Julia Restoin Roitfeld En Blanc

Julia Restoin Roitfeld En Blanc
By Sarra Salib

It is undeniable that Julia Restoin Roitfeld likes to dress in white as much as she does in black and leopard print. I began thinking of writing about Julia’s love for dressing in white a while ago, and ironically enough, Vogue Spain recently styled an editorial featuring Julia appropriately titled "La Dama de Blanco." A month later, Madame Figaro released their April issue with Julia on the cover clad in a white ensemble. I have officially decided to take the emerging pattern a bit further to showcase some of Julia’s noteworthy white outfits, perhaps that will spark inspiration for this summer!

It would be more befitting to start with her daytime looks in white, which are styled in the signature French simple yet feminine light. When summer gets too hot, it’s all the more appropriate to show your tanned skin in form-fitting and cool silhouettes. Julia does just that with Alexander Wang’s white jersey dress, which she styled slightly differently but still with Yves Saint Laurent pumps and a gold cuff on the two separate occasions. What’s admirable about Julia Restoin Roitfeld is that she stays true to her style. Nothing is ever overdone for the sake of being “fashion” or following trends and looking like a complete replica of the runway. It is the essence of Julia's style that still hasn’t faded away.

Next is one of my favorite looks, a lacy mesh dress with the beloved Miu Miu sky high peep toe platforms. Another thing to admire about Julia is that she is not afraid to repeat an outfit or wear the same shoes more than once or twice. She is practical and wise to understand that these are investment pieces that are meant to be worn several times. We will see these accessories as common elements in the next outfits. The oddball in this outfit is the oversized purse — such a heavy looking thing is out of character for Julia, but perhaps she had a little extra to carry.

If you want a look that is more flowy, but still simple and light, there’s the Topshop one shoulder A-line dress paired with Balenciaga sandals. This is extremely chic and comfortable for a summer day out in the city with friends and family. I like how Julia added the green fringe purse for a pop of color against the white.

If you are not partial to dresses, there’s the silk shirt and short skirt ensemble. Here Julia Restoin Roitfeld wore an Equipment sheer silk blouse — her father’s line — with the sleeves rolled up as always, paired with a classy skirt and Miu Miu strappy shoes. Only Julia can dress up a sheer blouse and manage to look elegant at the same time. Once again, the key is to keep it simple! If you are going to wear a sheer blouse, make that the statement piece and simplify the shape and everything else so as to stay effortless and breezy.

Not only does Julia have an array of daytime looks in white, there's also a plethora of evening wear to admire. First is this beautiful dress that emphasizes the waist, accessorized with a beige clutch, Givenchy shoes, and — my favorite accessory of all time — the Pamela Love gold talon cuff. This could even double as an appropriate formal outfit for a work function.

Next is the classic little white dress with the leather jacket. We’ve seen Julia Restoin Roitfeld do this look before, but now it is more edgy, sophisticated, and grown-up. The shiny leather biker jacket with zipper detailing is a definite statement piece that adds edginess and breaks up the femininity and fragility of the dress. This look is a perfect combination of austerity, masculinity, and delicacy. Notice how Julia has taken it to a higher ground by doing a prominent cat eye. It is the perfect touch to tie the whole outfit together.

We all know that Julia is famous for borrowing from the wardrobe of her maman, Carine Roitfeld. She did not hesitate to borrow this statement Dolce & Gabbana number in white with flawless cut-out detailing for her appearance at the launch of the Savelli Smart Phone in Paris. She paired it with Miu Miu’s pointed pumps, which I believe she had repaired after they broke because she loved these particular shoes so much.

Last is a strapless dress gathered at the waist with the slightest hint of volume at the bottom, worn with Tom Ford shoes. This look is different from the others because we rarely see Julia go strapless or with her hair up, but she looked fabuleux.

This leads us to long evening wear, where we must begin with the angelic curve-hugging dress that Julia Restoin Roitfeld wore to Natalia Vodianova’s White Fairy Tale Love Ball. Notice how the look was kept to the absolute minimal with only a ring and a silver clutch at hand. Julia knew that the dress itself was the perfect statement piece for the theme; therefore, there was no need for superfluous accessories that might have dominated the look. Well done, Julia, and what a figure!

