Cover Kate Moss backstage at the Calvin Klein Spring 1997 Ready to Wear Runway Show (Photo: Getty Images)
Kate Moss backstage at the Calvin Klein Spring 1997 Ready to Wear Runway Show (Photo: Getty Images)
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Let’s look back at some of the iconic moments that made Kate Moss one of the most transformative figures in fashion history
The Nineties was a transformative time for the fashion industry. A new credo was established, based on a grungy, alternative aesthetic, and gone were the days of the clean-cut, bombshell supermodel.
Enter Kate Moss. Born into a middle-class family in Croydon, she was only 14 when she was scouted while vacationing in New York. By 18, she had become the face of Calvin Klein and introduced a “new beauty” that captivated the world, but not without a little controversy.
Her “heroin-chic” look, characterised by her unconventional, waif-like features, became a symbol of changing times. While many celebrated her as a breath of fresh air, others criticised her for reinforcing an unhealthy body image.
Regardless of the debate, Moss left an undeniable mark on the industry, influencing both fashion and culture for years to come. Take a look at some of the moments that defined her career.
More from Tatler: 20 of our favourite runway and off-duty looks from Kate Moss
The girl from Croydon
Above Calvin Klein's bias-cut seamed slip dress modeled by muse Kate Moss (Photo: Getty Images)
Calvin Klein's bias-cut seamed slip dress modeled by muse Kate Moss (Photo: Getty Images)
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“Anti-fashion became fashion,” said editor Edward Enninful when Moss entered the scene. At the beginning of her career, she appeared in a number of high-profile advertising campaigns for brands such as Levi’s and Versace. She was also a runway favourite of designers such as Isaac Mizrahi and Marc Jacobs.
Clouded in controversy
Above A 1994 Kate Moss bus advert that had been defaced (Photo: Paul Harris/Getty Images)
A 1994 Kate Moss bus advert that had been defaced (Photo: Paul Harris/Getty Images)
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Calvin Klein’s “Obsession” campaign for his perfume featured Kate Moss, then underage, in various provocative poses. Some claimed that the campaign objectified women and perpetuated harmful stereotypes based on Moss’s allegedly “gaunt” appearance. As a whole, it ignited a cultural conversation about the ethics of advertising.
Comeback queen
Above Kate Moss Hologram at Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2006 (Photo by Andy Paradise/WireImage)
Kate Moss Hologram at Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2006 (Photo by Andy Paradise/WireImage)
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Just a year after a substance abuse scandal nearly derailed her career, Moss made a remarkable comeback, earning one of the top accolades in fashion—Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards.
The Kate Moss Agency
Above Kate Moss attends a gala dinner during London Fashion Week in 2016 (Photo: Getty Images)
Kate Moss attends a gala dinner during London Fashion Week in 2016 (Photo: Getty Images)
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In 2016, Moss shocked the fashion world when she parted ways with her long-time agency, Storm Models, after 27 years. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that she would launch her own agency, the Kate Moss Agency, signaling a new chapter in her career.
Earning her wings
Above Kate Moss walks the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Kate Moss walks the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2024 (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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Just last October 2024, Moss made her Victoria’s Secret debut, earning her wings at the age of 50. She walked the runway in a sheer black lace ensemble. Her daughter, Lila Hack Moss, was also featured at the same show.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
