Happy Birthday Twiggy! Everything You Need to Know About Britain’s Coolest Supermodel
Twiggy’s career as a supermodel may have lasted for less than five years—she debuted in 1966 and retired in 1970—but her beanpole figure, boyish hair and Bambi-like eyes have made her one of the most inspirational names in fashion history. Today, she turns 67 but she couldn’t be more relevant. Aside from being the face of Marks and Spencer’s newest campaign, she is a constant influence over major fashion houses around the world. In fact, Twiggy’s daughter, Carly Lawson—who works for Stella McCartney as a print maker—has grown so accustomed to seeing vintage photos of her mother around the office that she barely bats an eyelash when mom is mentioned.
“Carly often phones me up and says, ‘The design team just referenced another photo of you,’” says Twiggy (whose real name is Lesley Lawson), from her home in London. “Some shots I haven’t even seen.”
When it comes to her personal fashion philosophy, Twiggy—who recently designed a line for Marks and Spencer—is a sartorial libertarian. “I don’t think anyone should put an age on what people wear. If you look in my wardrobe, it’s still mainly trousers and great 1940s jackets. I’m not going to run around in hot pants at my age, but I’ve got a look that hasn’t changed enormously,” she says. “One of my idols is Fred Astaire.”
Twiggy’s career choices have been just as nonconformist as her tomboy looks. After leaving the modelling biz, she was soon cast in a musical film called The Boy Friend, in a role that earned her two Golden Globes (18 films and 20 albums followed). Her last disc, Romantically Yours, has her singing love-struck standards from artists such as Gershwin and Neil Young. As with her confident approach to dressing, Twiggy wasn’t preoccupied with the originals. “I wasn’t trying to compete with Ella Fitzgerald!” she says, laughing. “I just felt the need to offer my own spin on something classic.”
, from her home in London. “Some shots I haven’t even seen.”
When it comes to her personal fashion philosophy, Twiggy—who recently designed a line for Marks and Spencer—is a sartorial libertarian. “I don’t think anyone should put an age on what people wear. If you look in my wardrobe, it’s still mainly trousers and great 1940s jackets. I’m not going to run around in hot pants at my age, but I’ve got a look that hasn’t changed enormously,” she says. “One of my idols is Fred Astaire.”
Twiggy’s career choices have been just as nonconformist as her tomboy looks. After leaving the modelling biz, she was soon cast in a musical film called The Boy Friend, in a role that earned her two Golden Globes (18 films and 20 albums followed). Her last disc, Romantically Yours, has her singing love-struck standards from artists such as Gershwin and Neil Young. As with her confident approach to dressing, Twiggy wasn’t preoccupied with the originals. “I wasn’t trying to compete with Ella Fitzgerald!” she says, laughing. “I just felt the need to offer my own spin on something classic.”){kind=link}