Starting over is seldom easy and success is never guaranteed. Carine Roitfeld, 60 shows the way by doing it in style. Self belief and drawing on every bit of past experience is key.
Roitfeld started out as model and erstwhile stylist for French Elle. Work with Mario Testino lead to a very successful partnership as muse and stylist to Tom Ford at Gucci.
Carine Roitfeld ([photo - Getty)
She became the controversial editor of French Vogue in 2001 and made an acrimonious departure on 31 January 2011. Her new found 'freedom' lead to several highly successful projects and collaborations.
In 2011 she published the large format book Irreverent with Rizzoli and styled two collections for Chanel. She worked with Lagerfeld starring as Coco Chanel in The Little Black Jacket project.
In 2012 she launched CR Fashion Book, a biannual style magazine, of which the fifth edition has just launched. The first issue was titled Rebirth, a reference to her new career and in anticipation of the birth of her first grandchild.
CR Fashion Book Issue 1 Rebirth.
The same year also saw her launch her own exciting make-up line with MAC. CR Fashion Book lead to Mademoiselle C, a film by Fabien Constant, which documents the making of the launch issue of the magazine. It follows the format of the Vogue September Issue film. It documents Carine's everyday life, work and family; including a lesson in classical ballet, her favourite way of staying in shape. Carine says it is a film about friendship: "I think after this film, people will understand that you can work in fashion [and] be a real person, not to be so selfish, to be a hard worker, to have a family, and to have friends."
Carine as Coco Chanel in The Little Black Jacket project with Lagerfeld.
At the end of 2012 Duncan Edwards, President and CEO of Hearst Magazines announced the appointment of Carine Roitfeld as Global Fashion Director for all 26 international issues of Harpers Bazaar. Carine had made the very successful journey from their well known rival Conde Nast.
Guardian named Carine as one of their 50 Best-Dressed in March 2013.
Mademoiselle C was on limited release in art cinemas and is available on Blu-Ray and DVD.
