Claudia Schiffer's Fashion Life in 50 Looks
As the icon rings in a milestone birthday, she celebrates her killer looks over the years.
There are few names that are iconic enough to become synonymous with a shorthand descriptor: Claudia Schiffer translates to supermodel. But the German beauty is more than just a pretty face; a force during the rise of the '90s super and beyond, Schiffer helped define what a fashion model could be: an actress, a businesswoman, an icon. And today, she turns 50 years old. In honor of the milestone, Schiffer is sorting through 50 of her most recognizable looks, from the red carpet to the runway, and filling us in on the story behind the fashion.
Happy birthday to this queen!
1990
A personal appearance for Revlon—their first-ever fragrance campaign for Guess, which Ellen von Unwerth and I were signed up for. I remember flying around the U.S. to every major city for signings in department stores with massive crowds, only to be interrupted when a duck flew into one of the engines of Ron Perelman’s private plane. But only for a moment, then the tour continued to all major TV shows from Jay Leno to David Letterman.
When I came home afterward, I remember getting up the next morning sleepy-eyed and uncombed into my elevator in one of the high-rises in uptown New York near Central Park, when a person entered and said for the first time, “Are you the Guess girl?”
1990
A rare '90s cardigan moment!
1990
Fashion Café opening night in New York of spring 1995 at the Rockefeller Center; 28,000 T-shirts were sold in the gift shop in the first four months alone! I recall the press describing it as a “couture version of Planet Hollywood or The Hard Rock Cafe.”
1990
Early days in Paris—I had just bought myself this oversized Ralph Lauren aran-knit cardigan, which is when my love of knitwear started.
1991
Leaving a photo shoot for Chanel and wearing it head to toe.
1991
A 1991 Chanel show—it was an insane time, like being a rock star. You couldn’t get to your car unless a path was carved for you. People would cut holes into the fashion tents and try and take pictures of us. We had security at every fashion show to the extent that security was even employed to guard my underwear! When I was out on the runway, I’d come back and my underwear would constantly be gone.
1992
A Valentino charity ball honoring all the supermodels.
1992
This is at the Oscars, and [the dress] is an incredible full-length Chanel gown, which was made out of an umbrella fabric. I still have it in my archive wardrobe.
1992
With the one and only Naomi for a Chanel event—still THE best body in the industry.
1992
This was my first outing in Chanel Couture. I first met Karl [Lagerfeld] when I was 18 at a fitting in his studio in Paris on Rue Cambon. He had seen my U.K. Vogue cover by Herb Ritts and asked that I come in. Before I knew it, I was being fitted for his new collection, and then the next day, I found myself driving to Deauville to shoot my first Chanel campaign, photographed by Karl.
I remember us bonding over the fact that we were the only two people full of energy at 3 a.m. in the morning. In his case, he was always full of energy; I was just always full of adrenaline loving every second of working with him.
1992
The much-lauded A/W 1992 Versace show—here, in one of their iconic sexy black dresses. Gianni’s shows were like rock concerts. He was the designer who made fashion a pop culture phenomenon. I would walk to an amazing Prince track with hundreds of photographers lining the catwalk, only to see him sitting there in the front row.
1992
Wearing Alaïa for my annual calendar signing. A classic '90s look: big hair, lots of makeup, and, of course, double denim!
1993
The tartan mini … still have this one.
1993
I’ve always loved this dreamy Versace number, so much so that Barbie and Versace have re-created it for my birthday.
1993
Crazy hair, backstage at a Chanel show with Cindy in 1994 Paris—she was always incredibly professional, and we first connected over that and our love of being creative in front of the camera. I also recall interviewing her at that show for Entertainment Tonight for whom I was covering Paris Fashion Week as a correspondent. I recall us discussing how Kate Moss had been unfairly blamed for girls wanting to be skinny and that we laughed that unlike Kate, we had to work out to stay slim.
1994
Great '90s memories with the girls—this one also at a Fashion Café opening. There is a special bond between us all, because we lived and breathed such a unique time in fashion. We all live in different places around the world, but as soon as we see each other, it’s like a school reunion, as if no time has passed. We catch up as if we had never stopped talking, like it was the day before.
1994
After a few Chanel campaigns shot by Karl, he tried to convince me to be in his fashion show, even though I’d said that it wasn’t for me as I was still very young and shy. I think he found it a fun challenge, but he explained that he wasn’t looking for the coordinated elegant catwalk of the moment, but rather something new. So he said to just imagine I was just walking to school, and that’s what I did!
1995
Back in classic Alaïa for another of my annual calendar signings.
1995
Straight off the Versace runway, head to toe in white satin.
1995
In a Bulgari watch and elegant column gown.
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