She’s best known for wearing dramatic lingerie and angel wings for her day job as a Victoria’s Secret model, but when Candice Swanepoel is off the runway, her day-to-day look is much more laid back: think breezy layering, effortlessly distressed denim, and plenty of monochrome. It’s a simple fashion formula that has made the South African supermodel a favourite on the street style circuit. As Candice turns 28, we break down the blueprint to her signature off-duty look.
Impeccable airport style
While the rest of us mere mortals tend to rock up to Gatwick wearing either the comfiest, cosiest items from the bottom of our wardrobe (regardless of the aesthetic) or attempting to get round the baggage allowance by channelling Joey from Friends and wearing everything at once, it goes without saying that supermodels do it better. Just like her former Victoria’s Secret colleague Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Candice is a master when it comes to dressing for arrivals and depatures. White separates are a fresh option (though watch out for rogue airline food…), and like any seasoned traveller, the model tends to opt for lightweight layers to beat the changing temperature.
Denim
Denim doesn’t have to be dull, and Candice’s style file is a masterclass in the many ways you can bring new life to a fashion staple. Distressed jeans or cut-off shorts in a light wash are an off-duty failsafe for the model, typically teamed with a baggy knit jumper or crop top. She’s readily embraced the double denim trend, too.
White outfit, tan accessories
Once you’ve found a fashion formula that works, why mess with it? Off the catwalk, Candice lives up to her angel namesake in a series of all-white ensembles, off-set with low-key accessories in shades of tan and beige. It’s a look that can be taken from summer through to winter – for the colder months, she swaps in a cosy knit dress or layers with a low-key coat. Just try not to think of the dry cleaning bills…
Bohemian maternity style
While expecting her first child (a son named Anacã with her fiancé Hermann Nicoli), Candice demonstrated that maternity dressing doesn’t have to mean forgoing your signature style. Instead, the model channelled her inner bohemian in a series of ’70s-referencing printed maxi dresses – and showed off her baby bump in a co-ordinating smocked crop top and maxi skirt.
The classic biker jacket
Nothing screams ‘off duty model’ like a nonchalantly-worn leather jacket, so it’s no surprise that Candice’s biker is a mainstay of her ‘civilian’ wardrobe, whether layered over a dress or doubled-up with leather leggings