![Family Day at Stella McCartney’s Show in Paris]( "Family Day at Stella McCartney’s Show in Paris")
Family Day at Stella McCartney’s Show in Paris
It was like a Parent’s Day, at Stella McCartney’s autumn/winter 2010/2011 show, at the Paris prêt-à-porter season on Monday morning.
By Hilary Alexander
Published: 1:24PM GMT 08 Mar 2010
Paul McCartney and his daughter British fashion designer Stella McCartney pose after Stella McCartney's collection presented in Paris Photo: AP
Sir Paul McCartney, the proud father, with his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, by his side, beamed, as his daughter’s collection came down the catwalk.
On his other side sat, Maria Shriver, the First Lady of California, and the wife of the Governor of California, the actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a surprise front-row guest, with her daughter, Christina - both attending their first Paris show.
Alongside them was Twiggy, with husband Leigh Lawson, smiling, too, in the knowledge her daughter, Carly, was backstage, a key member of Stella’s design team.
Ms McCartney dedicated this collection to her husband, children, family, team and friends, adding, in a tribute to the late British designer, Alexander McQueen, “This one is also for Lee- you’re missed!”
The former Beatle’s daughter, who joined Gucci Group with her own label, in 2001, chose to return to the opulent surroundings of the neo-baroque Opera Garnier - the place where she first made her Paris debut as the designer for Chloé, in March, 1997.
Back then, she made her name with mannish tailoring and vintage-lingerie. Yesterday’s show was clean-cut, modernist and devoid of accessories, save for shiny, patent, pointy-toe slingbacks.
Straight coats in grey, camel or black cashmere, featured notched lapels, or cuffed, patch-pockets. Anorak-jackets had sealed seams, quilting details and detachable hoods, in rubberized ivory and black.
Linear shifts were above the knee in front, but cut longer at the back. High-collared tunics,buttoned down the back, came over black, slim trousers with deep turn-ups.
While the daywear was minimalist, McCartney’s after-dark approach allowed a hint of decoration, via hand-embroidered and sequinned, lace slips, veiled in organza, and purple, cinnamon and orange satin gowns, cut high in front, but with a long, straight-cut “train”, streaming behind.
Meanwhile, at the Emanuel Ungaro show, mystery surrounded the complete absence backstage of the Hollywood star, Lindsay Lohan, who last season made a universally derided debut as the famous French house’s ”fashion advisor”, alongside the chief designer, the Spanish, Estrella Archs.
According to an inside source, Lohan was “not even invited to the show”, although she has been a prominent presence during the Paris season, including sitting front row at John Galliano.
Speaking backstage, Ms Archs confirmed that the actress, best known for her tabloid exploits, “was not involved in any way.”
The Ungaro collection referenced some of the founder’s signatures, such as a black and white, Prince of Wales check, mixed with polka dot, jewel tones, and florals, but was not helped by the young and thin models who mostly looked as if they were wearing their mothers’ clothes.
