The Evolution of Karlie

Saturday, June 16, 2012

backstage at Lanvin, F/W 2012

From earning Elle Macpherson's exclusive title to strutting the runway regular, Karlie Kloss has come a long way since gracing the pages of Teen Vogue. The St. Louis native may have encountered a few controversies, from Tyra's ridicule to accusations of anorexia, but for most of her modeling career, she's managed to maintain a squeakyclean image. But after appearing at Carine Roitfeld's Vampire Ball in the "Karlie" dress, stripping down for Mario Testino, and starring in that editorial, fashion's sweetheart is (to use a cheesy term) one good girl gone bad. And after strapping on some Angel wings, she's cemented her topnotch status as a high fashion/commercial crossover (alongside a select few supers like Isabeli Fontana, Daria Werbowy, and Angela Lindvall). But is Karlie the next Gisele bombshell?

Karlie's got enough conventional beauty and character to appeal to the masses, but would she be wasted on run‐of‐the‐mill swimwear ads and glossy Victoria's Secret photo shoots? Commercial work needs only a pretty face; high fashion requires talent and a fierce look. Karlie's sylph‐like frame, angular features, edgy poses, and power to emote belong in the pages of Vogue, not Seventeen. While I appreciate that one of my favorite models is working the catwalk and appearing in catalogues for a lingerie powerhouse, she's in her element when rocking a slit‐to‐there Lanvin dress, not posing in pom poms and sparkly Pink undies. Perhaps I'm just a fashion elitist, but I hope I won't be seeing Karlie in Sports Illustrated anytime soon.

Below, Karlie's meteoric rise over five years.



in Número, April 2008
the face of Bulgari Omnia Jade, F/W 2008
in American Vogue, September 2009

the face of Marc Jacobs's Lola, F/W 2009


risqué for the cover of Vogue Italia with Rianne ten Haken, October 2009

in Vogue Korea, December 2009
in American Vogue, February 2010
the face of Hermès, S/S 2010
all sexed up for Numéro, April 2010
the face of YSL Summer Look Beauté, May 2010



the face of Donna Karan with Anna Jagodzinska, F/W 2010
in a collection of portraits by Seth Sabal, February 2011
the face of Dior, S/S 2011
seductive in i-D, April 2011

avant-garde in a tribute to Alexander McQueen, American Vogue, May 2011
in Life Magazine, September 2011
stripped down in Allure, October 2011

in British Vogue, November 2011

bronzed and photoshopped for Victoria's Secret Pink, December 2011

baring all in Vogue Italia, December 2011
in Vogue Japan, December 2011

for Vogue Germany, December 2011
on the cover of Numéro, December 2011/January 2012
in Vogue Australia, March 2012


in British Vogue, May 2012

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