HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Tatjana Patitz (born 25 March 1966) is a German model and actress who achieved international prominence in the 1980s and 1990s representing fashion designers on runways and in magazines such as ''
Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
'', ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the ...
'', and ''
Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...
''. Patitz is one of the big five supermodels who appeared in the 1990 music video "
Freedom! '90 "Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's for ...
" by
George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the MTV generation and is one of the best-selling music ...
, and is associated with the editorial, advertising, and fine-art works of photographers
Herb Ritts Herbert Ritts Jr. (August 13, 1952December 26, 2002) was an American fashion photographer and director known for his photographs of celebrities, models, and other cultural figures throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His work concentrated on black ...
and Peter Lindbergh. In the book ''Models of Influence: 50 Women Who Reset The Course of Fashion'', author Nigel Barker reviewed Patitz's career during the height of the supermodel era in the 1980s and 1990s, writing that she possessed an exoticism and broad emotional range that set her apart from her peers. In her 2012 memoir, creative director of ''Vogue''
Grace Coddington Pamela Rosalind Grace Coddington (born 20 April 1941) is a Welsh former model and former creative director at large of American ''Vogue'' magazine. Coddington is known for the creation of large, complex and dramatic photoshoots. A ''Guardian'' ...
regarded Patitz as one of the original supermodels and a must in photographs and on the catwalk. ''Harper's Bazaar'' wrote, "Indeed, Patitz's features almost confuse. Like Garbo or the Mona Lisa, the inexplicable gifts of line and luminescence defy definition." ''Vogue'' editor-in-chief
Anna Wintour Dame Anna Wintour (; born 3 November 1949) is a British journalist based in New York City who has served as editor-in-Chief of ''Vogue'' since 1988 and Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast since 2020; she is also the artistic directo ...
stated that Patitz had always been one of her favorite models. Patitz's work bridged the eras of the exhibitionist 1980s and the minimalist 1990s in an enduring way, as Barker concluded, "The most lasting images of her are when she was really looking like herself." Author Linda Sivertsen noted that Patitz is greatly responsible for establishing the acceptance of statuesque and curvaceous beauty in an industry of extreme thinness. Today, Patitz is an avid horsewoman who continues her lifelong passion for animals and the environment by campaigning for
ecological Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...
causes and animal rights. Her self-described eclectic and bohemian design aesthetic for residential architecture and home design in her adoptive home state of California has been recognized internationally.


Early life

Patitz was born in
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...
, GermanyTatjana Patitz
at Fashion Model Directory. accessed 2008-09-14.
and raised in
Skanör Skanör is a town in Vellinge Municipality and part of the conurbation Skanör med Falsterbo in southwestern Scania, Sweden. City facilities include hotels, restaurants, a harbour, a medieval church and an elementary school. A greenbelt called ...
, Sweden. Her father is German and his job as a travel journalist allowed his family to travel and live in different countries. Patitz's mother is Estonian and was a dancer who performed at the world famous Le Lido in Paris. Patitz's parents met at a wine tasting in a bodega in Spain where her mother was a student traveling with a
modern dance Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which included dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th ...
company, and has said that her parents' romance is a case of two people falling in love and spending the rest of their lives together. Patitz learned to ride horses at the age of seven. During the summers, she found respite at her family's summer vacation home in Mallorca, where she participated in horse camps. About her love of horses, Patitz has said, "I have been riding since I was a small child. For me, it means freedom, connectedness, and dedication. Horses transform stress and worry for me. They are genuine and spiritual. They make me happy and relaxed, especially if I feel pressured or tense."


