STELLA TENNANT
1970–2020
Bazaar pays tribute to the legendary
supermodel and designer, who rose to fame
in the Nineties and, throughout her hugely successful career,
retained her warmth, modesty and generosity of spirit
If ever there was a fashion icon who embodied the true spirit of Harper’s Bazaar, it was Stella Tennant. As bold and bright as she was beautiful, Stella brought a sense of grace and intelligence to her work for Bazaar : whether appearing as a model on our covers, or, in her role as a creative director for Holland & Holland, designing clothes that we were delighted to feature, representing the very best of British style.
She was a joy to work with; and we will be forever grateful to her in so many different ways. When Karl Lagerfeld staged Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show amid the romantic ruins of Linlithgow Palace in Scotland in December 2012, Stella was the shining star of the evening, striding in tartan and tweeds as snow fell from the dark skies above. But she also took the time to be photographed by Pamela Hanson for Bazaar, rising early the following morning to run across the Lothian hills, leaping in the cold winter sunlight with her characteristic strength and athleticism. Stella remained modest, despite being one of those fêted supermodels who became global celebrities in the 1990s. She was the epitome of cool on the catwalk or framed by the camera, yet she had a warmth that was evident to all those who loved and admired her. When Cathleen Naundorf photographed Stella at Kensington Palace for Bazaar in 2013, a group of Chelsea Pensioners happened to come marching past, and we seized the opportunity to ask if they would appear in the story. They agreed, and Stella immediately made the old soldiers feel at ease, chatting to them with her typical charm and good humour. On this and other occasions, it was clear that she had inherited the distinctive appeal of her ancestors, as the granddaughter of the youngest of the Mitford sisters, Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire.
In another life, if Stella had not become a model, she would doubtless have had a career as an artist, like her mother; for she had already shown her talent for sculpture when she studied at Winchester School of Art. But her artistic countless reasons that we chose to celebrate her in Bazaar ’s Women of the Year Awards in 2016.
Now we pay tribute to Stella Tennant once again, wishing that she were still with us, mourning the darkness that engulfed her, yet remembering her always for the light in her eyes, and the beauty of her soul…
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