Stella McCartney sends horses down the runway for Paris Fashion Week show

Stella McCartney brought an enthusiastically equestrian show to Paris Fashion Week for her autumn/winter 2026 collection, staging the runway inside a stable in celebration of the Year of the Horse.

The circular catwalk wrapped around a sand-covered paddock, with guests seated along the perimeter as models strode around the track.

At the beginning of the show, several horses were released into the centre of the arena, moving calmly around the space as models continued walking the runway creating a dynamic energy within the presentation.

The setting also underlined McCartney’s long-standing commitment to cruelty-free fashion. As a lifelong vegetarian who refuses to use leather or fur, the designer has built her brand around the idea of responsible luxury.

That message felt particularly timely following her recent appointment by the King as an ambassador for the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), a programme designed to encourage businesses to adopt more sustainable practices.

Presenting the show in a stable environment while showcasing entirely faux materials on the runway felt like a perfect reflection of that ethos. The horse, of course, also happens to be the 54-year-old designer’s favourite animal, with her most popular bag being named “The Falabella”.

The collection opened with a strong Eighties influence, beginning with oversized faux fur coats layered over two-piece tailoring.

Top-heavy blazers and slimline trousers established the dominating silhouette from the outset, while exaggerated shoulders and cinched waists hinted at the power dressing of the decade.

Faux fur trims appeared repeatedly throughout the collection, edging blazers and coats while emphasising McCartney’s cruelty-free approach to outerwear – proving that vegan fashion can still, undoubtedly, be fashionable.

Equestrian references were woven subtly into the tailoring. Slim-cut suit trousers featured jodhpur-style cuffs at the ankle, while slouchy thigh-high boots evoked the riding-inspired aesthetic.

Despite the stable setting, McCartney’s tailoring remained rooted in the Savile Row tradition that has long informed her work. As a student she apprenticed with Edward Sexton – the celebrated tailor who dressed her father, Sir Paul McCartney – and that training continues to shape her approach to structure and proportion.

As the show progressed, the collection broadened beyond tailoring. Colourful jacquard patterns and McCartney’s signature star motifs appeared across knitwear and separates, injecting playful detail into the looks.

Sporty rugby shirts introduced a more casual element, while denim styling – including zipped jeans and relaxed jackets – created a sense of everyday practicality in the collection.

Crochet scarves and sweater vests also appeared, providing a softer texture and hinting at Seventies nostalgia, perhaps reflecting the designer’s childhood during that era.

Alongside these references, some silhouettes nodded to the Nineties revival emerging across several runways this fashion month. Low-rise trousers with cut-out details introduced a more contemporary grunge vibe, balancing out the more structured tailoring seen earlier in the show.

Pencil skirts also featured prominently – another silhouette dominating the season’s collections – often paired with fitted blazers or relaxed knitwear.

In some combinations, the styling carried echoes of Princess Diana’s off-duty wardrobe, particularly in the pairing of slouchy shirts with structured boots.

As the show moved into eveningwear, asymmetrical hems and backless shirts introduced a more sensual element, while high-low skirts – also seen recently at Dior – gave movement to the silhouettes.

Sequined dresses soon followed, shimmering under the lights and reflecting the wider return of statement, glittering eveningwear across autumn/winter 2026 collections.

Chunky rhinestone embellishments appeared across tops, dresses and even denim, channelling the excess of the Eighties while remaining consistent with McCartney’s playful design motifs. One model appeared in rhinestone jeans wearing a white vest emblazoned with the phrase: “My dad is a rock star”.

Accessories also introduced a potential new signature bag for the brand. A slouchy bucket-style handbag – reminiscent of a saddle satchel – appeared repeatedly on the runway, echoing the equestrian theme while hinting at a future commercial design.

Among the celebrity guests in attendance was Oprah Winfrey, seated alongside Sir Paul, who watched proudly as his daughter’s show unfolded.

Since launching her label in 2001, McCartney has built a reputation for sympathetically combining luxury fashion with ethical production, proving that sustainability and glamour can absolutely coexist.