Career


Modelling


1980s

In 1983 at the age of 17, Patitz entered and became a finalist in the
Elite Model Look Elite Model Look (formerly known as Look of the Year from 1983 to 1995) is a yearly fashion modeling event held by Elite Model Management, an international model management group. It is used to discover and launch female fashion models in the in ...
(formerly known as Elite Models' "Look of the Year" contest), and based on a Polaroid, she was placed third by Elite Model Management founder
John Casablancas John Casablancas (December 12, 1942 – July 20, 2013) was an American modeling agent and scout who founded Elite Model Management. Casablancas is remembered for his development of the supermodel concept. He is the father of The Strokes frontm ...
. Patitz won a contract and moved to Paris to begin working as a model. Though not an immediate success, by 1985, Patitz worked regularly and at the end of that year, she modelled for the cover of British ''
Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine ** ''Vogue China'', ...
'', her first major cover. Also that year she began to work with photographer Peter Lindbergh with whom she cultivated a 30-year collaborative relationship which contributed to the launch of the
supermodel A supermodel, also spelled super-model or super model, is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in ''haute couture'' and commercial modeling. The term ''supermodel'' became prominent in the po ...
era. In his book, ''10 Women'', Lindbergh wrote, "I admire Tatjana because she always stays herself. She's very soft, but at the same time she's very strong and knows how to stand up for what she thinks, and it's always very enriching to be with her. It's impossible not to admire her and over the years not to be just a little bit in love with her." Patitz's success in Europe, which included an editorial for the 1985 September issue of French Vogue by master photographer Horst P. Horst, led her to New York where she worked for American ''Vogue'' and such photographers as
Irving Penn Irving Penn (June 16, 1917October 7, 2009) was an American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits, and still lifes. Penn's career included work at ''Vogue'' magazine, and independent advertising work for clients including Iss ...
,
Helmut Newton Helmut Newton (born Helmut Neustädter; 31 October 192023 January 2004) was a German-Australian photographer. The ''New York Times'' described him as a "prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-a ...
,
Steven Meisel Steven Meisel (born June 5, 1954) is an American fashion photographer, who obtained popularity and critical acclaim with his work in ''Vogue'' and '' Vogue Italia'' as well as his photographs of friend Madonna in her 1992 book, '' Sex''. He i ...
,
Denis Piel Denis Piel is a French photographer and film-maker. He was born in France in 1944. He was raised in Australia and educated in the United States. He lives in the south-west of France. He worked as a fashion photographer in the 1980s; from 1979 h ...
, Sheila Metzner, and Wayne Maser. She also worked with Gilles Bensimon at ''Elle'' and Francesco Scavullo at ''
Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...
''. The December 1985 issue of ''Vogue'' featured Irving Penn's photograph, "Colored Contact Lenses", showing Patitz wearing contact lenses over closed eyelids. The image would later be featured in the 1992 book "On The Edge: Images from 100 Years of Vogue" as one of the iconic photographs of the era. In 1986, she appeared on two covers of the Italian edition of ''Vogue'' and continued to be featured in editorials in the American and British editions of ''Vogue''. Patitz appeared in campaigns for
Calvin Klein Calvin Richard Klein (born November 19, 1942) is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc., in 1968. In addition to clothing, he also has given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, an ...
photographed by Bruce Weber, and in 1987 for
Revlon Revlon, Inc. is an American multinational company dealing in cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care. The headquarters of Revlon was established in New York City on March 1, 1932, where it still remains. Revlon was founded by brother ...
's "The Most Unforgettable Women in the World" campaign photographed by Richard Avedon. Avedon also photographed Patitz for her first cover of American ''Vogue'' (May 1987), which is regarded as one of the definitive covers of the 1980s. ''Vogue'' began regularly including Patitz's name on the pages of fashion editorials as early as 1987, familiarizing readers not only with her face, but also with her personality. "What immediately strikes me about her is her extraordinary kindness and her star quality," stated photographer Antoine Verglas. When Tiffany's celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1987, Patitz appeared on the cover of their magazine's special issue with ballet dancer
Mikhail Baryshnikov Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Барышников, p=mʲɪxɐˈil bɐ'rɨʂnʲɪkəf; lv, Mihails Barišņikovs; born January 28, 1948) is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreograp ...
