Carine Roitfeld Quotes

At the start, I had no idea to go into fashion, because I thought people would think I was stupid. I don't worry about those things anymore.

I am not a good professional of fashion. I am not an expert about how clothes are constructed or the history of fashion. I never start with fashion. I always think of the girl and her personality - because all that matters to me when you look at a page is, "Do you want to be that girl?"

I don't have problems with my weight, I don't change weight but I think when you're gaining in age your position has to be beautiful.

I think you are born chic. You cannot be chic. It is something you cannot learn.

Yves Saint Laurent liked women to put their hands in their pockets, or to hold cigarettes, and act a bit like boys. It was to give an impression of composure, some self-assurance, and to counter the feminine appearance.

I think that life has brought a lot to fashion, and fashion brings plenty to life. I took my children on photo shoots, at the same time, I borrowed my father's sweater for a photo shoot and, then, I am inspired by a Russian princess because of my Russian roots. Everything is all mixed in together.

There are people who give you the confidence that you're lacking and once you have confidence, you're free and finally you can let out what's inside of you.

I think that when you're taking pictures with my principles, you can try anything. Dare to do a lot of things - dare with sexuality, dare to break taboos as long as it remains photogenic. As long as I find an elegance and beauty in it, I am not afraid to tackle anything.

When you love fashion, there is no weekend. Everything just blends together.

Always wear high heels. Yes, they give you power. you move differently, sit differently and even speak differently.

Fashion is very tough, and we shouldn't forget that before designers were money-makers, they were artists.

Coco Chanel was always doing things with ballet, so it is a tradition clashing fashion and ballet.

A magazine is not just one person. And a fashion shoot is the same!

I am not mean at all, I am not tough at all.

Even though I love fashion, I prefer people to fashion. Fashion is to make the person comfortable in her body, it’s not something very serious, you get to play.

Fashion is not about clothes, it is about a look.

I am very obsessed with ballet now because it is a very difficult sport and a beautiful one because it is not about money. It's not like playing football or tennis - dance has no sponsors, it's just for the beauty. Maybe it is the only last pure sport.

Let the others have beauty. I've got the charisma.

Anna Wintour is the most powerful woman in the global fashion industry, the first lady of fashion. She's a politician; I'm a stylist. They are two very different jobs.

You're not on your own. You're doing things with other people. This is very important for me.

Fashion's about extravagance, and everyone needs a bit of that.

Either you are a good Virgo or a crazy Virgo! The good Virgo side of me is educating and raising the children - being there for them.

If I could choose something besides fashion, I would love to be a ballerina.

Fashion shows used to be more crazy. Now they've become a bit too serious.

I've been working with Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy.It's been a long collaboration, and I don't think it's going to stop now. It's very important to me. Riccardo is younger than me, so it's great to have someone new teaching you in everything, not just in fashion. I'm teaching him in French style, what a women's style is, but he's teaching me in all of these different styles of music.I love this new world for me. It's refreshing and nourishing to keep learning about new things.

Enthusiasm is something so positive.

I get an award for being the best dressed, but at the end of the day I'm not Daphne Guinness. I don't like people to look at me for my dress. The letter is more important than the envelope. But if you feel good in your envelope, then you will feel better about yourself.

I think it's good that [my granddaughter] here because I lost my parents and now it's great that there's a new generation. And she's taught me new things that I've forgotten. Like, when you're on holiday and see what it's like to see a shell or go into the water for the first time.

I think the first picture taken is often the best one.

My biggest icon is Liz Taylor because I don’t think she had great taste but I loved her energy.

Beauty can be quite boring, especially if you're talking about beauty that doesn't last. And what lasts is exactly the thing that maybe wasn't pretty at first. It comes over time to be beautiful or interesting or exciting.

I think, in many ways, certain people sought me out maybe because they liked my body language or they liked the way I wore a slit skirt, the way I cross my legs or carry my purse. It's quite inspiring to play the seduction card.

In fashion, it’s always better to be an interesting person than a beautiful one. Character is much more fascinating than pure good looks.

There is always a bit of seduction to it when one person is clothed and the other is naked, which can be a little weird. Everybody should be naked. In that case, it would be easier. Let's do a huge naked photo shoot!

Ballet is good, because it makes you stand up tall.

When in doubt, wear a suit.

Fashion has a political role insofar as following it can give you the impression to belonging to a certain social group or a private club.

In a way, I envy the freedom artists have. Artists can push themselves beyond their limits, in pursuit of their ideas and their vision, even if they are inhabited by demons that can also play tricks on them.

Like this. The wristbands you get at nightclubs next to all the bracelets? It's always the details that give me the ideas. It's fun to play with fashion because it is a fantasy. Each morning you dress to become a different woman. Fashion helps.