Meghan Markle surprised the fashion world with an appearance at Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut show for Balenciaga on Saturday night at Paris Fashion Week. Arriving just before the doors closed, the Duchess of Sussex wore a custom oversized white button-down shirt, wide-legged trousers and a matching shawl by the Italian designer.
It wasn’t, however, Meghan’s only look of the night. Photographed leaving her hotel following the show, she was seen wearing another custom design from Piccioli’s new Balenciaga: an elegant black dress featuring a cape draped over her left shoulder, which she paired with pointed black heels. It was a classically understated look for the Duchess, who has often favoured LBDs throughout her career, as well as during her time as a senior member of the royal family.
The Duchess’s appearance in the French capital marks her Paris Fashion Week debut, and the first time she has attended a fashion show in a decade. Given that she wore a number of Piccioli’s creations during his time at the helm of Valentino – including a caped red dress for a visit to Morocco in 2019, and a white embellished minidress for an appearance at Global Citizen Live in New York in 2021 – it makes sense that she would turn out in support of the Italian designer.
“Over the years, the duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo,” a spokesperson for Meghan said in a statement, “They have worked closely together collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage. She has long admired his craftsmanship and modern elegance, and tonight was no different. This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga.”
Of course, it’s not the first time a member of the British royal family has attended fashion week: Queen Elizabeth II famously sat on the front row of Richard Quinn’s 2018 show in London, after the designer won the inaugural QEII Award for British Design. Whether Meghan makes an appearance at any other shows during Paris Fashion Week remains to be seen.
