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.

Sant Ambroeus

While visiting New York, Carine Roitfeld was spotted dining with her children, Julia and Vladimir, at Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue. The beloved restaurant first launched in Milan in 1936, then opened the Manhattan location in 1982. Sant Ambroeus is renowned for the fine Milanese dishes, the warmth of its staff, and the sophistication of its decor, a casual yet elegant setting that perfectly suits the Roitfeld family. Personally I would add to the list of charms the adorable Sant Ambroeus packaging by Mucca Design, so memorable, so right. As for the menu, the mouthwatering antipasti include the Prosciutto di Parma con Bufala Mozzarella and the Insalata di Nettuno, a mixture of lump and king crab meat with sliced fennel and orange. Among the main dishes crafted by Chef Mario Danieli are the delectable Tonno in Crosta di Sesamo con Baby Peperoni e Broccoli, the tender Tagliata di Manzo al Pepe Verde, and his signature, the Risotto alla Milanese con Ossobuco. Be sure to peruse the pastry case or consider the gelato, reportedly the best outside of Milan. Devoted fans are said to fight for spots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily so I suggest a reservation via Sant Ambroeus' site before visiting. Buon appetito!

Sant Ambroeus images © 2009 New York Media LLC and courtesy of santambroeus.com and mucca.com.

Bess

Carine Roitfeld is a fan of Bess, she has been spotted wearing one of their distinctive feather necklaces, a gothic concoction of lace, suede, and feathers that appear to be those of a raven. Bess was created in 2000 by Doug and Bess Abraham, by 2001 their pieces were being stocked by Harvey Nichols, Fred Segal, Bergdorf Goodman, and Barney's NY. The Abrahams opened the first Bess store in 2002. Now located at 292 Lafayette Street (between Prince and Houston), the space that Bess occupies formerly housed Keith Haring's Pop Shop.

Bess is known for bold, colorful jewelry made of precious and semiprecious stones frequently interwoven with rich, layered fabrics such as velvet and silk. For extra pleasure, they custom stud a variety of vintage apparel. In addition to working as a sculptor and jewelry designer, Doug also oversees the jewelry line produced by Ralph Lauren.

Other notable Bess fans include Alexander Wang, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Marc Jacobs, Hedi Slimane, Fabiola Beracasa, Vanessa Traina, Anna Sui, Domenico Dolce, Olivier Theyskens, and Erin Wasson. Bess Los Angeles is now open at 8166 Melrose Avenue and they plan to debut their collection at the upcoming New York Fashion Week, hopefully we will see Carine there showing her support.

Images from the Bess Autumn/Winter 2009 and  Spring/Summer 2010 collections © 2009 Bess NYC. All Rights Reserved.

Juergen Teller

Carine Roitfeld and Juergen Teller have combined their talents innumerable times over the last few years to create memorable fashion images for Vogue Paris, such as the editorial pictured above, "Strip-Jean." Model Raquel Zimmerman teases us via her denim outifts styled by Carine and shot by Juergen for the May 2009 issue of Vogue Paris.

Widely considered to be one of the most influential fashion photographers shooting today, Teller achieves his raw, overexposed style wielding a Contax G2 camera with onboard flash. Born in 1964 in Erlangen, Germany, Teller studied at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Photograhie in Munich and developed his interest in portraiture. He began snapping photos of celebrities, mostly musical, including then unknown Nirvana. In 1986, he moved to London where he now lives and works. From shooting the rising stars of grunge music Teller went on to help shape grunge fashion via his lens' perspective. His partner and mother of his daughter is art director Venetia Scott. If you are interested in exploring his work further, I definitely recommend Juergen Teller Go-Sees.

For those in the New York area, don't miss Juergen Teller's Fashion Week talk with Cathy Horyn of The New York Times. The free discussion of his work is open to the public at the Visual Arts Theater at 333 W. 23rd Street on September 12 at 7 p.m. Additionally, a new exhibition of Teller's work will be on display beginning September 10 at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery and his photographs will be showcased at the New Museum for the launch of Shoot, along with the work of Nan Goldin and Wolfgang Tillmans.

Raquel Zimmerman in "Strip-Jean" editorial from Vogue Paris May 2009 © 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.
Juergen Teller "ME 1, selfportrait, 2000" image courtesy of Fotomuseum Im Stadtmuseum, Munich.

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.