The Liya Kebede Look Book
Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Discovered in her native city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, when she was a teenager, Liya Kebede is one of the lucky few models who continues to work steadily into her thirties. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two children, and runs her own clothing line, LemLem, which benefits Ethiopian women. While she’s frequently seen in her own breezy, beach-friendly designs, she’s also a fan of structured black garments, like the Rachel Roy bustier she wore to the Costume Institute Gala in 2010 and the arsenal of black blazers she often throws on over girly cocktail dresses. Enjoy our roundup of her most notable looks from the past decade.
May 18, 2013 Where: At the Cannes Film Festival.
What: Dress by Roberto Cavalli.
Photo: Ian Gavan/2013 WireImage
May 25, 2012 Where: At the Cosmopolis premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
What: Dress by Proenza Schouler; bag by Louis Vui...
May 25, 2012 Where: At the Cosmopolis premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
What: Dress by Proenza Schouler; bag by Louis Vuitton. Photo: Andreas Rentz/2012 Getty Images
May 7, 2012 Where: At the "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art i...
May 7, 2012 Where: At the "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by Tory Burch. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
March 26, 2012 Where: At the Sur La Piste Du Marsupilami premiere in Paris, France.
What: Top by Isabel Marant; shoes by Balmain. Photo: Pascal ...
March 26, 2012 Where: At the Sur La Piste Du Marsupilami premiere in Paris, France.
What: Top by Isabel Marant; shoes by Balmain. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
March 20, 2012 Where: At a screening of The Hunger Games in New York City.
Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
February 15, 2012 Where: At the Proenza Schouler fall 2012 runway show in New York City.
What: Dress by Proenza Schouler. Photo: Rabbani and S...
February 15, 2012 Where: At the Proenza Schouler fall 2012 runway show in New York City.
What: Dress by Proenza Schouler. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images
February 14, 2012 Where: At the opening reception of W Magazine's "The Ever Changing Face of Beauty" in New York City.
What: Dre...
February 14, 2012 Where: At the opening reception of W Magazine's "The Ever Changing Face of Beauty" in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images
February 12, 2012 Where: At the Edun fall 2012 runway show in New York City.
Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images
February 11, 2012 Where: At the Siki Im fall 2012 runway show in New York City.
Photo: Mark Von Holden/Getty Images
February 8, 2012 Where: At the amfAR gala in New York City.
What: Suit by Lanvin. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
November 14, 2011 Where: At the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in New York City.
What: Jacket and dress by Cushnie et Ochs. Photo: Charles Eshel...
November 14, 2011 Where: At the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in New York City.
What: Jacket and dress by Cushnie et Ochs. Photo: Charles Eshelman/WireImage
November 7, 2011 Where: At Glamour's "Women of the Year" awards in New York City.
What: Dress by Tom Ford; shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti. ...
November 7, 2011 Where: At Glamour's "Women of the Year" awards in New York City.
What: Dress by Tom Ford; shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
June 6, 2011 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards.
What: Dress by Derek Lam. Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
May 22, 2011 Where: At the premiere of Les Bien-Aimes at the Cannes Film Festival.
What: Dress and shoes by Lanvin. Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
May 17, 2011 Where: At a screening of Midnight in Paris in New York City.
Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage
April 11, 2011 Where: At the premiere of The Conspirator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
What: Scarf worn as top, hand-woven scarf...
April 11, 2011 Where: At the premiere of The Conspirator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
What: Scarf worn as top, hand-woven scarf from Ethiopia. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
March 17, 2011 Where: At a screening of Desert Flower in New York City. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
February 14, 2011 Where: With Karen Elson at the Marc Jacobs fall 2011 runway show in New York City.
What: Jacket and top by Marc Jacobs. Photo:...
February 14, 2011 Where: With Karen Elson at the Marc Jacobs fall 2011 runway show in New York City.
What: Jacket and top by Marc Jacobs. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
January 24, 2011 Where: At the tribute to "The Models Of Versailles 1973" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
P...
