The upcoming exhibition, ‘Naomi: In Fashion’ opens its doors June 22 at the V&A, an exploration of supermodel Naomi Campbell’s trail-blazing forty-year career.
Few in fashion have been capable of what Naomi Campbell has achieved. She was the first Black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, and a muse to designers including Gianni Versace and Azzedine Alaia.
Now, four decades after her career began, Naomi Campbell is once again making history with a namesake exhibition at the V&A – making her the first model to be the focus of an exhibition at the museum.
The exhibition on Naomi, with a first-name only title, hints at the magnitude of Campbell’s fame but beyond this, the museum’s recognition cements her shift from catwalk model to cultural icon. A first of it’s kind, the exhibition will draw upon Campbell’s own extensive wardrobe of haute couture and ready-to-wear ensembles from key moments in her career along with loans from designer archives and objects from the V&A’s collections.
For those keen to experience Campbell’s most iconic runway moments, highlights will include a dramatic 1989 Thierry Mugler car-inspired corset, Campbell’s look from Sarah Burton’s last Alexander McQueen show, a pink Valentino ensemble worn at the 2019 Met Gala and a pair of staggeringly high Vivienne Westwood platform shoes worn by Campbell during her famous 1993 catwalk fall.
By the early 1990s, Campbell had become synonymous with the term “Supermodel,” representing a new breed of models who transcended fashion to achieve global celebrity status. Her unique “walk” plus collaborations with leading photographers defined the era’s visual culture. A key piece from this period include an Andy Warhol-print dress from Gianni Versace’s Spring/Summer 1991 show.
A notable moment in fashion history occurred in 1993 when Campbell famously fell on the runway while wearing Vivienne Westwood’s towering blue platform shoes. This mishap, captured in all its candid charm, only served to elevate both her and the designer’s profiles. The original shoes, complete with Campbell’s name written inside, will be reunited with the full ensemble at the V&A.
The exhibition also delves into Campbell’s close relationship with the late designer Azzedine Alaïa, whom she affectionately used to call “Papa.” Alaïa, known for his figure-hugging designs, found a muse in Campbell’s sculptural physique. Highlights include a leopard-print knitwear bodysuit from Alaïa’s Autumn/Winter 1991 collection, immortalized in a Herb Ritts photograph for Interview magazine.
In her late teens, Campbell moved to New York, immersing herself in the vibrant social and fashion scenes. She developed enduring friendships with designers like Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui. Iconic pieces from this era, such as looks from Jacobs’ Grunge Redux collection and designs by Sui, will be also be on display. Included also in the exhibition is a dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, commemorating Campbell’s receipt of the Fashion Icon Award at the British Fashion Awards in 2019.
Since the early 1990s, Campbell has remained one of the most recognizable faces in the world, appearing in music videos, launching her own perfume, and championing diversity. A striking example of her public persona is the Dolce & Gabbana gown she wore on her final day of court-ordered community service, a moment captured by paparazzi.
The exhibit, curated by Edward Enninful, features works from world-renowned photographers like Steven Meisel and Arthur Elgort, whilst celebrating Campbell’s magnetic presence and her deep respect for the artistic vision of her collaborators.
In her illustrious forty-year career, Naomi Campbell has become an archetype in the fashion industry. The exhibition acknowledges her role in advocating for emerging designers and highlights career-defining moments, such as her look from Virgil Abloh’s final collection for Off-White and a hand-embroidered dress by Rizman Ruzaini.
Naomi: In Fashion will run from 22 June 2024 until 6 April 2025 at the V&A. Tickets, which can be booked here now.
