Portrait Carine Roitfeld. Copyright Anthony Maule
A fresh take on her own wardrobe: that’s what you could call the capsule collection created by Carine Roitfeld for Uniqlo. Timeless classics, with just a touch of camouflage. Five minutes on the couch with Roitfeld feels like this…
This was not a first for me and Carine. Years ago, somewhere in the Nineties, I wanted to interview her, as she was the muse of Tom Ford. We met in Paris, at Les Deux Magots on Rive Gauche, and Carine answered my questions as if she had done nothing else all her life. At the time, she closely worked together with photographer Mario Testino, bringing Gucci the seks appeal it absolutely needed. Later on Carine became the ediot in chief of Vogue France, making the iconic magazine ‘incontournable’ for about ten years. Roitfeld left Vogue in December 2010 but that proved tob e the best step she ever took in life. She started her own CR Magazine, developed perfumes carrying her name and collaborated with beauty label MAC, which allowed me to interview her again, this time on her sofa in home in Paris. She is as friendly when I meet her a third time, again in Paris, to talk about her collab with the Japanese chainstore Uniqlo. Every encounter she takes very personally, answering questions with all her heart and allowing one selfie after another. I didn’t really bother about the selfie, but these were my questions:
Model in Carine Roitfeld for Uniqlo fw2015
I saw the model in the Uniqlo campaign and thought: is this Carine Roitfeld herself?
You’re right. Of course this is not me, but the girl in the pictures clearly shows my wardrobe. Everyone who knows me a little bit, will tell you I love to dress in a sharply tailored coat, a pencil skirt and close tot he body shirts. That’s me all the way.
How did the collab go? There’s a difference between shooting or styling collections and creating them yourself?
I must say I was quite impressed by the way the Japanese designers at Uniqlo research materials. Off course I wanted the collection to be of a certain quality. If I ask for cashmere, I want real cashmere. And that leather skirt should be perfect around my body, not somethings that starts hanging off after wearing it twice. Personally, I like to have my clothes mended. I always want the perfect length, also at my wrists.
Uniqlo is a chain store, whereas you are personally liked to the high end of the market.
I wouldn’t call Uniqlo a chain store, because they do not copy. They collaborate with other fashion designers (before Roitfeld, they collaborated with Christophe Lemaire and Inès de la Fressange) and each designer can stick to his or her personality. I secretly hope that other designers will copy me (laughs out loud).
There’s a lot of pantyhose in the collection, although we often spot you without in real life. Can you explain why you use long versions?
I’ve done so much ballet in my life, you cannot imagine. Those ‘collants’ are absolutely part of my life and my wardrobe. I like to pull them up very high above the waist. Actually, you can play with the length.
I got to know you as the muse of Tom Ford and now you are your own brand. How does that feel?
Well, Tom Ford is still a friend. Last week, I visited him in Los Angeles. He’s going to launch a new project. Just wait and see. (wink of the eye) and yes, I am a brand now, but I must admit that was never really my intention. I am happy that Uniqlo wants me back, because there will be a spring summer collection as well. And of course, I am happy with the perfumes I launched and with my CR magazine. Next to all that, there’s my work for Harper’s Bazaar (where she is global fashion director). But to be honest: don’t call me a designer.
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