Style.com's Dirk Standen recently sat down with Carine Roitfeld for the mother of all interviews with the former French Vogue editor-in-chief. In it, she makes the same comments as she made to The Cut about her upcoming "project" and confirms that she and Emmanuelle Alt aren't on the best of terms.
Here are our favorite Qs and As from the discussion. To read the rest, which we highly recommend, head over to Style.com.
You were one of the first editors to become a star of the street-style blogs. Were you conscious that was happening?
I'm never conscious about those sorts of things. I was never conscious that I was becoming an icon or I'm not an icon, because my family, my kids, my husband keep me down-to-earth. But it's true that, when you go to a show now, the photographers are more interested sometimes in the dress or the jacket you're wearing than to photograph the show, and I think this is totally wrong. It's an honor and you smile to the people. But is it normal? I think there is something a bit weird, that more people want to see these looks than want to see what John Galliano or Dolce & Gabbana did for the show.
Did you feel the pressure of political correctness?
I think it's sad because when I did this Tom Ford issue, for example, we put a lot of little girls with makeup, a lot of jewelry. It was for Christmas and it's nothing compared to what Guy Bourdin did 20 years ago or what I saw in all the magazines ten years ago.But the shoot with the kids did cause waves?
Yes, but when you put kids, you always know it's going to be a problem. There was no nudity, it was always a T-shirt under the evening dress, but you know, people see what they want...These are the risques du métier.There are rumors that you were fired because of the Tom Ford issue.
No, that's wrong...I think it was a controversial issue, but they were all controversial issues. I told you, at the end of this decade, I could see that the new president [of Conde Nast?] in France wanted to change the direction of the magazine. I'm sure the Tom Ford issue is not the way they're heading in the next few years, but it was not because of the Tom Ford issue. I was not fired, because if I was fired, it would not be a very nice ending. It was a discussion between Jonathan and myself, and he never fired me...I know I did a good job. I know the March issue is a record in terms of advertising. So I'm not leaving a sad magazine, an empty magazine. I'm leaving a magazine that has an epic stop. I'm very happy about that.