The fashion invite was brass knuckles with “STELLA” emblazoned in shimmering gold.
So when Stella McCartney’s ready-to-wear collection exploded on Monday morning with colour, stripes and movement, it came as no surprise.
The show’s energy matched the reputation of its front row of sports glitterati, including F1’s Lewis Hamilton and tennis star Maria Sharapova, demure in black.
Bold, masculine checks in fluid silhouettes opened — with a gentler feminine edge provided by subtle plays on transparencies.
Contrast colour pleated dress swung by on models with exposed shoulders in bars of bright blue, spring green, chili red and pink.
The hemlines bounced elastically revealing flashes of leg, to a booming soundtrack with the refrain “Spandex” on repeat. It was a point not lost on chuckling fashionistas as the expensive silk gowns filed by inside Paris’ palatial Opera Garnier.
The collection packed several creative flourishes — a gray pants look with a frontal peplum with floor-grazing kinetic black tassels. Elsewhere, a beautiful revealing black gown looked like lace with spiral motifs, but was made using transparent eyelet embroidery. It had guests grabbing their camera phones.
