It's a truth universally acknowledged that no one does parties quite like Kate Moss - so who could be better to school us in the art of party dressing? In celebration of Mossy's 43rd birthday, here's everything that Croydon's favourite daughter has taught us about dressing to impress.
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Go for vintage
Ever suffered the indignity of turning up to an event in a shiny new dress, then realising that the girl standing ten feet away from you is wearing the exact same thing? It. Is. Painful. As Kate knows, the most stylish way to pre-empt this sort of disaster is to spend time sourcing something vintage. Of course, one of the perks of being the most photographed woman alive is the access to the best stylists and vintage traders in the business, but Kate also reportedly favours vintage dens like Rellik and One Of A Kindin Portobello.
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Take a theme and run with it
No one likes a spoilsport, and there are few things more annoying than throwing a fancy dress party then having all your pals rock up in half-hearted, cobbled together ensembles. This would never, ever happen if Kate Moss was your BFF (we can but dream). She's the queen of committing to a costume theme, dressing up as Anne Boleyn for her Tudor-themed 35th birthday party and most famously wearing a midnight blue floor-length flapper dress for her F. Scott Fitzgerald inspired 'Beautiful and Damned' shindig.
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If in doubt, wear black
Kate’s a great believer in the power of the little black dress - remember the scramble to snap up the LBDs in her first Topshop collaboration? This has to be one of the easiest (and most timeless) ways to channel Kate’s style: the supermodel tends to favour shorter styles with statement necklines, worn with a beaded vintage clutch bag.
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Dress for the long game
Partying with Mossy is a test of endurance - her 40th birthday party famously went on for an impressive four days. While we don’t imagine that Kate is the sort of woman to keep a spare pair of ‘emergency’ flats and blister plasters stashed in her bag, she’s definitely an expert at choosing outfits that look as good at 9am as they do at 9pm.
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There's no such thing as too much leopard print
Whether it’s a Sixties-style fur coat or a head-to-toe printed gown, no one wears animal print quite like our Kate. If you’re brave enough, pair it with red lipstick.
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Embrace maximalism
Vintage furs? Tick. Head-to-toe velvet? Yep. Gold turban? Why not. She may have shot to fame in the minimalism-loving Nineties, but these days Kate is definitely a member of the ‘more is more’ sartorial school. Disclaimer: this is one look that’s definitely harder for the average mortal to pull off, but you can channel Kate’s maximalist impulses by throwing on a faux fur coat, whatever the outfit.
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Be mindful of the occasion
Yes, she’s a party girl, but Kate knows the importance of a dress code. Case in point? The outfit above, worn for a dinner hosted by the Duke of Cambridge’s charity gala dinner at Windsor Castle. It’s entirely occasion appropriate: fashion forward, but not too out there, subtly glamorous rather than overtly attention grabbing.
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Let the outfit do the talking
When your outfit is perfect, you don’t need to remember to brush your hair. Kate tends to favour fashionably dishevelled waves rather than overly ‘done’ curls or super straight hair, typically worn with artfully smudged eyeliner and a nude lipstick.
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Go floor length
Kate knows that the easiest way to grab attention is to opt for a floor-skimming ensemble, be it a maxi dress or a Studio 54-esque jumpsuit.
Happy Birthday, Kate!
WATCH Kate Moss Fashion Through The Years