Linda Evangelista, Kaia Gerber, and More Feted Steven Meisel’s Zara Collection

Linda Evangelista, Marta Ortega PérezMatteo Prandoni/BFA.com

A sighting of Steven Meisel is a rarity. The last time I laid eyes on the legendary photographer was a chance encounter at a SoHo eatery where he arrived incognito, draped in many layers of black leather, black linen, and a multitude of black bandanas on a sweltering summer day, and though he may have been a fixture of the ’90s nightlife circuit, often photographed on the arms of Naomi, Cindy, Linda, and Christy, the photographer is now famously camera shy in a sort of poetic irony.

On Friday night, during a celebration marking the release of his capsule collection for Zara, he once again remained home, admiring the festivities from afar through photos and videos relayed from friends, including Linda Evangelista. “I first met him in the studio for American Vogue in 1987, which is also the opening page in our book we have coming out this week,” Evangelista told Vogue. “He really is larger than life, and has this huge personality. He’s super quiet, but super positive and super fun and obviously super talented. He’s so inspirational to me.”

In his stead and drawing plenty of attention were the collaborative Zara wares on display. They range from a bombastic black faux fur trapper hat to a black sequined shirt-jacket hybrid to a classic leather moto—all clearly inspired by Meisel’s own layered black wardrobe and shoppable to the public starting Monday September 18th at Zara.com and the SoHo pop-up shop at 33 Howard Street where the launch fête took place.

“I’ve enjoyed all of this so much,” Evangelista added of her time as Meisel’s confidante in the process of bringing the collection to life. “I went for a fitting and didn’t leave, and hung out at the shoot, and, I mean, are these clothes not totally him? Tonight, I have his jacket on and his boots on, but I put it with my dress, so you can really make it your own. Everything is wearable.”

Alongside Evangelista, parading through the room in top-to-toe black were Kaia Gerber, Liya Kebede, and Alton Mason, who also have starring roles in the collection’s black and white campaign imagery styled by Karl Templer, with hair and makeup by Guido Palau and Pat McGrath respectively, and lensed by, of course, Mr. Meisel. “It was just an amazing energy, and a great experience for everybody involved,” Templer told Vogue as guests like Karolina Kurkova, Joan Smalls, and Paloma Elsesser shopped with abandon. “The love and care you feel for Steven comes across from all of the talent, and all of the people that work with him to bring out the best in everyone.”