When Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis found love across a breakfast table

Creative director of Hunter, Alasdhair Willis, recalls how he fell for his designer wife of 11 years, Stella McCartney

BY Alice Newbold | 05 February 2014

Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis at the 2013 British Fashion Awards Photo: Rex

"We had a breakfast meeting at Browns. And we haven't really been apart since", Alasdhair Willis tells The Times of how he met his designer wife, Stella McCartney.

While reports have previously speculated that the duo met around the art colleges of London (Stella at Central St. Martins, Alasdhair at the Slade School of Fine Art), it was when Willis began consulting McCartney during the genesis of her eponymous brand that sparks began to fly.

After the fateful breakfast discussion, Willis, now the creative director of the Hunter Wellington Boot brand, called her that afternoon. "That was a big leap of faith, it could have gone wrong," he jests. "Fortunately she said yes, and the rest is history."

The couple, who tied the knot in 2003 on the Isle of Bute with Stella modelling an updated version of the dress her mother wore to wed Sir Paul McCartney in 1969, are still as happy as ever: "We respect each other, we enjoy each other's company and she's my best friend. I love hanging out with her," says Willis.
Do the consultant and designer keep work separate from play? "We do vibe off each other quite well when it comes to ideas. But at the weekend it's all about the kids," Willis continues.

And as if the question wasn't worth asking, of course Stella will be on the front row of Hunter's debut show at London autumn/winter 2014 Fashion Week in less than two weeks time. "I've never missed one of her shows, so I'd be a bit gutted if she didn't turn up at my first one," confesses the business mogul. "She'll be there."

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk