Carine Roitfeld's Last Vogue Paris

Just in time for the release on newsstands tomorrow, our Paris editor-at-large Milla Msa shares with us her monthly review of Vogue Paris; the news is bittersweet because of course the March issue is Carine Roitfeld's last. One bit of sweetness: I was thrilled to see that Carine chose a photograph of herself to illustrate her last editorial and best of all the photograph was taken by Pierre-Alban HF from The Crowd, a regular contributor to the site. In fact, I am delighted to note that this same photo appeared on I Want To Be A Roitfeld last December in "Carine Roitfeld In The Crowd." Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Pierre!

Carine Roitfeld's Last Vogue Paris
By Milla Msa 

Everybody you know and their priest has been talking about it for months and here it is, on my dining table: Carine Roitfeld’s last issue of Vogue Paris. How lucky am I?! Very, people, very. The cover, which some find dull and, well, lacking in Carine’s usual controversy is considerably better in reality though I’m still not sold on Saskia de Brauw’s eyebrows. I’ll get the negatives out of the way first: far too much advertising. It’s like the September issue of Vogue US, and that’s not a good thing.

Carine’s handwritten "Edito" is positive, grateful, and there is a real you-have-not-seen-the-last-of-me vibe. Her sign-off reminds us to look out for our girl. I love the final line:

“C’est parce que tout doit finir que tout est si beau... À bientôt.”

The more I learn about Carine — and it only hit me recently when I read her Style.com interview — the more I respect her. This is a woman who does her best and as long as she’s happy with that, who cares what others think. Of course I don’t know her, and what you see of any public figure isn’t enough to judge, but I get the impression that Carine is strong, honest, and very genuine. Sweet, no, but yes, there is something very genuine about her. I love the personal touch of her words by her hand and add the background image of Madame Roitfeld with her trademark hair-in-face pose which just screams confidence. [Editor's note: This is the photograph by Pierre-Alban HF.]

She thanks Condé Nast chairman Jonathan Newman for allowing her to completely express herself. More importantly, she thanks us — the Vogue Paris readers for our loyalty to the magazine. Was Carine sacked? Did she agree to start Vanity Fair/Harper’s in France? When will we next see her? I don’t have the answers (yet) but this issue could not have arrived at a better time. It has reminded me to stay focused and to do what is right for me as Carine’s tone mirrors the motto I adopted at 18 years old: “Absolutely no regrets.” I cannot wait to see what she does next. I am going on record as calling this the best Vogue Paris "Edito" ever.

One thing we don’t see very often in Vogue Paris are new designers, so why now? Sonia Rachline write about several new London-based designers from Louise Gray to Mary Katrantzou to Michael van der Ham — names to watch. I love that Vogue Paris is bigging up my city!

“Coeur a corps perdu” is the first Madame Roitfeld editorial of her last issue and features the cover model, Saskia, and Daphne. It’s sexual, confusing, and... well... odd but in the best possible way. The grainy, film-like images set this editorial apart from the rest, though I still don’t know what film it is based on. If it’s obvious, I’m sorry. I only started watching television and film three years ago when I met my husband. Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, we see stunning pieces from Vivienne Westwood, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, and Miu Miu. Does anybody else feel a voyeurism vibe here? Hmmn...

So there you have it. She is gone and now Madame Alt is at the helm of my favourite magazine. I have been an avid reader of Vogue Paris since 2001. I’m curious about the changes and I must admit that Emmanuelle putting Gisele on the cover doesn’t bode well with me. We will see... Tell me, what do you think about Carine’s last issue?

À bientôt Madame Roitfeld...

Read the full review

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld's First Vogue Paris Cover

I am proud to feature the first article contributed by Milla Msa, our newly appointed editor-at-large in Paris — a very special review in which she reflects on her memorable first encounter with not only Carine Roitfeld, but her personal favorite (as well as Carine's), Kate Moss in the editorial "Noir Blanc"...

Carine Roitfeld's First Vogue Paris Cover
By Milla Msa 

Back in February 2001, when I was just 19 years old, a platinum blonde Kate Moss peeked out at me from the cover of Vogue Paris and there at the newsagents in Victoria station, I was hooked. All of those years ago, I was oblivious to Carine Roitfeld's name and status but what I knew, even in my state of fashion ignorance, was that Vogue Paris was different, and by different I mean better. Way better.

