Whitehot Magazine

Carmen Dell'Orefice: The Ultimate Role Model

  Carmen Dell”Orefice at her book vip reception . Photo by Ruben Natal-San Miguel

 
By RUBEN NATAL-SAN MIGUEL November 20th, 2025

Carmen began her career at the tender age of 14 when she appeared in Vogue and at 15, Salvador Dalí painted a portrait of her (and she became one of his muses). She has been a force in fashion ever since, fronting campaigns for Chanel, Dior, and working for the greatest photographers of all time including Richard Avedon, Lilian Bassman, Norman Parkinson, Terry Richardson, Francesco Scavullo, and Bruce Weber. Born in New York City on June 3, 1931 (the daughter of a Hungarian dancer and an Italian concert violinist), she was discovered by photographer Irving Penn; known for her striking beauty and timeless elegance, Carmen has graced the covers of major magazines, including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and is often regarded as one of the longest-serving models in fashion history, having worked continuously for more than 75 years. Despite her age, Dell’Orefice has remained a symbol of grace and sophistication, challenging conventional notions of beauty in the modeling world. Throughout her career, she has represented brands, walked in runway shows, and remained an inspiration for many generations of models. In the 1990s, she returned to the runway, walking in seasonal shows for Isaac Mizrahi, Moschino, Thierry Mugler and others, and in 2017, she famously closed the Guo Pei Spring 2017 haute couture show.
 
In the beautiful new book, Fadil Berisha guides the reader through this testament to their creative connection, focusing on Carmen from her 60s to her 90s and their prolific professional collaborations.
 

 Carmen Dell’Orefice by Fadil Berisha

 
fashion icon & supermodel Carmen Dell'Orefice to celebrate the upcoming release of an exquisitely illustrated new biography about the life & career of the world’s oldest working supermodel (now 94) whose iconic looks & signature silver coif have redefined the term “ageless beauty.” Released Nov. 18, Carmen Dell'Orefice: The Ultimate Role Model ($55, 224 pages, 135 color illustrations, published by SKIRA) is written by fashion/beauty photographer & longtime Dell'Orefice collaborator Fadil Berisha, the former official cameraman for Rolex, who has also captured some of the world’s most breathtaking women and actresses like Halle Berry, Sharon Stone, Martha Stewart, Toni Braxton, Tyra Banks, and Christie Brinkley. His body of work also includes clients like Bulgari, Estee Lauder, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Lexus, Peugeot.
 

  Carmen Dell’Orefice . Photo by Fadil Berisha 


Carmen Dell’Orefice . Photo by Fadil Berisha 

 


Carmen Dell’Orefice . Photo by Fadil Berisha 

 

Carmen Dell’Orefice . Photo by Fadil Berisha 

 


 

Carmen Dell’Orifice & Ruben Natal-San Miguel. Photo by Fadil Berisha 

 

 

Ruben Natal-San Miguel

Ruben Natal-San Miguel is a New York based photographer published internationally.

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