Short, shaggy and cut just below the ear: the crop that changed a supermodel’s career is back for fall. Before the bixie, the shattered bob and every viral micro-trend, one haircut defined an entire era of fashion. It belonged to Linda Evangelista, and this fall, stylists say it is the cut to ask for.
NewBeauty’s fall 2026 haircut guide names it “La Linda,” and celebrity hairstylist Garren, co-founder of R+Co and R+Co BLEU, describes it simply: “It’s very androgynous, yet very sexy.”
The Story Behind the Original Cut
In the late 1980s, photographer Peter Lindbergh encouraged Evangelista to go short. Hairstylist Julien d’Ys cut her long brown waves into a cropped style, The List recounts. At first, it looked like a disaster. “They all started canceling me,” she recalled of the Milan shows that season. She ended up walking only four shows.
The free time turned into luck. She booked a Vogue Italia shoot with Steven Meisel, landed the cover, and her career took off. The short cut, nicknamed “The Linda,” became one of the most copied looks of the supermodel era and followed her into the early 1990s.
What the 2026 Version Looks Like
Garren’s take keeps the spirit but softens the shape. “This cut is a shaggy bob, very short, cut just below the ear,” he told NewBeauty. What he loves most is the structure it reveals: “the neck is exposed and the jawline is strong.”
The texture is piecey and lived-in rather than polished, which keeps it modern. And it is versatile. “You could slick it back, wave it, set it,” Garren says.
How to Ask for It
Bring a photo of Evangelista’s original crop and of a current shaggy version. Ask for a very short bob that ends just below the ear, with soft, textured layers through the crown and ends that are point cut rather than blunt, so the shape moves. Request a slightly longer front that can tuck behind the ears or sweep to the side.
Who It Suits
The cut highlights the neck, jawline and cheekbones, so it is especially flattering on oval, heart-shaped and angular faces. If your face is rounder, ask for a little more height at the crown and a side part to add length.
It works well on straight to wavy hair. Very curly hair can wear it too, with longer layers to manage volume. For fine hair, including after 50, a short, layered cut can create the illusion of more body, since the hair is not weighed down by length. Ask your stylist to keep the layers soft rather than overly thinned.
The Air-Dry Routine
Garren keeps styling minimal. He recommends combing R+Co BLEU Essential Air Dry/Blow Dry Crème through damp hair, letting it air-dry, then tucking it behind the ears with a side part. For more texture, scrunch the ends lightly as it dries. For an evening look, slick it back with a little gel or cream.
Plan on a trim every six to eight weeks to keep the shape sharp.
Before the bixie, there was The Linda. Nearly four decades later, the cut that nearly ended a career is once again the one stylists say defines the season.