My truly precious pieces of clothing are all connected with a story or a moment in time. In 1993, I wore a pair of jeans, and matching western waistcoat, with a shirt, chain belts and cowboy boots on the runway and in the Chanel ad campaign. While denim is commonplace in high-end fashion today, back then it was so novel and fresh; Karl Lagerfeld turned what was a basic item of clothing into a luxury garment using beautiful fabric, braiding and the signature interlocking “CC” buttons. Having grown up in jeans, I remember feeling very at ease in the look.
For Karl’s memorial, held at the Grand Palais in 2019, legendary French stylist and photographer Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele invited a group of his muses to pose in memorable Chanel pieces for a portrait series that formed part of an exhibition. Lying on a bed, I paired a pair of dungarees from that same 1993 collection as the now-vintage jeans with a white T-shirt, my vintage Chanel trainers and an 11.12 bag Karl had hand-painted for me.
I’ve worn these jeans on many occasions – they never go out of style and have stood the test of time because of the classic cut (high waist, straight leg), as well as the intense shade of French blue and unique embroidered detailing. While I used to pair them with a rose-pink Chanel tweed jacket and heels or baseball boots (it was the 90s supermodel uniform), now I usually wear them with a striped knit, oversize blazer and ankle boots.
Jeans and a great sweater are pretty much my daily winter “uniform”, and take me everywhere from the school run to dinner. The Chanel jeans have not required any repairs, although they have gently faded over time. I wore them again for the cover of Elle magazine in 2020. They are a part of my life as much as any treasured piece of jewellery or favourite artwork. And, to be honest, I like the fact that they still fit me!
I have kept so many pieces over the years, including my Valentino wedding dress. My personal archive is also a great resource and, when I began to design clothes myself, I hunted through my wardrobe, seeking out pieces that would inspire. My daughters are now starting to wear my vintage pieces, too, but in a style of their own. I love watching how they put together outfits. Wardrobe sharing, swapping and wearing preloved seems second nature to my daughters’ generation.
Frame x Claudia Schiffer is available exclusively at Frame stores, frame-store.com and Matches Fashion