In Support of Balenciaga’s New Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli At Balenciaga’s Spring-Summer 2026 Paris Show.
Isabel Horan
This weekend, Balenciaga was crowned the winner of duchess Meghan Markle’s first Paris Fashion appearance in over a decade as the industry welcomes new creative director, (former creative director of Valentino), Pierpaolo Piccioli to the iconic Haus.
Meghan has been active around the New York and Toronto fashion show scene since she and husband Prince Harry made the radical decision to leave the working Royal family and move to Los Angeles in March of 2020. But what’s got her back in the spotlight this October?
“This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his [Piccioli’s] new creative chapter at Balenciaga.”
-A spokesperson for Meghan Markle when asked by BBC
Meghan stunned onlookers with an all white, wide-legged pants suit from the show’s collection. What made the suit and outfit so elegantly mature was the black pointed heels, minimal makeup and simply slicked hair the now 44-year-old Sussex duchess sported it in. According to a spokesperson, “Over the years, the duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo. They have worked closely together collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage.”, primairly in reference to his time at Valentino.
Apparently having made the trip overseas by herself, Meghan was later spotted rubbing elbows with Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann, director of films such as Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Elvis (2022). Perhaps in a brief homage to the late Princess of Wales, Meghan ended the night with the surprised slicing of a slick, black dress.
Meghan’s bold re-entrance to the EU’s fashion scene marks a new era for Balenciaga and Valentino simultaneously, one that we here at HEM cannot wait to continue coverage on.
