Kaia Gerber's runway debut was a lot different than her mother Cindy Crawford's in 1991

With Cindy Crawford as her mother and mentor, Kaia Gerber is fashion royalty at age 16. She’s already the face of Marc Jacobs Beauty, has appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue, and was seen leaving a Fashion Week fitting at Alexander Wang. Now that she’s old enough to walk in fashion shows, industry insiders predicted she would make her runway debut this week. On Thursday night, she walked her first runway at Calvin Klein.

Model Kaia Gerber walks the runway for the Calvin Klein Collection fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
Model Kaia Gerber walks the runway at the Calvin Klein Collection fashion show during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7, 2017, in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gerber walked in Raf Simon’s Spring 2018 show for Calvin Klein in a bright, colorblocked jacket and pants. The “Urban Cowboy” look was quintessential updated Calvin, with a teal turtleneck and neon yellow pants under a double-breasted jacket. Vogue anointed the debut Gerber’s “first steps toward supermodel status.” Although styles may have changed since her mother’s time on the runways, Gerber followed in her footsteps and chose a classic American designer for her debut.

Cindy Crawford in 1991, making her runway debut for Donna Karan; Kaia Gerber walking for Calvin Klein on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)
Cindy Crawford in 1991, making her runway debut for Donna Karan; Kaia Gerber walking for Calvin Klein on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)

Already a backstage pro, she shared a photo of herself in hair and makeup behind the scenes, writing, “another bathrobe @calvinklein.”

another bathrobe @calvinklein

A post shared by Kaia (@kaiagerber) on Sep 7, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

She followed up post-show to share the final look with her 1.6 million Instagram followers. “CALVIN KLEIN! there are no words to describe how I feel, I love you endlessly Raf!” she wrote.

CALVIN KLEIN! there are no words to describe how I feel, I love you endlessly Raf!

A post shared by Kaia (@kaiagerber) on Sep 7, 2017 at 6:10pm PDT

Gerber walked her first runway 26 years after her mother made her debut at Donna Karan’s 1991 show. For the first of what would be many, many appearances at NYFW, Crawford wore ’80s-style XL volume hair and a denim minidress with black tights and pumps. It was a much more feminine turn, and while Gerber may well end up in a dress and heels before the week is over, it’s a reminder of how much style has changed in the past few decades.

Cindy Crawford at the Donna Karan Spring 1991 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
Cindy Crawford at the Donna Karan Spring 1991 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)

Crawford herself even walked for Calvin Klein in her early modeling days.

In honor of #NYFW kick off tomorrow. On the runway with @CalvinKlein…

A post shared by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Feb 10, 2016 at 6:50am PST

Crawford is at New York Fashion Week again this year — but this time to cheer on her daughter. Judging by her Instagram, where she just shared a photo of Kaia holding her first driver’s license, she’s one proud mother, whether her daughter is on or off the runway.

Baby driver. Congrats on passing your driver's test @KaiaGerber!

A post shared by Cindy Crawford (@cindycrawford) on Sep 5, 2017 at 9:41am PDT

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