And who can forget when Julia stunned us all with her post-Romy figure in a crop top with a matching long pencil skirt for a dinner celebration of Romy and the Bunnies? Julia wore the same look recently, but paired it with a long black cape. Crop tops are tricky enough, much less adding the element of a cape to the mix. It’s amazing how she managed to convert this look for an outside party to an ultra-glamorous night party by adding and taking away a few things. The main thing we ought to pay attention to is the confidence that Julia exudes. A woman cannot simply wear a crop top and be insecure in her skin. You must be confident and know that you look as fabulous as ever.

Setting the bar for the sheer and lace trends, Julia wore a sheer dress with tiny flower details finished with minimalist makeup and her bespoke "Julia" clutch in Lucite by Edie Parker for the premiere of the film Mademoiselle C in New York City.

Finally, Julia Restoin Roitfeld donned a white satin pleated and embroidered dress at the Tribeca Film Festival and accessorized with some dangerously sexy studded heels and a leather clutch.

Voila! There you have a number of daytime and evening looks in white as inspired by the most beautiful Julia. I could add many more to the list, but consider this the more modern and updated lookbook of Julia Restoin Roitfeld wearing white. It is always interesting to look back and analyze how Julia's style evolved from pre- to post-Romy; however it evolves, her style will always be timeless, classy, and epitomize the French effortless chic glamor. Happy summer!

[Editor's note: Notice that Julia Restoin Roitfeld is also wearing a white dress in the IWTBAR masthead illustration by Isabelle Oziol de Pignol.]

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Julia Restoin Roitfeld photographs courtesy of models.com and Fashion Spot.

Find Your Personal Style With Carine Roitfeld

Find Your Personal Style With Carine Roitfeld
By Jascmeen Bush

Leave it to Carine Roitfeld to make the eternal quest for personal style fulfillment sound so easy, so effortless, so French. The super-stylist/mogul/leather-clad heroine recently dished her seemingly simplistic style secrets to Telegraph. Let's break them down, shall we?

Rule Number One: Stick To What Suits You

The glorious paradox of Carine Roitfeld is that she evokes a strong powerful mood whether she's dressed sharply or femininely. I was surprised to read the quote below where she mentions having fun with fashion, which we all can agree is a lost art.

She told Telegraph, "I have dressed in the same way for the past 20 years; only the length of my skirt has changed. Consistent style shows confidence, and knowing what suits you saves time when you are choosing what to wear. I only have one fashion personality — the Carine one — which I would describe as sober and almost classically Parisian. She is tough, my woman. It's important to have a sense of humor about dressing, so I always add a twist to my outfits. My Givenchy sweater with a Bambi-cartoon print is one of my favorite pieces."

Rule Number Two: Highlight Your Strengths

This one's a doozy; Carine recommends focusing on playing up what you like instead of trying to downplay unflattering features. I for one literally clapped when I read that!

"Find something you like about your appearance and accentuate it," she stated. "My eyebrows and legs are my best features. I like to wear black eye make-up to draw attention to my eyes and brows, and my wardrobe contains mostly fitted clothes. With my black eyes, black clothes and skinny legs, my style can appear quite rock 'n' roll."

Rule Number Three: Don't Shop The Trends

I'm not a big fan of trends and as a result have often been called boring (can you imagine?!) But the next time I get hit with the B-word, I'll be sure to remind the naysayers that I have a very stylish ally. Here's what Carine had to say about those evil trends:

"Only buy clothes that you plan to keep forever. It's important to see trends for what they are: a game. I think finding a well-fitting garment is more exciting than buying into a crazy fad. My panther-print Azzedine Alaïa dress (autumn/winter 2010) is one of my signature pieces and fits me perfectly. Black items are an investment, and though colors have a place in my wardrobe too, I never mix them: my outfits are all-black, all-white, or all-khaki."

Rule Number Five: Choose Pieces With Character

Well I guess we can stop Google Image searching "Carine Roitfeld in leggings." She made it pretty clear that comfort is NOT key.

"'Comfort' is not part of my fashion vocabulary," she says. "You lose attitude when you feel too comfortable, so I prefer to wear clothes that have a certain edge to them. I think of my lace negligee as sexy rather than relaxing, and I keep that feeling in mind when I wear it under my clothes for fittings or shopping."

Rule Number Six: Dress From The Head Down

Brace yourself for this one: your perfectly styled hair and blended-to-perfection makeup might be hurting your overall look. Carine suggests sexy messiness above all.

"My hair and make-up secret is 'the messier the better,'" she said. "It's easy for me as I can't see anything without my glasses. I never put my eyeliner on very well in the morning, so it's usually smudged. I think it's sexy, plus it always looks better come the evening. And messy hair adds a certain youthfulness to a look. Like everyone, I am trying to hide the signs of ageing as I get older, though I do respect my age."

