Vogue Paris October 2012 issue cover image by Mario Testino © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Emmanuelle Alt At Paris Fashion Week photographs © 2012 Condé Nast and courtesy of maydele.blogspot.com, fashionologie.com, stockholmstreetstyle.com, Getty Images, nowfashion.com, theepitomeofquiet.tumblr.com, facebook.com/chloe, selfservicemagazine.com

Vogue Paris November 2012 issue cover photograph by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin © 2012 Condé Nast.

Emmanuelle Alt played a part in the 2007 documentary Lagerfeld Confidential which examines the work of Karl Lagerfeld and the house of Chanel. Special thanks to our amazing contributing editor Kamila Brudzynska for sharing her insights about the film and Emmanuelle's role.

The Angle On Alt: Lagerfeld Confidential
By Kamila Brudzynska

Karl Lagerfeld is a huge icon in the fashion world and probably one of the hardest working men in the business. He is not only the designer of Chanel, Fendi, and his own brand, but also a photographer, a creator of perfumes, an artist, a publisher, a film director, and so on.

In October 2007, a documentary premiered by the name of Lagerfeld Confidential in which the director, Rodolphe Marconi, spent nearly two years shooting Karl and editing more than 200 hours of material down to a mere 85 minutes. Emmanuelle Alt appears in the video a few times, beginning with the footage shown above of her sitting in the front row at one of Lagerfeld's fashion shows in Paris.

Emmanuelle has a bigger role in Karl's mansion in Biarritz. She worked as a stylist during the photo shoot by the designer in his studio. In the documentary, Lagerfeld photographed his favorite model, Brad Kroening, for the album Metamophoses of an American which shows his development in life as a man and in his career as a model. The iconic designer also took photos for some of the campaigns.

The documentary shows a great connection between Emmanuelle and Karl. They like working together and have fun in their free time. It is an interesting documentary not only for Emmanuelle Alt fans but because it captures Lagerfeld in his natural ambience, Marconi presented a very personal portrait of the man.

View the trailer

Visit the official web site

Lagerfeld Confidential film stills © 2007 Realitism Film/Melange/NoSugarNoMilk

Review: Vogue Paris November 2012 Issue
By Heather Dunhill

Uh. Seriously. Can Emmanuelle Alt take a cue or eighty from the most influential Vogue EIC in history? Tastemaker Diana Vreeland curated style from her signature red office at Vogue headquarters. She inspired and influenced — "You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It's a way of life. Without it you're nobody. And I'm not talking about a lot of clothes.” Vreeland understood how we crave a peek into fashion’s crystal ball.

I’m entirely over Alt recycling the 80s. 

I could barely get past the cover of the November issue. OK, fine, I literally judged the book by its cover. I had to force myself to turn the page. The cover photo of Daria Werbowy, Stephanie Seymour, and Lauren Hutton looked like it was recycled from either a 1988 backyard BBQ pic or one of those family photos on the beach with matching white button-downs and faded mom jeans. 

Thanks to the advert pages like The Kooples and Fendi and that stunning emerald green Michael Kors number for some divine styling guidance between the covers. 

All right, I’ll set you free from my worst rant to date. Feeling a bit like a crabby Cathy. Hmmm, now that I think about it — could my poor reviews be the reason I haven’t received the last two issues of Vogue Paris? Wait. Emmanuelle, did you cancel my subscription?

Vogue Paris advertising images © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

The new issue of Vogue Paris Collections Printemps-Été 2013 will begin appearing on newsstands today in all of its optically illusive glory… In addition to her duties as editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, Emmanuelle Alt directs the publication of the special limited edition each season. This issue of Vogue Paris Collections includes photographs of the entire collection of 190 designers from the shows in Paris, New York, London, and Milan, more than 2,000 looks from the runways complete with accessories. Emmanuelle heralds the season: "Winter is the season of lavish, precious ornamentation and decoration, then along comes the summer to clear the decks and move on.” Be sure to get your copy of this indispensable fashion reference and collectors' item.

Vogue Paris Collections Spring/Summer 2013 cover image © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Vogue Paris December 2012/January 2013 issue cover photograph by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott © 2012 Condé Nast.

