Kate Moss Reacts to Criticism Over ‘Heroin Chic’ Look

Kate Moss, the British supermodel who defined the 'heroin chic' style in the 90s with her thin physique and pale skin, reveals she faced harassment from parents concerned about eating disorders in their daughters. In the new Disney+ documentary, "In Vogue: The 90s," the now 50-year-old Moss shares that her distinctive body shape, which was unusually skinny for that era, drew both criticism and concern. This is prepared by SSP.

Moss recounts, "Parents would come up to me and say, 'My daughter’s anorexic.' It was awful. I think because I was just skinny, and people weren’t used to seeing that. If I'd been more buxom, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal." She links much of the public discomfort to a misunderstanding of her body type, different from the more curvaceous models who preceded her.

The concept of 'heroin chic' was often criticized for glorifying an unhealthy appearance characterized by a waif-like frame, pale skin, and exhausted expressions. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor, acknowledges in the documentary, "That look—very undernourished-looking models—made people uncomfortable. Many of us at Vogue worried about the negative connotations of 'heroin chic' and anorexia."

Fashion editors like Catherine Kasterine recall the intense backlash Moss faced, particularly following her first Vogue cover at the age of 19. Kasterine said, "The public were not ready. The pictures were immediately vilified and criticized."

In 2009, Moss also faced backlash for the phrase, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels," which she later distanced herself from, clarifying it was merely a "little jingle" she heard from her flatmate and not an endorsement of unhealthy behavior. Body image advocates accused her of promoting eating disorders.

The 'heroin chic' era also sparked disapproval from the fashion industry, with designers like John Galliano and Stella McCartney condemning the glamorization of addictive substances. In 1997, thirteen designers issued a statement against the glorification, expressing concern over its detrimental impact on young people, heavily influenced by fashion icons.

Today, Kate Moss reflects on her past with a more nuanced understanding of its implications and the controversies it spurred. Following her iconic influence in the '90s, she acknowledges the complexities tied to her public image and its effect on societal standards of beauty.