Model Of The Moment: Chanel Iman
No doubt you’ve seen the lovely and lithesome Chanel Iman before: perhaps on the cover of Vogue last spring with fellow future supermodels, in Gap’s spring ad campaign, or even right here in our Met Gala story. The reason we’re turning our MOTM spotlight on the 18-year-old native Angeleno is because right now Ms. Iman is having a (you guessed it) moment in the fashion world and deserves to be celebrated.
The aptly named model is enjoying a career uptick that surely makes her the envy of her peers. Iman had a very strong Fall 08 runway season and landed coveted shows galore including Matthew Williamson, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent (plus over 40 more). In addition to the Gap, she’s also one of the faces in Ralph Lauren’s spring ads and we heard that she’s clinched a position in the Victoria’s Secret’s upcoming PINK campaign. Most exciting of all, Iman is appearing in the heavily anticipated July issue of Vogue Italia that will solely feature black models. The noteworthy issue was shot by Steven Meisel and is rumored to include rising star Jourdan Dunn, Veronica Web, and Iman (the Somalian stunner, just to clarify).
As Iman’s work profile has been ascending, we’ve noticed her personal style is escalating as well. She favors snugly tailored jackets, skinny jeans, and a solid pair of ankle boots for her pre-show uniform, but we adore her vibrant moments as well, like when she broke out a ruffled Michael Kors dress for a CFDA cocktail party last week. We also appreciate the fact that Iman often turns to a signature sizeable accessory—the statement necklace—to personalize her simple dresses. If this is how she’s putting herself together two years into her career, we can’t wait to see what she’ll be wearing in twenty. —Lily Huber
Photo far left, courtesy of Getty Images. Photo second from right, courtesy of Splash News.
The aptly named model is enjoying a career uptick that surely makes her the envy of her peers. Iman had a very strong Fall 08 runway season and landed coveted shows galore including Matthew Williamson, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent (plus over 40 more). In addition to the Gap, she’s also one of the faces in Ralph Lauren’s spring ads and we heard that she’s clinched a position in the Victoria’s Secret’s upcoming PINK campaign. Most exciting of all, Iman is appearing in the heavily anticipated July issue of Vogue Italia that will solely feature black models. The noteworthy issue was shot by Steven Meisel and is rumored to include rising star Jourdan Dunn, Veronica Web, and Iman (the Somalian stunner, just to clarify).
As Iman’s work profile has been ascending, we’ve noticed her personal style is escalating as well. She favors snugly tailored jackets, skinny jeans, and a solid pair of ankle boots for her pre-show uniform, but we adore her vibrant moments as well, like when she broke out a ruffled Michael Kors dress for a CFDA cocktail party last week. We also appreciate the fact that Iman often turns to a signature sizeable accessory—the statement necklace—to personalize her simple dresses. If this is how she’s putting herself together two years into her career, we can’t wait to see what she’ll be wearing in twenty. —Lily Huber
Photo far left, courtesy of Getty Images. Photo second from right, courtesy of Splash News.
Does anyone know where the leather jacket on the far right is from?
Posted by: Annie | 2009-04-01 11:38:56
simply stunning. i love her!!! she's amazinng beautiful name too
Posted by: rudiie | 2008-09-13 00:15:17
I love her style, the way she is she smile and everything. Although I find she is a tiny bit too skinny she got this incredible models attitude.i hope she will keep going like this
Posted by: edwige | 2008-09-12 17:37:35
ahh chanel is one of my favorite models! thank you so much wwwd for featuring her! oh and chanel iman is an awesome name.
Posted by: alexjonesroxx | 2008-07-04 11:24:07
see, this is why I can't stand SOME people...some white people. Why can't a person of another race be rewarded the same thing COUNTLESS people of another race are awarded without a HUGE assault to people's ego being an issue? Get over yourselves!! ??
Posted by: TT | 2008-06-21 02:38:15
she is SUPER cute. just saw her new express ads. wonder what their sales will be now?
Posted by: Terren | 2008-06-17 00:26:21
smartypanties 'her mom named her after coco chanel...' Oh, really. Wow. Thank you. I did not know that. I guess I should pick up a 'fashion publication' because I feel Chanel Iman is a ridiculous name. By the by, her name was Gabrielle, Coco was a nickname. Maybe YOU should get your facts straight.