Emmanuelle Alt And Jennifer Lopez For Gucci
By Kamila Brudzynska

Emmanuelle Alt worked as the stylist on the Gucci Kids Spring/Summer 2011 campaign starring Jennifer Lopez and her two children, Emme and Max, as the models. The entire collection was represented by the Gucci teddy bear. The photographs were taken by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Frida Giannini, the creative director of Gucci, also was on the set for the shoot at Malibu Beach in California. In the “Behind the scenes” video we can see Emmanuelle a few times and we can get to know why Lopez agreed to take part in this campaign. Giannini also discusses the Gucci collaboration with UNICEF in which they donated $1,000,000 to UNICEF’s “School for Africa.”

[Editor’s note: I wonder if Emmanuelle and Emme found common ground in their similar names….]

<

<

connect with iwtbaa   bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Emmanuelle Alt and Jennifer Lopez film stills courtesy of youtube.com and © 2011 Gucci Group.

Review: Vogue Paris December 2012/January 2013 Issue
By Heather Dunhill

Mon dieu ! After my unflattering reviews of Vogue Paris over the last months — in which my subscription mysteriously went without delivery — it will be a Joyeux Noël for yours truly after flipping through the December/January issue. Emmanuelle Alt has delivered a Vogue Paris that the French and the Francophiles will be equally proud to call their fashion tome.

To begin, one thing holds true every issue — Géraldine Saglio’s styling. It is always sharp, fresh, and twelve steps ahead. This month she did not disappoint with “Miss Vogue” and the Christy Turlington piece. But on the whole, the excitement for me began on page 85 with "Cadeaux" — ten pages ensued of the most sensational gifts that were… kind of… everything a stylish femme wants.

From there, I stumbled on page 107 with the aesthetically interesting "Rendez-vous," by Olivier Lalanne, which felt so objet trouvé. So, you’re getting the sense that I am pretty jazzed with this issue already, right? Then, I turned the page to "Beauté Belles Manières" photographed by Mario Testino which completely put the French back in Vogue Paris with a sepia tone shot of the gorgeous Carla Bruni. Following close behind was "Une Fille, Un Style" that made me want to be any of the photographed women on the streets of Paris.

Speaking of Bruni, beginning on page 191 there is a feature on her, réalisation by Alt. Ready for my thoughts on the execution?? Well, credit is due — I am truly enamored with Alt’s styling for this piece. Granted, I might have a small girl crush on Bruni, especially her French singing voice (If you haven’t heard her CD titled Quelqu'un M'a Dit, it is quite amazing). I love that Alt showed restraint on the clothing and accessories because the ingénue that is Bruni truly shines in simplicity. I especially love her in the black and white series.

Detouring from fashion for a moment — for a bit of French decadence check out page 281, a truffle risotto and a glass of sparkling wine is perfectly divine. Look at me… even into the foodie art!

By now, if you’ve read any of my past unflattering reviews, you may be thinking that I must be angling to get on Santa’s nice list or that I have been sipping the spiked eggnog (which is not entirely unheard of). Trust me, I am almost embarrassed at how much I am into this issue. Would I have liked to see a different Bruni photo on the cover since there were so many gorgeous pictures of her inside? Yes. Did I love every feature? No. But, really, when do we ever? The point is that the magazine is supposed to hold our attention and inspire and it did.

OK, Emmanuelle, may I please have my subscription reinstated?

connect with iwtbaa   bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Vogue Paris editorial images © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

It is my pleasure to introduce the newest member of the I Want To Be An Alt team… Richard James, contributing editor! Rich is a fashion student in the United Kingdom with a particular fondness for Emmanuelle Alt and I am delighted that he will be sharing his eloquent thoughts on her style through these pages. Please join me in welcoming Rich to IWTBAA!

Richard James
Contributing Editor

I was around 14 years of age when I first stumbled upon Emmanuelle Alt. I was transfixed on her style and the aesthetics she contributed to the pages of Vogue Paris. I began to research and came across this website, containing just about all her outfits and editorial work. Alt has influenced multiple sectors of my life, style being the most influential. I'm now 20 years of age, currently on a gap year from university studying Fashion, something I've had an innate passion for since the age of 9 when I first picked up the British counterpart to Vogue Paris. If I have half the career Emmanuelle has had I will die a happy boy.

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Emmanuelle Alt photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot. Enhancement by Kellina de Boer.

