Stella McCartney to show in London for the first time

Designer Stella McCartney will present a special one-off collection during London Fashion Week

She’s one of our brightest home-grown design stars, and for the first time ever Stella McCartney is to show the latest collection from her eponymous label at London Fashion Week.

The designer, who counts stars such as Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Liv Tyler and Alexa Chung as fans, has announced that she will present a ‘special one-off’ range on 18th February during the unveiling of the autumn/winter 2012 collections in the capital. She will continue to show her mainline collection during the Paris Fashion Week schedule.

The new line is part of a series of Stella-related projects kicking off in London next year, including a ‘World of Stella’ exhibition at Selfridges, also launching in February 2012, as well as the opening of her second Stella McCartney store in London, a new fragrance hitting beauty shops and her continued role as Creative Director of Adidas’ Team GB Olympics kit.

STELLA MCCARTNEY S/S '12 COLLECTION IN PICS

Even though the presentation is billed as a one-off, the British Fashion Council will be hoping that its success can tempt Stella to bid farewell to Paris for good and permanently show in her hometown of London, as Burberry did with Milan with dazzling results.

In other London Fashion Week news, the Alexander McQueen diffusion line McQ is also expected to show next season in the capital for the first time.

It’s understood that the label, which was set up by McQueen in 2006 as a younger more affordable collection and whose signature tartan designs have been seen on the likes of Emma Watson and Rihanna on last week’s X Factor, is keen to have a presence on the LFW schedule to coincide with their plans to open a standalone flagship store next spring in Mayfair’s Dover Street. Exciting!

London Fashion Week autumn/winter 2012 is set to be a cracker!

STELLA MCCARTNEY S/S '12 COLLECTION IN PICS