HORSE POWER: The Winter 2023 runway show
Our Winter 2023 collection is a celebration of love between mothers, daughters, sisters, nature, humans and animals. It is what Stella loves. The runway collection was presented at the historic Manège de l’École Militaire, France’s oldest riding school, with models walking alongside ponies provided by renowned horse whisperer and rescuer Jean-Francois Pignon.
Crafted from 92% responsible materials, it is our most conscious winter collection ever. Signature Savile Row tailoring leads the collection with minimal silhouettes moulded with exaggerated shoulders and nipped-in waists. Renewed pinstripes and British checks, dipped in ginger tones, paved the way – moving into strong-shouldered skirt suits crafted from responsibly sourced wool and coats sliced into double-breasted strapless dresses in camel and black.
I am in awe of Jean-Francois and the love, respect and trust he shows are possible between humans and horses.
Structure and silhouette cascade into rope detailing, seen on low-cut, slashed dresses – a nod towards equestrian and bridle aesthetics. This continues with jacquards inspired by Appaloosas patterns and earthy tones on Fur Free Fur and hairy knits.
Leaning into familyhood, the runway collection moved into prints crafted of original horse photography by Mary McCartney and Linda McCartney. Pixelated rearing horses are nestled amongst compact-knit polo and skirt sets, Fur Free Fur, organic minimal slips and knit sets in a forest-friendly viscose and wool blend.
I would travel only by horse, if I had the choice.
The Noughties mood from our Summer 2023 runway show returns, this time with body chain jewellery in tonal lipstick red and silver – seen styled under tailoring or as ladder trousers. Slim-cut drainpipe trousers are embroidered with chains at the hips. Regenerative cotton denim is sliced with navy Savile Row tailoring.
Nostalgia for 90s British youth and Britpop music culture is felt through with black and lipstick red tracksuits in double-faced jacquard – crafted from recycled polyester line – and organic cotton rugby tops are embroidered with gold horses.
Toy guardsmen-like suits feature embroidery inspired by Hussar jacket fastenings, seen on cream cropped jackets in felt wool alongside shrunken waistcoats and low-rise cigarette trousers. Signature Stella dresses in jersey are elevated with rope detailing outlining cut-outs, bringing an elevated ease to evening wear. This continues with silver crystalline metal rope, encircling windows of skin on cut-out pieces.
Key accessories this Winter 2023 include iconic Falabella bags refreshed with multi-galvanic chains to continue the jewellery theme. Frayme totes in black, lipstick red and cruelty-free pony alongside S-Wave bags harmonise vegan luxury with pioneering material innovations and timeless craftsmanship. Shoes take on a riding style: over-the-knee boots with Falabella chains, knee-high boots in lipstick red and Appaloosa pony prints and menswear loafers with our iconic Falabella chains.
Key new innovations include our first-ever luxury handbags crafted from MIRUM® – a plant-based, plastic-free and circular alternative to animal leather. S-Wave and Frayme bags are also rendered in crocodile-effect AppleSkin™️, made using apple waste from the food industry, alongside the inaugural Frayme Mylo™️ mycelium-based bag in white.
