Claudia Schiffer Biography Quotes 9 Report mistakes
| 9 Quotes | |
| Born as | Claudia Maria Schiffer |
| Occup. | Model |
| From | Germany |
| Born | August 25, 1970 Rheinberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Age | 55 years |
Claudia Schiffer, born Claudia Maria Schiffer on August 25, 1970, in Rheinberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, in what was then West Germany, grew up in a quiet riverside town far from the world of international fashion. Tall and reserved as a teenager, she initially imagined a conventional future and considered studying law. The poise and discipline that would define her career were evident early on, but at the time they were noticed mostly in school and local life rather than on any public stage.
Discovery and Breakthrough
Her entry into modeling followed a classic but improbable path. Discovered as a teenager in a nightclub in Dusseldorf by a scout from the Metropolitan modeling network, she soon traveled to Paris to test the waters. The early turning point was her collaboration with Guess?, where co-founder Paul Marciano and photographer Ellen von Unwerth crafted campaigns that played up her cinematic glamour and accessible warmth. Those images circulated globally and made her instantly recognizable, setting off a chain of runway bookings and editorials that led to the fashion capitals.
Rise to Supermodel Status
By the early 1990s, Schiffer had become one of the defining faces of the supermodel era, a group that included Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and later Kate Moss. She appeared on a remarkable number of magazine covers, commonly reported to exceed a thousand, and became a regular on the runways in Paris, Milan, New York, and London. Her collaborations with Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld were especially important: Lagerfeld championed her as a modern incarnation of timeless elegance, casting her in shows and campaigns that cemented her global profile.
Creative Partnerships and Photography
Schiffer's career is inseparable from the photographers and editors who shaped fashion in the late 20th century. She worked frequently with Ellen von Unwerth, whose playful, narrative-rich images helped turn Schiffer into a pop-cultural phenomenon. She was also photographed by Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, Steven Meisel, and other leading image-makers, appearing in memorable editorials and covers for Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and numerous international titles. Stylistic collaborations with editors and stylists across Europe and the United States sharpened her visual persona: polished, approachable, and assured.
Runway and Campaign Highlights
On the runway, Schiffer walked for many of the era's definitive houses and designers, including Versace, Chanel, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana. She regularly fronted campaigns for luxury brands, beauty companies, and mass-market labels, helping to bridge the gap between couture image-making and mainstream visibility. Her continued relevance was underscored years later when, alongside peers from the supermodel generation, she returned to select catwalks for tributes and special shows, reminding audiences of the charisma that helped define a fashion epoch.
Media and Film
Schiffer's public presence expanded beyond modeling into television and film, often through cameos that played on her instantly recognizable image. She appeared in the fashion satire Zoolander and made a warmly received cameo in the ensemble film Love Actually, reflecting an ease with self-parody and a comfort in front of the camera beyond still photography. She was a frequent guest on talk shows and fashion-centered programming, offering insights into the business of modeling, professionalism on set, and the rhythms of a career that balances visibility with longevity.
Business and Curation
As her career matured, Schiffer focused on building long-term, creative ventures. She developed fashion and beauty collaborations, including a cashmere-focused line, and later worked on a makeup collection that drew on her decades in front of the camera. She also curated and authored retrospective projects celebrating fashion photography of the 1990s, collaborating with museums and publishers on exhibitions and books that examined how models, photographers, and designers collectively defined the look of a decade. These projects showcased not just her star power but also her eye for imagery, sequence, and historical context in fashion.
Personal Life
In the mid-1990s Schiffer's relationship with illusionist David Copperfield attracted significant attention, placing her at the intersection of fashion and mainstream entertainment. Later, she married British film director and producer Matthew Vaughn, with whom she has three children. Choosing a quieter, family-centered life in England, she balanced domestic commitments with select professional engagements, stepping back from the constant travel of runway seasons while maintaining a presence through campaigns, special shows, and creative projects. Friends and colleagues from across the industry, designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace, fellow models from the supermodel era, and longtime collaborators behind the camera, remained part of her professional circle and personal story.
Legacy
Claudia Schiffer's legacy rests on her ability to embody both the grandeur and approachability of 1990s fashion. Her image became a global shorthand for modern glamour, yet she carried that fame with a composed, professional demeanor that made her a favorite of editors, photographers, and designers. By blending marquee campaigns with curatorial and entrepreneurial work, she built a career with rare continuity, influencing how models navigate transitions from runway to business and cultural commentary. The people around her, mentors like Karl Lagerfeld, image-makers such as Ellen von Unwerth and Peter Lindbergh, peers from the supermodel cohort, and her family, shaped a path that spans decades, linking the high drama of fashion's golden age to a thoughtful, enduring presence in contemporary culture.
Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written by Claudia, under the main topics: Sports - Equality - Aging - Movie - Family.
Other people realated to Claudia: Gianni Versace (Designer), Eva Herzigova (Model), Helena Christensen (Model), David Copperfield (Celebrity), Elle Macpherson (Model), Tatjana Patitz (Model)