NEW YORK — Stella McCartney took her pre-fall collection uptown this season, inviting celebrities, artists, and editors to the grand Upper East Side townhouse that houses the Americas Society for a fashion salon of sorts. Models posed as party guests, nibbling on canapés and sipping Veuve Clicquot champagne, even occasionally spilling some.
McCartney’s approach for her pre-fall collection departed from the traditional, staid look associated with uptown events towards a cooler, younger aesthetic. Bold graphic stripes covered blouses and trousers, while the interplay of textures appeared throughout, incorporating tweed, wool, and jacquard, as well as vibrant shades of vermillion, poppy pink, and teal. “That’s something that you wear that doesn’t wear you, but makes you feel the youth,” said the designer.
In one room, organized with the help of the art and design venture Grey Area, models dressed in eveningwear covered with dynamic colorblocking and graduated stripes turned into muses for the artists John Gordon Gauld, Miky Fábrega, and Catherine Delphia, who painted the models on easels during the presentation.
“It’s about the connection between the artist and his muse, and it’s a nice way of presenting the collection and having a connection between someone else and not just the models doing their job,” said McCartney. “They’re having a real interaction, which is quite unique for a fashion presentation.”
The art-themed soirée attracted a large contingent from the art world, including artists Jeff Koons, Rachel Feinstein, Jonathan Horowitz, Rob Pruitt, and gallerist Gavin Brown.
Koons, who once collaborated with McCartney, called the scene an “El Greco-type moment.” “I’ve gone to many of Stella’s events, and I think that this is really one of the most interesting that I’ve gone to, and I love the environment here,” he said.
Pruitt, who admitted he rarely goes to fashion events, was equally impressed. “I’m just struck by what a great idea it is to combine a little bit of theater and fashion like this,” he said. “I think it’s a great way to see the clothes and I’m having so much fun.”
Click on the slideshow to see the looks and guests at Stella McCartney’s pre-fall 2013 presentation.
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