Lauren Hutton does what she likes. This isn’t a criticism. It is whole- heartedly meant as a celebration. For Hutton is the ultimate fashion free spirit.

For those of us who know her, Hutton is our style icon of several eras. The original all-American girl, she veers from androgyny (slightly less formal than Diane Keaton; more sneakers, white tees and a tan) to pretty in pastel (the Halston Grecian gown she wore for the 1975 Oscars is still regularly chosen as one of the best red-carpet dresses ever). And never without a hint of mischief in her eyes and that tremendous gap-toothed smile.

Born Mary Laurence Hutton to Minnie and Lawrence in 1943, the story of how Hutton arrived in New York in the Sixties has become fashion folklore. She moved to the city to try LSD and to travel, but discovered modelling instead. While waitressing in the Playboy Club, she was spotted by then Vogue editor Diana Vreeland who put her in front of legendary photographer Richard Avedon. Against advice, she ditched the wax insert she was given to cover the gap in her teeth and has (literally) leapt across the pages of hundreds of fashion magazines since – a move that encapsulated her free spirit and made her stand out against the static ‘catalogue’- style modelling of the time.

Now, in her 70s, she is joyfully experiencing a renaissance as muse to The Row, J Crew, Bottega Veneta and Calvin Klein. (This is about her fifth renaissance, by the way. She has ‘bounced back’ with campaigns for Barneys New York in 1988, walked the catwalk for Calvin Klein in 1993, was one of the ‘Modern Muses’ on the millennium cover of Vogue, and was the star of Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s lookbook in 2008.)

She has also appeared on more US Vogue covers than anyone else – 26 – with three different editors, Vreeland, Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour, all booking her. Designer Halston dubbed her “perhaps the most perfect mannequin in history”. And, most importantly, for all the endless bombast over who was the first supermodel – Jean Shrimpton, Lisa Fonssagrives, Janice Dickinson – there is absolutely no doubt that Hutton, by negotiating her $400,000 contract with Revlon in 1973 (the first of its kind) was the one who changed the way models were valued forever.

So, you know, Lauren Hutton is a big deal. And not just in fashion. She was one of the first models to launch her own eponymous make-up line (recently closed) and has 44 films under her belt. (American Gigolo with Richard Gere is a 1980 cult classic).

It’s a few weeks since our shoot (she arrived in head-to-toe Stella McCartney and still jumped like a pro. The entire crew fell in love), and I’m waiting for Hutton’s call from her Venice Beach home. Within seconds of hearing her thoughtful, yet commanding, tones, it’s clear who’s in charge. We were all set for a chat about Lauren’s role in the fashion industry, but as I said, Lauren Hutton does what she likes, and before I’ve said anything she’s already talking at 100mph. And thank goodness, because what I got was so much more...