Known for her vegan apparel and accessories, Stella McCartney is one of the most successful fashion designers in the world. So who is Stella McCartney and how old is Stella McCartney?
She may be the daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney and photographer and animal rights activist Linda Eastman McCartney, but Stella McCartney doesn’t live in her parents’ shadow.
The British designer has built a fashion powerhouse based on sustainability, displaying a strong personality and unmatched artistic talent, and paving the way for an ethical fashion ecosystem.
Who is Stella McCartney?
Stella McCartney, 50, was born in London in 1971. As a child, she and her three siblings travelled the world with their parents’ new band, Wings. When Wings split up, the McCartney family moved to a farm in Sussex, where they lived at one with nature, raising sheep and growing organic vegetables.
“The way my parents brought me up to see the world is still absolutely key to what I am about,” McCartney told The Guardian in 2009. “I was brought up to understand that we are all here on planet earth together.”
McCartney developed an interest in fashion at an early age—she designed her first jacket at 13, and, three years later, interned for Christian Lacroix. She went on to study at prestigious arts and design college Central Saint Martins. For her graduation show in 1995, McCartney had none other than friends Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Yasmin Le Bon modeling her collection—for free!
In 1997, McCartney was appointed creative director of Chloé. She left the position in 2001 to launch her eponymous label in partnership with Kering.
A lifelong vegetarian and animal rights advocate, she has never used fur, leather, or feathers in her collections. With clean lines and sharp tailoring, her designs are modern and effortlessly chic. They meet the needs of the contemporary woman, celebrating and empowering her.
Stella McCartney sneakers
Stella McCartney’s sneaker collection is fun, stylish, and 100% vegan—every pair is crafted from sustainable, leather-free materials, such as Econyl® regenerated nylon and recycled polyester. McCartney’s signature? Bold colors, a chunky rubber platform, and a cleated sole.
In 2005, the designer established a long-lasting partnership with sportswear giant Adidas. A unique blend of luxury fashion and functionality, the Adidas by Stella McCartney womenswear collection includes a range of sleek high-performance leggings, sweaters, shorts, sports bras, and, of course, sneakers.
In 2018, the two released the first pair of cruelty-free unisex Stan Smiths, featuring colorful laces, McCartney’s portrait on the tongue of the left shoe, and laser cut stars replacing the iconic stripes.
How do Stella McCartney sneakers fit?
Here’s everything you need to know about Stella McCartney sneakers sizing:
- Stella McCartney uses Italian sizing. Her sneakers come in half sizes: women’s IT 34 to IT 42½. To convert this to US sizing, read our shoe size conversion article.
- Adidas x Stella McCartney sneakers follow Adidas sizing: US 2½ to 11½.
- Most of the brand’s sneakers (including the Stella Stan Smith) fit true to size. For a looser fit, go half a size up.
- The Elyse platform sneakers run large—we recommend going one full size down from your usual shoe size.
Stella McCartney Size Chart
Stella McCartney bags
the designer has proven that, when it comes to leather accessories, real leather is overrated. Her ethical, eco-friendly handbags are crafted in Italy using synthetic materials such as recyclable aluminum, recycled polyester, and polyurethane–and if you didn’t know it, we bet you couldn’t tell! McCartney’s vegan leather is supple yet robust, and it has an environmental impact up to 24 times lower than animal leather.
In 2009, the designer launched her most iconic design: the Falabella bag. An undisputed It bag, the Falabella quickly became a bestseller, loved by celebrities of the likes of Rihanna, Meghan Markle, and Kate Hudson. Recognizable by the signature diamond-cut chain and soft, slouchy body, the Falabella comes in all sizes, colors, and shapes.
How to clean Stella McCartney bags
If you want to ensure the longevity of bags, a good cleaning is in order. Here’s how to clean your Stella McCartney bag:
- For most models (including the Falabella bag and the Teddy bag), we recommend spot cleaning only, using a damp cloth. Watch the designer’s video on how to clean your Falabella.
- Do not machine wash, bleach, tumble dry, or dry clean.
- Clean your Hobo FFF shoulder bag using dry cleaner foam for clothing: apply it on the surface of the bag, and gently rub it in using a soft brush.
Today, the designer operates 51 freestanding stores in locations including Manhattan, London, LA, and Paris. Her collections are distributed in 77 countries, so, wherever you are, you will find a Stella McCartney boutique near you.
If you’d rather shop online, save up to 40% on the designer pieces at italist.com! We carry the Stella McCartney women’s collection, men’s collection, and kids’ collection.
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.