January 24, 2011 Where: At the tribute to "The Models Of Versailles 1973" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Photo: Mike Coppola/WireImage
June 7, 2010 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards.
What: Dress, clutch, and shoes by Proenza Schouler. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
May 13, 2010 Where: At the premiere of On Tour at the Cannes Film Festival.
What: Dress by Balenciaga; earrings by Chopard. Photo: Jamie McCar...
May 13, 2010 Where: At the premiere of On Tour at the Cannes Film Festival.
What: Dress by Balenciaga; earrings by Chopard. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
May 15, 2010 Where: With Wendi Murdoch at the Vanity Fair and Gucci Party at the Cannes Film Festival.
Photo: Daniele Venturelli
May 4, 2010 Where: At the "TIME 100" gala in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
May 3, 2010 Where: With Rachel Roy at "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museu...
May 3, 2010 Where: With Rachel Roy at "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Top and pants by Rachel Roy; jewels by Fred Leighton. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
April 23, 2010 Where: At the German film awards in Berlin, Germany.
What: Dress by Givenchy. Photo: Florian Seefried/Getty Images
March 7, 2010 Where: With Waris Dirie and Francois-Henri Pinault at the Fleur du Desert premiere in Paris, France.
What: Jumpsuit by Lanvin. Pho...
March 7, 2010 Where: With Waris Dirie and Francois-Henri Pinault at the Fleur du Desert premiere in Paris, France.
What: Jumpsuit by Lanvin. Photo: Julien Hekimian/WireImage
November 19, 2009 Where: At the TOMS shoes launch at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.
What: Dress by Alexander Wang. Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty ...
November 19, 2009 Where: At the TOMS shoes launch at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.
What: Dress by Alexander Wang. Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
November 18, 2009 Where: At the Robert F. Kennedy Center's Ripple of Hope Awards dinner in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Wire...
November 18, 2009 Where: At the Robert F. Kennedy Center's Ripple of Hope Awards dinner in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
November 9, 2009 Where: At Glamour's "Women of the Year" awards at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
What: Coat by Stella McCartney. Pho...
November 9, 2009 Where: At Glamour's "Women of the Year" awards at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
What: Coat by Stella McCartney. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
October 21, 2009 Where: At the screening of Amelia at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
October 14, 2009 Where: With Monique Pean at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund party in New York City.
Photo: WWD/Conde Nast/Corbis
September 23, 2009 Where: With Natalia Vodianova at "The Important Dinner for Women" in New York City.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty...
September 23, 2009 Where: With Natalia Vodianova at "The Important Dinner for Women" in New York City.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
September 16, 2009 Where: At the The New York Times Style Magazine's 5th anniversary issue celebration at the Standard in New York City.
...
September 16, 2009 Where: At the The New York Times Style Magazine's 5th anniversary issue celebration at the Standard in New York City.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
September 5, 2009 Where: At a photo call for Desert Rose during the Venice International Film Festival.
Photo: Hubert Boesl/dpa/Corbis
June 15, 2009 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Pho...
June 15, 2009 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
June 2, 2009 Where: At the Gordon Parks Foundation's "Celebrating Fashion" gala at Gotham Hall in New York City.
What: Dress by Thakoo...
June 2, 2009 Where: At the Gordon Parks Foundation's "Celebrating Fashion" gala at Gotham Hall in New York City.
What: Dress by Thakoon. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
April 20, 2009 Where: At Cookie Magazine's Smart Cookie Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
April 8, 2009 Where: At the debut of the Lemlem fashion line at the J. Crew SoHo store in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
February 6, 2009 Where: At the Lycee Francais de New York gala in New York City.
Photo: WWD/Conde Nast/Corbis
December 11, 2008 Where: At the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in New York City.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
November 17, 2008 Where: At the 5th Anniversary of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund at Skylight Studios in New York City.
Photo: Brian Ach/WireImage
November 13, 2008 Where: At Keep a Child Alive's "Black Ball."
Photo: Brian Ach/WireImage
November 11, 2008 Where: At Tribeca Film Institute's fall benefit after party for Quantum of Solace in New York City.
