Aging supermodels design their own fashion lines

With Kate Moss's handbag debut for Longchamp circulating on the internet, Heidi Klum's maternity lines, and Elle Macpherson's long-established lingerie brand, it seems as if namesake fashion lines are turning into supermodels' most popular 'retirement plan.'

While Elle Macpherson, also known as The Body, has long stopped working full-time as a model, her colleagues Kate Moss and Heidi Klum seem to be planning ahead: even though neither of them can complain about a lack of bookings, they have both increased their activity off the runway.

Moss previously designed for UK retailer Topshop and released signature fragrances, but her stint at French label Longchamp marks her first real move as luxury design consultant. Klum, on the other hand, has been branching out as a TV host ( Germany's Next Top Model, Project Runway) and just announced the release of two lines for maternity label A Pea in the Pod.

Fellow German Claudia Schiffer told the IHT Luxury Conference in Berlin last year that she, too, is working on her first own fashion range of cashmere, while former top model and actress Amber Valletta released her first line of sportswear with Swedish brand Monrow last year.

The career move doesn't seem to be reserved for just the 'veterans,' however: US wild child Erin Wasson has designed for surf and skate brand RVCA, and Coco Rocha just announced she would be debuting her own design at the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Some fashion professionals don't take kindly to the model-turned-designer phenomenon, however: designer Hussein Chalayan has been quoted as saying that "if you haven't had the training and you know nothing about clothes, it kind of demeans all the training that designers have had."