Photo by Mario Testino- courtesy of Carine Roitfeld
It’s fitting that we kick off Fashion Week with an exclusive interview with the most fashionable woman in the world, Carine Roitfeld. You know her as the stylish Editor of Paris Vogue but did you know that it’s her family, not fashion, that rocks her world? Carine is a devoted mother and has been with her partner, Christian Restoin, for 30 years! Her children, Julia and Vladmir, are both studying in the US but she stays close with daily phone calls and taking several vacations with them throughout the year (they just spent the holidays in Australia and they often rent a house in St. Barts for the summer). She is a fiercely loyal and faithful friend and no matter how busy or tired, it is important to her to make time for a quick lunch or coffee with friends because she values the relationships in her life more than the latest “it” bags. She is infatuated with shoes however, and when asked what her favorite shoes are of the moment, she says “YSL” and was seen in the entire collection of killer stilettos last Fall. You won’t ever catch her in flats unless she is on the beach! For looks off the Spring ’07 runway, she says she loves “Prada” and we couldn’t agree more! Although you will not find her cooking on a regular basis with her hectic schedule, she is known to whip up a gourmet feast with friends while on vacation (although in LA, she prefers to dine at Mr. Chows). She’s been called terrifyingly chic, I found her to be terrifyingly nice, she replied to my emails personally from her Blackberry and was very accomodating about scheduling our phone interview. Even though she was in the midst of pre-Fashion Week rush, she took time to answer our questions:
Bag Snob: How do you feel about “it” bags being marketed to consumers every season and how do you think it affects the artistic integrity of the designer?
Carine Roitfeld: No, I don’t think it affects the designer’s artistic integrity. I am sure designers do not design bags they don’t like.
Bag Snob: What was your childhood ambition?
Carine Roitfeld: I wanted to be a writer.
Bag Snob: What is your favorite memory as a stylist?
Carine Roitfeld: Meeting and working with Mario Testino and Tom Ford. (Daughter Julia is currently featured in Ford’s Black Orchid fragrance campaign)
Bag Snob: What is your favorite bag?
Carine Roitfeld: None. I do not have a favorite bag.
Bag Snob: What is your morning routine?:
Carine Roitfeld: I start my morning with my Pilates class every day at 8 am.
Bag Snob: Best gift you ever received?
Carine Roitfeld: The first smiles of my kids when they were babies
Bag Snob: Earliest style icons?
Carine Roitfeld: I don’t have any.
Bag Snob: When did you laugh last?
Carine Roitfeld: Watching the movie “Little Miss Sunshine”
Bag Snob: What are your beauty secrets to looking so youthful?
Carine Roitfeld: Frequent Facial Massages!
Bag Snob: Do you have a secret talent?
Carine Roitfeld: Yes, I’m a real clown with my kids and make them laugh a lot.
Bag Snob: If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt and politics, what would you change?
Carine Roitfeld: Less inequality, more justice !
(A big thank you to Florence- The Shoe Goddess, my fabulous girlfriend who made the introduction to Carine and this interview possible!)
(Photo and content property of Bag Snob and subject to copyright laws.)
Thanks for that! She’s v.straight to the point…excellent!
Very interesting interview…I like that you asked her all kind of questions, not only about fashion. She is an extraordinary woman…
Wow! I love Carine. Thank you for sharing this with us! she always seems so aloof but it’s good to know she is so nice!
Gosh, Bag Snob you sure do get around!! Thanks for that!! I’ve always found her to be so incredibly glamorous! Brook , London
Mon dieu,
La famme est parfait mais je prefere sa fille Julia Restoin Roitfeld. Aussi, la fille de Anna Wintour est tres belle…oh la la!
Je vous remerci pour cette article! Tres bien Les Snobs des sacs.
Mon dieu,
La famme est parfait mais je prefere sa fille Julia Restoin Roitfeld. Aussi, la fille de Anna Wintour est tres belle…oh la la!
Je vous remerci pour cette article! Tres bien Les Snobs des sacs.
Robin, north Londres.
an extremely strong personality stemming from ms roitfeld there..
Wonderful interview! Bagsnob you are great! Keep up the good work and maybe design some “it” bags of your own…
I love her… she is amazing. Thanks for the interiew.
Fantastic interview, Tina!
I don’t feel so bad now not knowing my bags…
But I will always look to the Bag Snob girls for help!
Fantastic! Who don’t you know? You girls are the type of friends I’d like to have!!!
cool that you got to interview her
Deanne, I completely agree with you. Every boy needs girly fashionista friends!!!
Great to have found such an incredible and much appreciated site, thanks to the January 2007 issue of Vogue or Elle (can’t remember which. Keep it up and thanks
When are you guys going to start a shoe snob?
kudos!
Oh my goodness! she and franca sozzani are my favorite editors of all time! i would have fainted when she contacted me! I know so stupid but true!
Oh my goodness! she and franca sozzani are my favorite editors of all time! i would have fainted when she contacted me! I know so stupid but true!
Oh my goodness! she and franca sozzani are my favorite editors of all time! i would have fainted when she contacted me! I know so stupid but true!
I’m surprised that you would choose to interview her considering how much she apparently hates bags.