Stella McCartney Parades Ten Horses First at Paris Fashion Week, Models Walk After
Key Takeaways
- Show staged at Paris Fashion Week inside an equestrian arena
- Ten horses — five black, five white — entered the arena first
- Stella McCartney centered an equestrian theme throughout the show
Horse-led runway
Stella McCartney opened her Paris Fashion Week show with ten live horses led by equestrian artist Jean-François Pignon, who guided them in choreographed patterns around an oval ring while models walked the perimeter.
“Stella McCartney lets horses steal the show — and makes her point in Paris without saying a word Stella McCartney lets horses steal the show — and makes her point in Paris without saying a word PARIS (AP) — Ten horses — five black, five white — entered the sand ring first”
The setting created an explicitly emotional, animal-centric spectacle intended as a brief escape from outside tumult.
The one-of-a-kind equestrian staging anchored the season’s theme and signalled the house’s stated respect for animals and harmony between humans and animals.
Sustainable materials
Sustainability was foregrounded across the collection: the house reported that 93% of the materials were sustainable.
The runway featured faux-fur outerwear and other material innovations McCartney has pursued for decades, from lab-grown yeast to recycled denim, alongside plastic-free sequins and cruelty-free texture effects.
The emphasis on alternative materials reinforced the brand’s claim that its seasonal offering balances glamour with environmental priorities.
Design and themes
The collection traced an autobiographical arc and reiterated Stella McCartney’s signature dualities.
“Stella McCartney lets horses steal the show — and makes her point in Paris without saying a word Stella McCartney lets horses steal the show — and makes her point in Paris without saying a word PARIS (AP) — Ten horses — five black, five white — entered the sand ring first”
Chunky fisherman rib knits and hand-crocheted scarves referenced a childhood on the Mull of Kintyre, while Savile Row tailoring, 1980s sportswear and riding influences recalled her Parisian internships.
Observers noted the house’s skill at balancing precision and play — corporate suiting that breathes alongside satin eveningwear and textured daytime pieces.
Guests and context
The show closed with a moment that underscored both family and the brand’s independence: the final model wore a tank top reading “My Dad Is A Rockstar,” and Paul McCartney sat in the front row applauding.
High-profile attendees included Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King and Hannah Waddingham, and LVMH heir Antoine Arnault with Natalia Vodianova — notable in light of McCartney’s January 2025 buyback of LVMH’s minority stake.
McCartney also mentioned she will receive the Légion d’honneur, framing the show within a wider personal and professional arc.
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