Stella Tennant had an affinity in her charm that allowed her to embody the replicas: aristocratic with sovereign port, inherited from her British roots, androgyne at the edge of crime, a icy blue flippant capable of seizing you. To gaze Influenced by silence and suspense, this plurality allowed her to fly in the fashion game along with a handful of other models for many years. Model Stella Tennant died on Tuesday, December 22 at the age of 50. Her family made a point of clarifying on January 7 that she had ended her life, in an effort to raise awareness of the risks associated with depression: “Stella had not been doing well for some time. Thus, in our deep sadness and despair, she could not feel, despite the love of those who were closest to her (…) “She was a beautiful soul, loved by her close family and her good friends Thea, a sensitive and talented woman whose creativity, intelligence and humor has touched so many people ”. She was the mother of four children and according to the British press, was separated from her French husband.

Raised in the Scottish countryside, in the great outdoors, “Stella” came from a long line of British nobles who, despite her conscience, made her a personality by the subjects of the state. Diana of the Duchess of Devonshire, granddaughter of writer Nancy Mitford, distant cousin of Diana Spencer, was first rejected because of a very special, unbreakable physique.

International shift

When she appeared on the catwalk in 1994, she was in vogue with the beauties, after being spotted by photographer Steven Meisel. Her slimness, her eyes, her short hair, her elegance bring her closer to a Tilda Swinton of Scotland than the tops, booksome and sexes of the time. Yet he is not far from the most photographed women of the 90s such as Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford or Christy Turlington.

Model Stella Tennant posed in the “Satin Night” series by photographer Tim Walker.

Photo Tim Walker photo- Alliance DPA

Among his most notable collaborations, we note those created by photographer David Sims with Paolo Roversi led by artistic director Mark Askoli, or for Japanese designer Yohiji Yamamoto. In 1996, his career took an international turn when he signed an exclusive contract with Chanel’s house, which became Karl Lagerfeld’s new collection, which became a pageant of the Claudia Schiffer era with him. She would cause a scandal during a parade where Lagerfeld dresses her in a small bikini with dots marked with a double C that would be a milestone.

Photo Steve Wood Rex Features Sipa

Olivier Sellard, JM Weston retains brand and fashion historian as head of productions “The way he maintained silence in this dine of fashion and showbiz”, He tells us. “He was going through an age like nothing, with career leeway and lots of grace.” Presented in France by the Viva Agency, Stella Tennent was actually back on the catwalk in her forties, marching to Demna Gvasalia upon the arrival of Balnyaga. In 2015, in Marie Claire, She was happy to work at length: “I’m lucky because we’re so young obsessed today. Look at Joan Didion. Look at Karl [Lagerfeld, ndlr], He is completely relevant in every of his works. The trend for youth is decreasing, and I think that is not healthy.

“She brought another dream of a woman who did well. Her face was comforting when she grew up, Olivier connects Sillard. At the age of 50, she was still able to traverse very different iconic universes without occupying the territory. Still she was there. And it is both supernatural and indifferent, which we will maintain from Stella.