Winter 2021 emboldens Stella women ready for progress, blending fantasy and reality. Inspired by D is for Desire from the McCartney A to Z Manifesto, pieces reflect a collective yearning to dress up and go out – pairing heritage, glamour and sport to joyfully elevate the norm with extravagance and opulence. Exploring escapism through frivolity, celebratory, neo-heritage and edgy archetypes experiment with light and texture, playfully combining clashing prints and unexpected pairings of volume, silhouette and material.
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Bringing a conscience to the fashion industry, 77% of the collection is made with sustainable materials – including coats and tailoring created using wool sourced from farms selected for their high animal welfare standards and regenerative farming practices, protecting our fellow creatures and planet. A vibrant and youthful palette of aqua, sunshine yellow, spring green and rich purple energise the season’s exuberance, grounded by an edit of classic neutrals. PVC-free sequins and glitter on lurex glimmer alongside heritage dogtooth, embodying a dual spirit of glamour and utility. Reinforcing a sense of textile and textural maximalism is soft lumberjack contrasted with the smoothness of vegan Alter Mat.
Statement partywear pieces are paired with timeless staples for everyday eccentricity and extravagance. This is expressed through psychedelic prints taking cues from London club culture, graphically tripping out across fitted silk rollnecks, tracksuits, puffer jackets and short dresses with peeks of exposed skin. Fitted lurex and Alter Mat sequins deliver added movement and a desirable impracticality.
Youthfulness comes from ruched, bodycon dresses and peplum silhouettes in a comfortable stretch satin made from forest-friendly viscose, a new sustainable innovation. Made from the same t-shirt-like material, vibrant twisted crepe dresses with knots, cut-outs and rib finishes emphasise casual energy.
Dogtooth is focal, honouring the brand’s British heritage across menswear-inspired outerwear and elegant cocoon coats. Hybrid pieces blend the pattern with regenerated nylon for sustainable sportiness and timelessness, while solid black jackets and coats are made from regenerative wool. Styled under bombers, tailoring mixes and matches jackets with athletic zipped trousers, tracksuit bottoms and brightly coloured skirts.
Key this season are cropped and oversized MA1 bombers, given a grunge-glam feel in silky regenerated nylon and ECONYL®. Continuing this aesthetic are trousers with zips and a sportswear edge, with snowboarding-inspired ergonomic knees. This attitude is elaborated on by patchwork regenerated nylon jackets and lumberjack dresses with contrast ribbing.
Knitwear is especially bright and light, with furry jumpers, flared skirts and trousers delivering an element of cosiness. This party of textures carries on over coordinated geometric separates as well as head-to-toe popcorn 3D knits created in stretch forest-friendly viscose, seen on hoodies and trousers.
Vegan and cruelty-free Winter 2021 bags playfully oscillate across sizes and shape, including smaller, spherical versions of the Frayme bag, with its mixed galvanic wraparound aluminium chain and oversized medallion taking cues from brand icons. The Hobo bag also returns as a smaller round edition with an exaggerated woven strap as well as a larger tote. The Maxi Falabella is seen in new colourways, with an entirely recyclable aluminium chain.
New for Winter 2021 are Chelsea duck boots, crafted with a solvent-free, biodegradable sole. Similarly, the Groove over-the-knee boot has a utilitarian duck toe and a block heel created from recycled ABS plugs. The new Spike sneaker is made with an ECONYL® regenerated nylon lining, with some styles having a recycled polyester upper and all with a sole circularly sourced from waste.
Communicating both athleticism and playfulness, multicoloured earrings feature vibrant eyelets as well as tight, PVC-free glitter hoops in dark teal, coral and blue-grey. Winter 2021 show sunglasses include a heart-shaped style, winking towards glam-kitsch and made with bio-acetate and bio-lenses using renewable, natural materials – reducing the need for petroleum-based plastic.
The Winter 2021 show was shot at the Tate Modern in London, realising themes of freedom, art and celebration.
Show credits
Photographers/directors: Mert and Marcus
Stylist: Jane How
Makeup: Pat McGrath
Hair: Eugene Souleiman
Music: “Everything U need” by Overmono
