Nineties Supermodels and Their First Runway Shows

Linda Evangelista

Her first show: Chanel Fall/Winter 1985

Evangelista was established in the industry before any of the other supers, having appeared on top runways in the mid-1980s. By the time the ‘90s rolled around, she had enough clout to back up her famous claim that she and Turlington “don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day.” Her chameleon-like modeling prowess earned her a spot at the top of the industry. Evangelista wasn’t afraid to take risks, and they paid off. In 1988, she famously chopped her hair into a piecey bob, “The Linda,” which gave her a distinguishing edge in the ‘90s.

Naomi Campbell

Her first show: Yves Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 1987

Fashion’s fixation with Campbell began on the Yves Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 1987 runway. The British beauty, only 16 at the time, looked elegant in an opulent feathered cocktail dress and oversized gem jewelry. She would model the same look 15 years later, in a retrospective YSL show in 2002 in Paris, wearing her original dress in addition to other archival looks.

Carla Bruni

Her first show: Chantal Thomass Fall/Winter 1987

The multitalented model first signed to an agency at 19 years old, landing a risqué campaign for Guess jeans, in which she posed topless with her arms over her chest. Soon thereafter, she made her debut on the runway of French lingerie designer Chantal Thomass before going on to model for the likes of Chanel, Valentino, and Chloé.

Elle Macpherson

Her first show: Wool Corporation Fashion Parade, January 1988

A year prior to earning the nickname “The Body,” Macpherson was walking on catwalks in her native country Australia. The conservative look she modeled at the Wool Corporation Fashion Parade in Sydney would soon be overshadowed by the racy fashions she would don for designers in the ‘90s. In addition to the runway, Macpherson fronted numerous magazines, including a record number of five Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue covers.

Helena Christensen

Her first show: Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1989

The Danish model broke onto the scene on the cusp of the 1990s, walking for fashion houses like Chanel, Versace, and Christian Dior. She could look as put-together and professional in a tweed suit on the Chanel runway as she did sexy and seductive in a next-to-nothing gold jeweled top at Versace. In 2018, she had the industry wax nostalgic when she slipped into an archival Thierry Mugler metal bodysuit that she first wore in 1991.

Kate Moss

Her first show: Versace Spring/Summer 1990

While it was her famous campaign for Calvin Klein in 1992 that exposed her waif-like figure to the masses, Moss began walking on designer runways as early as 1990. Like Campbell, she was only 16 years old when she made her runway debut. Her fresh face and ultra-slender figure set her apart from the bombshell bodies of other ‘90s supers like Crawford, Macpherson, and Claudia Schiffer. Moss ushered in the heroin-chic aesthetic that went on to define the decade.

Claudia Schiffer

Her first show: Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1990

The German model was discovered at a Düsseldorf club when she was 17 and the rest is history. Schiffer’s career was fast-tracked due to the support and encouragement of Karl Lagerfeld, and she soon found fame on a global scale. Lagerfeld enlisted her to model in the Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1990 show, which marked her first runway experience.

Cindy Crawford

Her first show: Thierry Mugler Fall/Winter 1990

Frequently tapped to grace the cover of magazines, to star in designer campaigns, and to walk in a number of catwalks, Crawford was a formidable figure in the fashion world. With her voluminous brunette strands, her signature birthmark, and her unapologetic sex appeal, she embodied a new type of American glamour that felt like a departure from the blond-haired, blue-eyed model. Crawford transcended the high-fashion world and became a household name, appearing in the iconic Pepsi commercial from 1992 and getting even more screen time as the host of MTV’s House of Style.

Shalom Harlow

Her first show: Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 1992

After the 2018 video of Harlow dancing on the set of a Versace photoshoot went viral, it’s no wonder why she was one of the most captivating models of the ‘90s. Her lively spirit goes hand-in-hand with her dazzling features, which made her an easy choice for commercial and couture jobs alike. Early on in her career, Harlow appeared on the runways of Giorgio Armani, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Stephanie Seymour

Her first show: Versace Spring/Summer 1992

Seymour’s modeling career began with editorial and commercial work in the late 1980s. She was one of the first major models at Victoria’s Secret, which was relatively new at the time. In the early 1990s, after landing several prominent magazine covers, Seymour made it onto high fashion runways like Versace for the Spring/Summer 1992 season.