Olatz Slip Dress

When asked to define herself as an item of clothing, Carine Roitfeld replied, "A black slip dress because when you take off your clothes, it's beautiful to have this as the last piece." This is a woman that truly lives each moment with elegance, embracing her sensual side. Carine also notes, "Wearing a slip dress to bed is a French fantasy," and she accessorizes with her signature scent, Opium, for added impact.

Being irreverent, bien sûr, La Roitfeld does not reserve the black slip dress for the boudoir, she frequently wears it for interviews and photo shoots as well, "I discovered the slip dress which I think is one of the more French things because when you take off your clothes, even when to go into a shop to buy something, or you're going to Riccardo Tisci to try on a suit, it's like having protection. And you never know how you're going to finish your evening. So you have to be ready." Carine's favorite black slip dress is a version in silk created for her by Olatz in which she appears in the images seen here, shot by Mario Sorrenti in support of her M.A.C. Cosmetics campaign.

The designer of CR's bespoke slip dress is Olatz López Garmendia Schnabel, a Basque native that began producing her own line of fine linens, lingerie, and pajamas based on her personal needs. Olatz is known also for her work as an Elite model and her collaborations with her former husband, Julian Schnabel, on the films Basquiat, Before Night Falls, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Visit The Selby to see more of the personal style of Olatz, creator of the slip dress that makes Carine Roitfeld feel "like a brunette version of Marilyn" as she drifts off to sleep every night.

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Carine Roitfeld photographs © 2012 M.A.C. Cosmetics. Olatz Schnabel photograph © 2014 Todd Selby.

Fogal

Do you want to have sexy legs like Carine Roitfeld, regardless of your age? She recommends sheer seamed stockings by Fogal, "Something that makes me happy now is a pair of new tights — it's not so expensive, not like buying a Dolce & Gabbana dress or a Dior bag. This is nearer to yourself, nearer to your skin, something that makes you more sensuous, more voluptuous, more woman…" Fogal, a Swiss company, launched their second location on Madison Avenue in Manhattan recently and plans are in place for a SoHo expansion. As for Carine's favorite stocking by Fogal, she prefers the Catwalk Couture, en noir bien sûr, available in both thigh high and full hose options. Don't forget the daily ballet practice shaping Carine's legs underneath those chic stockings... you may not achieve the exact same look, but as she says, you will feel sexier and, dare I say, more like a Roitfeld....

Fogal image © 2012 Fogal. Carine Roitfeld photograph © 2011 LeFigaro.fr. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Gilson

The last issue of Vogue Paris with Carine Roitfeld at the helm was the March 2011 issue, the one that featured the Dutch, (of course), short haired classic beauty Saskia de Brauw. Among the fashion brands represented in the issue, our Carine featured the lingerie of another Carine — Carine Gilson. La Roitfeld has reverently described Gilson’s work as “the most refined lingerie in the world.”

Ms. Roitfeld is not exaggerating. Carine Gilson lingerie is the most refined lingerie that you can get. Dedicated to artisanal fashion, Gilson uses the most luxurious silk on the market: silk with a luster that illuminates the complexion and a sumptuousness that caresses the skin. The silk is made in Lyon, in the same mill that Hermès uses. The lingerie is handcrafted with the finest Chantilly lace.

Carine Gilson’s start in the lingerie business is a testament to her dedication to quality as well as her own personal tenacity. In 1990, Gilson graduated from the acclaimed Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts , and intent on starting her lingerie business, she quickly found a small lace factory in Brussels. Upon further evaluation, however, it became clear that the factory owners did not know how to produce her lingerie the way she wanted it. No one at the time was making couture-grade lingerie. What was Gilson’s solution? It was to save up, buy the factory, and spend the following four years learning the art and trade of making lingerie by hand, using all the subtle techniques for manufacturing traditional lingerie.

In 1994, Gilson produced her first collection of artisanal lingerie. The result was refined, unique, and although the lingerie was made in the traditional way, it was contemporary in spirit. Barneys picked up the line right away. Gilson has stuck to this formula with great success and her business has since expanded. In 2004, Gilson opened up her own branded shop in Paris and today her lingerie is carried in the most exclusive boutiques across the globe. Gilson produces three collections a year: Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, and Cruise/Swimwear. 

I wonder how a woman lucky enough to don Carine Gilson’s beautiful lingerie feels about having to cover it up. Ms. Gilson’s perspective on this is “L’atelier, c’est mon tresor.” The first person we must seduce is ourselves. Beautiful lingerie enhances how women feel inside. Of course, Carine Roitfeld and Carine Gilson are both privy to this knowledge, we should heed their wisdom...

Images of Carine Gilson lingerie courtesy of carinegilson.com. All Rights Reserved.