Kate Moss has posed for her first men’s magazine cover in 17 years to become the September 2013 cover star of British Esquire.

The cover comes with top-notch fashion credentials as the highly respected stylist Katy England and the equally lauded photographer Craig McDean collaborated to create the image. A sultry Moss, with lightly tousled hair and pared-down make-up, wears a tail coat and a jewelled leotard that is reminiscent of a full-body vajazzle.  

The last time Moss appeared on the cover of Esquire, it was 1993 and she was 19. She then appeared on the cover of the now-defunct Arena in 1996 but had steered clear of men’s mags since – until this year. This new Esquire cover, for an issue celebrating all thing British, follows speculation that she will be appearing in Playboy’s 60th anniversary issue.   

Esquire’s editor Alex Bilmes – you might remember him from the ‘women are ornamental’ furore  –  said: ‘Kate Moss is my generation’s embodiment of homegrown sex, glamour, hedonism and insouciant cool. She’s also a uniquely British figure, and for too long has been monopolised by women’s fashion magazines. So I am thrilled we’ve persuaded her to front our special issue dedicated to this country’s most stylish people and products. I really can’t imagine anyone better suited to the job.’