Kate Moss

SUMMARY

Kate Moss is an iconic British supermodel, recognised for her role in the fashion industry since the early 1990s. With a career spanning over three decades, Moss became popular in the industry for her waif-like figure, androgynous look, and ability to bring fresh energy to a project. She has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines, worked with high-profile designers, and became a muse for legendary maisons.

BIOGRAPHY

Kate Moss was born on January 16, 1974, in Croydon, South London, England, to Peter Moss, a travel agent, and Linda Moss, a barmaid. Raised in a working-class family, she attended Riddlesdown High School and had an ordinary childhood. At the age of 14, Moss was discovered by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Model Management, at JFK Airport in New York City. Moss’ slender frame and distinctive look led to a breakthrough in the industry, and by 1992, she signed with Storm and made her debut in British magazine The Face. It was this appearance that started her rise to fame, bringing her into the spotlight.

In the early 1990s, Moss became synonymous with the ‘heroin chic’ fashion trend, marked by pale skin, dark eye makeup, and a thin, yet striking, appearance. She became the face of multiple fashion campaigns and gained worldwide recognition, including major campaigns with Calvin Klein. Moss also featured in the Levi’s campaign ‘Levi’s for Girls’, again shot by Corinne Day. After a shoot titled “Haute Coiffure”, Moss went on to become the “anti-supermodel” of the 1990s in contrast to the reigning models Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell, who were famous for their curvaceous, tall silhouettes.

Her collaboration with designer Marc Jacobs further strengthened her status as a leading model. Moss’ career was characterized by her versatility and ability to work with renowned fashion houses such as Chanel, Versace, and Prada. Her distinct style—elegance with an edge—has earned her fabulous editorial features, from Vogue to W Magazine.

She has been on the cover of British Vogue over thirty times and on the cover of several issues of W, including one with nine different covers that featured her. Moss has also featured on the covers of Numéro, Numéro Tokyo and Spanish L’Officiel. She has worked extensively with photographers such as Mario Testino, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Klein, Juergen Teller, Steven Meisel and Peter Lindbergh, and won the Vogue/CFDA award from the Fashion Designers of America in July 2005 as Fashion Inspiration.

Kate Moss also designed a collection, with Katy England, for Topshop and launched a fragrance and body lotion range bearing her name in association with Coty in 2007. In November 2006, Moss was model of the year at the British Fashion Awards, the top accolade in British fashion. In early 2010, she designed handbags for Longchamp. In 2012, Moss modelled for the spring-summer collection for Supreme ad has represented Mango since 2011. The following year, Moss appeared in the video of George Michael’s White Light and performed with Naomi Campbell in the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games on 12 August 2012.

Kate Moss received a Special Recognition award at the British Fashion Awards to acknowledge her contribution to fashion during her 25-year career. In September 2016, Moss founded Kate Moss Agency. Her clients include Rita Ora, Jordan Barrett and Esmé Creed-Miles. In recent years, Moss has continued to work in the fashion industry, although less frequently on runways. She has increasingly become involved in fashion design and photography and is celebrated for her impact on fashion and culture.

REFERENCES

1. “Kate Moss – Model Profile – Photos & latest news”. Models.com. 
2. “Kate Moss at 40: supermodel still turning heads after 25 years | Fashion”. The Guardian. 
3. “Kate Moss”. Vogue. 
4. “Kate Moss Pictures – Kate Moss Photos”. Harpersbazaar.com. 
5. “Kate Moss’s New Talent Agency-Slash-Lifestyle Brand Isn’t for “Pretty”. Vanity Fair. 
6. “The World’s Highest Paid Models”. Forbes. 
7. “The 2007 TIME 100: Kate Moss”, Time. 
8. “Chanel and Burberry drop Moss after cocaine claims”. The Telegraph. 
9. “Kate Moss gold statue unveiled at British Museum”. The Telegraph. 
10. “Kate Moss Biography”. Biography.com 
11. “Kate Moss The Face Magazine 1992”. The Face. 
12. “President Clinton on Heroin Chic”. opioids.com.
13. “Kate Moss ‘sick and angry’ at being made a scapegoat for taking cocaine”. The Guardian. 
14. “Kate Moss Ads Scrapped by H&M After Cocaine Pictures (Update1)”. Bloomberg. 
15. “Moss apology may limit damage to career”. The Guardian.