It would be putting it mildly to say that fashion's newest risingstar is being caught on the fly.
Five minutes before an interview, Stella McCartney is vacuuming.
"When I get stressed out, I have to clean - and this placewas filthy," says the young designer - named last week to succeedKarl Lagerfeld at the French fashion house Chloe - as she casts alook of relief at the now dust-free floorboards of her London studio.And there are other signs that McCartney, 25, is slightlystressed as she prepares to move to Paris and into the spotlight.There's nothing to eat at the studio, and who's going to lookafter Sid and Nancy, the goldfish, when she leaves?"I don't want to think about it," she says. "Something willhappen - and Mum says she'll have Sid and Nancy.""Mum" would be Linda McCartney, wife of ex-Beatle Paul. And"something" already has happened to the woman who until last Tuesdaywas better known in the gossip columns as a friend of actress PatsyKensit and Oasis' Liam Gallagher and for hanging out with hersupermodel friends Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.Now McCartney, who graduated from the Central St. Martin'sCollege of Art and Design in London only 18 months ago and has neverput on a big catwalk fashion show, is known as the youngest chiefdesigner taken on by Chloe - and the first unknown."I'm the breath of fresh air that Chloe needs," she says."Let's face it, my generation is not desperate for Chloe, whereas mymother's generation was. That's what got me interested in fashion inthe first place. Mum used to buy Chloe; as I got older, I'd wearthem all. My job is to bring back that kind of excitement to theChloe name."McCartney's job at the venerable Paris house carries a salaryrumored to be $160,000 a year."I'm so surprised I'm there," she says. "Of course I'm not goingto tell you how much they're paying me, but it is a lengthycontract."But the appointment of the virtually unknown McCartney hasgiven rise to predictable criticism that she got the position only onthe basis of her name. One story even claimed her clothes fit onlyskinny models with big busts."That's odd," says McCartney, rubbing the tiny roll of fat aroundher waist. "They fit me, and I'm not exactly Kate Moss."Chloe's house style centers on fluid slip dresses in fadedprints, similar to those McCartney has designed for her owncollections, which blend vintage Savile Row and lingerie with aquirky English-ness.Today, she is wearing a black cotton V-neck T-shirt, orangenylon boating trousers "made for a 10-year-old" and a pair of Nikes.Her mass of strawberry blond hair frames a lightly freckled face,bronzed from a week's holiday in Morocco."All that negative stuff doesn't affect me," she says."Anyway, I don't read (it). The thing about my father has been athread throughout my life; even if people don't say it, I suppose Ithink it. But there'd be no point in doing anything if I let it getto me. The reason why I did fashion and not music was to get awayfrom all that."Of course my name opens doors, but they can close just as quicklyif I don't deliver. I don't think Mr. Mouffarige (president ofChloe) would be paying me all that money if he didn't think I hadsomething."Mounir Moufarrige said McCartney - Paul and Linda's youngestdaughter - was exactly right and vigorously defends his choice ofsuch a young designer. "Talent has no age," he said.Mouffarige said she beat 40 other designers vying for theposition. "We are very happy about it. It is a nice marriage, and Iam delighted by her charm and attitude," he said.One note of dissent came from Luisa Beccaria, a designer basedin Milan, who had been considered for the position. "Who is she?"she asks about McCartney. "I have never heard of her."She will. McCartney and her assistant will soon begin work on aspring-summer collection that will hit the catwalk at the Parisready-to-wear shows in October.And she will close her other lines in order to workexclusively for Chloe.She says, "As far as I am concerned, Stella McCartney is Chloenow."Contributing: Scripps Howard News Service
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