Gisele Bundchen’s farewell at Sao Paulo’s summer shows

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Sao Paulo Fashion Week was off and running Monday, April 13 focused on the summer 2016 season, as well as this week’s last turn on the catwalk for local girl-turned-supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Designers are showing their next season through Friday, April 18 at a park in this sprawling megacity, from Osklen to Ellus, to Alexandre Herchcovitch, Ronaldo Fraga and Joao Pimenta.

Now 34, Bundchen started her career two decades ago at SPFW, when it too was just starting out.

Bundchen has stressed that she is not retiring but will continue off-the-runway work and spend more time with her family. (READ: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen says body ‘asked to stop’ runway life)

The blonde Brazilian beauty, who has already reduced her number of appearances, is married to American football star Tom Brady of the New England Patriots with whom she has two young children, Benjamin and Vivian. 

Bundchen– who Forbes says has been the world’s highest-earning model for the past eight years, with $47 million in earnings last year – is expected to turn her focus to print ad campaigns. 

Only recently, she signed her largest ever contract -– worth more than $25 million, according to Forbes – with US sports apparel firm Under Armour. 

She has worked with the likes of Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Alexander Wang, Balenciaga and Carolina Herrera. She has also many times been a Victoria’s Secret “Angel.”

Sao Paulo Fashion week lasts from April 13-17. Also in on opening day fun: rocker Iggy Pop dropped by. 

At 67, the rocker turned up with a bevy of models and broke a pair of giant sunglasses to get everyone in the Punk/Glam mood of local accessories maker Chilli Beans. – Rappler.com

Gisele Bundchen stock photo from Shutterstock