Paris — Ten horses – five black, five white – entered the sand ring first. Models took second place.
That told you everything you need to know about designer Stella McCartney’s preferences at Paris Fashion Week.
The British-American designer presented his Winter 2026 show at the Riding Hall in the Bois de Boulogne on Wednesday, marking the Lunar New Year of the Horse with a sobering manifesto: fashion can celebrate animals rather than consume them.
No skin. No fur. No feathers. No compromise.
The horses, guided by equestrian artist Jean-Francois Pignon, moved in choreographed patterns around the oval ring as the models walked its perimeter.
Several were visibly moved during rehearsals, McCartney said.
It was that kind of show – emotional in a way that only live animals can be among humans.
The collection marked her life in clothes.
It opened with floor-length faux fur coats, so he persuaded the demand for a double take – McCartney has mastered material innovation for two decades, using everything from lab-grown yeast to recycled denim.
The house claims that 93% of the collection’s materials are sustainable.
From there the arc of autobiography unfolded.
Chunky fisherman’s rib knits and hand-knitted scarves are nods to childhood with parents Paul and Linda McCartney in Mull of Kintyre.
Jewel-tone stirrup leggings and silky bow-embellished dresses recalled her teenage internships at Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent — the formative Paris years she says sealed her future as a designer.
The core of the collection offered what McCartney does best: soft tailoring with defined shoulders, breathable corporate suits, satin evening pieces that shimmer without shouting.
Plastic-free sequined dresses came detailed with ruffles and pleats.
A balance between masculine and feminine, precision and play ran through each look.
The final model walked out in a tank top reading “My Dad is a Rockstar.” In the front row, Paul McCartney – ex-Beatle, eternal rock star, proud father – gave the eulogy.
“It was beautiful,” he said later.
“He’s my father, he used to say that,” Stella retorted.
Among the crowds that jostled to congratulate her: Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King and Hannah Waddingham.
Attended by Natalia Vodianova, wife of LVMH heir Antoine Arnault – a notable presence was that McCartney bought back the conglomerate’s minority stake in the brand in January 2025.
The label, founded 25 years ago, has not turned a profit since 2017, although McCartney opted for complete independence.
“I forget that I’m one of the few women who designs for women,” said McCartney, who casually mentioned that she will receive the Légion d’Honneur, France’s most prestigious honor, on Thursday.
“I want to feel like I’m really embracing women through these collections, and I don’t want the planet to suffer because of it.”
(tags to translate)Chinese New Year
