Shalom Harlow was the face of 90s fashion. After being discovered at a Cure concert (arguably, one of the coolest scouting stories in the industry), Shalom began modelling straight out of high school in the early 90s, joining the ranks of supers like Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista. Throughout the decade, Shalom became a favourite of some of the decade’s most iconic designers, including John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, and fronted campaigns for mega-houses from Chanel to Versace.
Naturally, Shalom is the face behind some of the most iconic runway looks of all time. Think Galliano-for-Dior’s Haute Couture nymph for SS97. Or Alexander McQueen’s SS99 spray-painted performance-art dress. What about Todd Oldham’s saucy Swarovski miniskirt? As a supermodel, it’s only natural that Shalom dressed to the nines off the runway, as well, frequently donning Versace diamanté and the decade’s luxe minimalist staples. Here, to celebrate her birthday, we look back at some of Shalom’s most iconic outfits, both on and off the runway.
Walking Todd Oldham, SS95
Few designers embody the fun of 90s fashion like Todd Oldham. For his SS95 show, Shalom and fellow super Amber Valletta showed down on the runway in a pair of Swarovski crystal skirts. “I always see when people tag me in the videos of Shalom passing Amber, the memes are so good,” Todd reminisced to Vogue earlier this year. “The funny part is that those two are still delightful friends, they love each other so it’s funny that they appear as if they’re rivals.”
At the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, 1996
Clearly, Shalom loves her Swarovski minis. Here — smoking backstage at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards with bestie Amber — she wears one of Versace’s iconic diamanté pieces. Chic!
Leaving a party at Balthazar, 1997
Logomania and diamanté excess aside, the 90s were a time of minimalism in fashion. Here, leaving a party at New York’s Balthazar, Shalom epitomizes the zeitgeist in a simple black tee, slip skirt and nude sandals.
Walking Dior Haute Couture, AW97
Galliano’s aim for his eagerly-anticipated second Dior Haute Couture collection was to “make women look beautiful and make people dream.” Appropriately, the show was held in Paris’ lush Bagatelle Gardens where models stalked the concrete pathways in romantic New Look suiting and ethereal Edwardian dresses. Shalom’s look was one of the collection’s most sensual and most shocking: a topless sheer mermaid gown accessorized with Goossens body jewelry and an embellished thong.
Walking Alexander McQueen, SS99
Before there was Bella and Coperni, there was Shalom and McQueen. For the SS99 season, the legendary British designer teamed up with the Canadian super to bring us one of the most iconic, exhilarating fashion moments of all time. “It wasn’t a fashion show. It was performance art,” reads Vogue’s 1998 review. For the show’s grand finale, Shalom, wearing a white broderie anglaise dress, took her place on a rotating platform at the center of the runway, where a pair of robots sprayed her with paint as she spun round and round. “When it was over, Harlow practically stumbled into the audience. Potent stuff,” Vogue elated.
In Versace’s SS19 campaign
Remember this viral moment? Shalom’s been a Versace favourite since the early 90s. Nearly three decades since she first set foot on the house’s runway, Shalom was tapped to face its SS19 campaign. In a backstage video filmed by none other than Donatella Versace, herself, Shalom shows us why she earned the supermodel title.
For Mugler, SS22
Shalom has been a long-time Mugler muse. Back in the 90s, she walked the house’s runway shows under the direction of Manfred Thierry Mugler. Today, she graces the label’s virtual presentation videos, produced under the creative direction of Casey Cadwallader. For Mugler’s SS22 outing, Shalom, alongside supermodel-bestie Amber, strutted her stuff around and on top of a vintage limousine wearing a very memorable cut-out suit. It’s 90s-meets-2020s sexy. And it’s totally iconic: just like Shalom.