“Working with such an iconic model is always so exciting,” says hairstylist Guido Palau of Linda Evangelista, British Vogue’s September cover star. “And this was kind of a comeback.” The pair have worked together many times over the years, so this cover shoot was a chance for them to catch up and reminisce about days gone by – as well as make some fresh photographic magic, of course.
“We talked about working together on George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” video so many years ago, as well as some of the girls – Christy, Naomi, Tatjana and Cindy,” he says. “It’s always great fun catching up.” As much a collaborator as a subject, Palau lauds Evangelista – one of the original ’90s supers – as someone who “practically invented modelling”, such is her mastery of the craft.
While Evangelista’s hair is covered by hats and scarves in the September shoot, her iconic pixie cut (which was cut in by hairstylist Julien d’Ys in the late ’80s and, Evangelista has since said, “quadrupled her rate”), is still referenced by pro hairstylists on the catwalk and in salons over 30 years later. Below, three of them explain why.
Guido Palau
“She was a big model when she cut her hair off, and it was quite revolutionary. She brought a more boyish and androgynous feel, which was obviously her golden ticket because it elevated her to another level – even though she was already working for Vogue before she cut it off. She regularly changed her hair – she went blonde, red… you never knew what colour you were going to get when you worked with her. When we did the George Michael video, she had just bleached her hair platinum blonde, but I didn’t know until she walked in. Then the next week she went Rita Hayworth red. She was so adventurous and fearless with her hair, and constantly changed her look, which was inspiring to the fashion industry, and probably also inspired the next generation of models to play the chameleon. She’s probably the most iconic model – I can’t say enough good things about her.”
Sam McKnight
“I never thought of Linda’s hair as a crop, it was more of a boy bob. The thing that made it magic was the versatility. It was the perfect match to her incredible chameleon changes – it could be blonde and sexy, geometric and hard, wild and windswept or fabulously retro. And you could change it quickly and dramatically. She altered her persona for each look. It’s a timeless, versatile look that can adapt to modern trends seamlessly. There is only one Linda!”
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George Northwood
“A good haircut is transformative, and Linda is proof of that. Her supermodel era really took speed post-crop! This cut beautifully framed her stunning facial features, and the world took notice. I recommend cropped styles to my clients as they can give the illusion of higher cheekbones. They not only frame the area, but they also add strength and a focal point.”
