Christine Evangelista, known for her roles on "The Walking Dead" and "The Arrangement," is trading scripts for silk and lace. The actress has launched her own luxury lingerie and loungewear brand, simply called Evangelista, marking a new creative direction. Available now, the debut collection is made in Italy using rare Leavers lace, Italian silks, and custom gilded hardware. Evangelista told WWD the line explores the many facets of womanhood, blending thoughtful design with old-world craftsmanship.
"I call it the reclamation of the divine feminine," she said. "It's about honoring the wholeness of femininity - maternal and erotic, soft and strong." The collection draws on religious iconography, particularly Catholic symbolism, as a storytelling foundation. Evangelista, a cousin of supermodel Linda Evangelista, spent two decades as an actress and sees herself as a storyteller first. Her curiosity about what we wear underneath began at the Fashion Institute of Technology and grew through working with costume designers. In 2020, she launched the podcast "Half Naked With Christine Evangelista," where conversations about underwear opened into deeper discussions about intimacy. She noticed a gap in the market for lingerie that felt both couture and youthful, avoiding the extremes of purely erotic or purely basic.
Evangelista traveled to Italy to learn about textile heritage and century-old techniques, partnering with family-run ateliers like Pizval and Davos. The first collection is produced in small batches and includes Leavers lace sleepwear, silk jacquard separates, slipdresses, and sculptural accessories. Key pieces feature custom hardware with motifs ranging from Mary Magdalene to a pearl inspired by the Birth of Venus. Sizing currently runs XS to XL for loungewear and 34A to 36D for bras, with expansion planned. Prices range from $95 to $2,200, available online and at Moda Operandi. Marc Rofsky, the retailer's vice president of merchandising, praised the brand for pairing bold femininity with craftsmanship. Evangelista plans future drops including bridal by February, swimwear for summer, and new materials like cashmere, continuing her focus on elevated everyday luxury.
Originally reported by WWD