Sometimes called one of many “unique supermodels” Tatjana Patitz, recognized for her runway and editorial work all through the Nineteen Eighties and ‘90s, has handed away on the age of 56, in accordance with Vogue.
Patitz was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1966 and raised in Sweden by her father, a journey journalist, and her mom, a dancer. On the age of 17, she received third place in a contest held by Elite Mannequin Administration, and in consequence, received a contract with the company and moved to Paris to start modeling. By 1985, she was an everyday within the trade with a British Vogue cowl to her title. That was additionally the yr she started working with photographer Peter Lindbergh, with whom she would go on to collaborate with repeatedly over the following few a long time. “I like Tatjana as a result of she at all times stays herself,” Lindbergh wrote concerning the mannequin in his ebook, 10 Ladies.“She’s very comfortable, however on the identical time she’s very sturdy and is aware of easy methods to get up for what she thinks, and it is at all times very enriching to be along with her. It is unimaginable to not admire her and over time to not be just a bit bit in love along with her.”
All through the ‘80s, Patitz appeared in editorials in French Vogue, Italian Vogue, Elle, and lots of extra publications as she labored with photographers like Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, and Steven Meisel. In 1987, she was shot by Richard Avedon her first cowl for American Vogue. It was round this time that the thought of supermodels started to type, with Patitz as one of many unique names within the group. Her success continued, however in 1989, she determined to relocate to Los Angeles in an try and decelerate a little bit and be nearer to nature. She continued to ebook editorials all through the ‘90s, taking pictures photographs like Lindbergh’s January 1990 cowl for British Vogue alongside Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Christy Turlington, which helped actually usher within the period of the supermodel, and led to the group’s title, “The Large 5.” It was that cowl, which caught the eye of singer George Michael, who then forged Patitz, together with the remainder of the group, within the David Fincher-directed music video for his track, “Freedom! 90.” On her personal, Patitz continued strolling runways, and dealing with manufacturers, finally changing into the face of Jil Sander. Patitz would go on to symbolize the designer for a few years.
In 2004, Patitz gave start to her son, Jonah. All through this time, the mannequin additionally labored as an animal rights activist, in addition to an advocate for HIV consciousness, LGBTQ rights, and gender equality. She was very outspoken about her expertise with growing older, telling Sarah Brokaw in her ebook Fortytude, “I consider in growing older gracefully as a result of it celebrates me as a lady…I do know who I’m, and what I’ve to supply. In the long run—for me, as for each girl—magnificence is what one emanates. It comes from feeling good about who you’re together with your flaws (and we all have them), and being at peace with your self.” Patitz continued to work by way of the aughts, closing out Jean Paul Gaultier’s fall/winter 2009 present for Hermes, and escorting Karl Lagerfeld down the runway through the finale of his 2010 Chanel cruise assortment. The subsequent decade introduced with it extra editorials, together with a Lindbergh-shot L’Oreal Paris marketing campaign alongside actress Andie MacDowell and fashions Helena Christensen, Karen Alexander, and Amber Valletta. Whereas she didn’t work fairly as a lot in the previous couple of years of her life, her fame did the speaking, and Patitz was repeatedly named as some of the influential fashions of her time by quite a few publications, with L’Officiel calling her “probably the most lovely face of the last decade.”
Patitz shall be remembered as one of many unique supermodels, in addition to for her contributions to the trade and her work each on the runway and in editorials. She was by no means scared to talk her reality and in 2019 she advised 63Magazine, “I’m pleased with my wrinkles. I labored for every one and so they belong to me. Rising older is gorgeous. You develop into wiser and extra mature. For me, giving freely or altering that reward isn’t an choice…Magnificence means being a great particular person and being there for others. In my view, magnificence isn’t solely about seems, however every part that makes up an individual.” See beneath for the numerous tributes being paid to the late icon following the information of her dying.