Carine Roitfeld Is Not Ready to Retire

When you look back on the last 10 years, what makes you proud?

When I left French Vogue, it was like giving back a royal crown. It’s a huge title, everyone loved you and wanted your approval. And then I left, and then there was no team, no secretary, no automatic audience. Certain photographers were not allowed to work with me anymore. But it was really good for me to break out on my own at that stage in life. It forced me to find new contacts, look for new talent and do something that was truly my own.

Kim Kardashian is your cover star for the latest CR Fashion Book.

Yes and she’s the cover of my new book, too. We have shot her before for CR Fashion Book — working with Karl Lagerfeld and Riccardo Tisci. This time round, as you’ve seen, we shot her in a very surprising way. We’ve done a second cover with Jennifer Aniston, too.

Tell me about your tattoos. Are they new?

Yes, I’ve had them for about three or four months. On one finger is an Orthodox classic cross as I was raised in the Russian Orthodox Church. Then on another it says Odesa in Russian letters, where my family is from, and another says Paris. And I have the initials of those I love, and a small red band of thorns. I waited a long time to get these done — 69 years. I had a lot of time to think about what to get.

On the subject of new things, you’ve also just started a housewares line.

Well yes, it’s candles and diffusers for now, it’s not furniture — yet. But I do think smell is very important, it’s very sensual and one of your very first impressions of a space. They’re black. They’re very chic. They’re very me.

Then there is a new fragrance.

Yes, it’s on me. Can you smell it? Forgive Me is the name. There is a lot of patchouli and white flowers. Making fragrances is very addictive, and I’d already got 7 Lovers [a perfume collection named for cities that inspire her and imaginary lovers in each of them]. Last year was Carine. And now this. The face of it will be my daughter, because she’s very beautiful. Maybe the next one will have my granddaughter in the campaign.

Is family important to you?

Very. We are a small family but a very close one. My son, Vladimir, is my C.E.O. I dream of creating a new dynasty, a family fashion business that keeps creating the Roitfeld world.