Carine Roitfeld: Instagang

According to Interview Magazine, Carine Roitfeld is one of the most powerful personalities on the Internet. In the September edition, also known as “The #Me Issue,” Interview asked their #Instagang —100 of the most influential people online — to create their own selfies for publication. I love the image that Carine contributed, captioned “French kiss,” trop mignon. Obviously I hope you are following Carine Roitfeld on Instagram; for added excitement, follow her partner Christian Restoin.

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Carine Roitfeld photo © 2015 Brant Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Nicola Roitfeld: Mother Of Carine

In celebration of Mother's Day, let us acquaint ourselves with the few facts known about Nicola Roitfeld, mother of Carine and grandmother of Julia and Vladimir. Born in Paris, Nicola worked for a time as a script girl, likely the setting in which she first met Carine's father, a film producer. The couple reared Carine and her brother, Pierre, in typical bourgeois Parisian style. In her book Irreverent, Carine shared a bit about her upbringing: "I was raised in Auteil, in the 16th arrondissement of Pairs — a very posh neighborhood. I am the daughter of a Russian-born film producer and a Parisian mother. My father had a bit of a mad streak that I think I inherited. The legendary French actor Louis Jouvet was a witness at my parents' wedding, just to give you some idea of the bohemian chic quality of their relationship."

Nicola Roitfeld practicing ballet

Carine considered Nicola well-dressed always, a "very classic Frenchwoman" who loved dressing her daughter in top designers from a young age: "My mother was a real Parisian, which makes you immediately understand fashion when you are very young. It’s the way you live and what you see in shops, even if you are not shopping at Dior or Chanel. You know it exists and it’s in your DNA, seeing beautiful people and knowing couture and parfum… My mother's elegance marked me profoundly. She dressed in couture clothing and was always impeccably turned out, even at home. She used to go to the hairdresser three times a week."

Nicola Roitfeld as a young girl

Carine fondly recollects helping her mother to apply her eye makeup: "I think I was eight or nine years old. My mother was preparing to go out and she wanted me to help her put her eyeliner on. I remember very carefully putting on her designer eyeliner for her — it is such a strong memory…  It was the mid 1960s, and she was wearing a Pucci dress, and I was helping her put on her black eyeliner in a straight line. To be symmetrical can be difficult, so she asked me to do it."

"Corps & Lames" for Vogue Paris (2005)

One of Carine's earliest maternal memories continues to influence her work today: "As a little girl my mother would always ask me to cut up the raw meat to feed the dog… It's not starting today — I was a controversial person from the beginning." See "The Butcher" (1997), "Corps & Lames" (2005), "Plaisir Solitaire" (2009), and "Boucherie Desnoyer" (2015) as examples of the persistence of her memory. As for her formative style impressions, Carine remembers craving a close fitting Shetland sweater at the age of 14 and although her mother protested, she won in the end. This early choice epitomizes the essence of Carine perfectly — her knack for making the classic sexy with the devil in the details.

Nicola Roitfeld with her horse

In comparing herself with her mother in the role of grandmother, Carine is most tender, speaking from the heart: "I would love it if my granddaughter loves me as much as my daughter loved my mom. The relationship my daughter had with my mother was so specific. My mother passed away three years ago, and my daughter added her name to her own name after she passed. Her grandma was so important to her. Julia told her everything, about boyfriends, hairdos, bad notes from school: everything I wouldn’t be happy with! My mother would say, ‘No problem, you’re the best.’ When Julia comes to Paris, the first place she goes is her grandmother’s grave. Can you imagine? That’s how much she loved her. And if Romy loves me as much, my God, I’ve done something great. That’s what I wish. " Note that Julia keeps this image of her grandmother on her bedside table; she also posted it to Instagram with the caption "My beauty inspiration." Trop mignon…

Julia Restoin Roitfeld's bedside photos including her beloved grandmother, Nicola

Carine mentions her grandfather, the father of Nicola, in Irreverent as well: "Her own father had been a leading French writer and was the editor-in-chief of the satirical political weekly, Le Canard Enchainé. He had been an important figure in the French Resistance newspaper. He was a great figure in the Resistance movement, and a great journalist and political commentator." Greatness begets greatness… Happy Mother's Day to all!

The Restoin Roitfeld family at grandma's summer house in Uzès

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Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent images © 2011 Rizzoli. Restoin Roitfeld family photo courtesy of instagram.com.

The Roitfelds On The Beach

Today's treat: photographs of the Restoin-Roitfeld family on the beach featured recently by ELLE Netherlands, three generations of Roitfelds enjoying a seaside escape at a villa in Parrot Cay. The caption for the candid above reads, "Familiekiek! De Roitfelds on the beach. Doe ons zo'n figuur op Carine's leeftijd…" or in English, "Family snapshot! The Roitfelds on the beach. Give us such a figure at Carine's age…" Ouai s'il vous plaît… I love that Margherita Missoni commented "#iwanttobearoitfeld" on this adorable family photo via Instagram. Grazie bella!

The photos were published originally on Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Instagram account, she is generous to share this special private time with all of us. She looks amazing in her polka dotted bikini holding Romy, obviously her fight to regain her pre-baby figure is a success. ELLE Netherlands declares in the caption, "De Roitfeldjes hebben de polkadot-trend voor aankomende herfst al omarmd. Sterker nog; ze zwemmen erin." or in English, "The Roitfelds have already embraced the polka dot trend for the upcoming fall. Indeed, they swim in it." Indeed, they do.