and she was named the model discovery of the year for her gleaming and radiant looks. During this period, Patitz met Los Angeles-based photographer
Herb Ritts Herbert Ritts Jr. (August 13, 1952December 26, 2002) was an American fashion photographer and director known for his photographs of celebrities, models, and other cultural figures throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His work concentrated on black ...
, with whom she shared another significant and enduring collaboration in fashion, fine art, and commercial work, like a
muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in ...
playing any role he suggested - mermaid, sprite, surfer girl, plainswoman, movie star. Ritts said of Patitz, "Her features are a bit off; she's not a typical, commercial beauty, but when I shoot her, I'm never bored. Her looks have power, strength, intensity." Patitz is the subject of
Tatjana Veiled Head (Tight View), Joshua Tree 1988 ''Tatjana, Veiled Head, Tight View, Joshua Tree, 1988'' is a black and white photograph by American photographer Herb Ritts (1952-2002). A close-up framing the thinly veiled face of a woman, the image was photographed in Joshua Tree, California, i ...
, one of Ritts' most celebrated works. As Patitz's career escalated, she was credited with expanding ideals of female beauty. Patitz and a select group of individual-looking, business-minded, high-profile fashion models emerged and came to be known as the original supermodels. An image of Patitz with other models laughing on the beach was photographed by Peter Lindbergh for ''Vogue'' during this period. Titled "White Cotton Shirts", the photograph is regarded as an iconic fashion photograph and was accompanied by an article that singled out Patitz for her "astonishing presence", praising her "uncosmeticised womanliness, new and important in the 1980s." In another 1988 ''Vogue'' article titled "Tatjana: Million Dollar Beauty", Patitz's creative team shared their impressions of her: "In pictures, her sensitivity is what comes through; something delicate, fragile, exciting. It's a strange mixture of lazy sensuality and moments of intense emotion," said
John Casablancas John Casablancas (December 12, 1942 – July 20, 2013) was an American modeling agent and scout who founded Elite Model Management. Casablancas is remembered for his development of the supermodel concept. He is the father of The Strokes frontm ...
, president of Elite Model Management. "It's hard to get a bad picture of Tatjana. She's very photogenic, which is very rare, and she looks different in every light," added photographer Patrick Demarchelier. "While some models develop one look, she has many." Her versatility was exemplified by her ever-changing hair color and style with each passing year - from short-haired brunette to tawny mane to long and blond. For an April 1989 editorial titled "Earthly Powers" in British ''Vogue'', hair stylist Didier Malige cut and restyled Patitz's foot-long blonde hair into a cropped shag just above her shoulders. Considered by some industry insiders as a drastic mistake, the risk paid off. "Once I cut my hair - I cried for two months," Patitz told
Esquire magazine ''Esquire'' is an American men's magazine. Currently published in the United States by Hearst Communications, it also has more than 20 international editions. Founded in 1933, it flourished during the Great Depression and World War II under t ...
. "People said, 'We can't believe she cut her hair.'" But the move won Patitz covers of British and French editions of Vogue featuring her new look. The pinnacle of that year came in July and August when Patitz was awarded with consecutive covers of American Vogue. Being on Vogue's cover two months in a row was a rare achievement for a model of that time and an innovation for the recently revamped Vogue under the leadership of new editor-in-chief
Anna Wintour Dame Anna Wintour (; born 3 November 1949) is a British journalist based in New York City who has served as editor-in-Chief of ''Vogue'' since 1988 and Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast since 2020; she is also the artistic directo ...
. This period was the zenith of Patitz's career, known as "the era of Tatjana" in the fashion industry - a whirlwind time when she seemed destined to walk away with the title of supermodel herself. Britain's SKY Magazine called Patitz the first German supermodel and noted that her success lead the Elite agency to open a branch in Germany." At this point, being in such demand required constant travel for Patitz, who flew 40 flights in one month alone. In an effort to live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, Patitz began slowing down her modeling career to focus on other creative pursuits such as writing, acting, and meditation. She relocated to California and made Los Angeles her homebase. The move afforded Patitz, who had always searched for creative and spiritual growth, the time and space to develop other aspects of her life.


