Vogue Paris Translation: Editorial, August 2011

I have translated from French to English the editorial written by Emmanuelle Alt for the August issue of Vogue Paris in which she explains her version of the California Dream.

L.A. ou l'éternel été. L.A. ou le frisson du glamour. L.A. ou la fabrique du rêve. Comme la mode, la Cité des Anges n'en finit pas d'hypnotiser les saisons. Ce sortilège radieux, nous l'avons choisi ce mois-ci pour présenter les 64 silhouettes de l'automne-hiver 2011-2012. Sous l'objectif d'Inez & Vinoodh, un défilé à haute teneur en envies s'empare du California Dream. Drapées dans le cuir ou la soie, blotties dans des cocons de fourrure, en robes longues ou pantalons slim, c'est tout un gang de femmes fatales, de rockeuses et de housewives fuselées qui s'approprie le sable blond de Venice Beach et la mythologie d'Hollywood Boulevard.

B.O. de ce show à l'allure conquérante : The Parlor Mob, révélation musicale dont le deuxième album devrait cabrioler dans le peloton de tête des sensations de l'automne. De quoi réserver à ce quintette originaire du New Jersey une place de choix dans notre sélection en avant-première des temps forts de la rentrée. Films, expos, livres, ce best-of ponctué par les confidences exclusives de Pedro Almodóvar, Chiara Mastroianni et Jean-Paul Goude est aussi là pour rappeler que si, loin du ciel cobalt de L.A., l'été finit toujours par s'achever, une autre belle saison ne fait que commencer.

"L.A. or the eternal summer. L.A. or the thrill of glamour. L.A. or the factory of dreams. Like fashion, the City of Angels never fails to mesmerize the season. This radiant spell, we chose this month to present 64 silhouettes for Fall/Winter 2011/2012. Under the lens of Inez & Vinoodh, a fashion show inspired by the desire to capture the California Dream. Draped in leather or silk, nestled in cocoons of fur, in long dresses or slim pants, a whole gang of femmes fatales, of rockers and of tapered housewives who appropriate the golden sands of Venice Beach and the mythology of Hollywood Boulevard.

The soundtrack for the show sets the pace of conquest: The Parlor Mob, a musical revelation whose second album is expected to leap into the forefront of the sensations of autumn. We have saved for this quintet from New Jersey a special place in our selection previewing the highlights of the season. Films, exhibitions, books, best-of confidences punctuated by exclusives with Pedro Almodóvar, Chiara Mastroianni, and Jean-Paul Goude also remind us that if, far from the cobalt sky of L.A., summer always ends up completed, another beautiful season has just begun.

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Emmanuelle Alt On Vogue Paris September 2011

Here is Emmanuelle Alt to describe the contents of the September issue of Vogue Paris for us, I have translated her remarks from the VP web site from French to English. I am excited to read the article about Lou Doillon and to learn more about the life of cover girl Charlotte Casiraghi, what do you think of Emmanuelle's September issue so far?

"C'est la première fois qu'elle pose pour une couverture de magazine. Elle a choisi Vogue et Mario Testino." écrit Emmanuelle Alt dans l'édito du numéro de septembre 2011. Trois ans après Stéphanie de Monaco, que l'on avait pu découvrir en décembre 2008 sous l'objectif du duo de photographes Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, c'est donc au tour d'une autre héritière de la famille Grimaldi de poser en couverture du magazine. Cavalière émerite et nouvelle égérie de la ligne équestre de Gucci, Charlotte Casiraghi ouvre les portes du Rocher à son ami de toujours, Mario Testino. Honneur au charme à la française avec le portrait intimiste des plus grandes figures du cinéma français, comme Lou Doillon, Valérie Lemercier ou encore Carole Bouquet. Au fil des pages, Vogue Paris décrypte l'élégance intemporelle de la femme française et propose à Tom Pecheux, Aaron de Mey ou encore Lloyd Simmonds de revisiter ses codes à travers une série beauté haute en couleurs. En bonus du numéro, on retrouve le supplément enfants de Vogue avec toutes les tendances de la rentrée, ainsi que le programme de la Vogue Fashion Night et les 50 looks sélectionnés pour l'occasion par la rédaction du magazine. Vogue n°920 septembre 2011, en kiosque le 22 août.

