Stella McCartney stays true to mantra of ease, movement and fun in Paris

Stella showed her latest fashion collection today,with her husband Alasdhair ,Dhani and Sola Harrison ,Marianne Faithfull and Rihana sitting in the front row.Paul and Nancy were in LA were they has been seen at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Designer continues to offer real-life clothes in collection that went from playful and crafty to elegant and unfussy

The Guardian, Monday 3 March 2014 14.44 

Models including Cara Delevingne and Joan Smalls danced down the catwalk to end Stella McCartney's autumn-winter show on Monday. With Soul II Soul hit Keep On Moving as its soundtrack, the finale wasn't subtle but it got the point across. This was a collection about three conceits typical of McCartney: ease, movement and fun.

With all models striding down the runway in monkstrap shoes with chunky sustainable wood soles, chosen over the high heels usually preferred at catwalk shows, dancing was a natural fit. Singers Rihanna, Marianne Faithfull and Katy B watched from the front row.

It all began in a playful, crafty mood – almost as if McCartney had been exploring the haberdashery cupboard. The first few looks used zips as embellishment, with the ropes of gold teeth forming stripes and flower motifs. Brightly coloured climbing rope was also used, to create precious-looking shredded patterns that took them a long way from a mountaineering centre.

This embellishment was on top of simple, no-brainer shapes: cagoules, trouser suits, sweatshirts, smart coats, and shirts, the real-life clothes that form the foundation of what McCartney does. Strong knitwear was also present with one model wearing knitted co-ords – a relaxed-fit sweater with matching trousers, and another in sweater and skirt featuring the same frayed knit texture. A series of short black evening dresses towards the end of the show used fringing but they were far from fussy. Coloured strands were clustered together over hips, forming a graphic effect. Colours were well-chosen: greys and navys mixed with the pops of forest green and pumpkin orange.

Backstage after the show, McCartney greeted Rihanna – who was wearing one of the designer's grey oversized coats printed with green stripes.

McCartney said the collection was about "ease and elegance. We wanted that boyish, sporty, masculine moment – something that I guess the shoes were good for." The designer stressed that, dancing models aside, she had thought of the individual items in this collection rather than any overriding show concept. "I wanted to provide pieces to wear and love and take ownership of," McCartney said. "It was this idea of taking care of our woman and giving her everything she needs."

Her point of view – about covetable clothes, but always rooted in a reality – is commercial, and has served her well. Profits for her label were up 19% to £3.4m in 2012, the year McCartney also worked on the Olympic outfits for Team GB.