While Naomi Campbell is always in and out of the limelight, and both Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford have enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, it feels like Claudia Schiffer has kept a lower profile than her contemporaries since their modelling heyday came to an end.
Schiffer is now more likely to be found in business meetings and on the school run than on the runway, but the German supermodel, once dubbed the new Brigitte Bardot, is still very much involved with the fashion industry and recently launched a new knitwear line with the luxury cashmere house TSE. For the uninitiated, TSE (pronounced Say) is known for its use of cashmere, a truly luxe material that should not, under any circumstances, be confused with wool. It is, in fact, a fine hair that is hand-combed from the cashmere goat. The resulting fibre is strong, light and incredibly soft, making it the go-to choice for high-end knitwear.
Since 2012, TSE has been under the guidance of creative director Tina Lutz, who joined after a long career working with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Issey Miyake and Calvin Klein. She set up her own label, Lutz & Patmos, in 2000, specialising in luxury knits. It was here that she first embarked on collaborations with guest designers, and over the next 10 years partnered on collections with Turlington, Julianne Moore, Jane Birkin, Sofia Coppola, Carine Roitfeld and even archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Lutz’s working relationship with Schiffer dates back to this period, so it is no surprise to learn that the two have joined forces once again. Famous for her mane of glossy golden hair, Schiffer is too busy to dress too frivolously these days. Instead she favours a louche, relaxed style – think buttery soft knits and perfectly cut jeans.
“My style is based around lots of classic separates, like jeans from MIH or Frame, shirts or T-shirts from Isabel Marant and APC, layered under my cashmere sweaters and lots of fun accessories,” Schiffer tells us. “I love jewellery from Missoma, Monica Vinader and Solange Azagury-Partridge, printed scarves from One Hundred Stars at the moment, suede boots from Minnetonka or studded sandals from Valentino. I always wear a pair of sunglasses from my collection for Rodenstock – the Rowan frames work with everything. I like outfits that work from the school run to meetings.”
The TSE collection, which is available exclusively from Stylebop.com, features a total of 12 pieces, including pocketed cardigans, softly draping ponchos in fluid knits, and comfortable sweater dresses with ribbed detailing around the cuffs and hem. All are the sort of clothes that make us yearn for colder weather. The Fair Isle jumpers and intricate cable knits are steeped with traditional elements, yet the slouchy, reworked shapes and soft-as-mink finish make them modern and covetable.
Schiffer, who was involved in every step of the creative process, from the design to the marketing, took inspiration from the colours, scents and traditions of the English countryside that she now calls home, as well as the “pebble beaches, beautiful sunsets and Fair Isle sweaters worn by the local fishermen and shepherds”. The collection builds on TSE’s signature neutral palette by introducing seaside-inspired blues and shades of green that speak of the English countryside.
“I’ve always loved cashmere. As a teenager, I used to always borrow my parents’ cashmere sweaters – I still have one from my father, which still looks new – and later on, I could not always find great casual cashmere tops to wear with jeans for every day,” says Schiffer. “I have been a huge fan of TSE – having been introduced to them in the early 1990s in New York. I called them about collaborating on a knitwear collection. It’s been a great experience working with one of the best in this field.”
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smaisey@thenational.ae