Posted by: camille | 2008-06-15 18:50:14
Chanel Iman is so gorgeous! I love her catwalk picture the best. She seems so bubbly and lights up the place. I look up to that.
Posted by: Nadine | 2008-06-14 02:12:09
holy crap she is thin!
Posted by: Beth | 2008-06-13 15:07:24
Who's necklaces are those on the far left?
Posted by: | 2008-06-11 11:50:10
Whats not to like? The girl is stunning!
Posted by: Fatima | 2008-06-09 12:03:28
I'm not a fan of her, there's something about the way she looks that i find quite unappealing.
Posted by: Chicenstein | 2008-06-08 01:16:13
Love her! i also love her gray tights!!
Posted by: Olivia | 2008-06-07 23:40:00
what i would do to have her style! love her love her love her love her
Posted by: lizzie b | 2008-06-07 19:55:06
love her. her smile & her look is so refreshing. wanguisfavs.blogspot.com
Posted by: wangui | 2008-06-07 17:59:40
shes georgous! but i cant really decide whether i like her or not? but i do really really like her outfit on the far right!! Its styled perfectlyyy
Posted by: zoe! | 2008-06-07 02:34:40
i think she's gorgeous, especially in that suit jacket and white shirt.
Posted by: cynthia | 2008-06-06 21:40:13
i am neither a hater nor am i ignorant in the slightest way possible, my dear smartie. chanel iman is a beautiful girl and an interesting model. i just think that the girl's name is absolutely ridiculous. nothing more. nothing less. if it is her birth name, that is even more tragic. i am beyond happy that my literature obsessed parents didn't leave me with a name like goethe colette, just for inspiration.
Posted by: fashiongirl | 2008-06-06 05:39:32
I think its rather pathetic that some people feel the need to offend other cultures in order to complement another individual. "horse-faced Russian girls"? really? do we need to sink that low to make a point? not that im actually Russian. just saying.
Posted by: mischa | 2008-06-05 22:01:14
Great post, loooove her, so cute skin is amazing, great style.. Thanks for some inspiration especially the dress wit the statement necklace...more of her PLEASE
Posted by: Laurie | 2008-06-05 20:41:19
Dude - smartypants. I think that people who have money but dress. . .not so cute know what they're doing. . .and Chanel is a model, not an actress, she's surrounded by fashion, and glamorous style.
Posted by: A | 2008-06-05 18:32:39
She's an okay model, prettier than those ugly horse-faced Russian girls, but she annoys me to bits. She seems rather full of herself, and not in the glamorous Agness Deyn way.
Posted by: Ada | 2008-06-05 16:34:55
I love the outfit to the far right!
Posted by: Amy | 2008-06-05 15:55:03
ahh! i love chanel! only she's way too thin.
Posted by: hoverboarder123 | 2008-06-05 15:47:06
cute girl but her style seems very corrective Rihanna, if that makes any sense...
Posted by: Vegan Vogue | 2008-06-05 15:27:40
I saw an interview with her on Fashion Television up here in Canada and was really impressed with her poise and eloquence. She seems like she has a good head on her shoulders, which makes her all the more beautiful.
Posted by: ana | 2008-06-05 15:26:22
I think she's great but a lot of people forget that she's of mixed ethnicity (she's black and korean).
Posted by: Celestine | 2008-06-05 15:08:08
She's got a beautiful face and great sytle. For sure one I'll be keeping an eye on. www.shinylittlethings.com
Posted by: shinylittlethin | 2008-06-05 14:37:59
more like mode of the year!! i l0ove this girl! shes so amazing, and gorgeous!
Posted by: Autumn Murphy | 2008-06-05 14:17:21
she's stunning! love the leather jacket look on the right, as a few others have noted :)
Posted by: rr | 2008-06-05 14:00:54
She's gorgeous in every way: she looks fresh and simply put together even if her fashion choices are not that simple. Loving it!
Posted by: Maia | 2008-06-05 13:57:43
I'm quite surprised with some of the posts, normally I would ignore the more obnoxious remarks but bluebelle was way out of line with her question and an apology to Alexandra is in order. Iman is a fabulous model, one I look forward to watching in yrs to come.