"This is the first time she posed for a magazine cover. She chose Vogue and Mario Testino." Emmanuelle Alt wrote in her editorial for the September issue of 2011. Three years after Stephanie of Monaco, who was seen in December 2008 under the lens of photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, it is the turn of another heir to the Grimaldi family to pose on the magazine cover. Horsewoman and new face of Gucci's equestrian line, Charlotte Casiraghi opens the doors of Rocher to her friend, Mario Testino. Honoring the French charm are intimate portraits of the greatest figures of French cinema, such as Lou Doillon, Valerie Lemercier, or Carole Bouquet. Throughout the pages, Vogue Paris decrypts the timeless elegance of the French woman and offers Tom Pecheux, Aaron de Mey, or Lloyd Simmonds to revisit its code through a colorful beauty series. As a bonus number, there is the additional children's Vogue Paris with all the trends of the season and the program for Vogue Fashion Night as well as looks for the event selected by the editors of the magazine. Vogue September 2011, No. 920, on newsstands August 22.

Vogue Paris editorial © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Vogue Paris September 2011: Charlotte Casiraghi

For the much anticipated September issue of Vogue Paris, Emmanuelle Alt chose royal Charlotte Casiraghi, fourth in line to the throne of Monaco at just 25 years of age. Charlotte is the daughter of Caroline of Monaco and Hanover and the late Stefano Casiraghi; her grandmother was Grace Kelly. Casiraghi is often listed among the world's best dressed and most eligible young women. She is noted as a passionate and accomplished equestrienne, currently serving as Gucci's equestrian ambassador and dressing for competitions in clothes designed exclusively for her by Frida Giannini. She is also a published author and editor and works to promote sustainability in fashion. Mario Testino photographed Casiraghi for the September cover. Note that the price has doubled, at least in France...

Vogue Paris cover image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy of storemags.com.

Emmanuelle Alt On Vogue Fashion Night

Emmanuelle Alt and Condé Nast host the third annual Fashion Night in Paris on 8 September 2011. The international editions of Vogue come together for one special night each year to celebrate fashion around the globe. In France, the event organized by Vogue Paris centers around the boutiques of of avenue Montaigne, rue François 1er, and avenue George V, known as the golden triangle of Paris. Watch this video for a preview of Emmanuelle Alt's plans for the night: shopping, shopping, and more shopping! With perhaps a glass of champagne from time to time... If you are in Paris that evening, be sure to join in the fun, perhaps the woman peeking over the racks at you will be Emmanuelle...

Emmanuelle Alt and Vogue Fashion Night images © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Birthday, Diana Vreeland!

This marks the 108th birthday of legend Diana Vreeland so we are honoring her influence on fashion here today. Born in Paris, France, the divine Mrs. V. began her illustrious career as a fashion writer and editor in 1936, joining Harper's Bazaar as a columnist; her column "Why Don't You . . . ?" quickly garnered a faithful following and she advanced up the ranks, working as HB's fashion editor until the 1960s. In 1962, Mrs. Vreeland left Harper's Bazaar to become Vogue's editor-in-chief for nine years after which she was hired as a consultant by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to develop their Costume Institute. She was widely considered one of the leading arbiters of style in the United States during her lifetime. Special thanks to editor-at-large Bernie Rothschild for his touching tribute to this star of the fashion world.

Diana "The Queen of Fashion" Vreeland
By Bernie Rothschild

Today we celebrate something very special... before Carine, Emmanuelle, Anna, and Franca ruled the fashion world, there was the woman who taught everyone that pink is the navy blue of India, the woman who noted the importance of the bikini pre-war, and the woman who capitulated that it was Balenciaga who ruled moden fashion: Diana Vreeland, the original and undisputed queen of fashion. As every fashion enthusiast out there knows, Madame D.V. had a very, very interesting life of her own. Having been born in Paris and unable to speak any English when she first arrived in the U.S., she was discovered by another influential editor Carmel Snow and the rest is fashion history. Mrs. Vreeland has been through a lot of history. She was presented to the King of England during her youth; she witnessed the roaring 20s; she was an innovator of the golden age of couture during the 30s; she discovered Lauren Bacall and pre-war fashion during the 40s; she created the glamorous 50s; and she invented the over the top looks and exoticism of the swinging 60s.

Mrs. Vreeland contributed so much through her work as a fashion editor and an exhibition director. According to Visionaire, her dictum could be very fabulous as haiku and her story could top the sale of any best selling books. Who could forget her witty, wonderful rant when she was passed over for the Harper's Bazaar editorship during the late 50s; regarding the magazine's new editor-in-chief, she remarked that a house painter could never ever be an artist and referred to Alex Liberman as the first Yellow Russian ever. During her reign, Mrs. V. inspired everyone from taxi drivers to first ladies and European aristocrats. Her presence in the world of fashion we still feel now. Don't we all wish we could take a glimpse of her garden in hell apartment? Her famous exhibitions? Her glamorous life... Who could forget her fabulous line when she passed away? "Don't stop the music or I'll tell my father." To this day, Diana Vreeland remains one of the truest fashion icons of all time.

Diana Vreeland photograph courtesy of habituallychic.com.