Lady LUX

The word is finally out about Carine Roitfeld’s next project. Roitfeld will be coming together with Barneys New York to serve as a guest editor and stylist for the fall season.

The collaboration will include Roitfeld styling and editing Barneys’ Mario Sorrenti-shot advertising campaign, catalog and fall mailers, as well as working on the store’s Madison Avenue storefront.

“For me, Barneys has always been the biggest name in luxury department stores, so to be able to participate in this project with them, and be visible during the next fashion week in New York, is my dream come true,” the former French Vogue editor-in-chief told WWD in an exclusive interview. “To a French girl, it’s a big, big dream.”

The campaign will reflect Roitfeld’s personality and unique, innate style.
The idea took root when Roitfeld informed Mark Lee, Barneys’ chief executive officer, of her decision to depart from French Vogue. Lee told her he thought she was extraordinary and suggested they work together.

Roitfeld’s career kickstarted in the ‘90s, when she served as inspiration for Tom Ford and worked as a stylist for Gucci. She later catapulted to further fame when she landed at French Vogue, where she worked as editor-in-chief for 10 years, after leaving a couple of months ago. Today, her looks are constantly dissected by style bloggers, and she serves as inspiration to designers around the globe.

Since she left her last post, speculation has been raging.

“Each day it’s changing,” Roitfeld said to WWD of the rumors. “One day I am going to Dior with Riccardo Tisci, the next day I am going to Saint Laurent with Hedi Slimane. I don’t think it’s very nice for the designer at Saint Laurent, and it’s just rumors. What I know is that I now have my freedom and I will keep my freedom forever. I am very excited to have this freedom and to have projects like the one at Barneys.”

So readers can get a personal perspective of the former editor-in-chief, Sorrenti will be crafting a campaign and short film to serve as a portrait of her and her style.

“It’s a new kind of project for me,” Roitfeld told WWD. “It’s good to have a new life, because now I can do projects that I never dreamed of before… I can be a muse for a designer, I can do work for some magazines and do advertising, and maybe something like Barneys, but still keep my freedom.”

Her input is expected to bring a distinctive perspective to the Barneys’ store. Only time will tell, however, what the results of the collaboration will be.

Tagged in: barneys, french vogue, barneys new york, guest editor, roitfeld, carine roitfeld, rumor, editor-in-chief,