Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent, the Book Every Fashion Lover Needs

Some coffee-table books are polite. Carine Roitfeld Irreverent is not. Published by Rizzoli in 2011, this big, glossy book gathers together decades of work from one of fashion's most influential and provocative editors, and it does exactly what its title promises: it refuses to play it safe.

We are interiors people at heart, but we have always believed that style does not stop at the front door. Fashion, art, design and the way we live are all connected, and few books make that connection as vividly as this one.

Who is Carine Roitfeld?

Carine Roitfeld is a French fashion editor and stylist, best known for her decade as editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, a role she held from 2001 until 2011. Before that she built a reputation as a stylist, including a long creative partnership with photographers and designers that helped define the look of the 1990s. In 2012 she launched her own magazine, CR Fashion Book.

Her aesthetic is instantly recognisable: sharp tailoring, pencil skirts, sky-high heels, a little darkness and a lot of attitude. She made provocation look effortless, and inspired a generation of women to dress with more nerve.

Inside Carine Roitfeld Irreverent

Irreverent is a visual retrospective of Roitfeld's career. Edited with Olivier Zahm and Alex Wiederin, it brings together magazine tear sheets, covers, advertising campaigns and editorial shoots, alongside glimpses into her creative process.

It is a substantial book, the kind you need two hands and a clear table to enjoy properly. Turning the pages feels like flicking through the most daring magazines of the past few decades, curated by the person who made many of them. For anyone interested in fashion photography, styling or editorial design, it is a treasure trove.

The best style books do not just show you clothes. They show you a point of view, and dare you to find your own.

Why irreverent Carine Roitfeld still inspires us

What makes irreverent Carine Roitfeld so compelling is her confidence. Her work rarely seems to ask permission. It mixes high glamour with something rougher and more surprising, and it treats fashion as a form of storytelling rather than a catalogue of products.

There are lessons there for interiors, too:

• Edit ruthlessly. Roitfeld's personal style is famously consistent. A home with a clear point of view feels more memorable than one that tries to do everything.
• Embrace contrast. Soft and hard, light and dark, polished and undone. Contrast creates energy in a room just as it does in an outfit.
• Do not fear a little darkness. Deep colours, moody lighting and dramatic art can make a space feel sophisticated.
• Trust your instincts. Rules are useful, but the most exciting spaces often break one or two.

The iwanttobearoitfeld effect

Roitfeld has long been a muse for fashion fans online, and you only have to look at the iwanttobearoitfeld style of fandom to see how many people aspire to her effortless chic: the oversized sunglasses, the perfectly cut coat, the armful of shopping bags. Irreverent gives those fans something more substantial than snapshots, a deeper look at the thinking behind the image.

Whether or not you want to dress like her, the book is a reminder that personal style is a creative act, and that it is built on curiosity, conviction and a willingness to take risks.

Styling a fashion book at home

A book like Irreverent deserves to be seen. Stack it on a coffee table with a couple of other favourites, perhaps alongside our pick 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School for a mix of fashion and architecture. Top the pile with a small object, such as a candle, a ceramic dish or a vintage paperweight, and let the covers do the talking.

If you are short on table space, a wall-mounted shelf or a ledge can turn a collection of big books into a display in its own right; our post on Cubit shelving has some ideas. And if you are hunting for the perfect Christmas present for a fashion-loving friend, this is a gift that will be treasured for years. Pair it with a visit to an open studio and Christmas fair in London and you have a very stylish festive outing.

Questions readers ask

What is Carine Roitfeld Irreverent?

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent is a large-format book published by Rizzoli in 2011 that looks back over Roitfeld's career through magazine covers, editorial shoots and campaigns.

Who edited Irreverent?

Carine Roitfeld created the book with Olivier Zahm and Alex Wiederin, who are credited as its editors.

Who is Carine Roitfeld?

Carine Roitfeld is a French fashion editor and stylist who was editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris from 2001 to 2011 and launched CR Fashion Book in 2012.