If you have followed Carine's personal style, you will see that this editorial, featured in her very first issue of Vogue Paris and titled 'Noir Blanc,' epitomises her minimalist Parisian chic and sets the tone for the magazine over the next decade. Wearing the likes of Balenciaga, Dior, Gucci, and Jean Paul Gaultier, Carine introduces a short-haired Kate Moss to Vogue Paris readers with her trademark 'understated luxe.' The dream team pairing of Kate modelling, Carine styling, and Mario Testino behind the lens perfectly captures the coolness of La Roitfeld, then new editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, and boldly hints at the provocation to come.

As to what Carine does next, who knows? One thing is for sure: her timeless first issue will never go out of style.

Read more of Milla's incisive insights on fashion (and life!) at Not Just Another Milla.

Vogue Paris editorial images © 2001 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Vogue Paris March 2011: Saskia de Brauw

Carine Roitfeld's last cover for Vogue Paris... that is all I have to say right now, I have no words. To learn more about Carine's choice of models for her farewell cover, Saskia de Brauw, follow her blog. Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott photographed Saskia in a gown from the Givenchy Spring/Summer 2011 collection for the March issue of Vogue Paris. What do you think of Carine's last cover?

Vogue Paris March 2011 issue cover image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Carine Roitfeld: Tango Des Passions

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at I Want To Be A Roitfeld! The new editorial team came together to offer our different perspectives on "Tango des Passions" from the February 2006 issue of Vogue Paris; below are our thoughts. The editorial was clearly styled by Carine Roitfeld, photographed by Mario Testino, and included the models Mariacarla Boscono, Patricia Schmid, Milagros Schmoll, and Marta Berzkalna among others. What do you think of "Tango des Passions"?

KATE: I like the futuristic, floral vibe of this editorial. The models somehow look like pretty flowers even when they are not wearing a floral print. They are beautiful images but what is the story line here? Something about a girl who danced so hard that now she needs crutches. All I know is that those pink boots are hot.

KELLINA: Those boots are hot! I especially love that Carine contrasted them with the mint green wall for even greater effect. This is highly styled hedonism, Kellina likey! Wait a second though, isn't anyone going to mention the black rubber hoses worn by the women in the opening shot? What does Carine say about this one... "Démesure nouveau continent et influences europénnes, Buenos Aires s'offre en théâtre de mode, où le souffle du style de la plus parisienne des villes argentines se mêle aux ambiguïtés du désir et des corps." or in English, "New continent excessiveness and Europen influences, Buenos Aires offers a theater of fashion, where the breath of the style of the most Parisian of Argentine cities mingles with the ambiguities of desire and the body." C'mon, Carine, the tango has a great beat but it's so heteronormative — where is the excess, the ambiguity? The boots though, C! Those boots are hot!

MILLA: The sheer debauchery makes my life seem incredibly dull; I want to pose on the mantelpiece and do kung-fu in a ball gown. Who doesn't?! The illusional submissiveness as the women are tied up, arrested, and told off intrigues me, as they attempt to cast a spell over the viewer. This is very Carine! This editorial actually reminds me of when Giovanna Battaglia broke her toe and she, unlike you and I who would stay home with painkillers, went for cocktails in London! Now that's a woman who loves a party!

For more hearty Valentine's Day fun, check out "Girl Meets Boy" as styled by Emmanuelle Alt on I Want To Be An Alt or "Valentine's Day Treatise" on Everyday Glamour.

Vogue Paris editorial images © 2006 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Vogue Paris March 2011 Preview: Saskia de Brauw

For her final Vogue Paris cover Carine Roitfeld has chosen Dutch model Saskia de Brauw, "I love risk… Now I found a new girl called Saskia. She has short hair, no one knows her, and this is going to be my last cover." The shot of Saskia above in Dolce & Gabbana by Mario Sorrenti is taken from the editorial "Et Vogue l’Été 2011" which appeared in the February issue of Vogue Paris. More details to follow when I hear them of course...

Vogue Paris February 2011 issue editorial image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.