100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #36: Kate Moss

By Alicia on

KATE MOSS
Born:
January 16, 1974 in London, England
Past / Present Endorsements:
Dior, Donna Karan, Yves Saint-Laurent, Robert Cavalli, Burberry, Gucci, D&G, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Chanel, Missoni, Bvlgari
Past Relationships:
Mario Sorrenti, Johnny Depp, Jefferson Hack, Pete Doherty, Jamie Hince
Net Worth / Income:
$50+ Million / $9 Million Annual Beginnings.
Katherine Ann Moss was discovered at JFK airport in 1988 by Sarah Doukas (founder of Storm Model Management). By the age 15, Moss had a spread in British magazine The Face. By the early 1990s, Moss had created a new brand of supermodel that stood as a stark contrast to the curvy Cindy Crawfords of the modeling world. If you flipped through a fashion or lifestyle magazine in 1993, you probably saw the Calvin Klein campaign featuring Moss in her underwear. This signaled the reintroduction of the waif movement and the beginning of speculation about her weight issues.

Career Highs.
Kate Moss is a bonfire of style. To her credit, she has popularized denim cutoff shorts, ballet flats, Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots, skinny jeans, the waistcoat, the Alexander McQueen's skull scarf, the Louis Vuitton's Sprouse Leopard Cashmere Scarf, and the Balenciaga handbag. She also ushered in high-waisted “mom jeans” into popularity, though some will claim they never caught on outside of certain New York neighborhoods. In July of 2007, Forbes named Moss #2 on the list of top grossing supermodels, raking in an estimated $9 million annually. (She’s behind Giselle Bundchen.)

I know what works, I know what women want, and I know there is money to be made. My name is my brand and it's going to be the biggest thing in fashion.
–Kate Moss on launching her own designer label in 2006

Moss on the stroll. Career Lows.
On September 15, 2005, the Daily Mirror ran a front page photo of Moss allegedly doing cocaine at a Babyshambles recording session. From the ensuing scandal, Moss lost several high-profile contracts including Burberry, Chanel, and H&M that was worth a reported $4 million euros.

Legacy.
Kate Moss has appeared on over 300 magazine covers, is worth an estimated $50 million and has partied with pretty much everyone in the world that you might find on a list of best looking people. You cannot mention the waif look without immediately picturing those black and white images of her in her underwear.

Profile of a model. Get the Look.
It sounds cliché, but to get the Kate Moss look, it helps to be rather rail-thin. That’s her trademark and it’s best to accept that some people just don’t look good in skinny jeans. Other elements of her style can be adopted. The oversized bag, an Alexander McQueen's skull scarf and a big pair of sunglasses by Tom Ford would be a good start. Probably best to stay away from the mom jeans. - John

Kate Moss Photo Gallery