Alberto Marani

As a designer and creative architect of style, Alberto Marani is a favorite of Carine Roitfeld and the man behind a few of the most coveted brands in her closet. Marani was born in the picturesque coastal city of San Remo, Italy, where his primary influence and inspiration was Le Corbusier, a close friend of his father and a pioneer of the school we now call Modern architecture or the International Style. An ideal student, Marani absorbed Le Corbusier’s strong lines and structure, incorporating these characteristics into his work throughout his career at houses like Gianfranco Ferré and Christian Dior Haute Couture and Prêt-à-Porter.

More recently Marani’s own label released a limited edition knitwear collection that has gained somewhat of a cult following. The relaunch of his collection included large tasseled skirts inspired by hyena trainers in Nigeria, very tribal, combining the complexity of the tassel and the ethnic look with the simplicity of form and function. These are sensual designs to be worn with a fitted or cropped sleeveless tshirt and sure to be acquired by the most fashion conscious women in the world. It is no wonder that Alberto Marani is one of Carine’s favorites, like minds seem to find one another. Who knows what the future holds for either of them but perhaps collaboration is in the works for these two visionary forces.

Alberto Marani image © 2010 Alberto Marani. 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.