The term “It Girl” was thrown around a lot in the lost era of chokers and scrunchies.
While using it to define someone with that certain je ne sais quoi that makes people quite literally want to be them existed long before the ’90s, the “It Girl” was an obsession perpetuated by mainstream media.
And having “it” in the ’90s was no easy feat. “It” usually meant being genetically blessed with flawless skin, long, svelte legs and an air of effortless glamour.
The ’90s was, after all, the supermodel golden era – a time when the world couldn’t get enough of the unattainable looks and undeniable attitude of the women who walked the catwalks and graced the magazine covers.
Yes – models were the It Girls of the ’90s.
There was Kate Moss – the too-chic party girl who somehow managed to pull off last night’s makeup time and time again, Naomi Campbell – all smouldering, sophisticated and a little bit fiery, and Claudia Schiffer – the Brigitte Bardot reincarnate, angelic yet sultry with blue eyes that didn’t seem real.
Back home, however, the Australian It Girl had a slightly different edge. She was praised for her laid-back, down-to-earth persona, which made designers desperate to have her on their books, and little girls flipping through the pages of their Dolly magazines aspiring to be her.
She was wholesome rather than angsty, with that sunny, fresh-from-the-beach, girl next door-thing.
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Fun fact: the term "It Girl" was created as a way to promote Clara Bow the American actress and her 1927 movie "It" (not to be confused with the Stephen King movie of same name).
This is a curious melange of real 90's models, women who were known for hanging around the party circuit, and women who were largely popular in lad's mags and nowhere else. With due respect to most of them, they weren't seen as "It-girls" back then.