What I found most refreshing is that following these tips won't break the bank. Steer clear of trends? I can do that. Only spend on clothes I can wear forever? Ease up on the hair and makeup? I can handle that, too. Cost effective Parisian chic, that's what we have here, people. And I'm loving it.

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Carine Roitfeld photographs courtesy of buro247.ru, zimbio.com, harpersbazaar.com, style.com

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Five Rules For French Dressing

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld's Five Rules For French Dressing
By Jascmeen Bush

Our beloved Julia Restoin-Roitfeld lent her beauty to Matches Fashion in a shoot photographed by Nik Hartley and styled by Vickie Keeble. Our "heiress" modeled Roksanda Illincic, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and more in the 60s style spread. In the accompanying article, Julia goes on to introduce her new site, Romy & The Bunnies, a "style guide for mothers and expectant mothers." I don't want to spoil the article, but here are a few tidbits I loved: she doesn't love to shop (online shopping only), she doesn't care about brands or the latest items, oh, and her diaper bag is a Chanel shopper. If that doesn't make you want to be a Roitfeld, we don't know what will! Visit the gallery to view more images from the spread.

Julia also shared her five rules for dressing with true Parisian style:

1. Keep your palette simple: French women are into neutrals — a lot of beige, grey, navy, black, and white.
2. You won’t see many products in a French woman’s bathroom – it’s about looking polished in a very natural way.
3. Even on the red carpet, French celebrities keep it minimal. Think of Charlotte Gainsbourg – the look can be quite undone.
4. The French like to play the intellectual card; they don’t like to be over-sexy. The sexiness comes from the way they walk and hold themselves.
5. If a French woman wears jeans, it’s never with flats, always heels.

[Editor's note: In case you are interested, note that a few of the couture pieces that Julia models are available currently via Matches Fashion, ooooo la la...]

Honor Heart Cut-Out Dress $1,480

Marc Jacobs Sequined Pencil Skirt $1,900

Jason Wu Ostrich Feather Mini Dress $4,950

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Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photographs courtesy of Matches Fashion.

Roitfeld Style Tip: A Perfect Fit

While we recognize that Carine Roitfeld practices the art of imperfection, we must note one area of her life in which she refuses to waver from perfection — the fit of her clothing. Every garment that Carine wears is tailored to fit her body precisely and this attention to detail is one major factor in her ever so chic style. She explains her quest for sartorial perfection thusly: "I don't like the word comfort. Me, I like to be fitted. I like to fill my body into clothes. I don't like it when it looks a bit squishy. I never like it… It is my biggest fantasy to have everything fit perfectly. In fact I give everything an alteration. I have made my jeans shorter, all my skirts the right length and anything else that doesn’t fit — I fix… Everything I have I take to be altered because nothing is perfect or exactly the right length… My shop to touch up garments, Styl'up. I bring them all my clothing so that they fit perfectly!" Interestingly, the proclivity for the perfect fit is hereditary as The New York Times observed: "On a recent morning, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld — tall, dark and 27, impeccably dressed in jeans and a perfectly tailored tweed jacket…"

If you want to dress like a Roitfeld, strive for sartorial perfection: 

• Abandon the notion of comfort; squishy is out.
• Find a quality tailor that you trust.
• Know your measurements.
• Settle for nothing less than a perfect fit in every piece you wear.

Carine Roitfeld photographs © 2012 Condé Nast and courtesy of Fashion Spot, maydele.blogspot.com, and altamiranyc.blogspot.com.

The Corsets Of Carine Roitfeld

It is my pleasure to introduce the latest piece by our talented contributing editor Bernie Rothschild in which he examines the fascinating collection of corsets of Carine Roitfeld. Special thanks to Bernie for sharing his perspective with all of us and to Madeleine Gallay for our conversation that originally inspired this idea.

The Corsets of Carine Roitfeld
By Bernie Rothschild

Carine Roitfeld is hailed consistently as one of the best dressed women in the world and she has been the subject of street style fashion blogs for over a decade now. Every fashion-obsessed fan worships her as if she is the Virgin Mary, every fashion paparazzi portrays her as if she is the Queen of France, everyone profiles her fashion choices, but what distinguishes Carine's style from that of her front row and street style contemporaries? Besides the fact that she wears the dress before it even hits the runway of the fashion show... The legendary Liz Tilberis once quipped, "Fashion editors who look too good make models feel bad," but Carine proves the exception to the rule, she is as cool as the models in her editorials, and every bit as provocative, but somehow even more famous. After she left Vogue Paris some feared that she might vanish forever but she quieted her critics once again by becoming her own "brand," the spark of her star did not die, she is more popular than ever. One of the distinct touches that she often works into her outfit is the corset — Carine loves to wear corsets to accentuate her sexiness and particularly her slender waist.

