The Companions Of Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld

Readers have expressed curiosity about the romantic interests of Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, assuredly one of the world's most eligible bachelors, and while my only evidence is photographic, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the women in Vlad's life.

Goga Ashkenazi

Most recently Vladimir has been linked with Goga Ashkenazi, a fascinating woman that owns the label Vionnet and an oil empire, among many other things. The pair first appeared together in October 2013, in Paris at the release party for Mademoiselle C and in Milan at VRR's art exhibition of Nicolas Pol. In November Roitfeld and Ashkenazi attended the opening of Museo Jumex in Mexico City and in December they were seen together at Art Basel, have these two art lovers made the perfect match? On a related note, I loved the work that Carine Roitfeld and Jean Paul Goude did for Vionnet last spring, I wonder if Vladi introduced Carine and Goga… or vice versa… 

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Goga Ashkenazi, Mademoiselle C Party, October 2013

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Goga Ashkenazi, Nicolas Pol Exhibit, October 2013

Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, Goga Ashkenazi, Jean Thierry Besins, Dylan Don, Michael Lilelund

Giovanna Battaglia

Prior to this, Vladimir spent three years in a relationship with Giovanna Battaglia. The couple was first documented by fashion paparazzi in Porto Ercole, Italy, in June 2009, and parted company around October 2012. The Milanese beauty started out as muse to Dolce & Gabbana then found her passion behind the scenes as a talented stylist. Gio currently works as Contributing Fashion Editor at W Magazine, Senior Fashion Editor at Vogue Japan, and Creative Director of Queen of The Night, a cabaret theater in Manhattan. To learn more about the life and the work of Giovanna Battaglia, please visit our sister site, I Want To Be A Battaglia.

Lily Donaldson

Before Gio, Vladimir's girlfriend was Lily Donaldson, a model raised in London. Among other claims to fame, Donaldson walked in the three most recent shows for Victoria's Secret. Their relationship lasted about two years, dating from March 2007 to the spring of 2009. I always found it amusing that Carine's cuttingly clever editorial "No Smoking" was published in Vogue Paris in April 2009, right around the time of the breakup between Vlad and Lily.

Mariacarla Boscono

I am not sure when Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld began dating Mariacarla Boscono but I believe they went their separate ways in September 2006. Widely considered a top model of her era, Mariacarla was born in Rome to the couple that invented the Italian brand Saucony. Mariacarla also enjoys the distinction of having introduced Carine Roitfeld to Riccardo Tisci. In Carine's own words, "You know Riccardo, his show, I went for the first time in Milan because my son, he was friends with Mariacarla [Boscono], and Mariacarla gave to my son the invitation of Riccardo, and for me he was no one. And I was like, 'OK, I have a car and I have a bit of time,' and I was like, 'OK, let’s go.' So I went to see that show and it was totally new, totally fresh, and it was very interesting. That’s the way I met Riccardo." Enchanté de faire votre connaissance. Note also that La Roitfeld used Mariacarla and her baby, Marialucas, for the Givenchy S/S 2013 campaign. Boscono is married to Andreas Patti, an Italian entrepreneur.

Visit the photo gallery to see more images of Vladimir with Goga Ashkenazi, Giovanna Battaglia, Lily Donaldson, and Mariacarla Boscono.

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Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, Goga Ashkenazi, Giovanna Battaglia, Lily Donaldson, and Mariacarla Boscono photos courtesy of instagram/goga_vionnet, purple.fr, bfanyc.com, Getty Images, Condé Nast, Abaca, popsugar.com, wwd.com, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Spot.

CR Fashion Book Issue 6: Jolie Laide Preview

Carine Roitfeld has revealed that the sixth issue of CR Fashion Book will focus on the French concept of jolie laide. Her idea of the unusually beautiful so far includes Anna Cleveland by Brigitte Niedermair, Kylie Jenner by Michael Avedon, Kristen Stewart by Karl Lagerfeld, and Alexandra Hochguertel in "Boucherie Desnoyer" by Melanie Huynh and Arnaud Pyvka.

Regarding her inspiration for the issue, Carine Roitfeld shared her thoughts: “In fashion, it’s always better to be an interesting person than a beautiful one. Character is much more fascinating than pure good looks. This idea is what inspired me to dedicate an issue to jolie laide, a term that originated in the famous Serge Gainsbourg song of the same name… After hospital [following her multiple back surgeries], I was thinking, What’s my issue going to be about? Because it was very late. So I kept thinking. I like Serge Gainsbourg, the French singer, and he made a beautiful song about Anjelica Huston that I love, too, called 'Jolie Laide.' I think American people know this song. It means 'ugly beauty,' but I think jolie laide maybe is nicer. It’s true in life and mostly in this work of fashion that the idea of beauty has changed… The whole issue will be around this idea of jolie laide—not just about the beauty, but about fashion, about pictures, about something that is more interesting. I think it’s a very good sign for women because we are not all perfect. I made a long story about Michael Avedon; I asked him to do my ugly beauties, in a way. He did the portfolio of jolie laide and it is not easy to photograph a star and make her not as beautiful as people expect her to be. I think he did it in a very smart way; he is a very smart person…  I think every beauty needs something weird—a little error or it’s not beautiful.”

