Peggy Moffitt Passes Away at 86
Peggy Moffitt, the iconic 1960s model and muse known for her striking five-point Vidal Sassoon haircut, bold eye makeup, and groundbreaking collaborations with designer Rudi Gernreich, has passed away at the age of 87. Her son, Christopher Claxton, confirmed the news to WWD on Tuesday morning. Born in Los Angeles, Moffitt initially pursued acting, studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City during the 1950s. Her instructors included notable figures such as Sydney Pollack and Martha Graham, and she was classmates with Robert Duvall and Suzanne Pleshette. This led to a brief contract with Paramount Pictures and several supporting film roles. In 1958, she met photographer William Claxton in L.A., who encouraged her to try modeling. The two married in 1959 in New York and had their son, Christopher, in 1973. Moffitt’s relationship with Gernreich began in 1954 when she was working at the Jax clothing boutique in Beverly Hills. Her unique look, captured in iconic images by Claxton, helped define an era of fashion that celebrated freedom and individuality. Together, they produced what is considered the first fashion video, “Basic Black: William Claxton w/ Peggy Moffitt,” and published “The Rudi Gernreich Book” with Taschen in 1991. Throughout her career, Moffitt modeled in New York, London, and Paris and appeared in legendary fashion films such as “Blow-up” (1962) and “Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?” (1966). She owned over 300 pieces of Gernreich’s designs, many of which were featured in the “Fearless Fashion: Rudi Gernreich” exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center in L.A. in 2019, including the iconic 1964 topless bathing suit known as the monokini. Moffitt held a trademark on Gernreich’s name after his death in 1985 and continued to make her mark in the fashion industry. She collaborated with Comme des Garçons on T-shirts and reinterpretations of Gernreich’s designs in 2003. In 2016, she launched her own leisurewear label with L.A. designer Evelina Galli and partnered with Sage Licensing in 2019 to further expand her fashion ventures. [WWD]
Louis Vuitton Taps Jude Bellingham as a New Brand Ambassador
Louis Vuitton has tapped British soccer player Jude Bellingham as its newest brand ambassador. Bellingham joins the French luxury house following a stellar debut season at Real Madrid, where he helped secure three trophies, including the Champions League. Named La Liga Player of the Season, Bellingham has quickly become a top contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or. The brand stated, “His authenticity, ambition, and dedication both on and off the pitch embody the spirit of Louis Vuitton’s community: individuals who are champions in their fields and beyond.” The campaign, directed by photographer Gabriel Moses and styled by Matthew Henson, showcases Bellingham as the latest addition to Vuitton’s lineup of sports ambassadors. He joins an elite group that includes tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, basketball sensation Victor Wembanyama, swimmer Léon Marchand, and rugby player Antoine Dupont—all of whom earned medals at the Summer Olympic Games, where LVMH was a primary sponsor. [WWD]
JAB Sells Bally to Regent Affiliate
Bally has a new owner after 16 years. Regent, the owner of Club Monaco and Escada, will acquire Bally International A.G. from JAB. Nicolas Girotto, CEO of Bally, appointed Simone Bellotti as its creative director at the end of March last year. Bellotti, succeeding Rhuigi Villaseñor debuted his first collection in September. Michael Reinstein, founder and chairman of Regent, said, “Bally is one of the world’s great heritage luxury brands. Its legacy, built on over 170 years of timeless design and unparalleled quality, is a testament to refined Swiss elegance and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. We are honored to be entrusted with shaping the next chapter of this remarkable story.” [WWD]
A Look Back At Models.com Best Fashion Industry Interviews for the August Break
As the industry settles into a well-deserved August pause before the fashion week blitz, Models.com highlights some of the incredible stories we’ve run in the past year in advance of a scintillating fall lineup on the horizon. Serving as a major link for the artistic community, Models.com has stood as an immeasurable resource for any creative, agent, talent, or brand while making connecting the industry a seamless process and daily occurrence. We continue our series of video features as essential viewing for any fashion fan who seeks to delve deeper into the stories of the leading creatives, top models, and rising talent shaping the business today. Check them out here.
How Stylist George Krakowiak Uses Fashion to Foster Dialogue
Intuitive and investigative — this is how London-based Brazilian stylist George Krakowiak describes his work. Before stepping into the fashion world, Krakowiak studied social sciences in his native Brazil, before later moving to London, where he began assisting a stylist friend to make ends meet. The lucky moment eventually led him to his current career, where since then, Krakowiak has styled Bad Bunny for Vogue Italia, worked with magazines like D Repubblica, and fashion houses like Maison Margiela. For this Behind The Image, discover the most significant challenges he has faced, one thing outside of work he wants people to know about him, and who he believes is the one to watch. Click the link here to read the interview.
The Latest Fall Covers and Ad Campaigns on Our Radar
Models.com brings some of fashion’s best covers and campaigns that have been hitting the newsstands, billboards, and our screens before fashion week. From Miu Miu starring Cara Delevingne to Vogue Italia’s six covers shot by Steven Meisel. Stay tuned this season for more of the covers and campaigns that we noticed and click the link here to see the full list.
MDC Selects: Meet The New Faces Focused on Healthy Habits
Models.com brings you a new group of rookies from all around the world here to share their healthy habits, how they got their start modeling, and one thing you might be surprised to find out about them. Click the link here in the bio to read their full interviews.
