The
Golden Era by Amy Martins
O
nce upon a time, in this theatre of lights and shadows that is the fashion industry, there was a sorority of impossibly sophisticated models who had the power to dazzle everyone around them with their mile-long legs and unreal beauty; elevating modelling to a whole new level. The phenomenon of Supermodels – or the Golden Era, as I like to call it – of the late 80’s and early 90’s is something we all certainly feel nostalgic about. But, what was that special “something” this group of women had to make them stand out and therefore, have such a meteoric rise to stardom? I think it’s about time to find out.
Elle Macpherson When you earn a nickname as sublime as “The Body” after no less that 5 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition appearances, you know you’re kind of a big deal. We can all agree on the fact that her incredible figure is the one to blame for her enviable position in the great Olympus of models. Along with her radiant smile, unmistakable long blonde hair & her girl-nextdoor charm, Elle managed to win everyone’s
The rest is history as they say. But this girl didn’t get to where she is just because she had a pretty face and a body to kill. Her charisma, sympathy, professionalism, and most importantly; intelligence are the qualities that got Macpherson where she is now. Nearly three decades later, she remains at her best and is still on the crest of a wave.
Elle Macpherson
heart and became the ultimate beach babe.
Naomi Campbell In my relatively short period of existence, I have heard an innumerable amount of people refer to Mrs. Campbell as “The Ebony Goddess”, and I think there’s really no other way to describe her. Naomi has a socking fierce look both on the catwalks and photo shoots. That stunning mixture of Jamaican beauty and gorgeous Asian features simply doesn’t go unnoticed.
wonder
why
Azzedine
Ala誰a made her his muse almost instantly when they met for the first time. He discovered Naomi (who considers Ala誰a as a father) in Paris, and after asking her to try on one of his dreamy designs, she saw something peculiar in her, so he granted Campbell the honour of walking for one of his shows. Azzedine has guided her professionally on her modelling career ever since. Some even say that he was the one who instilled in her that whimsical diva behaviour. Though we all know Campbell is a woman with a very characterized and controversial personality that has caused several legal disputes and countless
headlines,
being
strong and independent in an industry like this is essential to obtain success and Naomi surely was and still is.
Naomi Campbell
No
Kate Moss Lanky figure, short stature, crooked teeth, delicate bone structure‌ definitely not the look of that moment. That’s probably the reason why she became so big while fashion was living a moment of admiration for killer curves and excessiveness, she was a breath of fresh air that contrasted perfectly with all that extravagance.
Corinne
Day
–
friend,
photographer and roommate back in the late 80’s – saw “that to shoot her for a The Face editorial that’s now considered iconic and instantly turned Moss into her muse as well as a grunge referent. Brand Calvin Klein also seemed to have some kind of devotion for the model. After signing a contract with the company, she appeared in numerous ads for the fashion house (you know, the ones we all secretly wish we could’ve been part of). Her story is one filled with scandals, but rumours and controversy aside, we all have a special place for Kate in our hearts, some more than others, but we do. She has a special virtue, a magnetic personality that somehow makes you fall in love with her. So sophisticated, so irreverent, so unique.
Kate Moss
something” in her and decided
Linda Evangelista When looking at a picture of Linda Evangelista, you can’t help but feel utterly mesmerised by those hypnotic eyes. You can’t help but wish your hair looked that great after innumerable hair dyes & haircuts. You can’t help but wonder how she still looks so perfect in the L’Oreal advertisings. And, be honest, you can’t help but dream that one day you can also be able to say: “I don’t wake up for less than
famously said. You can’t help it. Because her chameleonic beauty and versatility as a model is and has always been hard to ignore. With a somewhat vulgar yet totally
glamorous
attitude
and nearly (if not completely) flawless facial features, Linda captivated not only all of us, but also one of the most relevant fashion photographers in history, Steven Meisel, who made her his muse and shot all of her Vogue Italia covers. She is considered the world’s star model and along with Campbell & Turlington, she is part of the so-called “Trinity” of supermodels. Today, she is fortunate enough to still continue to work as a model. As Manolo Blahnik once said, “Linda eternal”.
Evangelista
will
be
Linda Evangelista
$10,000 a day”, like she once
Linda Evangelista Two words: timeless beauty. That’s the secret to Cindy Crawford’s success. Almost 30 years after the wonderful days of glory, she remains one of the highest paid models and (to me at least) still holds the title of America’s sweetheart.
spectacular
body,
a
characteristic mole on top of her full lips and charm to spare, earned her a whopping 1,000 magazine covers. Did I mention that she has also walked the runway for literally everyone, from Chanel to HervÊ LÊger and Dolce & Gabbana? Uh‌ no biggie. Thanks in part to her looks, friendly personality and a natural talent for business, Cindy was the most successful of the original group of supermodels, and turned her name into an empire. This girl is something else.
Cindy Crawford
Her
Christy Turlington Irving Penn once said about Christy that she was “a full person, not just a vanity walking around on two feet. And that’s unusual in this field”. I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Penn, since Turlington has always depicted a very jovial, affectionate, admiring and down-to-earth image. And that, paired with her feline gaze and those memorable yoga poses, assured her a permanent position in “The Trinity”. Together with the other supermodel club members, she walked the catwalks of all the major fashion capitals and vamped for all the biggest campaigns. She was a favorite of brand Calvin Klein as well, being the face of fragrance “Eternity” for nearly two decades. Christy, like Elle, Naomi, Kate, Linda and Cindy, had so much more to offer to the world besides their beauty. They were a group of powerful women who knew how to intelligently win over the public with their natural charm and youthful personalities, crossing the barriers of the fashion industry and becoming stars in their own right. Those were the days.
Christy Turlington