1990s

In the final months of 1989, Patitz was photographed with her peers in two group portraits that would become defining images of the forthcoming supermodel era of the 1990s: Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood by Herb Ritts; and Peter Lindbergh's cover of the January 1990 issue of British ''Vogue''. The international press began recognizing supermodels as the icons of the day, noting that female ideals were no longer only dictated by fashion editors or reflective of male fantasies - but representative of where woman stand now and what they aspire to. 1990 began with Patitz gracing the January covers of both American and British ''Vogue''. She shared the British ''Vogue'' cover with Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington; the portrait of the five women is regarded as the cover that sparked the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s, helping each woman attain global appeal. The accompanying article proclaimed that each woman - in her early 20s and already million-dollar-plus a year earners - was emphatically individual, conforming less to a formula, and united by a confidence born of maturity. The January British Vogue cover inspired singer
George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the MTV generation and is one of the best-selling music ...
to cast Patitz, Crawford, Evangelista, Turlington and Campbell in his music video for the song "
Freedom! '90 "Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's for ...
" which was directed by
David Fincher David Andrew Leo Fincher (born August 28, 1962) is an American film director. His films, mostly psychological thrillers and biographical dramas, have received 40 nominations at the Academy Awards, including three for him as Best Director. F ...
. Michael did not appear in the video; instead, each woman would lip-synch the song in Michael's place. While Patitz and her co-stars were already the top stars in the fashion world, they won major recognition for their beauty and charisma outside of it too. The music video was programmed into heavy rotation on
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
, going on to transcend the worlds of pop culture, music, and fashion in the 1990s and remaining influential and iconic in the decades to come. The media dubbed Crawford, Campbell, Turlington, Evangelista and Patitz "the big five." Settled in Los Angeles, Patitz continued to manage her modeling career while studying acting. She worked with Ritts, Lindbergh and Maser but was sought after by the industry's leading female photographers such as Peggy Sirota, Ellen Von Unwerth, Pamela Hanson and Sheila Metzner as well as new photographers such as Mario Sorrenti and
Juergen Teller Juergen Teller (born 28 January 1964) is a German fine-art and fashion photographer. He was awarded the Citibank Prize for Photography in 2003 and received the Special Presentation International Center of Photography Infinity Award in 2018. Maj ...
. Los Angeles-based photographers Phillip Dixon and Matthew Rolston also frequently photographed Patitz for Harper's Bazaar. Rolston said of Patitz: "I look for more than beauty. There must be a memorable quality. Tatjana has it more than anyone else. She sticks in your mind. There's a depth, an emotional quality to her that's truly extraordinary. She's very dear, charming and extremely feminine. She's very open and her priorities are natural things - animals, the sea, the environment. That's what's so interesting about her. She's not what she seems." As the decade progressed, Patitz worked in advertising campaigns and on runways for such top fashion houses as
Chanel Chanel ( , ) is a French high-end luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. Chanel specializes in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chane ...
,
Versace Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978 known for flashy prints and bright colors. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as ...
,
Salvatore Ferragamo Salvatore Ferragamo (5 June 1898 – 7 August 1960) was an Italian shoe designer and the founder of luxury goods high-end retailer Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. An innovative shoe designer, Salvatore Ferragamo established a reputation in the 1930s. ...
,
Valentino (fashion designer) Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (; born 11 May 1932), known mononymously as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer, the founder of the Valentino brand and company. His main lines include Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, ...
,
Karl Lagerfeld Karl Otto Lagerfeld (; 10 September 1933 – 19 February 2019) was a German fashion designer, creative director, artist and photographer. He was known as the creative director of the French fashion house Chanel, a position held from 1983 ...
,
Helmut Lang (fashion brand) The Helmut Lang fashion brand was created by Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang in 1986. The Helmut Lang brand was acquired from its founder by fashion label Prada in 2004. The label Helmut Lang, a fashion autodidact, set up a made-to- ...
,
Donna Karan Donna Karan (, born Donna Ivy Faske), also known as "DK", is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels. Early life Karan was born Donna Ivy Faske to mother Helen "Queenie" Faske (née Rabin ...
,
Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an " enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including cors ...
, and Vivienne Westwood. Most notably, Patitz was the long-standing face of Jil Sander, representing the designer's minimalist style for a generation of fashion readers in era-defining ad campaigns photographed by Nick Knight. Patitz shared another cover with the supermodels of the era for the centennial issue of American Vogue (April 1992) photographed by Patrick Demarchelier. Also in 1992, it was announced that Patitz had won an exclusive cosmetics contract with
Germaine Monteil Germaine Monteil was a New York–based French fashion designer and cosmetician who founded the cosmetics and perfume company sharing her name. Fashion Born in France in 1898, Monteil moved to the United States in the early 1930s. A high-end dr ...
makeup and perfumes. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Monteil's Vice President of Marketing Worldwide, Susan Wells noted that the cosmetics company searched for a woman with a globally recognized name and beauty who had an accessible face that women could relate to. That year,
New York Magazine ''New York'' is an American biweekly magazine concerned with life, culture, politics, and style generally, and with a particular emphasis on New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to ''The New Yorker' ...
named Patitz one of the top 10 supermodels in the world, epitomizing modern beauty and grace - and changing monolithic ideals of perfection. Patitz appeared on over 200 magazine covers worldwide, including seven covers of American ''Vogue'' and thirteen covers of British ''Vogue''. French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Australian editions of ''Vogue'' have also featured Patitz on their covers and in editorials photographed by photographers such as
Max Vadukul Max Vadukul (born 2 February 1961, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British photographer who is based in New York City.Bellafante, Ginia."Front Row" ''The New York Times'', 7 November 2000. Retrieved 17 February 2008. He is noted for his art reportageGaller ...
,
Sante D'Orazio Sante D'Orazio is an American photographer. D'Orazio exhibited in the Kunsthaus Munich, Kunsthauswien Vienna, the L.A. County Museum, Kahmann Gallery (Amsterdam), Stellan Holm Gallery (New York), Cameraworks Gallery (Berlin) Hilario Galguera ...
, Mikael Jannson,
Arthur Elgort Arthur Elgort (born June 8, 1940) is an American fashion photographer best known for his work with '' Vogue'' magazine. Life and career Elgort was born in Brooklyn, to Sophie (née Didimamoff) and Harry Elgort (April 10, 1908 – October 23, 1998 ...
, Hans Feurer,
Walter Chin Walter Chin is a fashion and celebrity photographer of Chinese descent who currently lives and works in New York City, U.S. Career Walter Chin was born in Jamaica to a Chinese family, and grew up there and in Canada, where he served an apprent ...
, and Javier Vallhonrat. International editions of Vogue and Elle have also profiled Patitz for her signature home design and decor style including a cover story for the April 1997 edition of Elle Decor UK.


