Anok Yai had the most exciting off-duty fashion month modeling style

Anok Yai will be competing for Model of the Year at the Fashion Awards later this winter, but her chic off-duty style is proving to be in a league of its own. From New York to Paris, Yai brought some striking pieces to Fashion Month that were a youthful update to the style of models from the late ’90s and 2000s.

Before Yai officially wrapped up her Paris Fashion Week on the Coperni runway at Disneyland last night, she headed to Balenciaga’s Spring 2025 show as a front-row guest. She showed off her late-aughts style in many ways, donning denim leggings that transformed into ankle boots and the brand’s iconic “City” bag. Later that evening, Yai put on some elegant party attire. She wore a low-cut white top (which she left hanging below the bottom of her shorts) and sheer stockings and open-toed shoes.

Off-duty, Yai’s style, of course, harks back to the era of Naomi, Linda and Cindy. But it’s done with a modern twist, whether it’s a rock star fur coat or blackout glasses.

Yai kicked off her fashion month in New York (where she donned heels and gravity-defying leg warmers) before jetting off to Europe. In between appearances in Milan, Yai joined other models at a Versace after party, where she covered ’90s ace Gianni. She wore a Versace cheetah and jellyfish print top and mustard shorts. Yai also embraced the sheer trend by donning a completely sheer nude dress, and even tried out a statement look for the Mugler event, where she went shirtless under a crumpled velvet coat.

Yai’s casual style wasn’t the only thing making a splash this fashion month. Closing the Vetements show, the model took one of the more memorable walks this season. After being spotted wearing a wedding dress, she quickly improvised her regular walk, turning into a runaway bride.

“The moment I stepped onto the runway, my heel caught repeatedly,” she wrote on Instagram. “I had no choice but to pick up my dress (and) walk out – all elegance and grace out the window. I panicked for a moment, knowing how bad the walk was going. I had to figure out a way to make it look like all my “mistakes” were intentional. I decided to change from an elegant bride to a provocative bride, hoping that the change in personality would work.”