Fashion

Kate Moss Sans Photoshop Is, Well, Still Gorgeous

by Eliza Florendo

Kate Moss is 40. I'll let that sink in for you. Yet in Vogue Italia's untouched spread of Kate Moss, she looks just as good as she did in the '90s, when we first fell in love with her. Shot by Peter Lindbergh, the black and white photo shoot features Moss in minimal make up and a natural hairstyle, showing us that age is not our enemy. And imperfections? They make us more beautiful.

Moss looks stunning and revels in the notion that simplicity is beautiful. This isn't the first we've seen of celebrities opting for the au naturel looks, from Beyoncé, to Gwyneth Paltrow, to Demi Lovato, these gorgeous women have chosen to go make up free in front of the camera. Just this summer, Gisele also went make up free for Sonia Rykiel's campaign.

According to Slate, this trend may be part of a larger mentality of normcore. A movement dedicated to embracing the normal and rejecting what is considered "fashionable." Tennis shoes, plain sweaters, and light washed jeans took over, and Steve Jobs and Jerry Seinfeld became fashion icons to follow. Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't, but any movement towards simplicity is something I endorse 100%. Less is always more.

The #nomakeup and #nophotoshop movement most likely stems from fashion's throwback to the '90s, when fresh faces and straight hair reigned supreme. And since fashion always cycles back, it's no wonder Moss' shoot is intentionally reminiscent of this beloved decade.

No make up or retouching? I admit it's a bit scary at first, there's something powerful about shedding the foundation, the blush, and the mascara. Remember Man Repeller Leandra Medine's brave essay on why she doesn't wear make up? Because she's lazy. And she's comfortable with the way she looks. And what's more beautiful than that? Confidence is the ultimate sign of sexy, and even though she's dressed in Prada, Chanel, and Hermes, Moss' true beauty radiates because of the confidence she has in herself.

Images: Minirobot/Flickr, @Fashionista_com/Twitter