London didn’t just host the Fashion Awards this year, it soft-launched a cultural reset.
On 1 December, a constellation of It-girls and industry heavyweights stepped onto the Royal Albert Hall red carpet wearing never-before-seen pieces from the upcoming Stella McCartney x H&M collaboration. A teaser… but make it couture-coded.
Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Bel Priestley, Alton Mason, and Kiara Nirghin turned the carpet into a live runway, debuting pieces that tap directly into McCartney’s archives — the era of sparkly 00s, cheeky lace, ethical glam, and red-carpet minimalism with a twist.
This wasn’t a reveal.
This was a soft launch of a fashion universe.
A Red Carpet Styled in McCartney DNA
The collaborative collection pulls directly from Stella’s signatures, think sensual tailoring, fluid silhouettes, glam 00s sparkle, and sustainable-forward craftsmanship.
And this first glimpse delivered:
- Emily Ratajkowski stepped out in a black mini dress with a dramatic draped shoulder cape, equal parts superhero and supermodel energy.
- Amelia Gray revived the early-00s McCartney sparkle in a beige crystal-lace mini that looked dipped in stardust.
- Anitta stole the night in a custom ruby-red floor-length gown, sculpted in looping curves that hugged the body like a living ribbon. A preview piece, but Category: Show Stopper.
“It was an honour to wear this amazing look and give people a sneak peek of the Stella McCartney H&M collection. I felt amazing in red. This feels like another perfect match, between two very beloved brands.” — Anitta
And honestly? She wasn’t wrong. The gown was pure algorithmic red, unforgettable online and off.
Why London? Why Now?
H&M’s Ann-Sofie Johansson broke it down:
“London, Stella’s home city, is the perfect place to give people a first glimpse… Stella’s designs have changed the course of fashion history: they championed sustainable practices long before that conversation became mainstream. Her work is always joyful, playful, energetic.”
This collab isn’t just an aesthetic revival.
It’s a historical loop: fashion sustainability meets pop-culture heat.
Spring 2026: The Drop That Already Won the Timeline
The Stella McCartney x H&M collection will officially land in stores and online in spring 2026, but the Fashion Awards preview has already built a narrative:
- Archival nostalgia ✔️
- Sustainable innovation ✔️
- Star-powered reveal ✔️
- Red-carpet virality ✔️
If the carpet moment is anything to go by, this collection is set to dominate both wardrobes and timelines next spring, the kind of drop people camp online for.
