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I was invited to attend the book signing event for Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld. It took place in one of my favorite stores here in Berlin: The Corner on Französische Straße 40. I got a chance to talk to Madame Roitfeld herself about fashion, the androgynous fashion icon Andre J.'s French Vogue Cover (one of her most provocative and directional covers in the last 10 years), and her view on the future of Dior. 

My +1 last night was Ronique aka  POSH the Prince!  Ronique and I lived in New York City during the time Carine Roifeld was at the helm of French Vogue(2001-2011).  Ronique and Andre J. are both iconic gender-bending performers who in their own right are changing fashion images.  Carine was pleased to meet Ronique who that night looked like a manga character more then ever, with pink hair , bright color printed t-shirt paired with acid wash jeans and a string of pearls down to his/her hips.

Ronique told Carine he is good friends with Andre J. from their New York days when Andre was a party promoter and Pat Fields publicist.  "He is lovely" Roitfeld recalls," Do you have the same legs as him?"  I interject, " Better!" knowing  full well how "POSH" worked them for Lady Gaga a year before on her Monster Ball tour.

After the "we know some of the same people" chitchat we got into more enlightening conversation, at least from a fashionista's point of view.

I ask Roitfeld about her book, if she thought it captured the evolution of Paris as a fashion capitol.  

CR: "I didn't think it this way. For me it is 30 years of my love and my work of course living in Paris... so I’m very inspired by Paris, you know... Paris is a big part of my creativity. I'm sure."

AA: "In Berlin we are also going through an evolution, what are your thoughts of Berlin fashion?"

CR:"I don't know very well Berlin so it's difficult to answer well, but when you see this shop you know Berlin loves fashion, you know. And I know you are doing fashion shows here but in [July] it is not the right date, we have to change the date..It’s not easy for people to come to Berlin for the fashion shows here, it's sad."

AA: "Do you think that fashion will change in the future and how so?"

CR: "Of course it will change, it is a big moment of changing you know so who will replace John Galliano at Dior? This is the next question."

AA: "That is a good question! Do you know?"

CR: "No I don't know, but when we know this change, everyone will, of course."

In the mean time we can flip through the pages of Carine Roitfeld's book where we see very intimate photos of her life, her love and fashion seen through her fearless eyes.

Carine Roitfeld's "Irreverent" sold at The Corner. 

Französische Straße 4010117 Berlin, Germany

030 20670940