5 Things We Learned From Carine Roitfeld In Her New York Times Interview

Carine Roitfeld is always good for a fun quote or two -- her chat with Karl Lagerfeld for the September issue of Interview was chock full of them.

But her latest talk with the New York Times may just be the pièce de résistance. In it, we learned many peculiar things from the former editor-in-chief of French Vogue. Our five favorite factoids:

1. Mink coats smell. Sheepskin coats do not.

I like fur, but there’s a sort of smell on it that now I don’t like. ...[] Sheepskin is different. But I can’t say I will never wear fur again because I will lie. Maybe tomorrow I’m going to see a beautiful mink coat, and I’ll really want it, even if there is some smell in it. I will put perfume on.

2. Americans dress for comfort. That's why they look worse than Europeans.

Americans created the T-shirt, the sweat pants, and they create the best sporting shoes. When I see a woman in the street, sometimes I think, Oh, it’s a bit too comfortable the way she is dressing, you know? And not in a nice way.

3. Bondage is just like making tea. Or arranging flowers.

But did you know that for Japanese people, bondage is like an art. In Japan you can learn how to make a bunch of flowers. This is an art. Tea ceremony, it’s an art. And bondage is an art, too.

4. Mules (as in the shoe) are her biggest fashion faux pas.

I hate mules. I hate the noise when someone walks with mules. Clomp, clomp, clomp. I think it’s very not chic. I don’t even like a flip-flop. I don’t like this noise.

5. Tom Ford is gay. Sorta.

O.K., Tom, unfortunately for the woman, is gay. But he is very not so gay.

We feel enlightened -- really, we do. For all the silly things she says, the humorous Carine has a good amount of perspective on fashion and fame, for which we've got to respect her.

She once admitted to Style.com, "It's an honor and you smile to the people. But is it normal? I think there is something a bit weird, that more people want to see these looks than want to see what John Galliano or Dolce & Gabbana did for the show."

She's a wise one, that Roitfeld.

Go to NYTimes.com to read the rest.

Comments

[ontariogirl]

04:51 PM on 09/06/2011

She looks like a young Ozzie Osbourne.

[BrendaNYC]

11:17 AM on 09/05/2011

I have to admit I was not prepared to like her as much as I did after the NYT interview. I particularly liked her viewpoint on shoes that make noise. I have often wondered why a world of seemingly sensible women seem to lose all sense of reason when getting dressed. I natter more on the issue here: http://heresheisboys.com/2011/09/02/love-labors-loss/

[Dee Dee Russell]

08:20 AM on 09/05/2011

She's fabulous!

"Patsy Stone"

[Mavara]

07:57 AM on 09/05/2011

I like Carine Roitfeld, but there’s a sort of smell on it that now I don’t like.

[msestvanko]

08:05 PM on 09/04/2011

Most of these comments are just so mean. It's so sad to know that most of these people are just insecure, or they feel ugly themselves so they attack others. Then again, it's really easy to hide behind a computer.

Carine Roitfeld is a genius. She was such an important figure in French fashion, the way she helped shape it and help globalize it. Most of these people are angry because she was lucky enough to be the Editor in Chief of Vogue Paris. That's a lot more glorious than any of you are every going to do. People are going to remember her because he name is down in the fashion history books. Who is going to remember you?

[marlaannchristenson]

12:26 AM on 09/06/2011

Even more, she seems like my fav girlfriends. She is smart, irreverent, and insightful.

[3Nox]

04:14 PM on 09/04/2011

It's "pièce de résistance." Accents are important in that language, you know.

[PaticaDeGato]

12:44 PM on 09/03/2011

Another little known factoid: she was beautiful once.

http://www.piercemattiepublicrelations.com/paris%20vogue%20public%20relations.jpg

[Cynth]

01:41 AM on 09/05/2011

Wow, she really was...makes one wonder what happened (and is she a smoker)?

[mystshy]

11:38 AM on 09/03/2011

NEVER HEARD OF HER.....................

[Veronica]

08:33 PM on 09/03/2011

Were you afraid we'd miss your insightful comment if you left your caps lock off?

[StevieTheK]

08:35 AM on 09/03/2011

Who?

[Veronica]

08:36 PM on 09/03/2011

Google is your friend.

[theMONARCH]

11:39 PM on 09/02/2011

Eyebrow waxing is a godsend.

Try it sometime Carine

[3Nox]

04:08 PM on 09/04/2011

Also: hair ties.

[Aliceann Marquiess]

07:26 PM on 09/02/2011

I thought that was a picture of Iggy Pop, post-reconstructive surgery.

[LiberalLee]

04:01 PM on 09/02/2011

Guess the embalming didn't take.
Nasty-looking critter...

[Samirah1368]

06:17 PM on 09/02/2011

she really is

[Paris215]

03:20 PM on 09/02/2011

I love Carine! So is so much her own woman, she is fearless, very original and clearly very smart... All women should have such strength of character, myself included. We should laud women like her that stand out and make something of themselves. And for you guys out there are making something of her looks..you are soooo very shallow.. (!)

[Snides]

02:41 PM on 09/02/2011

Quick! Someone call Bruce Campbell. It looks like another one escaped from the cellar.

[Russell Kersey]

02:22 PM on 09/02/2011

I thought she played in a movie i once saw......................GUYS AND DOLL