Tonight:
1°c
Is it a boot? Is it a tight? Does it take hours to put on at night? Stella McCartney debuted a new, extreme form of footwear in Paris today: ultra-long stocking boots that walked a fine line between footwear and hosiery.
In perforated black faux leather, grey panne velvet or deep purple silk, each finished off with a silver stiletto heel, they were worn with everything, from a brushstroke print satin kimono dress to a voluminous grape shaggy wool jumper.
An ardent vegetarian, not a single animal is ever harmed in the making of a McCartney collection, unless you count the editors squeezed like sardines into their front row seats.
Late arrival Beth Ditto, frontwoman of The Gossip, caused a shiver of consternation as she went to take her pew, for the curvaceous singer is indubitably larger than the six-inch gap of bench accorded the average fashion bum.
This was a pacy, racy collection from McCartney, full of the oversized tailoring and lingerie-inspired dresses that have proved such a winning formula in recent seasons, and conjuring a winning mix of masculine and feminine that should ensure a wide appeal.
Jackets with elongated, ultra-slim collars came in a dogtooth check, as did knitted sweater dresses. Black trousers were cropped at the ankle, worn either with an oversized collarless jacket or a pale cream pussybow blouse. Colours were moody: heather, pewter and gunmetal grey.
McCartney's contribution to shaggy chic was imaginatively fur-free: no Mongolian lamb for her, but a series of tufty knits in soft grape wool that provided a similar effect. Bags were simple faux leather clutches embossed with an octagonal print.
For evening, McCartney raided the lingerie drawer for inspiration, with long, spaghetti strap slip dresses in a mix of fabrics from panne velvet to Chantilly lace.
Sheer panels of black and cream lace inserted into side darts and skirts gave a lightness of touch, as though the dresses were ready to float off the body and make their own way home.
A splash of colour came from an emerald green satin dress with a cream vest front, while a dash of sparkle came from the finale piece, a shaggy silver coat dress that, to the untrained eye, looked to be made of thousands of tiny staples.
Front row guests included Ditto, Thandie Newton, Salma Hayek and Twiggy, as well as McCartney's husband, Alisdhair Willis, and her sister, Mary.
Last to arrive was Sir Paul McCartney and his girlfriend, Nancy Shevell, the latter dressed in a cream McCartney coat and matching pom-pom knit bag.
