Claudia Schiffer was the ultimate fashion girl of the 90s. After becoming the unforgettable face of Guess? in 1989, the model achieved “super” status almost overnight. Throughout the 90s, the German supermodel graced the international stage Vogue‘s (and was even the first model to appear on its cover time AND Vanity Fair); signed L’Oréal’s longest beauty contract to date; and was tapped to be of the face of Chanel (by Karl Lagerfeld himself, no less!).
Off the runway, Claudia was also a blue chip girl, wearing some of the most iconic catwalk looks from the most prestigious houses of the 90s. Think Chanel’s iconic black-and-white Camellia separates, Versace’s safety dresses (and slave dresses and diamanté miniatures), and Gucci’s androgynous suiting. Here, on the occasion of Claudia’s birthday, we look back at some of the super’s most iconic outfits.
Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
In benefit of Better Animal Shelter, 1994
Before she rose to international supermodel stardom, Claudia Schiffer was working to become a lawyer. However, fortunately for the fashion industry, the future supermodel left high school for Paris when she was spotted at a club in Dusseldorf in 1987. As fate would have it, two years later, Claudia was the face of 90s Guess?. Here, the supermodel attends an animal shelter benefit wearing a rather collegiate look: a pleated tartan skirt, turtleneck and riding boots.
Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
At the Academy Awards, 1994
The 90s were the era of the supermodel… and the celebrity magician. Claudia met David Copperfield at a 1993 gala in Berlin, when the American magician invited her on stage to take part in a series of magic acts and illusions. Less than a year later, the couple got engaged. During their five-year engagement, Claudia often helped David with his stage illusions, which included being guillotined and sawed in half. Here, the pair attend the Academy Awards red carpet, Claudia wearing one of Versace’s ’90s ultra-safety dresses.
Photo by THIERRY ORBAN/Sygma via Getty Images
At the Versace Haute Couture AW94 After Party, 1994
In the 90s, Claudia was a favorite of Versace. Throughout the decade, the supermodel served as the face of some of the house’s most iconic campaigns lensed by Richard Avedon and walked the runway in some of the brand’s most iconic designs (we’re talking slave dresses and diamanté minidresses). Here, Claudia attends a Versace party wearing the latter in icy pink.
Photo by Barry King/Liaison
At the Academy Awards, 1995
In 1995, Claudia returned to the Academy Awards, now with two silver singles under her belt. Last year, the supermodel filmed her appearances on stage Richie Rich (as a gymnastics instructor) and in Robert Altman’s fashion industry Pret-a-Porter (as myself, of course!). Once again, Claudia wore Versace; this time, a glitzy old Hollywood dress that suits a newly minted model-turned-actress.
Photo by Evan Agostini/Liaison
At the 1995 VH1 Fashion and Music Awards
Less than three years after she signed with her first agency, Claudia was chosen – by Karl Lagerfeld – to become the face of Chanel. The supermodel walked her first runway for the house (and first runway, ever) in January 1990. Throughout the decade, she was a Lagerfeld favorite and a staple of the house, on the runway, in front of the camera AND on the red carpet. Here at the VH1 Fashion and Music Awards, super-repeat the house with a sexy quilted set.
Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
At the Met Gala, 1995
Of course, Claudia chose to wear Chanel on fashion’s biggest night. At the 1995 Met Gala – themed, simply, “Haute Couture” – the super wore one of the house’s meticulously crafted gowns, accessorized with a Chanel Camellia and her magician boyfriend.
Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
At the 1996 VH1 Fashion Awards
Claudia was the ultimate fashion girl of the 90s. Both on the runway and on the red carpet, the most iconic blue looks from houses like Versace, Chanel and Tom Ford’s Gucci are super-stocked. Here, for the VH1 Fashion Awards, Claudia wears the iconic velvet suit from the latter’s iconic AW95 collection. What can we say other than: iconic!
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