Elle Macpherson’s runway return: ‘I didn’t wait for this moment’

It’s been heralded as supermodel Elle Macpherson’s return to the runway after 16 years, but the fashion industry has never been good with dates.

When Macpherson, who turns 60 at the end of the month, walks on Monday night for the first major show of the Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF), it will be nearly 14 years since her runway appearance for Louis Vuitton in Paris.

Elle Macpherson is returning to the runway for the Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Blurring the timeline further is a runway appearance in Sydney 13 years ago, where Macpherson dressed as a sexy pilot to launch Virgin flight crew uniforms as a favour to entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Even Macpherson, who has a good head for numbers – having turned being ‘The Body’ into big business through a series of calendars, underwear collections and her ingestible beauty brand WelleCo – is confused.

“The headline is ‘coming back to runway’, but that’s not really the case,” Macpherson says. “This is just an evolution of doing things. So anyway, it has been 11 years since I’ve walked – or 10 years, 15 years, or whatever it is.”

During that period Macpherson’s supermodel peers Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer have made runway appearances for Versace, Fendi and Ralph Lauren. So what makes an MFF show featuring Aje, Oroton and Bianca Spender the right time to resurrect her strut?

Macpherson on the runway: Ralph Lauren autumn/winter ready-to-wear, 1985, New York; Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2011 in March 2010, Paris; launching the Virgin flight staff uniforms in February 2011, Sydney.Credit: Getty, Janie Barrett

“I didn’t wait for this moment,” she says. “I simply chose other things along the way. That’s what I’ve done with WelleCo. I was hosting and producing Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model.
I grew and evolved and put my energy into things that sparked my heart.”

“This felt really worthwhile because I have a passion for supporting Australian fashion and young designers, and I love Melbourne.”

When asked about reviving her runway walk, which during the ’80s and ’90s featured hypnotically swaying hips, the usually confident Macpherson is uncharacteristically flustered.

“I think I was just trying,” she says. “I was trying very hard to be like the other girls and that was a bit distracting.

“I’ve come to understand it’s not wise to be like anyone else. You have to be your actual self and that’s what I’ll be now. I’ll be walking my true self down the runway.

“What people find so attractive and charismatic is our individuality, and I think it’s critical that people nurture their individuality and be comfortable in it.”

It’s Macpherson’s individuality that MFF sponsor PayPal was after in securing her runway appearance. Along with her role at MFF, Macpherson will support the digital payments company’s work with UNICEF.

“I really appreciated this opportunity because it’s coupled with giving back,” she says.

Despite the passing of time – and past runway regrets – Macpherson has few nerves about Monday night’s show.

“I haven’t seen the clothes yet. I think it’ll be elegant, understated and kind of effortless, which is very Aussie and I love that.”

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