome of the Invalides from its wrought iron terrace, appears to be painted in cream touched with taupe throughout, and is rumored to be the location for much of the work done on Vogue Paris. Carine is said to prefer to invite editorial staff to her flat for meetings and such. The apartment is furnished primarily in Mies Van der Rohe and bespoke Chipperfield cabinets that hold Carine's wardrobe, photographs, and media. You can see images of the apartment of Roitfeld and Restoin in the photo gallery.

Restoin and Chipperfield first worked together on the design for the original Equipment store on rue Etienne Marcel in Paris. Other projects by Chipperfield include the design of the River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, England, using green oak cladding, concrete and glass; the Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach, Germany; the America's Cup Building in Valencia, Spain; and the reconstruction of the decimated Neues Museum in Berlin. Regarding his work in Germany, one critic noted that Chipperfield, "gives the calm, rational architectural language a sensual physical presence" making him the perfect match to give structure to Carine's lifestyle.

David Chipperfield photograph courtesy of The Hepworth Wakefield.

Schiaparelli

Carine Roitfeld attended the party that Azzedine Alaïa hosted for the opening of Schiaparelli in Paris. Azzedine must have been happy that Carine took the time to lace up his beautiful shoes for this party. J'adore the way that everything is bathed in rose light to match the rose wine flowing freely at the soirée. And the Schiaparelli vintage on hand, c'est magnifique. Carine's favorite piece in the collection is reportedly the jacket on which Schiaparelli and Jean Cocteau collaborated for the fall/winter 1937 collection. Talk about well made, this piece is over 70 years old!

Carine Roitfeld and Schiaparelli collection photographs © 2009 Rosita Kerdlarppol. All Rights Reserved.