Posted by: Jan | 2008-06-05 13:03:12
she is gorgeous. I am completely in love with her leather jacket look ;) check out my blog! http://kittykatekins.blogspot.com/
Posted by: kitty | 2008-06-05 12:59:06
S and fashiongirl, I don't know if you girls are haters or just ignorant. Fashiongirl - pick up a fashion publication once in awhile! In all her interviews it states her mom named her after inspirations like Coco Chanel and Iman! Don't go ragging on her when you can't even get your facts straight first S- Just because you can buy designer clothes doesn't grant you immediate style. There are dozens of examples of people who can afford the best clothes in the world and still dress like trash. (L. Lohan)
Posted by: smartypanties | 2008-06-05 12:16:54
I love all her looks and have seen her around for quite sometime. I loved her cover on teen vogue to. Her legs are quite skinny but who cares they go on forever.
Posted by: Camilla | 2008-06-05 11:47:32
heya, she seems pretty cool. she has the whole healthy skinny not like dieing skinny look going. anyone know what those black ankle boots are?
Posted by: lisa | 2008-06-05 11:25:21
finally - a model who SMILES! and she has amazing style to boot... i loooooove her accessories
Posted by: Marianne | 2008-06-05 11:13:47
i think this girl is great, she's only 16 or 17..
Posted by: davy | 2008-06-05 10:56:03
bluebelle, how do you gather from Alexandra's post that she dislikes her bc of her race? ....kind of a peculiar question. i think chanel is beautiful!
Posted by: th.dany | 2008-06-05 09:27:43
She is such a fresh-faced beauty. It is so nice to see a model who isn't grimacing and looking like death warmed over. Very cute style too, I love her hair.
Posted by: MEP | 2008-06-05 09:15:32
i love chanel iman so much. she is simply beautiful. i love her personality, her style and her modeling ability. a lot of models dress HORRIBLY when there are off the runway. i am so happy she has class
Posted by: zoe | 2008-06-05 09:09:52
fashiongirl-Chanel Iman is her real name, its what her mother named her. I, for one, am a huge fan of hers, I especially loved her when she did the Dsquared2 fashion show.
Posted by: champagne | 2008-06-05 08:59:15
jessica: haha, don't worry, i seriously love her too, i'm also in the facebook fan club!
Posted by: hannah | 2008-06-05 08:58:14
Alexandra- is it because she's black? I dont think shes that bad
Posted by: bluebelle | 2008-06-05 08:35:09
The amount i love this girl may well constitute lesbianism. I am even in a fcaebook fan club! Totally gorgeous (though her legs are a bit on the skinny side). And now she dresses as well as she looks. If i only i had the same gifts!
Posted by: Jessica | 2008-06-05 08:18:25
Absolutely, stunningly breathtaking. Probably my favourite model at the moment who deserves a huge future. I just hope she doesn't turn in to Tyra and start waxing lyrical about being non-caucasian.
Posted by: Benjamin | 2008-06-05 07:53:06
i looove that leather jacket! anyone know what it is? and chanel iman is her real name you idiot.
Posted by: bbp | 2008-06-05 07:03:13
she is absolutely GORGEOUS. shes very skinny which usually kind of scares me a bit but she just looks SO HEALTHY with her beautiful skin. she is fabulous. thank you for posting someone who breaks the mold of the typical single white waif as well..
Posted by: | 2008-06-05 05:34:18
Wiki says that's her birth name.
Posted by: Val | 2008-06-05 03:38:54
her stage name is ridiculous. why not call yourself versace behati or donaldson dolce when taking up modeling...
Posted by: fashiongirl | 2008-06-05 03:29:41
I love Chanel Iman, and I love this post. She's such a gamine.
Posted by: Aitch | 2008-06-05 02:21:23
shes a model, not one to make a fuss about, she doesn't look bad, just doesn't inspire me in the least. x
Posted by: sarah | 2008-06-05 02:09:06
Most boring/lame post EVER.
Posted by: the original Ki | 2008-06-05 01:32:51
She's absolutely gorgeous.. so crazy that when she came into the big time modeling she was so young, and looked so much older. Love the pink/orange flower dress
Posted by: kianna | 2008-06-05 01:30:51
I dont really know how I feel about her, but I do know that she is very pretty - her skin is amazing! She has really good style...but how could you not when people give you such AMAZING clothes
Posted by: S | 2008-06-05 01:04:39
I dislike her, but I love the jacket in the picture on the far right.
Posted by: Alexandra | 2008-06-05 00:57:49
Amazing. Ive seen in the Vogue issue and shes definitely someone to keep an out for! Anyone know what the dress is that she is wearing in the first picture?
Posted by: kiki | 2008-06-05 00:52:50