It is wonderful to see Julia waterskiing on holiday as well as her daughter, Romy Konjic, just beginning to walk. The shadow cast on the beach by Romy is so sweet, we have yet to see her face but she has made an impression on all of us with simply her silhouette. Bien sûr, being a Roitfeld she is swimming in style...

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Carine Roitfeld, Julia and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Christian Restoin, Romy Konjic photos ©2013 Hearst Magazines Netherlands B.V. and via instagram.com/juliarestoin

Carine Roitfeld: Gucci Gucci Girl

In 1998, the British magazine ELLE Decoration had the acumen to ask, "Gucci girl... Tom Ford's muse... What's her place like?" and Carine Roitfeld graciously permitted them access to her Parisian sanctuary for their May issue. She and her partner, Christian "Sisley" Restoin, maintain a minimalist decor that is refined and elegant while at the same time warm and inviting. I admire the eloquent description of Carine and Sisley by editor Sally Brampton: "In the cool, light space of their Paris apartment, the two look like living pieces of Le Corbusier; streamlined and devastatingly elegant."

David Chipperfield is the architect that revamped this 1930s gem into one of the chicest living spaces in the world; much of the bespoke furniture is also his design mixed with the work of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. The spread was photographed by Martin Morrell for ELLE Decoration. Visit the gallery to see "Gucci Gucci Girl" in its entirety.

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Carine Roitfeld and Christian "Sisley" Restoin apartment photographs © 1998 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CR Fashion Book: Le Frick, C'Est Chic

I had the pleasure of seeing Carine Roitfeld for the first time ever and I have decided to share the adventure with you, sparing little of the fabulous detail. My wonderful beau, Michael, and I met up with Kate Ringo Suzuki, Renee Hernandez, and Sartorial Girl for drinks during Fashion Week in New York and of course the conversation shifted to Carine Roitfeld almost immediately. I mentioned that the secret location for the CR Fashion Book launch party was the Frick, which happened to be taking place that night. After much convincing from the group, I agreed to stalk Carine which, contrary to rumor, I had never done before.

We started our stakeout with hors d’œuvres and cocktails at The Mark, the hotel where Carine was staying according to The New York Times. Although we knew she would have already departed for her party, we wanted to get into the CR groove and, well, those sliders are incroyable. As is the chic tiled foyer, je l'adore.

We then cabbed downtown to the Frick and as we alighted from our car, I was delighted to notice four Mercedes emblazoned with her signature CR — brown, white, grey, black — all idling curbside. Carine was here! And it looked as if she would make her exit shortly! We giggled excitedly, the only CR groupies in sight.

As we waited, we were treated to watching various guests examine a display copy of CR Fashion Book while sitting in the front seat of the lead Mercedes, obviously fulfilling a marketing requirement as the flashbulbs snapped. I managed to coax a huge smile from Anna Dello Russo with my excited shout, "Anna, bellissima!" as she emerged from the CR Mercedes. Andre J was another crowd pleaser.

A few minutes later, I asked Natalie Hazard (the woman in charge of the publicity vehicles) if we could look at the display copy of CR Fashion Book. She replied, "You just want to look at one?" No, of course I would prefer to buy one. She said we could buy as many as we wanted for $20 each! I ran back to the group and the $20s flew into my hand... We scored CR Fashion Book five days in advance at the launch party at the Frick, and saved on the enormous cost of postage, truly amazing.

Then came the moments we had all been waiting for... First Monsieur Christian Restoin appeared in front of me and I gasped in recognition. Carine's partner in real life! She is really here! She will likely exit from the same door! Mon dieu! My hair! Why this weather on this day?! What the Frick?!

Soon after followed Vladimir! I hope I didn't startle him too badly with my intense gaze. It was strange listening to him talk with his friends, the whole experience was entirely surreal, like the pages of style.com come to life... There's Derek Blasberg... It's Richard Chai... Lily Donaldson... Mario Sorrenti… Waris Ahluwalia… I must confess that I saw Julia only from the back, I did not recognize her in person.

Next Giovanna Battaglia danced down the stairs of the Frick, posing at the bottom as if just for me. Gio is absolutely stunning in real life, her beauty is breathtaking; I hope she did not notice my gasp. Dressed in black lace and a green headband, she seemed anxious to move on to the next party.

Finally came the pièce de résistance — Carine Roitfeld made her way to the door and stood at the top of the stairs, luminous even in the dim lighting, before descending to the sidewalk and the car awaiting her. Carine gleams in real life, as if a light shines from within, and she was kind enough to stop and pose for photographers before making her grand exit. Quelle nuit !

I was also thrilled to bump into two of the coolest men in media: Fabien Constant, the director of Mademoiselle C., the forthcoming documentary about Carine Roitfeld and the creation of CR Fashion Book; and Brent Murray, one of three photographers admitted access to the event, who kindly permitted me to publish his adorable photograph of Carine and Vladimir which leads off this story — merci mille fois, Monsieur Murray! The other images accompanying the story are mine, such as they are, given the lighting, the weather, and my enormous excitement. Thanks to all for an unforgettable evening!

Carine Roitfeld and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld photograph © 2012 Brent Murray. Carine Roitfeld et al photographs © 2012 Kellina de Boer. All Rights Reserved.