Paris Fashion Week SS24 Highlights: stars go shopping at Stella McCartney's sustainable market
Stella McCartney is a sustainable fashion pioneer and has long been pushing the boundaries of sustainable luxury on the catwalk but this season at Paris Fashion Week the designer went one step further.
Immediately after her SS24 show, A-list guests (and members of the public who had reserved a free ticket) were invited to explore Stella’s Sustainable Market, a showcase of material innovations that the designer had set up at the Saxe-Breteuil Market in the French capital.
Textiles on show included plant-based, grape-based and apple-based alternatives to animal leather, as well as regenerative cotton and wool, and yarn made from seaweed.
The designer mingled with guests and spoke about the motivation behind the ‘conscious luxury’ movement and was happy to share her contacts and knowledge.
“I get people asking questions about how to get access to suppliers and things so that’s why I wanted to do Stella’s Sustainable Market,” she told legendary fashion writer Suzy Menkes.
“So everyone knows what we make things out of, they can meet the innovators. I think it inspires a lot of people – I hope so.”
(Vianney Le Caer/PA)
On the catwalk – a tree-lined street with the Eiffel Tower perfectly framed in the distance – the collection was billed as the latest iteration of McCartney’s ‘conscious luxury’ movement.
The show opened with a model in black briefs and a white ruffle-front tuxedo shirt with a longline black jacket on top.
McCartney sent out a variety of takes on tuxedo dressing, from Seventies-style shirts paired with jeans to sparkling cummerbunds and cropped waistcoats.
Tiny hotpants and visible knickers have become a big trend at the SS24 shows – but whether the look will hit the high street next spring remains to be seen.
McCartney’s party-ready micro-shorts were low-waisted and decorated with metallic embellishments.
(Vianney Le Caer/PA)
Oversized tailoring is one of the designer’s signatures, and this season she offered languid suits in pastel hues alongside slinky knitted trousers in camel and oatmeal tones, and a beautiful brocade three-piece suit.
(Vianney Le Caer/PA)
McCartney also explored volume through eveningwear, beginning with a pair of silky sleeveless tops with cape detailing that billowed behind models like a mini parachute.
Strapless and puff-ball cocktail dresses in black, polka dot and colourful floral prints (the latter peppered with brooches created by artist Andrew Logan) will no doubt be a hit on the red carpet.
A pair of crochet maxi dresses with mirrored eyelet detailing signalled the transition from city style to a high-end holiday wardrobe.
(Vianney Le Caer/PA)
The show concluded with flowing, floor-length gowns in pastel peach, soft pink, mint green and sherbert yellow hues.
The final look was a strappy black version with spotty mesh inserts and puffed sleeves.
The audience applauded as McCartney appeared on the catwalk wearing a black blazer and trousers over a white top made with regenerative cotton.
A-list stars championing sustainable luxury in the audience included Paris Hilton the socialite-turned-entrepreneur – who welcomed her first child with husband Carter Reum earlier this year – wore an asymmetrical white dress by Stella McCartney with pointed-toe heels and oversized sunglasses.
Paris Hilton and Nicky Rothschild (Vianney Le Caer/PA)
Hilton's sister, the fashion designer Nicky Rothschild was also dressed by the brand in an aqua long-sleeved ensemble with a pussy-bow tie.
Actress Cate Blanchett donned a patchwork denim jacket and jeans from the British fashion house, founded by McCartney in 2001. The Australian star sat next to fellow actor Robert Downey Jr and American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
Robert Downey Junior, Cate Blanchett, Anna Wintour (Vianney Le Caer/PA)
Emily In Paris star Ashley Park was also front row, dressed in a navy blazer dress embellished with chain tassels, teamed with chunky-soled trainers, black tights and a clutch bag.
Ashley Park (Vianney Le Caer/PA)
Model Mia Regan – the girlfriend of Romeo Beckham – showed off her Gen Z style credentials in a casual outfit.
Mia Regan (Vianney Le Caer/PA)
The 20-year-old tapped into the ‘soccercore’ trend in an Arsenal football shirt teamed with a denim maxi skirt and slouchy brown boots. The shirt is part of a new collection from Stella McCartney for Adidas created for the Arsenal Women team and revealed last week.