2000s

Patitz began the new millennium continuing to work with top photographers at major fashion magazines such as the 2000 editorial in Vogue Italia titled, "Magnetic" by
Paolo Roversi Paolo Roversi (born 1947) is an Italian-born fashion photographer who lives and works in Paris. Early life Born in Ravenna in 1947, Paolo Roversi's interest in photography was kindled as a teenager during a family vacation in Spain in 1964. Ba ...
. In the May/June 2000 issue of
V (American magazine) ''V'' is an American fashion magazine published since 1999. The magazine is printed seasonally and highlights trends in fashion, film, music and art. A men's fashion quarterly entitled '' VMAN'' started as an offshoot in 2003. History ''V'' was ...
Patitz was photographed by
Inez and Vinoodh Inez van Lamsweerde (born 25 September 1963) and Vinoodh Matadin (born 29 September 1961) are a Dutch-American fashion photographer duo, whose work has been featured in fashion magazines and advertising campaigns. They also produce independent ar ...
in a series of portraits with fellow supermodels Christy Turlington, Stephanie Seymour and Iman. Patitz also joined Chinese supermodel and actress Qu Ying at an exhibition in Beijing for Longines, a brand Patitz would represent throughout the decade. She also returned to the cover of Harper's Bazaar for its Chinese edition. In 2001, she was the face of the Jil Sander No. 4 fragrance campaign as well as being the cover star of the July issue of Elle UK and the September issue of Italian Elle. Peter Lindbergh, Patitz's most frequent collaborator, photographed her for the Spring/Summer 2003 Kookai campaign. In 2004, Patitz gave birth to her son, Jonah who would go on to join his mother on many editorial shoots including "The Great Escape" for American Vogue's August 2012 issue and "Family Matters" in the December 2019 issue. Also in 2004, Patitz starred in the Fall/Winter campaign for Jigsaw, photographed by
Juergen Teller Juergen Teller (born 28 January 1964) is a German fine-art and fashion photographer. He was awarded the Citibank Prize for Photography in 2003 and received the Special Presentation International Center of Photography Infinity Award in 2018. Maj ...
and Sand Copenhagen. Teller would include Patitz in his portfolio on fashion's original cover models for the September 2006 issue of W Magazine. The series of portraits is notable for the inclusion of fashion icons throughout different eras and decades, including
Cheryl Tiegs Cheryl Rae Tiegs (born September 25, 1947) is an American model and fashion designer. Frequently described as the first American supermodel, Tiegs is best known for her multiple appearances on the covers of the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit ...
, Christie Brinkley,
Paulina Porizkova Paulina Porizkova (born Pavlína Pořízková, ; 9 April 1965) is a Swedish model. Born in Czechoslovakia and raised in Sweden, Porizkova became the first Central European woman to appear on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated'' swimsuit issu ...
and Shalom Harlow. Patitz's contemporaries such as Naomi Campbell, Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington are also included. Patitz continued to be an advocate for animal rights by filming a PSA in 2007 for Orangutan Outreach and appealing for the protection of orangutans in the rain forests of Borneo, Indonesia. Still representing cosmetics brands and designers such as
L'Oréal L'Oréal S.A. () is a French personal care company headquartered in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine with a registered office in Paris. It is the world's largest cosmetics company and has developed activities in the field concentrating on hair color, ...
and Uniqlo Patitz returned to the runway for Helmut Lang, including his Fall/Winter 2000 presentation, regarded by Vogue as one of the most unforgettable fashion shows of all time. In July 2008, Patitz's interior design style was celebrated in the publication Livingetc for using recycled materials such as reclaimed timber and stone which she found by scouring salvage yards - from limestone kitchen floors to wooden ceiling beams and staircase. It was reported that she lived on her ranch with her five-year-old son Jonah, four horses, four dogs and two cats ("I needed nature around me"). Patitz closed out the decade by returning to the runway in 2009 for designer
Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an " enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including cors ...
, closing his Fall/Winter collection for
Hermes Hermes (; grc-gre, Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orat ...
during the finale.


