STYLE NOTES ON: KATE MOSS IN THE NINETIES

Minimalist Calvin Klein ads and all the cool retro airport pictures.

Kate Moss might be the personification of ‘cool’ up until this day. Kate Moss embodies London. She embodies the Nineties with every bone.

I recently came across a Kate Moss picture on Pinterest and I couldn’t help but realize of how much her nineties style has made a comeback last year and will hopefully stay for a bit longer. So I took some time to look at her personal style as well as her runway looks from this era and took a closer look at the ingredients to the coolness.

Kate Moss was discovered at the age of fourteen and signed with Calvin Klein in 1992. While her outfits reflected the zeitgeist of the nineties in perfection - simple and easy but with edge, what really comes across when you observe her looks from the time is her attitude. Smoking and either wildly laughing or having no expression at all, her face shows her entire personality.

Her outfits were that simple, you couldn’t even make an outfit formula from them. However, looking at the looks she wore when she was just starting out and then later - dating Johnny Depp and walking for Calvin Klein, we can all learn a lot about fashion and personality from her.

*all pictures via Pinterest

THE FOUNDATION

As mentioned above, there were no outfit formulas. There were elements in her looks that made sense for her because her personality would be the main accessory. Or her current boyfriend would add up to the appearance, to be fair.

Starting off with the foundation of it all, her face. She always wore no to minimal makeup, hair undone. Going out or for other special events, there would be the occasional application of a lipstick - but that’s all.

Her looks - on and off the runway - consisted mainly of tank tops and basic pieces, such as white t-shirts, mini skirts or mini dresses (mainly jersey material) and simple coats and jackets. Especially her airport looks (a lot of cardigans, denim and black boots) can be copied today.

Aside from tank tops and turtlenecks, slip dresses made an entire outfit for Kate. Calvin Klein’s collection at the time of course had a lot of them but she also would often wear them for private outings or an evening event.

LEATHER JACKETS

Leather jackets had a high in the early nineties and while Kate modelled a lot of them in ads and editorials, they were also part of her personal wardrobe. Adding toughness to her tomboyish appearance and way of dressing, the peak of her leather jacket era is seen when dating Johnny Depp.

ADDING INTEREST TO NIGHT-OUT LOOKS

Need inspiration to go to a bar or a fancy event? Look no further. Kate’s otherwise simple looks would be adapted for a night out with special elements like feathers, statement earrings, a bit of color or - skin.

EDITORIAL SHOOTINGS

Another great inspiration are Nineties editorials featuring Kate Moss in simple tailoring and classic shirts. Although this might not have been her personal style, it reflects the minimalism of the Nineties so well and her personality breaks up the looks.

SUNGLASSES, TEXTURE AND LEOPARD BAGS

It’s a circle of fashion, they say - please find proof in these pictures. Kate loved to add accessories to her simple looks in the form of sunglasses or this leopard bag.

If Jennifer Lawrence or Kendall Jenner walked out of the airport in one of those outfits today, I wouldn’t be surprised.

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This post was so thrilling to put together. The Pinterest algorithm just works if you treat it right. I have found so many amazing less known pictures of Kate (paparazzi and cat walk) and her style is a huge inspiration for me.

My favorite look might be the night-out-with-feathers-look with minimal make-up and a sleek bun. Which is yours? Let me know.