Stella McCartney brings the ocean to Paris Fashion Week with a Summer 2027 collection combining dolphin prints, recycled denim and marine-inspired silhouettes.
For Summer 2027, Stella McCartney is turning her attention towards the ocean. The British designer presented a collection at Paris Fashion Week that transforms marine life, childhood nostalgia and environmental awareness into fashion, without abandoning the relaxed sensuality and playful approach that have long defined her brand.
Dolphins emerge as one of the collection’s most unexpected protagonists. Airbrushed images of the animals appear across T-shirts and other garments, recalling the souvenir designs once found in seaside gift shops. Behind that deliberately nostalgic aesthetic, however, lies a broader reflection on the relationship between humans, animals and the natural world.
McCartney wanted the collection to encourage audiences to think about the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it, while questioning the way society decides which forms of life can be used for human consumption or luxury. It is an idea that connects directly with the principles she has defended since establishing her label in 2001.
That aquatic inspiration extends far beyond the prints. Transparent fishing line is incorporated into knitwear, introducing an unexpected material associated directly with the sea, while several pieces curve around the body with structures reminiscent of the interior of an oyster shell.
Elsewhere, tops and dresses feature undulating surfaces that evoke the movement of water. The colour palette reinforces the effect through washed greens, coral tones and cream, alongside deep brown accents that ground the softer shades. Together, they recall the changing colours and textures of natural rock pools.
Denim also plays an important role in the collection. McCartney embellishes it with diamantés, creating a sparkling surface that catches the light while maintaining the casual character of the material. Crucially, the denim used throughout the collection is fully recycled, continuing the designer’s long-standing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of fashion.
Accessories provide another opportunity to develop the same ideas. The iconic Falabella bag appears in a transparent version made partly from recycled plastic bottles, turning discarded material into one of the collection’s most visible pieces.
The Ryder bag, meanwhile, is reinvented in a heart-shaped silhouette, adding a playful element to the season, while the Appaloosa returns in a smaller shoulder-bag format. Footwear follows the transparent theme with clear loafers and stilettos, while selected looks are completed with trainers from Stella McCartney’s adidas line.
The beauty direction kept the focus firmly on the clothes. Pat McGrath Labs was responsible for the make-up backstage, while Eugene Souleiman created the hair looks using Moroccanoil, completing the collection’s effortless yet carefully constructed visual language.
