Aliona Doletskaya

>> Aliona Doletskaya, who resigned from editing Vogue Russia last year (and was once rumored to be in the running for Anna Wintour's position), has a new gig. She has teamed with Vladislav Doronin (Naomi Campbell's billionaire boyfriend) and Bernard Runge, CEO of Phillips de Pury & Company, to launch Russian and German editions of Interview magazine.

Doletskaya will edit both of the magazines (Interview Russia hits newsstands at the end of the year, followed by Interview Germany in early 2012), and Jo-Ann Furniss, who resigned as editor of Arena Homme Plus earlier this year, will act as international fashion director.

In a press release, Doletskaya said she was excited to work on magazines for two different countries: “Moscow and Berlin are cultural capitals of the modern world. The progressive, open-minded communities in those cities are booming. They have the drive and desire to grow, to discover, to move forward. Interview has always been a creative platform for talented individuals unafraid to break taboos and freely express their artistic vision. Now is the time to do so on this side of the ocean.”

>> After 10 years at the helm of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld has resigned from the magazine, opting to focus on personal projects. “It’s 10 years that I’m editor of the magazine,” Roitfeld told Cathy Horyn over the phone. “I think it’s time to do something different.”

She informed Jonathan Newhouse, CEO of Conde Nast International, of her decision, she says: “I have no problem with Jonathan, and he understood me very well. Newhouse, for his part, released a statement to Vogue UK: "It is impossible to overstate Carine's powerful contribution to Vogue and to the fields of fashion and magazine publishing. Under her direction,Vogue Paris received record levels of circulation, advertising and editorial success. Vogue Paris has established itself as one of the most iconic magazines in the world, with huge influence in the field of fashion and photography. Carine herself has become widely known as a beacon of style, fulfilling the role with charm and graciousness. She has become a giant in her profession. Carine will be deeply missed. I am extremely grateful to her for what she has achieved."

She plans to depart at the end of January, and expects to complete issues through March. Of her time at the magazine, she added: “I had so much freedom to do everything I wanted. I think I did a good job." However: "When everything is good, maybe I think it’s the time to do something else.” As for her future plans (could working with Tom Ford once again be in the mix?): “I have no plan at all.” Her replacement — some are already speculating former Vogue Russia editor Aliona Doletskaya or Vogue Paris fashion director Emmanuelle Alt —  will be announced in coming weeks.

>> Founding Vogue Russia editor Aliona Doletskaya resigned from her position at the end of July — with her final issue of the magazine hitting stands for September 2010 — without delineating any future plans other than notifying Condé Nast International president Jonathan Newhouse that, in his words, she would like to "start a new life, probably to write a book or try her hand in a new field." Not much has been heard from Doletskaya since — save for a recent byline in the New York Times on luxury in Russia — but late last week, Derek Blasberg Tweeted, "In today's completely unsubstantiated rumors: Aliona Doletskaya, former editor-in-chief of Russian Vogue, is vying for the top gig at POP." Dasha Zhukova resigned from the POP position earlier this month. [@derekblasberg]

>> Founding Vogue Russia editor-in-chief Aliona Doletskaya, once rumored to be a candidate for Anna Wintour's job, resigned from the magazine yesterday after 12 years.

In a memo notifying staffers, Conde Nast International president Jonathan Newhouse wrote: “Some time ago, Aliona Doletskaya told me that she would like to leave the Vogue Russia editor-in-chief’s post, which she has occupied for almost 13 years, and start a new life, probably to write a book or try her hand in a new field. As Russia—as well as the rest of the world—was still going through economically hard times, I asked Aliona to wait for a better time to do this. Now, it’s obvious that we are coming out of the crisis, thus I don’t want to interfere with Aliona’s plans anymore. I accept her decision to leave the magazine with great sorrow.”

She already has a successor »

>> Vogue Editor Antics: The Alexandra Shulman, Aliona Doletskaya Edition —It's fairly often that a Vogue editor will run a topless photo of a woman in her magazine, but it's not often that the editor goes in for that type of thing herself. Not so for Russian Vogue's Aliona Doletskaya, who's on the cover of Moscow-based Blacksquare, wearing nothing but a little jewelry. As for mixed messages, British Vogue's Alexandra Shulman says in an interview out over the weekend: "Vogue is not my personal taste, really. I think of it more as a kind of newspaper. It's reporting on what's out there, to some extent, with me editing." [Fashin, Guardian UK]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Alexander McQueen may have wiggled his bunny tail at the audience of his Spring 2009 show last week, but guess who wasn't there to witness such cheekiness?  Not Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, nor Aliona Doletskaya . . . odd, hmm? [Chic Report]

>>  INSIDER WIRE —Despite all the rumors about Russian Vogue editor Aliona Doletskaya taking over editorship of Vogue, in reality, her name has only been pitched into the pile.  Anna Wintour's done quite a job entrenching herself as necessary to the magazine, but just in case you want to know who else beside Aliona might stand a chance at getting a piece of the pie, a quick rundown . . . [The Cut]