STYLE EVOLUTION

Linda Evangelista Has Always Been Super on the Red Carpet

by Lauren McCarthy
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Woman with bright red hair smiles under an umbrella at a nighttime event, wearing a floral dress.

There are many reasons why Linda Evangelista is super. Yes, she was one of the first mega-models, lovingly named “The Trinity” alongside Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington, who walked just about every runway during the ’90s. But off the catwalk, Evangelista proved herself to be just as fashionable, becoming a fixture of the social scene in perfectly chic ensembles you’d expect from a top model.

In the height of the decade, Evangelista favored structured minidresses with sparkly accents or sheer overlays that allowed for just a hint of skin. After nearly a decade out of the public eye, nowadays, the model prefers a truly show-stopping gown or an effortlessly sexy tailored suit that prove she’s still on the cutting edge of fashion all these years later. Below, look back at some of Linda Evangelista’s best style moments, everywhere from the Met Gala to Paris Fashion Week.

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For a Paris Fashion Week party, Evangelista mastered the model off-duty look in a strapless LBD and statement jewels.

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A glamorous night out with fellow top model Christy Turlington in the early 1990s.

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Evangelista and pal Naomi Campbell attend Yasmin Lebon’s birthday party in 1990 wearing matching skirt suits.

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An Atomic Blonde moment with Kate Moss at a 1994 Allure magazine party.

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Evangelista attended Malcolm McLaren’s Paris CD release party in a plaid dress with slingback heels.

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With a perfectly polished bob, the model donned a strappy LBD with chunky black boots to the 1993 Met Gala.

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Supermodels in skates. Evangelista braved the ice alongside Cindy Crawford for a 1994 benefit.

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Evangelista arrived at the 12th annual CFDA Awards in a sheer lace dress.

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The model donned a simple, floor-length tank dress for a 1996 benefit.

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The model matched her VH1 Fashion Award with a slinky silver dress in 1996.

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Photographer Steven Meisel and Evangelista cozied up as the model donned a very sparkly, flapper-esque number.

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Evangelista celebrated Peter Lindbergh’s book, 10 Women, while wearing a chic and sleek pinstripe suit.

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The model, in a very 2000s dress-over-pants look, joined designer Jean Paul Gaultier at a Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition.

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Evangelista opted for a printed, one-shouldered gown for the 2004 Costume Institute Gala, themed “Dangerous Liaisons.”

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The model took to the red carpet in an orange slip dress with matching strappy heels and blunt bangs.

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Opting for a more casual red carpet look, the model paired flare jeans with a silky halter top.

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The model hit the 2004 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a gilded gold gown.

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Evangelista attended the 2006 Met Gala in a frilly pink dress with plenty of ruffles.

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A blonde Evangelista opts for a periwinkle blue gown for the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar party.

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Evangelista looked statuesque at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in a one-shoulder disco ball gown.

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Evangelista attended the amfAR Milano 2009 red carpet, the Inaugural Milan Fashion Week event at La Permanente, in a long black gown with a matching stole.

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In Yves Saint Laurent, Evangelista was hard to miss during the Third Annual Guggenheim Artists Ball in New York City.

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A moment for the tights. Evangelista tapped into her wild side to attend a 2012 gala in New York City.

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The model chose a peplum black gown for the 2012 Met Gala, “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.”

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Evangelista attended the Chanel Bijoux de Diamant 80th Anniversary in 2012 while wearing one of the house’s classic black suits.

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The same year, the model joined Karl Lagerfeld to attend The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s Classic Revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld New York Exhibition Celebration.

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In a fairy-tale look at the 2013 Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition.

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Two years later, she opted for something different altogether, in shocking black and red, at the “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibition opening.

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A vision in florals at Vogue Italia’s 50th Anniversary party in 2014.

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Back to her off-duty ways during London Fashion Week in 2023.

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A black tie dress code at the 2023 WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards.

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A chocolate brown moment for The Super Models screening.

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For her Met Gala comeback, Evangelista opted for an off-the-runway look from New York powerhouse Khaite.

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