Iman steps out for the first time since Bowie passed: ‘I’m holding up’

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The photo above was taken of Iman at the Tom Ford show on Wednesday during New York Fashion Week. I’ve been scouring the thesaurus for a superlative that fits my love of the blue velvet suit she’s wearing. She looks drop-dead amazing head to toe. The Ford show marked the first public event Iman has attended since losing her husband, David Bowie, to cancer last January and then her mother, Maryan Baadi, just three months later. Although Iman posted messages thanking people for her support, the relatively private entrepreneur has grieved out of the public eye with her family. To mark Wednesday’s appearance, she posted a few pictures to Instagram, including this one with longtime friend Cindy Crawford.

With the lovely @cindycrawford @tomford tonight! Show & Shop Fashion show/dinner #nyfw #tomford

A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on

Although Iman looks amazing, she suggested that her bold public face might be more of a veneer presently.

Iman has remained largely out of the public eye since the death of husband David Bowie, but on Wednesday the supermodel made an appearance at New York Fashion Week with a sweet reminder of the love of her life.

Iman told fashion stylist and journalist Joe Zee for Good Morning America at the Tom Ford show that she’s adjusting to life after losing her husband and her mother in a span of just three months.

“It’s just been a tough year, but I’m holding up,” she said.

The 61-year-old model and entrepreneur also revealed she was wearing a gold necklace in memory of Bowie.

“I’m wearing this until my death. [Fashion designer] Hedi Slimane made it for me,” she revealed. “It just says ‘David.’ ”

“You’re a survivor,” Zee told Iman.

“Not as much as you think,” she replied.

[From People]

I have to admit, guys, I’m not over Bowie’s death yet. I moved on from all the other victims of 2016’s War on Icons of My Youth but I haven’t gotten there with Bowie. It’s surprising because I am so not a sentimentalist. The last time I had this much trouble accepting someone’s death was Mr. Rogers, which I still struggle with. And then I read Iman’s reply, “Not as much as you think,” and I feel like such a twit because her pain is real and rooted in an intense love and mine is spawned from idolatry.

Most of her Instagram is publicity photos or inspirational sayings but she posted a few personal photos the to celebrate milestones. One such occasion was when she posted this one for Lexi’s sixteenth birthday last month:

She also shared this last Father’s Day

Happy Fathers Day #LexiLove

A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on

Fortunately, the family also had the birth of Bowie’s grandson in July. Bowie’s Instagram is still being updated. I generally lose myself in his music but occasionally I pop over to check it out because new posts somehow make me feel like he isn’t totally gone. See? I am a total twit.

Update: You can see a close up of her “David” necklace here (thanks to hoopjumper for mentioning it).

Photo credit: WENN Photos, Instagram and Getty Images

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21 Responses to “Iman steps out for the first time since Bowie passed: ‘I’m holding up’”

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  1. V4Real says:

    Gawd that woman is beautiful.

  2. Venus says:

    I sometimes watch Iman on HSN or whichever shopping channel she appears on. A month or so after Bowie’s death, she was on and someone called in for a testimonial about her product, as people do. Then the caller started giving her condolences on Bowie’s death and the show immediately shut off the audio. It was fascinating, and I understood why — she’s there doing her job, not to publicly address her loss. What she said above about wearing the necklace until she dies made me choke up.

  3. hoopjumper says:

    She is inspirational to me.

    I can’t quite see the necklace, though: am I missing something? Or is it just below her neckline? My friend has a memory necklace like that, and I do too. It’s such a wonderful way to keep someone who is gone close.

  4. Zuzus Girl says:

    They seemed like that perfect fit that happens so rarely.

  5. Looty says:

    Just a beautiful person all the way around.

  6. Duchess of Corolla says:

    I still struggle with Mr. Rogers’ death, too. Way too sad…wasn’t ready for that.

  7. chloe says:

    It’s sad seeing her on the red carpet without David there holding her hand, but I’m sure he’s there in spirit. I’ve listened to David everyday since he’s passed, I hope the press let’s his family mourn in private.

  8. Fran says:

    She is a goddess.

  9. thecookingpan says:

    It’s a loss I still relate to. I had the rare pleasure of being greeted by Iman and David Bowie whilst they were on a shoot here in Cape Town. I say greeted because all I could do was grin stupidly and wave.
    Last one for me was Heath… Still think about how he could be dazzling us with his talent.

  10. Ellie66 says:

    She’s a beautiful woman and so refined. On a side note Cindy Crawford looks a bit like Caitlyn Jenner in that pic.

  11. Sixer says:

    You’re not a twit, Hecate, because you know that yours is fan loss, not family/partner loss and it’s different. The knowing that makes you NOT a twit.

    I feel much the same about Joe Strummer, despite having met him only once for about ten seconds. He’s been dead for the best part of fifteen years, so belt up for the long one! Sorry!

  12. Cinderella says:

    Iman is the definition of grace and elegance.

  13. SM says:

    I too am not a sentimental person and the devastation I felt when he died actually cought me by surprise. I just was watching the last season of peaky blinders a few nights ago and the episode started with Lazarus and I turned that off for a second. SPOILER: mixed with the fact that its coming up when the main character is in between life and death it was a bit much. But this beautiful woman puts it all in perspective. Probably all this public ongoing sadness about bowie’s death is not helping her to cope with a very real loss she has to cope with.

  14. Trishizle says:

    The daughter is beyond stunning

  15. Amanda G says:

    I feel that way about Alan Rickman and Robin Williams.

    Iman is a classy lady. It’s touching to see her honor their love.

  16. JRenee says:

    She’s beautiful!
    She’s been so graceful, I can’t imagine the pain of burying my husband and mother within 3 months time span.
    His death shook a lot of people.
    Prince’s death, still not over it..

  17. what's inside says:

    Real deal love and loss…..

  18. Kate Bush says:

    So sad. I’m still mourning his loss and obv just a fan never met the guy. Their love shines through in all the photos of them I’m glad they had that.

  19. Gorgonia says:

    I have no words to say how much I like and admire this awesome woman.