2010s

In the 2010s, the scope of Patitz's work focused on issues relating to inclusivity, HIV awareness, LGBTQ rights, ageism, and gender equality while remaining in the pages and on the covers of Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle. Notably, Patitz's work and career were examined in articles by a new generation of distinguished writers such as Chloe Malle and Janelle Okwodu, who recognized Patitz for her enduring legacy in projecting different representations of women. When Karl Lagerfeld staged his "Coco on the Lido" 2010 cruise collection on the boardwalk along the Venice Lido, he cast Patitz as an Edwardian mother to poetically reinvent the mystique of Coco Chanel's favorite locales. At the conclusion of the show, Lagerfeld escorted Patitz for the finale. In 2011 and now in her 40s, Patitz made industry headlines when she was chosen as the spokesmodel to front the cosmetics campaign for the global brand
Shiseido is a Japanese multinational cosmetic company founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1872. Its product categories consist of: skin care, makeup, body care, hair care, and fragrances. The company is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world ...
. That year, Patitz was featured in Sarah Brokaw's book Fortytude, telling the author, "I believe in aging gracefully because it celebrates me as a woman...In the end - for me, as for every woman - beauty is what one emanates. It comes from feeling good about who you are with your flaws (and we ''all'' have them), and being at peace with yourself." The following year,
Vogue Paris The French edition of ''Vogue'' magazine, formerly called ''Vogue Paris'', is a fashion magazine that has been published since 1920. History 1920–54 The French edition of ''Vogue'' was first issued on 15 June 1920, the first editor-in-chief b ...
included Patitz in a black and white portfolio with
Lauren Hutton Lauren Hutton (born Mary Laurence Hutton; November 17, 1943) is an American model and actress. Born and raised in the southern United States, Hutton relocated to New York City in her early adulthood to begin a modeling career. Though she was ini ...
, Stephanie Seymour and
Daria Werbowy Daria Werbowy (born 19 November 1983) is a Canadian retired fashion model born in Poland. She became a spokesmodel for the French beauty brand Lancôme in 2005. According to '' Forbes'', Werbowy has appeared on over 50 international ''Vogue'' ...
that celebrated examples of timeless elegance and beauty. Photographed by Inez and Vinoodh, the editorial was highlighted in the media by such publications as W Magazine.
Numéro ''Numéro'' is an international fashion magazine published by Paul-Emmanuel Reiffers. It has a circulation of 80,000, and the French edition reached its 100th issue in February 2009. The magazine covers international fashion, beauty, design, h ...
China featured Patitz on its cover for its February 2013 issue. The simple yet powerful headline read ''Woman'' and was accompanied by a 20-page editorial photographed by Philip Dixon. The age-defying traits of femininity, strength of character, and enterprising talent were lauded the next year in a special issue of Vogue Italia titled ''Women of Today'' that placed Patitz among her colleagues such as Anjelica Houston,
Julia Ormond Julia Karin Ormond (born 4 January 1965) is an English actress. She rose to prominence by appearing in ''The Baby of Mâcon'' (1993), ''Legends of the Fall'' (1994), '' First Knight'' (1995), '' Sabrina'' (1995), ''Smilla's Sense of Snow'' (199 ...
and Karen Alexander. In 2014, Patitz starred in an international advertising campaign with actress
Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Jane Fonda, various accolades including two ...
and model Doutzen Kroes for L’Oreal Age Perfect that celebrated three generations of timeless women. For Vogue Italia's 2015 September issue, Patitz was reunited with Peter Lindbergh for a new group editorial commissioned by editor-in-chief
Franca Sozzani Franca Sozzani (; 20 January 1950 – 22 December 2016) was an Italian journalist and the editor-in-chief of ''Vogue Italia'' from 1988 until her death in 2016. Biography Sozzani was born and grew up in Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy. She stu ...
. Titled "In Love With..." the pictorial celebrated Lindbergh's most frequent subjects, the 1990s supermodels. As noted by writer Suzy Menkes in French Vogue, "This set of pictures...seems more intense in the refusal to follow the tools of today's beauty trade - postproduction, a computerized smoothing, hair tidied, wrinkles removed. Refusing to bow to glossy perfection is Peter Lindbergh's trademark – the essence of the images that look into each person's unvarnished soul, however familiar or famous the sitter." A short film, titled "The Reunion," was also produced and made headlines worldwide for Lindbergh's celebration of maturing beauty. The following year, Lindbergh advanced his mission of expanding ideals of beauty and representation when he grouped Patitz with actress
Andie MacDowell Rosalie Anderson MacDowell (born April 21, 1958) is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell's known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. MacDowell has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman ...
and models Helena Christensen, Karen Alexander and
Amber Valletta Amber Evangeline Valletta (born February 9, 1974) is an American model and actress. She began her career as a fashion model, landing her first of sixteen American ''Vogue'' covers at the age of eighteen. During the 1990s, Valletta reached the st ...
to front a campaign for cosmetics brand
L'Oréal L'Oréal S.A. () is a French personal care company headquartered in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine with a registered office in Paris. It is the world's largest cosmetics company and has developed activities in the field concentrating on hair color, ...
Paris, saying "It should be the responsibility of photographers today to free women and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection." In an interview about the shifting norms in the advertising industry, Patitz commented, "You don't want to see the plastic-fantastic faces of some celebrities today. That's not a role model for young girls; that's not a role model for an older woman, either."