Vogue Paris 2013 Calendar Preview
By Kate Ringo Suzuki

What do you get when bare natural breasts meet glamorous poses? You get the Vogue Paris calendar, of course! If you don’t like that then, well, you have a hole in your soul.

Let’s review the highlights:

April

Like a woodland nymph with golden locks, Lara Stone’s natural beauty radiates in a vintage French lace lawn dress. Something tells me that the Brothers Hildebrandt would have really dug her.

May

Kate Moss sizzles (does she do anything but?) in the style of Studio 54. The glam-o-meter ratchets up as Kate leans up against some cacti that serve as a bed of thorns of sorts. What does it all mean? I don’t know. But it’s hot.

June

Sasha Pivovarova is freaky glam in an ersatz S&M outfit. Let’s call it S&M lite: Great taste, less filling. She has a lovely nipple. I think it begs to be pierced. But then, no, it wouldn’t be S&M lite…

March

Not all the photographs hit the target. Some miss the mark, like March: Raquel Zimmermann wears white jeans, sturdy boots, a distressed leather belt, a gossamer scarf, and oops!, she forgot her top. She’s squinting. She’s parched. She looks lost. Hey, Raquel! Baby! Burning Man is in the other direction!

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vogue Paris 2013 calendar image © 2012 Condé Nast via fashionscansremastered.net. All Rights Reserved.

J’ai rencontré Carla Bruni autour de nos 20 ans. Carla débutait comme mannequin. C’est donc une joie particulière de faire ce numéro de Noël avec une amie de si longue date.

On le sait, Carla a eu plusieurs vies : top model, chanteuse, avec un succès assourdissant, avant que le destin ne s’en mêle et ne lui fasse épouser un chef d’État. De plus en plus connue, médiatisée, starisée, elle est restée la même. Intacte. La notoriété ne l’a pas changée. C’est rare.

Fidèle, loyale, généreuse, c’est une personne précieuse. Sous l’enveloppe parfaite — plastique divine, sourire mutin, intelligence brillante — le contenu est aussi séduisant. Au point qu’on pourrait oublier l’essentiel : Carla est avant tout une artiste, dont la guitare et la voix éraillée murmurent si joliment à notre oreille.

I met Carla Bruni when we were about 20 years old. Carla began as a model. It is therefore a particular pleasure to make this Christmas issue with a long time friend.

We know Carla has had several lives: top model, singer, with a deafening success, before fate intervened and  made her marry a head of state. Increasingly known, publicized, a rising star, she has remained the same. Intact. The fame has not changed her. This is rare.

Faithful, loyal, generous, this is a precious person. Under the perfect envelope — divine plastic, mischievous smile, brilliant intelligence — the content is also attractive. To the point we could forget the essential: Carla is first and foremost an artist, whose guitar and hoarse voice whisper so prettily in our ear.

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Atelier Franck Durand provided art direction for Pierre Balmain's Spring 2013 advertising campaign for both the men's and women's collections. Karim Sadli photographed models Anna Selezneva and Bastiaan van Gaalan for the campaign as directed by Franck Durand, aiming for the atmosphere that permeates the grand hotels of the French Riviera, sun-drenched glamour. I adore the hyperreality of these two shots poolside. Bravo, Monsieur Durand.

View the creation of the Pierre Balmain Spring 2013 advertising campaign

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Balmain advertising campaign images © 2013 Balmain. All Rights Reserved.

Emmanuelle Alt Models For Jean Paul Gaultier
By Richard James

While legendary in the front row for her illustrious reign as one of the most influential tastemakers in Paris, Emmanuelle Alt's career has not only stretched across her time at French ELLE, Mixte, 20 Ans, and now Vogue Paris, the one time George Michael impersonator was once also a model and understandably so with her long legs, high cheekbones, warm smile, and perfect skin presumably inherited from her mother, Françoise, herself a Lanvin and Nina Ricci model in the 1960s and '70s.

After Françoise Alt retired from the catwalk, she would accompany her daughter to shows during the same period that Emmanuelle started as a fashion assistant at ELLE France. Emmanuelle remembers this time: "When she stopped modeling, we would go to fashion shows together. My first was Jean Paul Gaultier, when I was 19. It was crazy. I loved it." Her first show with her mother was the John Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 1986 collection at Porte de la Villette. The excitement and craziness of the atmosphere was a delight to a young Emmanuelle who in a previous interview with The Telegraph thought it was "Really funny!" being swept up in the fun and amusement of any Jean Paul Gaultier show.

