Claudia Schiffer Celebrates ‘90s Fashion in a New Photography Book

Looking back, the ’90s feels like the golden era of fashion. Double denim, scrunchies and slip dresses reigned supreme, spearheaded by the first generation of supermodels – one being Claudia Schiffer, who has captured the spirit of a decade in a deliciously nostalgic new photography book.

Titled Captivate!, the coffee table book celebrates the glamorous heyday of the ’90s, which saw models like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss rise to fame. German-born Schiffer started modelling in the late ’80s, but her big break came after being discovered by photographer Ellen von Unwerth – and consequently, Karl Lagerfeld – in the early ’90s.

Herb Ritts, Claudia Schiffer, Palmdale, California, 1992. Image © Herb Ritts Foundation, courtesy Camera Work.

The release of her book comes at a time when ’90s nostalgia is at an all-time high. Milan Fashion Week was hot on poker-straight hair, sheer dresses are all the rage (think Kate Moss circa 1993), and – to the dismay of many – low-rise jeans are back on the scene.

Featuring 130 photographs from across the decade, Captivate! accompanies a new exhibition at Düsseldorf’s Kunstpalast museum, which Schiffer spent lockdown curating. It includes snaps from the top photographers of the time, such as Herb Ritts, Karl Lagerfeld, Peter Lindbergh and Mario Sorrenti, as well as never-before-seen images from Schiffer’s own personal archive.

Here we share a peek inside.