Unseen portraits of pre-fame Kate Moss in the early 90s

A new book published by Phaidon reveals 50 intimate, never-before published of a young and undiscovered Kate Moss.

“I met Kate in the summer of 1991 on a modelling job in London,” Italian photographer Mario Sorrenti remembers. “I remember sitting next to her and feeling like my heart was going to stop. I was completely overwhelmed by her charm and beauty. When the shoot ended, I didn’t think I would see her again.”

The pair would meet again – at a party. “We hung out all night, walking into the early morning until we fell asleep in the grass in Hyde Park. We spent the next two years together; we were inseparable.” Young love: so far, so normal. As time wore on he became a world-renowned photographer, she, the world’s most famous model. The lavish tome, titled Kate, is an homage to that sweet spot, pre-fame – featuring candid shots of the fashionista getting ready in the bathroom to baring all on a rooftop. As Moss has said before of her romance with Mario and shooting with him in the early ’90s, “It was just raw. It captured a moment in our lives…Mario and I were young and we were in love.” Kate’ by Mario Sorrenti, published by Phaidon, is available now (£79.95). Mario will also be doing a talk at the National Portrait Gallery on September 14th 2018, for further information and to book tickets head to www.npg.org.uk.

Images
© Mario Sorrenti (courtesy of Phaidon)
Text
Emma Firth