2020s

Entering her fifth decade in fashion, Patitz's was recognized for her work with Vogue articles such as "Who Was Tatjana Patitz, The Most Mysterious Of The Original Supers?", “'True West' Is the Fashion Fix You Need After Months of Lockdown" and Harper's Bazaar's "The 21 Top Supermodels That Dominated Fashion in the '90s" that were published during the global pandemic of 2020. The year also marked the 30th anniversary of George Michael's "
Freedom! '90 "Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's for ...
", regarded by
Spin Magazine ''Spin'' (stylized in all caps) is an American music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr. Now owned by Next Management Partners, the magazine is an online publication since it stopped issuing a print edition in 2012. Histor ...
as the 15th most iconic music video of all time and by Rolling Stone magazine as the 11th best music video of all time. As one of the "Original Supermodels", she has never stopped working and remains in demand on covers and in campaigns - returning to the runway for select brands and designers, such as Etro,
Jean-Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an " enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corset ...
and
Chanel Chanel ( , ) is a French high-end luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel in Paris. Chanel specializes in women's ready-to-wear, luxury goods, and accessories and licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Chane ...
. The
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung The ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'' (; ''FAZ''; "''Frankfurt General Newspaper''") is a centre-right conservative-liberal and liberal-conservativeHans Magnus Enzensberger: Alter Wein in neuen Schläuchen' (in German). ''Deutschland Radio'', ...
, a national daily and business journal in Germany, named Patitz, Claudia Schiffer and Nadja Auermann as the only three Germans who still hold the title of supermodel in 2021. A 2021 article in
L'Officiel ''L'Officiel'' () is a French fashion magazine with a USA edition. It has been published in Paris since 1921 and targets upper-income, educated women aged from 25 to 49. In 2006, it had a circulation of 101,719. A men's edition of ''L'Officiel'', ' ...
about the supermodel phenomenon of the 1990s and singled out Patitz for having the most beautiful face of the decade.


Runway career

In 2020, Marie Claire magazine celebrated Patitz as one of the top supermodels who ruled the runway in the 1990s.
Vanity Fair (magazine) ''Vanity Fair'' is a monthly magazine of popular culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast in the United States. The first version of ''Vanity Fair'' was published from 1913 to 1936. The imprint was revived in 1983 and cu ...
also called Patitz a catwalk queen of the 1990s. According to Elle magazine, Patitz's first show was in Paris for Azzedine Alaia in 1984. Since then, Patitz has appeared in many seminal fashion collections of each decade, including Helmet Lang's Fall 1994 latex and lace collection as well as Lang's March 1998 collection which was the first fashion show to ever be shown online and on the internet. As much as Patitz was associated with Azzedine Alaia and his cabine of models in the 1980s, she was also distinctly associated with Helmut Lang in the 1990s and 2000s. In March 2009 Vogue declared, "
Hermès Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès ( , ), is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, sinc ...
flies high with the return of nineties supermodel Tatjana Patitz to the runway" and in a tribute to aviatrix
Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( , born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937; declared dead January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer and writer. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many oth ...
, Patitz closed the show walking the finale with designer
Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an " enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including cors ...
. Patitz's then starred in Chanel's 2010 Resort Collection as the picture-hatted Edwardian mother in Death in Venice, walking the finale with designer Karl Lagerfeld. Patitz was a mainstay in Lagerfeld's fashion shows including Chanel, Chloe, Fendi, as well as his own collections. For Etro's Fall 2019/2020 collection titled "Aristoindies", Patitz appeared at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan in a collection that made headlines for bringing together A-list supermodels including Farida Khelfa and Alek Wek. As W Magazine noted, "Twenty-eight years after appearing on one of Vogue's most famous covers alongside supers like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, 52-year-old Tatjana Patitz returned to the runway for Etro's fall/winter 2019 show during Milan Fashion Week."


