Iman, the iconic 62-year-old gorgeous supermodel and beauty mogul, sat down to talk with Empire’s badass anti-heroine about aging gracefully, standing up for diversity in fashion, and more, in Harper’s BAZAAR’s April issue, on newsstands now.
Here’s some:
On making an effort to ensure diversity on today’s runways: “There were more black models working back when I started than there have been recently. So Bethann Hardison, Naomi Campbell, and I got together a couple of years ago to raise awareness about the need for diversity in fashion. We talked about it in the press and to the CFDA, and I think we’re seeing the change on the runways and in campaigns…People used to say to me, “You just want to be invited to the table.” And I’m like, “F**k the table—I can buy my own table.” But the young girls who are coming up? They need to see themselves portrayed.”
On how to help promote diversity in the industry: “If a designer boycotts me, I should boycott him. I’m not going to buy a bag from someone who doesn’t use black models. We should celebrate and highlight the people who actually step it up.”
On how her style has changed over time: “I’ve always lived by the philosophy that in a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic. True style is like a great black-and-white picture: It never looks dated.”
On which trends should return—and which should not: “Anything from the 1980s shouldn’t return. If you’re 20 years old, [shoulder pads will] look great on you. But they don’t travel well.”
www.harpersbazaar.com/
Iman wears Tom Ford and Bulgari