“Naomi: In Fashion” explores the life and career of one of the most known faces in fashion by showcasing significant ensembles she has modelled as well as her activism and impact. The exhibition, which opens to the public on Saturday, features a selection of Campbell’s magazine covers and fashion photos in addition to flashy gowns and huge shoes.
“There’s been so many exhibitions about fashion designers and fashion photographers but the model is often left out of the story,” senior V&A fashion curator Sonnet Stanfill told Reuters on Wednesday. “And Naomi Campbell’s incredible 40-year career is really… demonstrating that she’s an industry role model.
Since beginning her modelling career at an early age, the 54-year-old Campbell has posed for a number of upscale fashion labels, such as Prada, Versace, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Chanel. She has also given assistance to African designers. Being the first Black model to appear on the covers of Time, French Vogue, and American Vogue’s.
The ensembles on display combine African designers like Kenneth Ize and Thebe Magugu with well-known fashion names like Azzedine Alaïa and the late Gianni Versace. The sparkling Dolce & Gabbana dress Naomi Campbell wore on her last day of community service at a garbage depot in New York—after pleading guilty to reckless assault for hurling a phone at her housekeeper during a dispute over a pair of jeans.