Let's look deep into the art of corset dressing... The corset fashion has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, for a large part of the late Victorian period and the entire Edwardian era, adding appeal to the heavy, larger-than-life dresses of the women of that time; even some of the men chose to wear corsets to improve their physiques. The great example of this trend is the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as the Empress Sissi; aside from being an Empress she was also the Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia and one of the most beautiful women in Europe during her lifetime. The Empress Sissi was famous for her tiny and slender waist and for wearing her corset so tight to achieve it that she even came to a point where it affected her health negatively. The tightly laced corset of the empress was the main reason they could not save her life when she was assassinated by an anarchist.

In 1939, Horst P. Horst photographed the then scandalous Mainbocher corset for Vogue, the photo looks very mysterious, reminiscent of the beauty of a Greek sculpture. Later in the same decade, the equally controversial Wallis Simpson, also known as the Duchess of Windsor, wore a Mainbocher that accentuated her waist for her wedding to Edward VIII (who abdicated his position as the King of England to marry the women he loved) and the dress itself is regarded as one of the most copied and inspiring wedding gowns of all time.

Some see the corset in a different manner, but mostly this accessory has been associated with fetishism and sexual fantasy. Carine Roitfeld wears a corset or a waist accentuating dress as if it is a badge or a status symbol for having a perfect hourglass figure. Here are a few of her greatest corset styles that have made her the darling of the best dressed fashion crowd.

Futuristic Glamour

Carine attends a party at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival wearing Dolce & Gabbana. She is one of the only famous faces that is not an actress who participates yearly in this extravagant festival. With the presence of Carine and the movie stars, Cannes is becoming the unofficial fashion capital of the south (besides the glam and glitz of the film stars, it is the parties that keep people coming to Cannes). Here she invokes the ever futuristic glamour-metallic trend that’s becomes the new black and she almost looks like a sexy heroine of some sci-fi film meets the work of Steven Klein and Nick Knight. The red shoes of course give life to the outfit.

Dominatrix

This Tom Ford for Gucci Spring 2001 corset is so Carine Roitfeld: dark, risqué, provocative — all characteristics that have become synonymous with her style — and it fits her so perfectly that she looks like one of the portraits of Helmut Newton whom she admires greatly. It is very sadomasochistic and dominatrix. This outfit has inspired her photos and also pays tribute to the erotic porno chic of which she and Newton are the biggest champions.

Era of Elegance

Carine wore this Dior dress by John Galliano to the amfAR benefit in 2006. The Dior corseted nude gown is the complete opposite of her typical dark, risqué fashion but she still gives it her trademark sex appeal. She looks like a Gibson Girl meets the tight laced corset style of Empress Sisi and her style embodies the glamour and elegance of the past century. Carine looks like a goddess and she balances it by mismatching the look with her signature poker straight hair, she really can do wrong when it comes to dressing herself.

Simply Irresistible

Carine Roitfeld selected this Balenciaga dress and corset belt for New York Fashion Week in Spring 2008. Her style here does not look intimidating and avant-garde. She just look very simple, relaxed and casual, but she can still grab everyone’s attention. This is the most accessible style she ever wore but she still maintains her risqué allure. Is this not a 54 year old woman wearing a scarf as a dress? Does it get more risqué than that? Though this is the simplest style I have ever seen her wear she still manages to turn heads, that's for sure.

Plain Statement

Despite the grey shirt and pencil skirt that seem so plain, formal, and appropriate to her age, Carine keeps it exciting by adding the Alaïa leather corset that makes her look like a dominatrix while staying true to her trademark sexiness. I think Carine is a great ambassador of Alaïa designs as well as an unofficial muse and inspiration to Mr. Alaïa himself. She also makes a statement with the corset that no matter how boring your outfit is you can always manage to add a touch that will make it look sexy. This outfit is excellent inspiration for those who work in an office setting, you can wear either killer shoes or a corset belt to accentuate your style à la Roitfeld.

Carine Roitfeld corset photos via Condé Nast, Getty Images, Fashion Spot, royalforums.com, worldofwonder.com.