The first-name-only supermodels of the 1990s are making a comeback, despite being the other side of 40. Lee Tulloch talks to Elle Macpherson, who has taken her "super" status and turned it into an empire.
Until recently, you might have been forgiven for thinking that the supermodels who dominated the fashion headlines in the 1990s had been consigned to history, a group of glamazons who had their moment in the sun in
the same way the dinosaurs had theirs millions of years before. Now pushing — and passing — 40, the "supers", who were once so famous they were universally recognised by their first names, should have gone off to the model’s graveyard, having been replaced by a conga line of interchangeable teens, most of whom are still doing high school by correspondence.
Yet something happened in our culture. The pretty teenagers began to seem bland and uninteresting to a generation of women who were pushing 40 and beyond, and who were becoming impatient with images of skinny waifs who bore no relationship to their lives.
The fashion business took note. Suddenly, this year, the "supers" are big news again. Linda Evangelista, at 43, is the new face of Prada’s autumn/winter collection. Christy Turlington, 39, is the face of Escada. Naomi Campbell, 38, fronts the latest Yves Saint Laurent campaign. Claudia Schiffer, 38, looks as luminous as ever modelling Salvatore Ferragamo. And Elle Macpherson, 44, has signed a three-year deal as Revlon’s brand ambassador.
If that’s not enough, this month sees the Australian release of Elle Macpherson The Body, a range of bath and body products based on her personal beauty routine.
While Elle was never the catwalk queen her contemporaries were, her name arguably has had the furthest reach. From record six-time Sports Illustrated swimwear cover girl to recipient of last year’s Everywoman Outstanding Designer Award in the UK, she has actively sought to redefine herself beyond the limiting model-slash-actress moniker.
She still models, but it is her business acumen that has given her career longevity beyond the photo shoot. Her brand is fast approaching empire status with the continued success of her lingerie collection, Elle Macpherson Intimates. In another new role, Elle will be the face of Invisible Zinc in markets outside Australia.
For the full story on Elle, pick up a copy of our 75th Birthday issue — out now!
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