My first thought when I found out Carine Roitfeld had left Vogue Paris yesterday was that it couldn't have been voluntarily. It just didn't feel right. My doubts about whether it really was her decision to hand over the editrix crown were further confirmed hours later when Cathy Horyn of the New York Times interviewed Carine for her blog. I think the bolded parts are quite contradictory:
“It’s 10 years that I’m editor of the magazine,” Ms. Roitfeld, one of the most influential editors in the fashion business, said in a telephone interview. “I think it’s time to do something different.”
She informed Jonathan Newhouse, the chief executive of Conde Nast International, that she wished to pursue other projects. “I have no problem with Jonathan, and he understood me very well,” Ms. Roitfeld said of her ideas for the magazine, which featured bold photography and expressed a cool, physical, erotic fashion ideal.
Ms. Roitfeld often did the styling for photo shoots. “I had so much freedom to do everything I wanted. I think I did a good job.” But she added, “When everything is good, maybe I think it’s the time to do something else.” She expects to complete issues through March. She said she was not sure what she would do after that. “I have no plan at all,” she said.
Quitting Vogue Paris to focus on other projects without actually having any plans for said projects?
Really?
I understand that she might want to take a break and then start thinking about all those projects she'd like to do. However - surprise! "Wanting to pursue other projects" was also the official reason Aliona Doletskaya left Vogue Russia last July. Do I see a pattern here?
The sarcastic part of me wonders who's next. "Off with their heads!"
7 comments
I love it! The drama and the tension that has plagued the fashion media in the last two years is all so sensational.
The sarcastic part of me would say Anna Wintour next, US vogue is kinda of stuck in a rut, it needs to shake up things, and while she's there, it's going nowhere !
It would surprise me if she really were next, she's too powerful. I imagine the only reason she'd leave would be if they paid her a ton of money. But obviously, we'll see.
I think what you wrote about US Vogue pretty much goes for all magazines right now. I dislike the prominent advertising in that magazine, but at least a part of that money often goes into great editorials.
I agree with you, she's got too much clout to leave, but while I also agree with you that many magazines are stuck, what kinda disappoints me in Vogue Us, is that they had the potential and resources to be so much better; editorial wise I think other magazines are being much more daring, Anna always use the same photographers and the same models, I wish she would just try something new every once in a while
I think this "uncreative crisis" in Vogue worldwide (one exception for me: Vogue Italia) stems from the fact that print media in general is not doing very well right now, so if Anna Wintour takes a risk, it might have disastrous results ... from that point of view it's better not to take the risk. I somehow still have faith in Wintour's, Roitfeld's and etc. creative skills, they're professionals and nobody can deny that what Roitfeld did for Vogue Paris overall was incredible.
Great post. I like the way you took an investigative angle on this news story. I never thought of it that way but could be so. I wonder why she would be so diplomatic about it. Her reputation? BTW, I got the news from you first about Carine leaving.
Let's not forget that Carine Roitfeld was always a stone inside Anna Wintour's shoes. She often made mean comments about Anna and her haircut and many times was mentioned as the one to replace her. I don't doubt Anna Wintour would have something to do with the fact Carine is suddenly "leaving".