Naomi Campbell style file: Fashioning a British icon
Having walked for some of the world’s most famous designers and now boasting a dedicated exhibition at the V&A, the supermodel’s sartorial legacy is unparalleled
Think supermodel and chances are you’ll probably imagine one of the original ‘90s supers; namely, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista. While most of these It girls have taken a step back from mainstream stardom over the past few years, Naomi Campbell has remained a constant fixture in the fashion world.
Scouted at age 15, the South Londoner has walked the runways for practically every major brand and designer in the world, as well as graced countless covers and campaigns. With her famously fiery personality setting her apart, Campbell has always been a fashion cheerleader, supporting established and emerging designers alike. Off the runway, her personal wardrobe reflects an organic love for clothing, underscored by classic and contemporary pieces and a style honed by her close relationships with designers including Azzedine Alaïa, Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano and Marc Jacobs.
Beyond her glamorous CV, Campbell has also broken barriers and spearheaded philanthropic endeavours over the course of her career. She paved the way for diversity, becoming the first black model to be photographed on the cover of Vogue France in 1988 and Time magazine in 1991. In 2005, Campbell set up Fashion For Relief to raise funds and awareness for humanitarian causes.
An undeniable force of fashion, Campbell is now being honoured with perhaps the greatest accolade of all: a dedicated retrospective at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Opening on 22 June 2024, the first-of-its-kind exhibition documents her 40-year career in fashion, showcasing her extensive personal wardrobe alongside loans from designer archives and photographs. Before you head off to check out Naomi: In Fashion, look back over some of Naomi Campbell’s best looks.
California Industry Friends of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) Fashion Show, 1991
Image: Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo
Dressed in a heavily embellished bright pink mini dress, Campbell embodied the quintessential Versace muse at the annual fundraiser in California.
London Fashion Week, 1997
Image: Gianni Muratore/Alamy Stock Photo
Campbell walked the runway for designer Clements Riberio wearing a decidedly Y2K outfit: blue knee-length skirt, denim choker and a Union Jack-printed jumper inspired by Geri Halliwell’s iconic dress at the Brit Awards earlier that year.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, 2005
Image: FashionStock.com/Shutterstock
After a debut appearance on the Victoria’s Secret runway in 1996, Campbell would walk in the show almost every year following, until returning for her final year as a VS model in 2005. Appearing first in a sexy black set with a fur-edged cape, she later donned golden wings despite never becoming an official VS Angel. According to Campbell, they simply couldn’t afford her.
Fashion for Relief Haiti, 2010
Image: Lev Radin/Shutterstock
Campbell strutted down the runway in this floor length sequinned gown alongside fellow supermodels for a charity show in aid of Haiti’s earthquake victims. The gown was later auctioned with all proceeds going to charity while Campbell also used the event to pay tribute to Alexander McQueen, who passed away in February 2010.
Met Gala, 2016
Image: Sky Cinema/Shutterstock
Campbell embraced futuristic finery at 2016’s Manus x Machina-themed Met Gala in a starry Roberto Cavalli creation featuring cut-outs. Designed by then-Cavalli creative director Peter Dundas, the slinky gown featured the brand’s signature cut-outs and was paired with a sleek blunt fringe.
Versace show, 2017
Image: FashionStock.com/Shutterstock
Campbell reunited with original supermodels Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen and Carla Bruni for a show marking the twentieth anniversary of Gianni Versace’s murder. The quintet were dressed in matching shimmering metallic gowns by Gianni’s sister and current Versace creative director Donatella Versace.
Cannes Film Festival, 2018
Image: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
For the BlacKkKlansman premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2018, Campbell turned up the glamour in an emerald green custom Poiret gown featuring a heavily embellished see-through bodice – a unique take on the naked dress trend that swept the red carpet in the late 2010s.
Met Gala, 2019
Image: PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Dressing for one of the most divisive Met Gala themes – Camp: Notes on Fashion – proved to be tricky for many attendees. For fashion pro Campbell, however, it was natural to embrace camp in a pink chiffon Valentino Haute Couture dress, designed by close friend Pierpaolo Piccioli, paired with a feathered cape.
LACMA Art and Film Gala, 2019
Image: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Sequins are a style staple for Campbell. Case in point, this sizzling red fitted Versace gown accessorised with sparkling diamond jewellery. No one does high-octane glamour quite like the super.
British Fashion Awards, 2022
Image: Fred Duval/Shutterstock
Another glittering showstopper, Naomi Campbell attended the 2022 Fashion Awards in a pleated metallic cape-style Valentino gown. Given that the event is attended annually by the UK’s hottest designers, models, and celebrities, it says a lot that Campbell is always one of the most highly anticipated red carpet arrivals.
Vanity Fair Oscars after party, 2023
Image: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Campbell stunned at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in a surrealist column gown from Schiaparelli’s SS23 Haute Couture collection. Topped with stacks of Briony Raymond jewellery, it was a lesson in why, even at the age of 52, no one does it quite like Naomi Campbell.
Read more: Women in Luxury: Stéphanie Sivrière, Design Director at Piaget
