Stella McCartney’s Best Looks in Vogue

Stella McCartney, one of the few designers to appear on a Vogue cover, was first mentioned in the magazine 23 years ago in a 1996 article by Hamish Bowles (who also profiled the designer for the January 2020 issue). It was then, less than a year after leaving Central Saint Martins (Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell walked in her graduation show), that McCartney, wrote Bowles, presented a “minuscule but thoroughly assured collection in her Notting Hill studio.” It was a study in contrasts; Savile Row–style tailoring paired with antique lace-trimmed camisoles. Think of it: McCartney has been upcycling for more than two decades!

Raised on a farm by vegetarian (not to mention famous) parents, McCartney was an early proponent of sustainability, the industry’s most pressing issue, and has been dubbed “fashion’s conscious.” Despite leading the charge on an urgent issue from an increasingly broad platform—McCartney recently became LVMH’s advisor on the topic—she is not one for grandstanding, nor for soapboxes, prioritizing doing over talking.

McCartney’s designs speak for themselves. They also communicate some of the warmth and humor of the designer herself. (Who can forget her cheeky Met Gala “Rock Royalty” T-shirts or her use of Cockney slang in her first namesake collection?) What stands out as you take a look back at McCartney’s work as it’s been shown in Vogue, is how woman-friendly it is. You can count on a garment signed Stella McCartney to be relatable, desirable, and responsible: the holy trinity of 2020s fashion.