Photo: Jason Kempin/WireImage
November 10, 2008 Where: At the Museum of Modern Art's film benefit in New York City.
Photo: LAN/Corbis
October 14, 2008 Where: With Colin Powell at the Africa Rising Festival in London, England.
Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
October 1, 2008 Where: At the premiere of What Just Happened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Imag...
October 1, 2008 Where: At the premiere of What Just Happened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
August 21, 2008 Where: At the after party for Traitor at the Fillmore in New York City. Photo: Mark Von Holden/WireImage
August 1, 2008 Where: With Chris Aires at his fashion show during the Africa Rising Music and Fashion Festival in Washington, DC.
Photo: Chris J...
August 1, 2008 Where: With Chris Aires at his fashion show during the Africa Rising Music and Fashion Festival in Washington, DC.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
May 5, 2008 Where: With Jonathan Saunders at the "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum o...
May 5, 2008 Where: With Jonathan Saunders at the "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by Jonathan Saunders. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
May 1, 2008 Where: With Andre LeonTalley at the Tribeca Film Festival awards night party in New York City.
Photo: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images
April 28, 2008 Where: At the Chanel dinner during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
What: Dress by Chanel. Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty ...
April 28, 2008 Where: At the Chanel dinner during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
What: Dress by Chanel. Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images
April 26, 2008 Where: At the Bloomberg pre-dinner cocktail at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.
Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage
February 25, 2008 Where: At the opening of the new Yves Saint Laurent store in Paris, France.
What: Dress by Yves Saint Laurent. Photo: Julien...
February 25, 2008 Where: At the opening of the new Yves Saint Laurent store in Paris, France.
What: Dress by Yves Saint Laurent. Photo: Julien Hekimian/WireImage
February 14, 2008 Where: At the (RED) Auction at Sotheby's in New York City. Photo: Joe Kohen/WireImage
January 31, 2008 Where: At the amfAR gala in New York City.
Photo: Rabbani & Solimene/WireImage
January 16, 2008 Where: At Chanel Fine Jewelry's "Night of Diamonds" at the Plaza in New York City.
What: Dress by Chanel. Photo: Rob ...
January 16, 2008 Where: At Chanel Fine Jewelry's "Night of Diamonds" at the Plaza in New York City.
What: Dress by Chanel. Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images
January 16, 2008 Where: At the UNICEF benefit at the United Nations in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Im...
January 16, 2008 Where: At the UNICEF benefit at the United Nations in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
November 13, 2007 Where: With Vanessa Redgrave at the Fundraising launch party for Batonga at the Bohen Foundation in New York City.
Photo: Thos...
November 13, 2007 Where: With Vanessa Redgrave at the Fundraising launch party for Batonga at the Bohen Foundation in New York City.
Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images
October 6, 2007 Where: At the after party for Things We Lost in the Fire, in New York City.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/WireImage
September 8, 2007 Where: At Ralph Lauren's spring 2008 runway show.
What: Dress by Ralph Lauren. Photo: WWD/Conde Nast/Corbis
September 6, 2007 Where: At Rachel Zoe's Style A to Zoe book launch party in New York City.
What: Dress by Missoni. Photo: WWD/Conde Nast/Corbis
September 5, 2007 Where: At Repetto's U.S. pop-up shop in New York City.
Photo: Duffy-Marie Arnoult/WireImage
June 4, 2007 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.
What: Dress by Michael Kors. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
May 31, 2007 Where: At a screening of La Vie en Rose in New York City.
What: Dress by Chanel. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
May 14, 2007 Where: At the Dior 2008 Cruise runway show in New York City.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
May 2, 2007 Where: At Teen Vogue's Mother-Daughter evening.
What: Dress by Phillip Lim. Photo: WWD/Conde Nast/Corbis
April 30, 2007 Where: At Cookie's Smart Cookie Awards at the Morgan Library and Museum, in New York City.
Photo: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic
April 11, 2007 Where: At the Tom Ford menswear launch and store opening in New York City.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/WireImage
March 6, 2007 Where: At the Namesake premiere in New York City.
Photo: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic
February 11, 2007 Where: At the Grammy Awards.
Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage
December 12, 2006 Where: At the Neue Gallerie winter gala in New York City.
What: Dress by Gucci. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
October 24, 2006 Where: With Kassy Kebede at a screening of Babel in New York City.
Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
June 5, 2006 Where: At the CFDA Awards at the New York Public Library in New York City.
Photo: Randy Brooke/WireImage
May 1, 2006 Where: At the "AngloMania" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by Balen...
May 1, 2006 Where: At the "AngloMania" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by Balenciaga. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
April 10, 2006 Where: At the "Very Hot Pink Party" in New York City.
Photo: Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic
November 3, 2005 Where: At the Tom Ford and Estee Lauder Saks launch in New York City.
What: Dress by Chloé. Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran...
November 3, 2005 Where: At the Tom Ford and Estee Lauder Saks launch in New York City.
What: Dress by Chloé. Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage
October 24, 2005 Where: At a Worldwide Orphans Foundation event at Capitale in New York City.
Photo: Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic
June 6, 2005 Where: With Heidi Klum at the CFDA Awards dinner party at the New York Public Library in New York City.
What: Dress by Proenza Scho...
June 6, 2005 Where: With Heidi Klum at the CFDA Awards dinner party at the New York Public Library in New York City.
What: Dress by Proenza Schouler. Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images
May 2, 2005 Where: At the "Chanel" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by J. Mendel...
May 2, 2005 Where: At the "Chanel" Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
What: Dress by J. Mendel. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
March 2, 2005 Where: At the cocktail for the Whitehouse Correspondents Association dinner.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
March 2, 2005 Where: AtThe Girls book launch party in Paris, France
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage
December 3, 2004 Where: At the AQUOS Project's "Bloom" installation.
Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage
November 30, 2004 Where: At an Estee Lauder event at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
September 9, 2004 Where: Backstage at the Carolina Herrera spring 2005 runway show in New York City.
What: Dress by Carolina Herrera. Photo: Ja...
September 9, 2004 Where: Backstage at the Carolina Herrera spring 2005 runway show in New York City.
What: Dress by Carolina Herrera. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
September 7, 2004 Where: With Iman at "Fashion Building Futures Benefit for Youth at Risk."
Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage
June 16, 2004 Where: At the Fundraiser for Baby Buggy's One Million Diaper Drive.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
April 26, 2004 Where: With Carolyn Murphy and Elizabeth Hurley at the "Hot Pink Party" at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
What: ...
April 26, 2004 Where: With Carolyn Murphy and Elizabeth Hurley at the "Hot Pink Party" at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
What: Dress by Michael Kors. Photo: Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic
September 22, 2003 Where: At the New Yorkers For Children fall gala in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
September 18, 2003 Where: At the Tommy Hilfiger spring 2004 runway show after party in New York City.
Photo: Theo Wargo/WireImage
September 9, 2003 Where: At the launch party for Manolo Blahnik's exhibition in New York City.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
June 2, 2003 Where: At the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.
What: Dress by Michael Kors. Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage
May 12, 2003 Where: With Behnez Sarafpour at the Swarovski Dinner in honor of the CFDA Fashion Award nominees and honorees.
What: Dress by Behna...
May 12, 2003 Where: With Behnez Sarafpour at the Swarovski Dinner in honor of the CFDA Fashion Award nominees and honorees.
What: Dress by Behnaz Sarafpour. Photo: James Devaney/WireImage
February 3, 2003 Where: At the amfAR Benefit gala in New York City.
Photo: Gregory Pace/Corbis
September 17, 2002 Where: With Jonathan Reed at the Behnaz Sarafpour spring 2003 runway show in New York City.
Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/Wire...
September 17, 2002 Where: With Jonathan Reed at the Behnaz Sarafpour spring 2003 runway show in New York City.
Photo: Djamilla Rosa Cochran/WireImage
February 20, 2002 Where: At The Sports Club/LA New York's celebration for the IMG models in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Photo: R...
February 20, 2002 Where: At The Sports Club/LA New York's celebration for the IMG models in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Photo: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive
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