At 76 years old, the internationally renowned model, inextricably linked to the sexual liberation of 1960s England, has been catapulted to the role of ambassador for Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2026 campaign.
With her doe eyes, slender figure, androgynous look, mischievous mood, and floral, even psychedelic outfits…
The fashion series by Twiggy, the fashion icon of the 1960s, have traveled the world and paved the way for future supermodels.
This month, the most British of baby faces is being remembered by Generation X and younger generations alike through Burberry, the iconic representative of Britishness.
Amidst a wave of nostalgia, 1960s aesthetics and even anemoia (nostalgia for a time we never knew), Twiggy seems to hark back to a time when things seemed simpler and the era more carefree. This is particularly true in Britain, which has been facing a series of difficulties since Brexit.
On the fringe of age
World-renowned in the fashion sphere for her ultra-short haircut, Twiggy reappears in Burberry’s spring-summer 2026 campaign, trench coat and fringe at the ready.
Although the young woman who was discovered at the age of 17 has grown older, she has lost none of her mischievous gaze, her rock ‘n’ roll aura, or her freedom of expression.
Dressed alternately in shirt and tie or leather trench coats with python prints or fringes, Dame Twiggy Lawson has retained her innate sense of elegance.
It must be said that the former fan of the sixties, whose modeling career was as sudden as it was brief (only five years!), was spotted again in 2022 with the Puig group’s makeup brand, Charlotte Tilbury, and more recently in the “50 Years 50 Icons” anniversary campaign for fast fashion giant Zara.
The ‘little wagon’ of the Sixties
Long before Kate Moss, the ‘little wagon’ of the 2000s, there was the “Twiggy” of the Sixties.
Born Lesley Hornby, Twiggy grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Neasden, on the outskirts of London.
At 16, she walked through the doors of Leonard’s hair salon in Mayfair to model a new avant-garde hairstyle that would become her signature in a platinum blonde version: the Pixie Cut.
The photos of this ultra-short hairstyle, taken during this extraordinary session, soon caught the attention of Daily Express fashion journalist Deirdre McSharry. Intrigued by the young woman’s unusual look for the time, McSharry wanted to take her picture for an article. Crowned “The Face of ’66” a few weeks later, she was propelled onto the fashion scene and into the world of modeling.
The young woman not only blurred the lines between masculine and feminine with her androgynous look (haircut and body shape), she also influenced women’s ready-to-wear fashion. A-line dresses, military coats, and miniskirts in pop colors became the wardrobe of the modern woman and gave Biba boutiques a boost.
An icon of the fashion and art scene in the midst of Swinging London’s effervescence, she quickly became a leading model sought after by the greatest designers of the time, from mini-skirt designer Mary Quant to André Courrèges, Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, and Tiga Morse. At just 21, she decided to end her modeling career, declaring that you can’t be “a clothes hanger all your life!”
She then turned to cinema and landed the role of Polly Browne in Ken Russell’s 1971 adaptation of the Broadway musical The Boy Friend. Her performance earned her two Golden Globes: Best Actress and Best New Actress.
Twiggy eventually made a name for herself on the small screen, becoming a regular guest on talk shows and reality TV shows such as America’s Next Top Model.
However, she returned to fashion sporadically in the 1990s, but especially from 2005 onwards via the Mark & Spencer chain, for which she became the face of campaigns for six years, helping to revitalize the brand’s sales.
At the same time, Twiggy found a new outlet for her creativity in music, releasing no fewer than six studio albums between 1976 and 2011.
At the age of 71, she even launched her own podcast, Tea With Twiggy, proving that talent knows no age limit.
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Featured photo: © Burberry
