By Jessica Ye (Jessica Yap)
Perhaps we thought we had seen the last of them.
The supermodels of the 1990s have been making appearances again, one by one, and just when you think fashion has moved on to its next generation, another familiar face turns up on a runway or in a campaign. From Claudia Schiffer closing Versace’s Spring/Summer 2024 show to Christy Turlington walking Ralph Lauren in the same season, it seems the fashion world has developed a rather strong appetite for its old favourites.
And now, Christy is back with Giorgio Armani.
The Fall/Winter 2026-27 campaign accompanies the first Giorgio Armani collection designed by Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco, with Christy appearing alongside Liam Kelly and Akbar Shamji. Photographed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch, the campaign keeps things rather simple: a neutral background, the clothes, the accessories and those familiar faces looking straight into the camera.
Perhaps that is all it needs.
Christy first walked for Giorgio Armani in the 1990s, back when the names of the models on a runway could be almost as important as the clothes themselves. She was part of that extraordinary generation that included Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer and Helena Christensen, women whose faces became instantly recognisable far beyond the fashion pages.
It is quite something to see them again.
In September 2023, Christy closed Ralph Lauren’s Spring/Summer 2024 show in New York, while Claudia Schiffer returned to the Versace runway in Milan, closing the Spring/Summer 2024 show in a silver and mint-green chainmail dress. It was her first catwalk appearance since 2018.
Then came Victoria’s Secret.
When the show returned in 2024 after a six-year break, the runway was packed with familiar names. Tyra Banks made her first appearance at the show in almost 20 years and closed the night, while Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Doutzen Kroes and Behati Prinsloo were among the former Angels who returned.
Adriana had also returned to the Victoria’s Secret runway after announcing her retirement in 2018, making the 2024 appearance her 19th time walking the show.
And before all of that, four of the biggest names from the era came together again at Vogue World in London. Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista appeared on the runway together in September 2023.
You see, this is not quite the same thing as bringing back an old trend.
Fashion has always loved nostalgia, but these women are not being brought back simply to recreate a 1990s runway. They are walking alongside younger models, appearing in new campaigns and wearing clothes that were never designed for the decade that made them famous.
Claudia Schiffer could walk out in a Versace collection inspired by the 1990s and still look completely at home. Christy can appear in a new Armani campaign without it feeling like a costume drama. Tyra can return to Victoria’s Secret after two decades and still know exactly how to command a runway.
Maybe that is the difference.
The supermodel was never simply about being young and beautiful. These women had presence. You knew when Naomi had entered the room. You knew Linda could change the way a garment looked just by putting it on. Cindy had that unmistakable beauty, Claudia had the blonde bombshell quality and Christy had a coolness that made even the simplest Armani suit look like it belonged there.
And that is probably why fashion keeps calling.
For the Armani campaign, the images are accompanied by short phrases inspired by Giorgio Armani’s words: “Move in silence”, “Speak softly”, “Add less”, “Be remembered” and “Break the pattern”. There are also little symbols scattered through the campaign, from the Armani Logo Lamp and rose to a cat, a dandelion and an eye representing Christy.
It is the eye that caught my attention.
After all these years, perhaps the most interesting thing about seeing these women again is not how much they have changed, but how little you need to explain when they appear.
You simply recognise them.
And that, in fashion, is no small thing.
