Chris Moore, the legendary and longstanding catwalk photographer, has witnessed some of the fashion industry's most memorable moments, from the breathtaking to the bizarre. Having been behind the camera for over 60 years, he's seen the catwalks change radically, from the emergence of ready-to-wear in the '60s to the Insta-bait extravaganzas of today.
Last year, Chris' site, which documents his archival and contemporary photographs, was translated into Catwalking, a coffee-table book published in collaboration with fashion writer Alexander Fury which explored both the photographer's mighty career and the changing world of fashion. If you prefer your fashion history to be immersive, though, pay a visit to The Bowes Museum's upcoming exhibition, Catwalking: Fashion Through the Lens of Chris Moore, opening 7th July.
Alongside Chris' photographs of some of the past century's most magical show moments, you'll be able to walk among original catwalk outfits, loaned to the museum by a plethora of leading houses. Analysing the evolution of fashion, from haute couture to the first supermodel, the exhibition promises to be an enthralling look at an industry in constant flux.
Ahead of the show, we asked Chris to highlight some of his favourite moments in catwalk history. Click through to see the wildest and most wondrous happenings, captured firsthand by Chris' lens.
Body Map, Autumn / Winter 1985, London
"London Fashion Week throughout the 1980s showcased a brave generation of talented designers who loved experimenting with presentation. Here, Body Map's show 'Barbie Takes a Trip Around Nature's Cosmic Curves' is choreographed by dance legend Michael Clark, who also models [pictured on the far right]."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Nadja Auermann modelling for a Thierry Mugler retrospective anniversary show during Fall / Winter 1995, Paris
"Held at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, this show was an amazing rush of excitement presented in true Hollywood style. Nadja Auermann – famous for her legs – walked out through dry ice, modelling an over-the-top gold body armour, looking like a Grecian battle princess."
Photographed by Chris Moore Courtesy Of Catwalking
Jaime King modelling for Alexander McQueen, Spring / Summer 1998, London
"The Spring '98 collection was formally 'Untitled' but is now widely known to be 'The Golden Shower'. For the final section of the show, the models walked on tanks of black ink-stained water to the soundtrack of Jaws the movie. Bathed in a sulphurous light, models were showered with water that transformed the all-white fabrics they were wearing into skin-clinging sheer clothes."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Issy Blow front row at Julien Macdonald Fall / Winter, 1998, London
"Issy Blow would change two or three times a day during London Fashion Week. It was at a Julien Macdonald show that she wore that lobster hat by Erik Halley, and was seated next to a fake Michael Jackson. We only learned later that he was a fake, but fake or not he was still upstaged by Issy’s formidable style."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Shalom Harlow modelling for Alexander McQueen, Spring / Summer 1999
"The robot arms in this sequence of the show felt at first to be sinister and threatening, spraying the innocent white of a childlike dress. Instead, it proved to be a graceful ballet, thanks to Shalom Harlow's engaging performance."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Hussein Chalayan Fall / Winter, 2000
"I loved the shows that Chalayan put on at London’s Sadler's Wells Theatre around the turn of the millennium. He was experimenting and transforming shape and function – we saw him turn chair covers into dresses, and a table into a crinoline skirt."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Wild & Lethal Trash, Spring / Summer, 1998
"Shows by Walter van Beirendonck always had something alternative to offer the photo pack, whether it was line-dancing models, stilt-walking performers or would-be superheroes. In 1998 it was wartime ballroom dancers complete with gas masks – that made us laugh out loud."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Alexander McQueen, Fall / Winter 2006, Paris
"2006 had been a difficult year for Kate Moss, who, following a highly publicised scandal, was not seen out and about much. Although she often attended McQueen’s shows, the paparazzi were disappointed not to find her in the front row. If she could not be there in person McQueen wanted his friend to be there at least in spirit, and for the show finale Kate’s ghostly image appeared pirouetting in a hologram video inside a glass pyramid – to the delight of his audience."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Louis Vuitton, Spring / Summer 2013, Paris
"I have seen some spectacles at fashion shows over the years, but I would never have expected to see a steam train come down a catwalk. That is exactly what happened at Louis Vuitton in 2013."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Pat Cleveland modelling for Thierry Mugler's anniversary show during Paris couture, Fall / Winter 1984
"At one of Paris Fashion Week's first blockbuster fashion shows, the finale wedding gown was modelled by Pat Cleveland. Styled as the Virgin Madonna and lowered from high above on wires to the catwalk floor, to the sound of rousing operatic arias and showered by a blizzard of pink confetti."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Chanel, Spring / Summer 2012, Paris
"It has become Karl Lagerfeld’s personal challenge to impress the ever-expanding live audience at Chanel shows. Even by his standard, it was quite a feat to install an entire wind farm under the glass roof of the Grand Palais in Paris for Spring 2012."
Catwalking: Fashion Through the Lens of Chris Moore is at The Bowes Museum, 7th July - 6th January
Photo: Courtesy Of CatwalkingLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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