The energy at Sabyasachi’s 25th-anniversary show is mystical. The star-studded guest list is yet to fill the halls outside, and the piercing gaze of the 50-year-old designer haunts the cosmic set that sits empty at the moment. Backstage, models run around in embellished trenches and fur-lined skirts. Most are comically half-dressed. Christy Turlington, who is to conclude this elephantine affair, is ready. As I meet her, a grin spreads across her face. I am immediately taken by her seemingly ageless skin and glimmering eyes.
Dressed in ivory grey cashmere pants, and an onyx pashmina sweater, Turlington looks quite laid back, except for the plethora of jewels that adorn her. From layered necklaces and crucifix earrings to bangles and bracelets—the bling is endless. “I feel chic and very comfortable,” she tells me. “I am always cold, so I am very happy to have this sweater on.”
This is Turlington’s seventh trip to India. When I ask her what keeps her coming back, pat comes the answer—“I love India. There’s just so much to discover,” she says. “I’ve been here many times and I feel like it would take a lifetime to see all that India has to offer.” When she’s here, there is always a long bucket list to check off. But there are two things she must get a hold of. “I have to eat dosa. Also, I absolutely love my masala chai and I’ve had several of those since I’ve been here. Those are my must-do’s in a very short amount of time.”
As we talk, newer models pass by. They often glance at Turlington with reverence. After all, the supermodel ruled the runways in the 90s and still brings an irresistible sense of grace to the few shows and fewer interviews she does now. “The 90s were so much fun. And the other models I worked with were all like sisters. We would stay in the same hotels, share a room sometimes, and would go shopping when we wanted to celebrate any long day or moment,” she reminisces. One would expect her favourite moments to be related to a show, but the one thing she looks back upon most fondly is the time she spent with the children of her peers. “Yasmin Le Bon for instance, had two little girls when we were working together. It was so much fun to play around with her daughters and bring them along on our adventures in the city,” Turlington remembers.
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She also recollects looking up to one of the Indian models—arguably India's first international supermodel—who made a splash in the fashion capitals along with her. “The one person I think of so much is Kirat Young, who worked a lot with Saint Laurent and Oscar de la Renta. When I first started on the scene, I found her incredibly glamorous and very beautiful,” she tells Vogue India.
Turlington feels glad that the world is finally recognising the magic that India is home to, especially when it comes to luxury and fashion. “I am so inspired by Indian style—the whole world has been,” she admits.
Even though Turlington loves to incorporate elements from India, she has yet to jump on the maximalist bandwagon. “My style is very understated and probably very boring. I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve been in the fashion industry for so many years, or because I like to disappear and sort of blend in.” As someone who hates to stand out, she loves to dip her toes in a glamorous Sabyasachi ensemble like today. “This is a special moment that makes me want to dress up and bring a bit of attention to myself,” she laughs.
What she generally likes to draw attention to is her work with Every Mother Counts, an organisation that strives towards making pregnancy and childbirth safe for mothers everywhere. Turlington believes it’s the world of fashion that has taken her on this path. “My first exposure to philanthropy was through the industry and some of the most amazing, impactful work—when the industry came together for HIV, AIDS or Cancer awareness. I got to learn a lot through so many of my colleagues, designers and those in positions of power, who amplified different issues in the world,” she explains. “My work has also been informed by my personal experiences. Ensuring that mothers have access to safe, respectful and quality care when bringing life into the world was heavily influenced by the birth of my first child—who is now a 21-year-old young woman.”
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As we chat, Turlington takes time to greet other models rushing by. I ask her, as someone who has modelled for decades now, what advice would she give to someone starting as one. “I would say, always have a side interest—something that keeps you stimulated and focused.” To that she adds a wise word she herself received as a young creative—“When you have the opportunity to explore and travel and be in places around the world, stay back for as long as you can. Don’t stay in your hotel room or at the studio but really get out there and see a bit of the world.”
Turlington has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers and walked countless ramps, but none of it shows through her warmth and poise. After she films a video for Vogue’s Instagram, she whispers to me with childlike joy, “I have never held one of these tiny mics on camera. I see everyone doing it for interviews these days.” As she slips back into her dressing room for one last time before closing Sabyasachi’s 25th-anniversary show, her infectious excitement washes over me.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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