Stella moves from Chloe to Gucci - 02/04/01
Stella McCartney is leaving Chloe and this week an announcement is expected to confirm the long-running speculation that designer Stella McCartney is leaving French fashion house Chloe to run her own label under Gucci.

Stella became Chloe’s chief designer four years ago, and has seen profits almost quadruple since then. The daughter of the former Beatle, Stella’s designs have won her a bevy of famous fans, including Kate Moss, Nicole Kidman, Victoria Beckham, Naomi Campbell and Madonna, whose wedding dress she designed last year. Stella’s contract with Chloe is due to expire in June, and a move to a big fashion house has been expected. Gucci has been undergoing something of a recruitment drive of late, signing up other leading designers, such as McCartney’s fellow Briton Alexander McQueen. Currently working for Chloe in Paris, McCartney’s switch is expected to see her returning to live and work in Britain. No doubt in her Notting Hill house. Stella still refuses to work with leather or fur and will not be doing so at Gucci.

Stella going it alone - 02/03/01
Stella McCartney is set to quit Chloe and set up her own Paris-based fashion house.

She has reportedly been looking for premises in Paris where she can set up her own label. It has been rumoured that Stella will be backed by her father Sir Paul. She was in talks with the management at Gucci last month, but talks are said to have broken down over Stella’s refusal to work with any leather products. However, another possible suitor who may finance her is American designer Tommy Hilfiger, with his well-heeled backers Lawrence Stroll and Silas Chou.

21/01/01
Fashion designer Stella McCartney showed her contempt for the hunting set last night when she grimaced after leaving a private reception held by Prince Charles. Stella, a passionate animal rights campaigner, seemed reluctant to join the prince at the get-together before the British Fashion Awards. She emerged just 10 minutes later. And asked about the encounter, she rolled her eyes and said sarcastically: "It was gripping stuff." Not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice, she added: "It was great, fantastic." It was clear that the encounter with Charles, who later presented Alexander McQueen with British Designer of the Year award, had opened up old wounds. Stella was horrified to find Charles’ partner hunting fan Camilla Parker Bowles in the front row at a Paris fashion show two years ago. Stella exclaimed: "Oh my God, Camilla’s here."

07/12/00
Stella McCartney is busy designing Madonna’s wedding dress and a bridesmaid dress for Lourdes, Madonna’s daughter. Stella is also campaigning alongside Alexander McQueen and Sir Terence Conran to have the Royal Army Medical College site, next to Tate Britain, turned into a new arts quarter for London. They face stiff competition from the Aga Khan who wants to turn the space into an Islamic Cultural Centre.