Some of them never really went away, even when we wished they would (yes, Naomi, that means you), but others have been out of the limelight for years. Now, the supermodels who graced every magazine cover and ad campaign in the early 90s are making their triumphant return. Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and my favorite, Linda Evangelista, are all featured in fall fashion campaigns.
The veteran supermodels are back: two decades older but mysteriously unwrinkled, they are eclipsing rivals half their age this autumn.
An audit of the adverts in September’s Vogue shows that almost all of the best fashion houses are choosing the legendary models of the Eighties and Nineties to front their autumn/ winter campaigns.
Appearing in the magazine are Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista: the same faces who put modelling on the map more than 20 years ago.
Today, 43-year-old Evangelista fronts the campaign for Italian label Prada. Her predecessor, Russian Sasha Pivovarova, 23, had appeared in six consecutive campaigns.
Chanel has also left young models by the wayside, enlisting Turlington – who also models in fashion house Escada’s autumn/winter campaign – to appear in an eyewear commercial.
Schiffer, 38 – barely recognisable in a dark brown wig – is the face of the mainline Chanel collection. Now a mother of two, she also appears in an advert for Italian shoe label Salvatore Ferragamo…
Recalling the heyday of the supermodel, Mr Pilati said: “They were 12 of the most amazing girls. Today there are beautiful girls more or less but they don’t have that attitude.”
The resurgence of the supermodel shows a change in direction for a fashion industry accustomed to using very thin and young girls to head big campaigns.
“It’s not surprising when you consider where the spending power lies,” says Simon Chambers, managing director of Storm Model Management, which represents Kate Moss.
“When it comes to fashion photography, these girls are the best there are. It’s not surprising clients come back to them.”
I remember being obsessed with the George Michael music video, “Freedom,” which featured all of those supermodels- Cindy Crawford, Naomi, Christy, Linda and Tatjana Patitz, who had that Greta Garbo look going on. My friends and I used to strut around and pretend to be each of them. I even had the short blond Linda Evangelista haircut. Sigh. Good times. I’m glad to see these ladies return to Vogue. Most of today’s models are little more than glorified clothes hangers. These ladies had style, attitude, and each one had a unique look.
George Michael – Freedom 90 – Music Video via Noolmusic.com
Linda Evangelista is shown below at Cannes on 5/18/08. Credit: WENN
Somebody should show this to Pam Anderson. That’s how you do it right honey.
The Sept. Vanity Fair did a big piece about them too. Claudia and Naomi even posed naked (photographed from the back).
I used to love Linda, too, but she is not aging well – hard living and some plastic surgery.
My favorites – of the original supermodels: Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. You can say what you want about the others, but for my money, they were the most beautiful.
I read that issue also Kaiser.
Love Cindy, Elle, Iman, Carol Alt, Chrisie, but my favorite was Paulina Porizkova. She did those hot Cosmo covers. She was also favorite a of Francesco Scavullo.
@Daisy – Love Iman as well. Who else was in Vanity Fair?
……
Stephanie Seymour, right? She’s looking great too.
Damn it Kaiser, I just ran up and down the stairs, searching through 4 bathroom mag. racks to find that issue! 😯
Yeah, you named them all. Hmmm, didn’t notice before, Claudia has a nice ass….
Crap, I forgot Stephanie, you’re right.
She has wonderful bone structure in her face, wish I had her height.
Where did my previous post go?! Hmmmm! Anyhow, As a teenager in the late 80’s and early 90’s I collected numerous copies of Vogue, Elle, Cosmo, Glamour etc. and kept them in MINT condition. The models mentioned above were all included, but Christy T. was always my favorite.
Today, in my 30’s, I still have them and love to occasionally peruse them to see how magazines have changed over the years. One day I hope to show them to my great grandchildren. Maybe they will be as impressed as I was with my grandmother’s old magazines!
Thanks for the video post too. Great flashback! Ahhhhh, memories!
Linda hasn’t aged a bit. She looks fantastic. And Tatjana Patitz used to date Seal. He likes the models 🙂
They all look amazing– then and even more so now. DAMN THEM!!!
The thing I love about this is that it goes to show everyone, if you take care of yourself 40 is not the mantle of death anymore. Also, lets face it, Chanel, Escada, etc –thier clients are generally women over 40. It’s nice to see age appropriate advertising. I just love seeing a 15 year old in a 30,000 dress. Yep, she’s going to get that for the Junior Prom…
I have always loved Christy Turlington, even though I wasn’t old enough when the supermodels had their heydey. She’s classic beauty to me.
not ugly but no beauties!
I have seen Christy Turlington up close & personal…. I can sadly announce, she is perfect! It was especially awesome seeing her play with her sans nanny!
Yep, Christy Turlington gets my vote too. What a face.
gr8 story bro…
The supermodels pushed me from a teenage comic freak to a fashion freak,today I’m a designer who wishes I could meet them,the,put the super in supermodel.