Mother nature was on Stella McCartney’s side, holding off the rain for her early morning show — they are playing on the same team after all.
The longtime animal rights activist’s show was a tribute to birds, namely those that are killed for fashion, and climate change’s impact on species that are now in decline worldwide.
The outdoor setting was filled with birdsong, and brought other animal rights activists Natalie Portman and Paris Jackson to the front row, alongside “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and Jameela Jamil.
“I’ve just been thinking about the billions of birds killed for the fashion industry,” she said backstage after the show. “For me they represent freedom, they represent purity and peace.”
Paramore’s Haley Williams was feeling free — in part due to her new status as an indie musician and in part due to her very minimalist outfit.
She was clad in a daring mesh underpants and bra set, covered only by a blazer jacket.
“I’m just comfy. I’m a little chilly though, let’s be honest. Anything for Stella. She said, ‘Wear the undies.’ And I said, ‘Bitch, you got it,’” she joked.
Taylor Swift can take credit for their fast friendship. When Williams was set to sing for Swift’s tour stop at Wembley Stadium, Swift passed along McCartney’s personal phone number.
“I literally cold-called Stella, and was like, ‘Please help me. I want to look good. I want to be proud of what I’m wearing standing next to my friend,’” she said.
Williams and the McCartney scion also share a love of music. “It just felt like I had known her for a really long time, and being someone that’s kind of still new to this [fashion] world, I just felt really thankful. I felt like I was with my people,” she said.
Her group Paramore was released from their 20-year contract with Atlantic Records earlier this year, and Williams said they are currently just having fun experimenting with new sounds. “This is our independent era,” she added, Swiftie style.
Paris Jackson was seated next to Williams, and the morning show was a chance to meet a musical influence.
“I’m such a fan. I’m very excited to be here right now,” Jackson said of introducing herself to Williams. They both played at the Bonnaroo music festival last year, but Jackson said she had been too shy to introduce herself to Williams there.
Asked if she would exchange music ideas with Williams, she demurred. “It’s gonna go one way as opposed to exchanging. I’m gonna take in as much as I can.”
For Jackson, the show was a return to a seated spot after walking in two runways earlier this week.
“It’s similar to being on stage, you know, heart pounding,” she said of her appearances on the catwalk.
Tom Daley is also diving into a new era, following his formal retirement after the Olympics in August.
He’s working on his own fashion brand, Made with Love by Tom Daley, which is based in knitwear.
Daley revealed that he has enrolled in school to learn how to sew and hopes to learn more about the design side of the business with formal studies. “It’s amazing to be able to create something that you picture in your head, and you can just make it. It’s such an amazing talent,” he said.
The Olympic medalist has been friends with McCartney since she designed the uniforms for the London games in 2012. “I do miss the pool in certain aspects, but then I also feel like I’m happy to be away from it,” he said of his new free time, the bulk of which he is spending with his kids.
Tiffany Haddish was in a sparkly suit for the morning show, giving guests and seatmates a little shimmy at every opportunity. “It’s fun, it’s feisty,” she said of the look. “If I was singing a song, this feels like it’s saying something. I love clothes that say something without having to say anything.”
It was the “Haunted Mansion” star’s first McCartney show and she has been familiarizing herself with the designer.
“First of all, I know that she loves horses. To me, her clothes are majestic, fun and playful — like horses,” she said.
Is Haddish a horse girl? “Hello, I’m the last black unicorn. I’m a cousin to a horse. I’m a Sagittarius. Do I like horses? I am a full-blown thoroughbred,” she joked, referencing the title of her bestselling memoir “The Last Black Unicorn.”
Model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse did not talk horses, but still sang the praises of McCartney’s work. She said that she has started to see small changes in the fashion industry, specifically with sourcing and recognizing more voices, but still sees room for improvement.
“We’re at a time where we can’t just sit and wait for it to happen. We have to take action,” she said. “I would like to see less greenwashing and more indigenous people being heard…it’s really important to have the people that are on the front lines, to have their voices there to be heard and seen and to be uplifted.”
Guests were greeted with baseball caps on their seats reading “It’s About F—king Time,” and a newspaper discussing the slogan featuring Ashley Graham, who also made the morning show.
In the paper, McCartney noted that 50 percent of bird species are in decline, and the fashion industry harms and kills 3.4 billion birds for feathers. She had a written poem and manifesto in the notes, and implored guests with the slogan: “Save What You Love.”