Acting and other appearances

In 1987, she appeared in the
Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer and bassist Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor. With the addition of drummer Roger Taylor the following year the band we ...
music video for " Skin Trade" which charted on Billboard's Hot 100. In 1988, she appeared in the
Nick Kamen Ivor Neville "Nick" Kamen (15 April 1962 – 4 May 2021) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and model. He was best known for "Turn It Up" from 1989, the singles " Each Time You Break My Heart" from 1986 and " I Promised Myself" from 199 ...
music video for "Tell Me". Patitz then starred in
George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the MTV generation and is one of the best-selling music ...
's "
Freedom! '90 "Freedom! '90" (also known simply as "Freedom!") is a song written, produced, and performed by George Michael, and released on Columbia Records in 1990. The "'90" added to the end of the title is to prevent confusion with a hit by Michael's for ...
" music video with
Cindy Crawford Cynthia Ann Crawford (born February 20, 1966) is an American model, actress and television personality. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was among the most popular supermodels and a ubiquitous presence on magazine covers, runways, as well as fash ...
, Christy Turlington,
Linda Evangelista Linda Evangelista (; born May 10, 1965) is a Canadian fashion model. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished and influential models of all time, and has been featured on over 700 magazine covers. Evangelista is primarily known for being ...
, and
Naomi Campbell Naomi Elaine Campbell (born 22 May 1970) is an English model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her career at the age of 15, and established herself amongst the most recognisable and in-demand models of the past four decades. Cam ...
in 1990, regarded as one of the greatest videos of all time by
Spin (magazine) ''Spin'' (stylized in all caps) is an American music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr. Now owned by Next Management Partners, the magazine is an online publication since it stopped issuing a print edition in 2012. History ...
, Parade, and
Billboard (magazine) ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the mus ...
. In 2000, she appeared in the
Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn, or occasionally KoRn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band is notable for pioneering the nu metal genre and bringing it into the mainstream. Originally formed in 1993 ...
music video for the song "
Make Me Bad "Make Me Bad" is a song written and recorded by the American nu metal band Korn for their fourth studio album, '' Issues''. Many Korn fans interpret the lyrics to be about frontman Jonathan Davis' getting tired of drinking or drug abuse and his de ...
," a top 10 hit on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Patitz has appeared in international television commercials for Cartier,
Revlon Revlon, Inc. is an American multinational company dealing in cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care. The headquarters of Revlon was established in New York City on March 1, 1932, where it still remains. Revlon was founded by brother ...
, Levi (jeans), DuPont Luxura,
Pantene Pantene () is a brand of hair care products owned by Procter & Gamble. The product line was first introduced in Europe in 1945 by Hoffmann-La Roche, which branded the name based on panthenol as a shampoo ingredient. It was purchased by Procter & ...
, Dockers,
Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren, ( ; ; born October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for the Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has become well known for his c ...
and the iconic Vauxhall Corsa commercial directed by
Tarsem Singh Tarsem Singh Dhandwar (born 26 May 1961), known professionally as Tarsem, is an Indian director who has worked on films, music videos, and commercials. He directed ''The Cell'' (2000), '' The Fall'' (2006, also screenwriter and producer), '' I ...
and starring supermodels Campbell, Turlington, Evangelista, and
Kate Moss Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is a British model. Arriving at the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the early 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend. Her collaborations with Calvin Klein brought her to fas ...
. Her first major film appearance was as a murder victim in '' Rising Sun'' (1993). Following this, Patitz had appearances on television series such as "The Single Guy" and "The Larry Sanders Show." Her largest role was in the 1999 thriller ''Restraining Order''. Along with Michael J. Fox, she appeared in the 2011
Carl Zeiss AG Carl Zeiss AG (), branded as ZEISS, is a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Together with Ernst Abbe (joined 1866) and Otto Schott (joined 1884) he laid th ...
calendar, photographed by
Bryan Adams Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and photographer. He has been cited as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and is estimated to have sold between 75 million and mor ...
in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
in the summer of 2010.


Personal life

In a 2019 interview for Mercedes-AMG's 63Magazine, Patitz stated, "My son is my source of happiness in life. My friends, my animals, and nature give me balance and satisfaction – the feeling of being connected...I would like to send an empathetic person with a big heart out into the world. Jonah should always have the self-belief to be himself and to embody and articulate his own attitude and opinions....Having compassion and care for everything that exists. For our planet, animals, nature, and people." Patitz, who is a
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetariani ...
,Tatjana Patitz
at International Vegetarian Union
also shared her philosophy about growing older in the beauty, fashion and entertainment industries: "I am proud of my wrinkles. I worked for each one and they belong to me. Growing older is beautiful. You become wiser and more mature. For me, giving away or changing that gift is not an option...Beauty means being a good person and being there for others. In my opinion, beauty is not only about looks, but everything that makes up a person."


Catalogue of noted works in auctions, galleries, exhibitions and museums


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Patitz, Tatjana 1966 births German female models German film actresses German television actresses Living people Actresses from Hamburg German expatriates in the United States German expatriates in Sweden People from Malibu, California German people of Estonian descent