>> Stella McCartney's been a busy lady since she turned up stateside a couple of days ago to attend the Costume Institute Gala.  Yesterday, she launched an exclusive summer collection with Net-a-Porter and then dropped by Barneys for her trunk show and a chat with creative director Simon Doonan, with whom she talked jumpsuits:

I love a jumpsuit. I wore one last night, at the Met event, and I had to have a girlfriend take me in an out of it every time I had to go to the bathroom — so it does have it’s drawbacks, but I love them because they’re just so effortless. I think that pretty much sums up my brand.

They also covered the possibility of menswear — “Yes, I would love to! Someday." — and how doing solely vegan shoes affects costs — "It’s 70% more expensive to make because the materials cost more, and because I don’t use things like fish glue in my shoes. Last season I was really proud that we found biodegradable suede and this forces me to be more creative with materials."

Continuing on the whirlwind, she appeared at Time’s 100 Most Influential People dinner last night — she was the only fashion figure honored this year — where she gave a toast to fellow nominee Michelle Obama: "On behalf of the entire fashion industry, I want to tell you: never wear sleeves. Ever. I won't allow it."

She dressed and brought along Costume Institute Gala guests Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler for the occasion, and they all headed to the Carlyle Hotel together for the after-party, prompting theorists to wonder if this may be the beginning of a bigger partnership.
*image: source