Stella McCartney staged a horse show Monday morning at France’s oldest riding school, Manege Ecole Militaire, with seven gorgeous wild horses, led by “horse whisperer” and rescuer Jean-Francois Pignon, in cantering, frolicking and rolling in the dirt as models breezed by.
“Our relationship to all our fellow creatures, we wanted to make a connection because there is so much leather and fur and feathers on the runway, especially in winter, and I wanted to show you could do it in a different way and just as luxurious,” she said. Pignon trains his horses to acknowledge his body movements and manners, without physical touch, and they looked truly at ease in the space, and in front of the crowd.
On the runway, McCartney zoomed in on tailoring this season, inspired by equestrian uniforms and military regalia, showing British check and pinstripe boyfriend blazers with the season’s exaggerrated shoulders and looser trousers, adding shrunken waistcoats showing midriffs for sexier takes on suits, as well as the new tailored bustier dresses that have been turning up everywhere despite their somewhat impractical look.