I'd like to mention that our style editor, Dara Block, originally suggested the theme of jolie laide for CR Fashion Book during an interview with me in October 2013; I posed the question, "If it were your decision, who would you put on the next cover of Vogue Paris? Vogue Italia? CR Fashion Book?" Dara responded, "I would love to see some of my favorite 90s supermodels on the cover of Vogue Paris, especially the ones I haven't seen in years like Meghan Douglas, Claudia Mason, Shana Zadrick. These girls were so beautiful in the 90s and I would love to know what they are up to and how they feel now about beauty and glamour. For Vogue Italia and CR Fashion Book, I think for either magazine, it would be interesting if they made a cover on the idea of jolie laide. The term is French and it basically means a good looking ugly woman. I think it's an offbeat beauty concept, but I would love to see women like Angelica Huston, Sofia Coppola, Rossy de Palma, and maybe even model Saskia de Brauw on the cover, to show how you can be beautiful in a non-traditional way. I think that would make for a groundbreaking cover... it's time we celebrate being non-perfectly pretty!" Note also that Franca Sozzani chose Sofia Coppola for the cover of Vogue Italia in February 2014. Coincidence? Perhaps….

In any event, we wish Carine all the best during her recovery and we look forward to much more jolie laide when CR Fashion Book 6 hits newsstands in March.

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

Carine Roitfeld: Vanity Fair April 2005

Taking it back to 2005… I find it impossible to believe that a decade has passed since this interview with Carine Roitfeld appeared in the April issue of Vanity Fair. In the iconic image above, close friend and collaborator, Mario Testino captures the essence of Carine, at once classic and coquettish, in a jacket by Yves Saint Laurent, a skirt by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière, and shoes by Sergio Rossi. In case you missed it the first time around, I want to share the interview with you, it is always pleasurable to learn more about the interests of our icon.

Carine Roitfeld
Photographed by Mario Testino in Paris on January 27, 2005.

Residence: Paris.

Occupation: Editor-in-chief, French Vogue.

Personal style: "French, classic, sexy… risky."

Favorite piece of clothing: A vintage Gypsy dress from Yves Saint Laurent.

Most stylish man: "My husband" [Christian "Sisley" Restoin].

Favorite up-and-coming designer: Riccardo Tisci.

Favorite piece of jewelry: A Cartier Panther bracelet from the 70s.

Favorite shoe designer: Saint Laurent. ("Very sexy high-heeled shoes with a touch of 'bizarre.'")

Favorite handbag: "The classic black Chanel."

Favorite scent: Opium pour Homme, by Yves Saint Laurent.

Favorite store: Decades in Los Angeles.

Favorite fashion trend: Summer polka dots.

Manolos or Louboutins? Manolos.

Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.

Piercings or tattoos? None.

Favorite book: Bonjour Tristesse, by Françoise Sagan.

Favorite cause: AmfAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research).

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Carine Roitfeld photos © 2005 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld In The Bahamas

Over the weekend, Julia Restoin Roitfeld and her daughter Romy made a magical escape from the wicked weather of New York City, enjoying a brief getaway on the sunny beaches of Musha Cay in the Bahamas. Julia was visiting her friend, designer Chloe Gosselin, also known as the fiancée of David Copperfield, the owner of the 150 acre private island on which they stayed. According to Instagram, Julia and Romy kept busy building sand castles, working out island style on the wakeboard, and feeding and riding giant tortoises, among other island delights. A highlight for Romy certainly must have been viewing the film Maleficent at Dave's Drive-In, a giant outdoor movie theater on Coconut Beach, while Julia seemed most excited to indulge in a Jungle Bubble Bath. As for island fashion, notice that Mademoiselle J is wearing her Kiini bikini and Spektre sunglasses. Be sure to follow Julia on Instagram for more holiday candids as well as an adorable video in which Romy makes a carrot disappear into the mouth of a giant tortoise belonging to David Copperfield — trop mignon — and another video of Romy running on the beach to the tune of Brigitte Bardot singing "La Madrague." I love that JRR art directs her holiday videos, quelle vie !

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld holiday photos courtesy of instagram/juliarestoinroitfeld and instagram/chloegosselin1.

Carine Roitfeld: In The Stars

In her latest spread for Harper's Bazaar, "In the Stars," Carine Roitfeld interprets the twelve zodiacal signs by way of the season's fashion. Anthony Maule photographed the editorial while Stephen Gan provided creative direction. I applaud Carine's imaginative take on the zodiac, with amusing touches such as Saskia de Brauw giving herself the horns of the bull and Lara Stone as a mermaid complete with bubbles to create an underwater effect (as a Pisces, I approve!). Speaking of Lara Stone, she dominates the spread, appearing in eight of the thirteen images. What do you think of Carine's latest work, do you like her interpretation of your sign?

As for the complete list of models and attire for "In the Stars":

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Louis Vuitton

Aries (Ram)
Lara Stone in Coach and Maison Martin Margiela boots

Taurus (Bull)
Saskia de Brauw in Chanel, Carine Gilson, Wolford, and Maison Martin Margiela boots

Gemini (Twins)
Tegan Desmond and Sarah Brannon in Miu Miu

Cancer (Crab)
Lara Stone in Yohji Yamamoto

Leo (Lion)
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

Virgo (Virgin)
Lara Stone in Dior

Libra (Scales)
Lara Stone in Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane

Scorpio (Scorpion)
Lara Stone in Michael Kors

Sagittarius (Archer)
Lara Stone in JW Anderson and Maison Martin Margiela boots

Capricorn (Goat)
Lara Stone in Prada and Maison Martin Margiela boots

Aquarius (Water Bearer)
Liu Wen in Céline

Pisces (Fish)
Lara Stone in Versace

Visit Harper's Bazaar for an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of "In the Stars"

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Carine on the Collections for Harper's Bazaar images © 2015 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.