It s easy to see Stella McCartney s progress through the seasons in terms of a young woman s life stages. First, there was the student, picking her way through market stalls in search of vintage lingerie and old men s tailoring. Then came the club years, up dancing all night. Next, whoa: love, marriage, a baby carriage—and before you know it, back to work, a changed person.
Her collection notes, channeling words like "easy," "relaxed," and "inner confidence," certainly seemed to reflect a new state of grown-up serenity. Judging by the clothes she showed here, it involves thinking about the need for a sporty pantsuit—a go-to-work brass-buttoned blazer and a smart pair of pants. Oh, and let s see, a breezy oversize shirtdress to pull on double-quick with a pair of heels, and out the door. Plus, something simple, like a sharp-chic bustier dress, to jump into while feeding the baby—and on to dinner.
As all the above made clear, McCartney s come a long way in thinking through what her clothes are meant to do for her peer group. Her choice of color and print caught the general season s drift of whites, pale blues and grays, and art-based patterns (in her case, inspired by Jeff Koons), but she wasn t stressing over being über trendy. What she s doing now doesn t make the headline-grabbing class of directional fashion, but maybe that s a conscious decision. Like all young moms, she s reached the point where the woman separates from the girl.
