Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Christian Francis Roth Archives, Part II*

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Oh, Eliot Spitzer. We are all shaking our heads over you. I have the feeling that at this very moment, Ice-T is kicking back in his La-Z-Boy, reading the Spitzer stories and saying, “Damn! If the dude wanted a ho, I would have hooked him up all discreet-like.” My idol, Coco, is handing her man a 40 and saying, “Mmm-hmmm baby. You the discreet pimp.”

“Hi, Mr. Governor!”


Okay, enough of my sick fantasies. Back to designer Christian Francis Roth. Yesterday, I said that Christian closed his line in 1997, but I should clarify that. He closed his high-end Christian Francis Roth line in 1995, then had a diffusion line called Christian Francis Roth CFR that lasted from the beginning of 1996 till the end of 1997. It’s too bad that he didn’t have the original line and the diffusion line simultaneously, a la Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Of course, he didn’t have a giant conglomerate like LVMH throwing money his way like Marc has. If Christian had been supported by the sales of Louis Vuitton handbags, he could have had his high-end line, his diffusion line AND carte blanche to start his fashion show two hours late.

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s just a matter of money. Christian’s designs tell the story. In order to make a lot of these …

Dollar Bill Dress from the signature line

You better process a lot of these …

Bar Code Dress from the signature line

… or you’ll end up in one of these.

Hobo Suits from the signature line

I think the diffusion line would have sold well if it had the support. Check out these cute pieces. I would happily wear any of them.

Houndstooth Applique Jacket from the diffusion line

Mosaic Trim Jacket from the diffusion line

Rose Motif Suit from the diffusion line

Harlequin Patchwork Dress from the diffusion line

Patchwork Striped Suit from the diffusion line

Come back tomorrow for more delightful vintage Christian Francis Roth designs. Some of you might be familiar with NaBloPoMo — National Blog Posting Month. Well, here at Wendy Brandes Jewelry, it is NaRoPoMo — National Roth Posting Month. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to celebrate Cinco de Rotho, but there’s always next year.

All non-Coco photos are courtesy Christian Francis Roth.

*UPDATED TO ADD: There are three posts with pictures of vintage Christian Roth designs. Here they are:

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. the image of the patchwork dress keeps swimming around in the back of my head

  2. That Coco sure knows how to hold a pose, doesn’t she?

    Love the use of photos to tell the fashion story–creativity reigns! I think favorite Roth’s are the houndstooth and mosiac jackets, and the egg and pencil shaving suits. It’s fantastic that all of these came from the same mind, isn’t it?

    I’ll bet you’ll end up with a purple glitter hat and then some, WendyB. Oh, I found this Web site http://www.definitelywendy.com/Must_Haves.htm that you might want to look at. Have you already seen it?

  6. I think I’ll be calling it Coco-toe from now on.

    Christian Francis Roth Christian Fucking Rocks. I heart the harlequin dress and teh mosaic trimmed jacket.

  7. I am all about hobo chic. I’m so dedicated I ride the rails and make a living by fighting other hobos for the amusement of blue-collar workers.

  9. I would totally wear that mosaic trim jacket. As usual you cracked me up too 🙂

  13. the first girl is not so classy, all the others are amazing! hehehehe

    a kiss and a hug, dear!

    keep in touch,
    love your work!

  14. It’s your icon, coco!! haha
    I’d love to see what she looked like when she was younger 🙂
    My boyfriend met her once at a bar in Australia she was with Ice T apparently he threatened to beat up when of his friends for hitting on her.

  15. HUN, his gal of choice was a European student, brown hair and not a let it all hang out type AT ALL.
    PLEASE CORRECT the assumption he after a piece of…cake?

  16. I’m in awe of Coco. She’s really unbelievable.

    I’d be really happy to be seen in any of these Roth designs, diffusion or not. I’m particularly thrilled with that giant houndstooth check jacket.

  19. It;s a shame really, his designs were fabulous, i particularly like the deisgns from the diffusion line

  20. camel toe?

    Its the first I’ve heard of CFR, thanks for the info!

    I would sooo splurge on the Crayon dress. Wouldnt u?

  21. I love that mosaic jacket. . .it reminds me of the jacket Bjork wears on te album cover for “Post”. By the way, Wendy B, did you see you inspired me to work the word “shank” into a post. . . oh yes, you muse of words. . .