With the fashion world rapidly embracing fashion as a truly global enterprise, it seems no surprise that Harper’s Bazaar (owned by Hearst media) would create a new position: Global Fashion Director.  And who else to helm the reigns of such a nascent yet omnipotent position: Carine Roitfeld, of course. Roitfeld’s work with photographer Mario Testino and Tom Ford during his creative reign over Gucci changed the fashion game back in the mid 90’s and since then Roitfeld has been at the forefront of presenting her unique fashion visions.  The chic Parisian was soon hired by Conde Nast for a decade long run as editor-in-chief of French Vogue where her irreverent take on styling and fashion imagery provoked media criticism but also critical acclaim.  Following her departure from Conde Nast just back at the end of 2010, Roitfeld had a Rizzoli published retrospective Irreverent, collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld on presenting the multi-faceted uses of Chanel’s iconic little black jacket, leant her styling talents to Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci and Joseph Altuzzara, collaborated with M.A.C cosmetics on a new line and even branded her monogram onto a new fashion biannual: CR Fashion Book (to which, naturally, she’s editor-in-chief).  The newly published CR Fashion Book, to many, seemed quite a departure from what had been deemed Carine’s “porno chic,” aesthetic by some more conservative and critical media outlets (the same ones claiming she also promoted anorexia and racism in her
imagery).  However, the magazines cover features Kate Upton holding a handful of recently hatched ducklings, while the other a toddler in a full white gown craddling a newborn, and featured articles that were printed in multiple languages.  Perhaps in the natural progression of Carine’s career, it seems only natural that Hearst (Conde Nast’s biggest competitor) hire her as Global Fashion Director.  Starting in March of 2013, all twenty-six of Bazaar’s fashion editions will feature a section styled with Carine’s uncanny point of view.  Again the business of fashion is changing as the local and the global are fusing together now in unprecedented ways showing the language of images is universal.  Just this language is all Carine’s.

Michael Costa