Date: September 14. Venue: Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas
After ten glorious years running Vogue Paris, style icon Carine Roitfeld spread her wings and flew to New York to launch her own magazine. This documentary begins at Altuzzara Fall 2012 Fashion Show, a show I wardrobe-assisted and subsequently met the charming Miss Roitfeld (guest of honor and muse for the collection), looking as glamorous as ever with her intoxicating smoky eyes, tousled dark locks and luxurious black fur coat. The story continues with preliminary details of Carine’s CR Fashion Book with business partner Stephen Gan, from its title to her daughter and grandchild being a strong inspirational standpoint and a 2-in-1 magazine style approach for the first issue.
The camera catches fashion designer Tom Ford praising Carine as his perfect woman. Both Virgos with the same vision and aesthetic, he vows she can read his mind as she remarkably finishes his sentences. They speak in short-hand, conversing almost telepathically. From their early years pressing the erotic chic envelope for Gucci ad campaigns to now collaborating on a photo shoot for CR Fashion Book, Tom and Carine concoct a fanciful hybrid tale of Snow White meets Romeo & Juliet.
Fashion photographer Bruce Weber appears on various photo shoots for CR Fashion Book and makeup artist Tom Pecheux dresses Carine’s face for a gala. Top model Lara Stone poses as a guardian angel in one of CR Fashion Book photo shoots. Other CR Fashion Book photo shoots include an inspirational take on Rosemary’s Baby, laced with Carine’s erotic chic trademark with a topless model in a cemetery.
One of my favorite moments in the film was watching Karl Lagerfeld wheel Carine’s granddaughter Romy in a baby carriage. This was one of those moments where the world caught a private glimpse of a much vulnerable Karl Lagerfeld. Karl Lagerfeld is a prominent face in the movie as The Little Black Jacket – Chanel Exhibition, styled by Carine, made its première in Japan. The finale chronicles the CR Fashion Book launch party, a magazine that stood in stands a mere two weeks before completely selling out. The success of her first issue marked a career turning point as Harper’s Bazaar took notice and asked Carine to join them as their Global Fashion Director, which she accepted, while still offering CR Fashion Book fans a bi-annual issue.

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