90s Fashion: Claudia Schiffer’s summer street style in iconic outfits

Claudia Schiffer was the 90s ultimate fashion girl. After becoming the unforgettable face of Guess? in 1989, the model shot to “super” status nearly overnight. Throughout the 90s, the German supermodel covered myriad international Vogue’s (and was even the first model to appear on the cover of Time and Vanity Fair); signed L’Oréal’s longest-running beauty contract to date; and was tapped to be the face of Chanel (by Karl Lagerfeld, himself, no less!).

Off the runway, Claudia was also a blue chip girl, donning some of the most iconic catwalk looks from the 90s most prestigious houses. Think Chanel’s iconic black-and-white Camellia separates, Versace’s safety-pin dresses (and bondage gowns and diamanté minis) and Gucci’s androgynous suiting. Here, on the occasion of Claudia’s birthday, we look back at some of the super’s most iconic outfits.

Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

At the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary benefit, 1994

Before rising to international supermodel stardom, Claudia Schiffer was working to become a lawyer. Luckily for the fashion industry, however, the future-super left high school for Paris when she was scouted at a Dusseldorf club in 1987. As fate would have it, two years later, Claudia was the face of 90s Guess?. Here the supermodel attends an animal shelter benefit wearing a rather collegiate look: a pleated tartan skirt, mock neck sweater and riding boots.

Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

At the Academy Awards, 1994

The 90s were the era of the supermodel… and the celebrity magician. Claudia met David Copperfield at a 1993 gala in Berlin when the American magician invited her on stage to take part in a series of magic acts and illusions. Less than a year later, the couple were engaged. During their five year-long engagement, Claudia often assisted David with his stage illusions, which included being guillotined and sawed in half. Here, the duo attend the Academy Awards red carpet, Claudia wearing one of Versace’s ultra-90s safety pin dresses.

Photo by THIERRY ORBAN/Sygma via Getty Images

At the Versace Haute Couture AW94 afterparty, 1994

In the 90s, Claudia was a Versace favourite. Throughout the decade, the supermodel served as the face for some of the house’s most iconic Richard Avedon-lensed campaigns and walked the runways in some of the brand’s most iconic designs (we’re talking bondage gowns and diamanté minidresses). Here, Claudia attends a Versace after party wearing the latter in icy pink.

Photo by Barry King/Liaison

At the Academy Awards, 1995

In 1995, Claudia returned to the Academy Awards, now with two silver screen credits under her belt. The previous year, the supermodel had filmed cameo appearances in Richie Rich (as an aerobics instructor) and in Robert Altman’s fashion industry romp Pret-a-Porter (as herself, of course!). Once again, Claudia wore Versace; this time, a glitz-y Old Hollywood gown befitting of a newly-minted model-turned-actress.

Photo by Evan Agostini/Liaison

At the VH1 Fashion and Music Awards, 1995

Less than three years after she signed with her first agency, Claudia was tapped — by Karl Lagerfeld — to become the face of Chanel. The super walked her first runway for the house (and first runway, ever) in January 1990. Throughout the decade, she was a Lagerfeld favourite and a house staple, on the runway, in front of the camera and on the red carpet. Here, at the VH1 Fashion and Music Awards, the super reps the house in a sexy sequined set.

Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

At the Met Gala, 1995

Of course, Claudia chose to wear Chanel to fashion’s biggest night out. To the 1995 Met Gala — themed, simply, ‘Haute Couture’ — the super wore one of the house’s meticulously crafted gowns, accessorized with a Chanel Camellia and her magician beau.

Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

At the VH1 Fashion Awards, 1996

Claudia was the 90s ultimate fashion girl. Both on the runway and the red carpet, the super racked up some of the most iconic blue chip looks from houses like Versace, Chanel and Tom Ford’s Gucci. Here, to the VH1 Fashion Awards, Claudia wears the iconic velvet suit from the latter’s iconic AW95 collection. What else can we say but: iconic!

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