Eighties supermodels beat off rivals

Supermodels who came to fore in the 1980s appear to be giving the more recent girls a run for their money. Veteran mannequins Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington (pictured in her heyday) and Claudia Schiffer have all landed contracts with the major brands and, according to a survey of adverts in September’s Vogue carried out by the London Evening Standard, are actually eclipsing their youthful rivals.

Old –timer Campbell, 38, who also appears on the cover of fashion bible i-D this month, fronts up Yves Saint Laurent's autumn/winter range campaign, while Evangelista, 43, is the face of the Italian label Prada. Meanwhile, Chanel has left young models by the wayside, enlisting 39 year-old Christy Turlington for an eyewear commercial. Schiffer, 38, barely recognisable in a dark brown wig, is the face of the Chanel’s mainline campaign.

None of this surprises Stefano Pilati, creative director at Yves Saint Laurent, who described all four as "the most amazing girls. Today there are more beautiful girls more or less but they don’t have the attitude." ·