Kate Moss fashion icon
Recruited at just 14 years old by Storm Management in JFK airport, the life of Kate Moss changed by a fleeting chance encounter in 1988 with the model agency. Her elfin waif looks made headlines and sparked controversial debate in the industry about size. She went on to dominate the 90s with her androgenetic aesthetic defining designer mega brands such as Calvin Klein.
Since this period the iconic model has evolved with each decade, laying down blueprints of fashion looks adopted by generations to follow. Known as the queen of effortless cool where minimalism meets on-point fashion trends of the moment, she has captured and set the zeitgeist of several eras in Fashion.
Moss had the pick of the crop when walking for the great Fashion Designers of our time. She strutted the stage in a cropped printed Tee and low-rise pants with an updo hairstyle, which started her relationship with Alexander McQueen in 1996. Vivienne Westwood was also a fan from the day she sent Moss down the catwalk topless eating a Magnum ice cream in the Autumn/Winter 1993 show in Paris. Yes, she could make anything look ultra cool.
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The rise of the internet meant that social media allowed Kate to be captured in her own style and catapulted her influence on fashion to iconic levels. Topshop gave her design licence to recreate her own Kate Moss Fashion ranges which made their profits sore. Reportedly Kate was paid millions to appear for 12 seconds in the flagship windows for the launch on Oxford Street.
The original London girl is very much a founder member of ‘Cool Britannia’ that dominated the art, fashion and music scene in the pre-millennial years. In the early 90’s she was the pin-up for grunge and became the lead model focus of Heroin Chic.
Dressing down and looking drawn by the drag of drug taking was both controversial yet alluring in its time. Distressed denim and worn checked shirts with lank gelled hairstyles shouted anti-conformity and a free-spirited edgy attitude. Her boyish androgyny challenged the stereotypical curvy aesthetics of previous generations which she uses to her advantage.
Moss was one of the first to rock the ‘naked dress’ – sheer slip dresses teamed with black underwear communicated unabashed statements of new lean body confidence that grabbed headlines. She has always been a fan of the simple slip, and from sparkly sequins to simple ivory satin, the uncomplicated statement piece be it in bold colours or luxury fabric never fails her.
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But it was the Rock Chic look that Moss is arguably most famous for. Her rock and roll lifestyle giving fuel to this. Moss helped the leather biker jacket earn its place in the fashion Hall of Fame. Often teamed with a simple T, skinny jeans and biker boots. Women and girls of all ages adopted the look worldwide. Top shop and middle market brands like Zadig & Voltaire promoted this look for years.
Undoubtedly, skinny jeans are a staple for Moss – teamed with classic jackets to style them up, a rockers t-shirt to look edgy or a delicate lace blouse to give a more feminine look to the silhouette. This is what sets apart a true fashion icon and Kate is the ultimate chameleon of fashion knowing how to put pieces together.
Effortless and relaxed, Moss is known for her laid-back and undone approach to fashion. She has a knack for making casual and basic pieces look effortlessly stylish. From paired back tailoring to a simple white tank and jeans ensemble, styled with open-toe sandals and a tote bag teamed with gold chain jewellery- a look she owns with quiet confidence. Rarely giving interviews she often mirrors her attitude in her fashion outfits yet her dressing down trends changed dress codes globally.
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Always a great ambassador for British Fashion, Kate recently re-visited the union jack jacket at the Queens Jubilee parade. ‘At the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, we all had our eyes on the ’90s bus. Stealing the show on it was Kate Moss, who turned heads in a – rather apt – John Galliano Union Jack blazer, which she paired with red-tinted sunglasses and natural waves in her hair.’ – Vogue 2022
In the millennial years, Kate again made headlines in Glastonbury for endorsing a simple look that she pulled off with style. The queen of festival dressing, Kate even made mud and wellies a fashion trend. Just add micro shorts and a big belt for ultimate Noughties appeal.
Boho Chic is, without a doubt, one of Kate’s signatures. Long flowing silk dresses with asymmetrical hems and natural long waves of hair with flower accessories make her appear almost ethereal and is now a national staple aesthetic as a result, during the festival season for thousands of music lovers. The look from the ’60s championed by Fashion Label, Biba, was suddenly redefined by Kate Moss.
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Key accessories in suede with fringing and soft flowing scarves, long length peasant style dresses in patterned prints that are mixed and matched with layers, often waistcoats, are all key pieces that Kate experiments with, making her a queen of Boho.
Often associated with vintage clothing, mixing and matching old with new is something Kate enjoys and is key to her bohemian styling success. Many fashion fans have turned to vintage as a result of Kate embracing it into her own personal style and that has got to be good for the environment. Sustainable fashion on a budget that gives you style and the feel-good factor, what’s not to love about that?
Kate will always be an icon that leads the way to millions of fans, wowing crowds with her eclectic dress sense. The girl from Essex is a natural when it comes to creating outfits that she wears with confidence. And perhaps that is the key to her successful following. Confidence, from within brings ultimately a belief in yourself. Something that people are drawn to. So why not embrace your uniqueness and wear your own fashion with pride?
Author: Vicky Hatia
