As the fashion elite queued up to buy the book 'LINDA EVANGELISTA PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVEN MEISEL,' the atmosphere was electric with anticipation at 92NY on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Everyone eagerly awaited the entrance of Linda Evangelista, the legendary beauty icon and supermodel. A palpable sense of excitement filled the auditorium. For many, Evangelista had shaped their formative years, inspiring dreams of careers in beauty and fashion.
Fran Mallis, the interviewer, guided the conversation skillfully. Evangelista shared intimate details about her family background, her Canadian upbringing, and the early days of her modeling career. She spoke openly about being scouted, a challenging experience in Japan, health struggles, and her meteoric rise in the fashion capitals of New York City and Europe. She reminisced about her collaborations with fashion luminaries like Gianni Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui, and major retailers like Barneys NY. Evangelista also spoke warmly about photographers she had worked with, including Arthur Elgort, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and, of course, Steven Meisel.
Images of Evangelista, captured by Meisel, illuminated the large screen, serving as poignant reminders of their indelible impact on fashion, both past and present.
Listening to her, it became clear that Evangelista's journey to success was far from easy. Her resilience and strength were evident throughout the discussion.
In a gracious gesture, she signed all the available copies of her book, including one I had gotten for a friend. I left the event feeling both inspired and hopeful for her continued well-being.
