A fashion worker is suing Stella McCartney’s label for £100,000 over claims that she broke her heel on a photoshoot — leaving her unable to wear high heels.
Chloe Mickelborough has told a court in London that she was working on an advertising campaign at McCartney’s Milan base in 2018 when she crashed through a “walkway” and fell to a lower floor.
The 31-year-old said that she broke her heel in the fall, an injury that left her with ongoing pain and swelling which she says now prevents her from wearing fashionable shoes.
Mickleborough is claiming up to £100,000 in compensation, having told the judge that the accident has meant that she must wear “supportive” trainers and is unable to dance or run. The company is contesting the claim.
Lawyers for the world-renowned designer, 52, have blamed Mickelborough as the “sole author of her misfortune”. McCartney’s label, which was launched in 2001, is popular with celebrities including Melania Trump, Beyoncé and Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer. It is reported to have annual revenues of more than £32.5 million.
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The court has been told that Mickelborough was overseeing the company’s social media content when the fall occurred at its Milan showroom.
She was due to film an interview between Andrew Dershaw and Ida Simonsen, the label’s senior executives, as part of an advertising campaign for the company’s Stella’s World clothing range.
According to written court submissions, Mickelborough was planning to film the interview on a second floor “walkway” as it provided an attractive backdrop.
The walkway was divided into two sections, with one area enclosed by a railing, her barrister, Michael Patrick, told the court.
“The closed area contained flooring which, to an ordinary reasonable person, appeared safe, stable and conventional,” said the lawyer, adding that “the walkway contained no signs warning of any danger, or which otherwise explained the railing’s presence”.
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He added that “unbeknownst” to Mickelborough, “the flooring in the closed area could not support her weight”. The lawyer said that as a result the flooring “immediately” gave way and Mickelborough fell through to the floor below.
She was said to have suffered a fracture to her left heel, which required surgery and a further operation two years later to repair a broken screw and release toe tendons.
However, Mickelborough’s lawyer said that she was left with symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis in her damaged joints and continues to have “pain, stiffness and swelling in her left foot”. He added that she “can only wear supportive trainers, as opposed to more fashionable or high-heeled footwear, and is restricted to sedentary, office-based forms of employment”.
Mickelborough was also said to be able to walk for only about an hour before her pain levels increase. The barrister said that she had been forced to give up dancing and running and has “stopped going to specific gym classes”.
Mickelborough’s barrister told the court that her symptoms were likely to deteriorate and he blamed the company for having failed to provide a safe workplace
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In its defence to the claim Nadia Whittaker, the company’s barrister, branded Mickelborough as the “sole author of her misfortune”, arguing that she had climbed a railing to get into an unsafe, unauthorised area.
A date for a full trial at Central London county court has yet to be set.