Emmanuelle's time on the catwalk was short lived but involved walking for the man who since her early teens provided fun, entertainment, and influence. At the age of 27, Emmanuelle walked in the show for the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 1994 collection, "The Grand Voyage," widely considered one of the best ever shows by the designer. In this rare archival footage, Emmanuelle is seen on the catwalk with some of the most iconic models of our time, some of which now at Vogue Paris she has forged both professional and personal relationships with such as Kate Moss and Carla Bruni.

I've always felt that a relation can be made between that early influence of Gaultier's work and the work of Emmanuelle, her vision androgynous and her attitude awesomely French, you can see just how a relationship can be forged between the two iconic Parisians. Emmanuelle considers the 1980s "the era of Jean Paul Gaultier" in the days "with real production values and amazing sets" which can be regarded as a thing of the past in the days of theatrics and experimentation, Jean Paul Gaultier is one of the last greats whose shows remain Fun and Theatrical.

Emmanuelle Alt shares her thoughts on the John Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2007 collection

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Emmanuelle Alt et al images courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier and Fashion Spot.

Milla Jovovich is Emmanuelle Alt's choice for the February cover of Vogue Paris, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin against the Manhattan skyline. Milla epitomizes effortless cool, posing in Saint Laurent Paris by Hedi Slimane, the first of 66 looks for the issue. Vogue Paris also speaks with Balenciaga's new creative director, Alexander Wang. The issue hits newsstands on 23 January.

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vogue Paris February 2013 cover photograph by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin © 2013 Condé Nast.

Taking its name from a Jack Kerouac novel, the editorial "On the Road" is a weird sort of Easy Rider meets Mad Max tribute. In these images styled by Emmanuelle Alt for the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Vogue Hommes International, denim, leather, and biker attitude reign supreme while Mario Sorrenti photographs Eniko Mihalik and Patrick Petitjean riding a motorcycle down an endless dirt path. There doesn't seem to be much of a story to the hippy duo's getaway, more like a road to nowhere…

For more of the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Vogue Hommes International, see Carine Roitfeld's "Plaisir Solitaire."

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vogue Hommes International editorial images © 2009 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved

Vogue Paris: Carla en privé
By Kate Ringo Suzuki

This month in Vogue Paris, Carla Bruni gives us the grand house tour in the editorial "Carla en privé." We get an intimate look into what it's like to live like a supermodel cum successful musician and one-time Midnight in Paris actress (she was the sexy tour guide).

We catch a glimpse of her bookshelf. Where most of us would have clumsy snapshots pinned haphazardly, Carla has gorgeous black and white shots of herself and assorted beautiful people. I wonder if Vogue Paris stylists didn’t rearrange her pictures to look artfully haphazard? Chicly mussed?

From the looks of it, Carla will never run out of guitars. Lucky for her! The studio looks cozy. It lets in a lot of light. Breathe. A moment of silence.

Next we see assorted pictures of people who inspire her. Okay, now we’re cookin! This is where I start to wake up! We see a picture of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe — are they artists? No… they’re Just Kids. It’s like I just downed an espresso. Carla likes Patti Smith? I read Just Kids last month… it was so good it made me cry!

We also see a picture of a young Isabella Rossellini. YES! (I have a signed copy of her book, Some of Me, from way back. I’m a silly, giggly fan of hers.) Maybe I’ll tell you the story one day. But I digress…

The pièce de résistance — posters of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. What’s not to like?

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Vogue Paris editorial image © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Emmanuelle Alt At Saint Laurent Paris
By Richard James

Emmanuelle Alt attended the Saint Laurent Paris Menswear Fall/Winter 2013 show with husband, Franck Durand, accompanying her and both fashionable as ever, Emmanuelle in Saint Laurent with classic Balmain heeled boots for the perfect stroll into the Saint Laurent show through the Parisian snow.

connect with iwtbaa bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

Emmanuelle Alt and Franck Durand photograph courtesy of nowfashion.com

connect with iwtbaa   bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Emmanuelle Alt at Dior show photograph © 2013 Getty Images