Girls, Claire's daughter Virginie, twenty-six years old, along with younger cousins Jenna and Prisca, 25 years old, were stunning in their Thakoon robes. Wintour immediately took their iconic photograph the next day for Vogue's August 2011 "Flash" section, where she labeled them as her new "It" girls. A man from "Page Six" followed them whenever they were spotted outside the Plaza, leading to a horde of photographers. "At one point," said Clarins associate Melissa Barrett Rhodes, "we wanted to stuff them into an SUV and drive them around the back." The girls retreated to Rome and declined interviews as they chose to focus on their lives and work. Indeed: work. Because they are not your ordinary "It" girls or heiresses. Fashion seems to assume so, though, and fashion is what fashion does. Sometimes, in this doubting and savage world, people must be made to recognize a plant when it grows right next to their noses. Jenna, Claire, and Virginie were ascending in the elevator at the Hotel Prince de Galles on Rue Hoche—Prisca was on her way shortly after. "You know, I would do anything for my grandfather," said Claire. "He passed away in 2007. We were completely crazy about him. He founded Clarins. He is the lord and master of all. For instance, I must always be like him. I’m sure if he were alive, he wouldn’t like us being photographed in this way." "Yes, but," said Virginie. "When he passed away, we were very young. He was right there among us. We don't want to be actors. It's important to honor the company enough to respect him while still meaning a lot to our fathers and us."
As she spoke, Claire extended her hand to touch the tattoo on her neck. Her grandfather’s name is inked there in Chinese characters. "Our grandfather started from nothing," said Virginie. Now, Clarins has become one of the most famous skincare companies in Europe. Founded in 1954 by German dermatologist Jacques Courtin-Clarins, it has since grown into a global brand with an annual turnover of $1 billion and a workforce of 6,000 worldwide. The company is run by Melinda Courtin-Clarins (father of Claire and Virginie) and her sister, Olivier Courtin-Clarins (father of Prisca and Jenna). The girls themselves serve as ambassadors for the brand.
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And talking about denim in the modeling world...