Le Corbusier

Carine Roitfeld describes the décor of her Vogue Paris office as "very minimalist because it's better for my mind. When everything is clean and empty it cools me down; if someone brings in pictures or articles to show me, I can see them better." In keeping with this chic minimalist vibe, she works on two beautiful Le Corbusier tables, using one as a desk and the other as a conference table. The Roitfeld family dining table was formerly a desk that belonged to Le Corbusier.

Le Corbusier was born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, a Swiss-French architect, furniture designer, writer, painter, and sculptor who helped to pioneer modern design. He adopted the pseudonym Le Corbusier in 1920, from the name of his maternal grandfather, "Lecorbésier"; this act reflected his belief that we are all capable of reinvention. Cassina S.p.A. of Milan is the only manufacturer authorized by the Fondation Le Corbusier to produce his furniture designs today.

Carine Roitfeld Vogue Paris office photographs courtesy of fashionspot.com

Romy Schneider

As others have noted, it looks as if one of Carine Roitfeld's style icons may have influenced the latest cover. Lara Stone appears on the cover of the September issue of Vogue Paris looking like an old-fashioned pinup girl or a bit like Romy Schneider. Both Carine and Julia count this Austrian actress among their style inspirations. Romy made her film debut at a mere 15 years of age and went on to garner prizes for her acting in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the United States. Sadly, her later years were marked by tragedy: her first husband committed suicide and her 14 year old son died in a horrible accident. Less than a year after the death of her son, Romy was found dead of cardiac arrest—she was only 43 years old. Her legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of fans, however; most recently she was commemorated in a techno track by Lawrence entitled "Teaser" on the Dial label based in Hamburg, Germany. If you have not had the pleasure, I recommend her film La Piscine with the added bonus of a young Jane Birkin.

Romy Schneider photograph courtesy of tvdame.wordpress.com

Vogue Paris

Yes, clearly Vogue Paris is on the list of things near and dear to Carine Roitfeld's heart. But what about you? When's the last time you had the sheer pleasure of flicking through these glossy pages letting your eyes wander over the fantastic images? Perhaps you consider an issue too expensive when contrasted with its more local competitors. More likely, due to the limited copies distributed via retail abroad, you simply can't find it at your leisure. Do yourself a favor, subscribe and look forward to this treat regularly. Whether you are missing out on Carine's chef d'oeuvre due to the price or the availability, solve both problems with a subscription to Vogue Paris.

Vogue Paris May 2009 issue cover image © 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.