Great Outfits in Fashion History: Christy Turlington’s 1993 Off-Duty New York Fashion Week Look

There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.

While the “off-duty model” style archetype wasn’t established until the late 2000s, the simple aesthetic was appreciated by fashion lovers long before a term was officially coined. The rise of this effortless-seeming, pared-back way of dressing can be attributed to runway stars such as Christy Turlington, who was never underdressed, despite skipping jewelry and other non-functional accessories most of the time.

One memorable standout of Turlington’s off-duty appearances harkens back to the early ’90s, as she made her way to walk in Ralph Lauren‘s Fall 1993 show: The model wore a dusty blue button-down, a rich purple wrap skirt and pointed-toe black boots. She schlepped her emerald green Hermès Birkin up 7th Avenue ahead of the show alongside fellow model Kate Moss, who donned an even more simplistic look: a black dress and coat, paired with Adidas sneakers and a conspicuous brown paper bag. Both completed their outfits with black tights (it was late-winter in New York City, after all).

It’s the slightly undone feel and functional aspects of these outfits – like tights, full bags and tousled hair – that make them feel so current today. Turlington’s look in particular isn’t trapped by a specific season or year, reinforcing the beauty of so-called “effortless” dressing to which fashion always returns.

Want to recreate Turlington’s look? Check out our selection of inspired pieces below.

Banana Republic The Perfect Silk Shirt, $150, available here

Quince Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse, $70, available here

LaQuan Smith Leather Maxi Skirt, $1990, available here

Stillwater Dani Maxi Skirt, $168, available here

Dolce Vita Flynn Knee High Boot, $200 $115, available here

Frye Kate Pull On, $348, available here

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