CR Fashion Book Issue 8: Made In America

In her own words, Carine Roitfeld describes her vision for the eighth issue of CR Fashion Book, which takes as its theme “Made In America”:

"In the '80s, fashion created a fantasy around the American girl—athletic, toned, smiling, happy, gracious, and perfect. For me, no model was more iconic than Christie Brinkley—with her white teeth and blonde hair—and her image was so compelling that it set a new beauty standard. Now, suddenly, in 2016, we see the comeback of the American model, and I find myself so excited by the new generation of stars. From young icon Gigi Hadid and new muse Staz Lindes to fresh face Bentley Mescall and intense beauty Kayla Scott, a class of U.S.A.-born girls is seducing fashion with striking yet uncomplicated looks…

Each of them brings something very special to fashion: Gigi with her beauty and personality; Staz with her bohemian spirit and talent as an actress and musician; Kayla with her fierce, confident attitude, and Bentley with her innocence… Social media has changed the way girls become discovered and build on their success, but the DNA of the American supermodel hasn’t changed at all: she is still healthy, smart, hard-working, independent and always arrives with a smile… Our readers love fashion and follow models as closely as we do. Of course Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Kim Kardashian have created huge buzz for us in the past, but I always like to balance the celebrity covers with model covers that speak to the dedicated lovers of fashion — such as myself…

My dream for this issue was to play with pop cultural ideas of the American woman to create something brand-new: a 21st century vision of Baywatch-era Pamela Anderson on Camila Morrone, a contemporary Miss U.S.A. on Olympic Gold Medalist Sanya Richards-Ross, and a modern expression of native beauty on Alice Metza. I chose as muses some of the most inspiring American 'girls' of all time, who fascinated the world (and continue to do so) with not only their beauty and style but their wit, grit, courage, and intellect. From Sacagawea, who helped open a path to the American West, to Emily Dickinson, who rewrote the conventions of poetry, to Jackie O, who served as a global symbol of endurance and grace. There's something about these women that is unshakably inspiring. I hope you think so too."

—Carine

Mademoiselle C chose to grace the “Made in America” covers with Gigi Hadid photographed by Sebastien Faena, Staz Lindes by Bjorn Iooss, Bentley Mescall by Felix Cooper, and Kayla Scott by Rory van Millingen. Which of the four covers is your favorite?

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CR Fashion Book images courtesy of crfashionbook.com.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld For Maniamania

You’re So Dark: Julia Restoin Roitfeld For Maniamania
By Sarra Salib

Potens necklace, Obscura cuff, Nocturn cocktail ring, Ephemera ring set, Talisman stacked ring, and Potens earrings — these are just a few of the gems that Julia Restoin Roitfeld so seductively modeled for Maniamania’s Obscura campaign.

Launched in 2009 by Australian art director Melanie Kramsler and stylist Tamila Purvis, Maniamania is a distinctive jewelry line that is the antithesis of delicacy and softness. The brand’s aesthetic is something akin to Warrior Princess mingling with Game of Thrones. One of the things I immediately thought of when I first saw the campaign was “Black Dahlia.” I ventured over to their site and did more exploring, and lo and behold, they had a Black Dahlia candle! It is aptly described as “a deep smokey glass candle in rich black wax and encased in a hand carved exterior of palm fronds and serpentine shapes.” After reviewing the other campaigns, labeling Maniamania as “mystical adornment for the modern times” could not be more precise.

The Obscura campaign, photographed by Bjorn Iooss, does not stray far from the aforementioned aesthetic. Alas, it is even more vampy, dark, mysterious, and dealing with the occult. One need only do a simple interpretation of the words "obscura," "nocturne," and "ephemera" to realize that the motifs for the campaign are the unknown, night, and all that is ephemeral. The pieces are extremely bold and geometric in nature, with tasseled cuff bracelets, statement prism necklaces, and plenty of not-so-simple rings and chains.

Clearly this is not a collection for naïve little girls. This jewelry is designed for a grown woman who knows herself and is ready to be empowered furthermore. Julia Restoin Roitfeld is the perfect candidate for this campaign because she does the bold, dark elegance so well. Moreover, all those years of modeling have taught her to master the smoldering, intense gaze — the “eyes that burn like cigarettes” look. Julia even joked about it on her Instagram saying “definitely my best '#dontmesswithme' face."

With Maniamania’s unique vision, jewelry is no longer about looking cute and simply completing the step of accessorizing; it’s about empowering your inner strong woman and truly making a statement. Brava Kramsler, Purvis, and Roitfeld!

View Julia Restoin Roitfeld in the Obscura campaign for Maniamania

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld images courtesy of i.themaniamania.com.