Meghan Markle made headlines with her surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week on October 4, attending the Balenciaga runway show—an appearance she personally initiated, according to the brand’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli.
Speaking to The Cut, Piccioli revealed that the Duchess of Sussex reached out herself to attend the show. “Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since,” he said. “She reached out and said she’d love to come to the show. There was no strategy or big orchestration. I didn’t tell anyone she was coming because I wanted it to stay a surprise.” Piccioli, who recently joined Balenciaga as creative director, added that Markle’s visit was a “beautiful” and rare surprise in the world of fashion.
Markle, 44, turned heads at the show in a sleek, minimalist outfit: a white button-down tunic with a flowing cape, matching slacks, black heels, a clutch purse, and diamond stud earrings.
A spokesperson for Markle told People that she attended to support Piccioli, who was debuting his first collection for Balenciaga. “Over the years, the Duchess has worn a number of designs by Pierpaolo,” the spokesperson said. “They have worked closely together, collaborating on design for key moments on the world stage.”
However, Markle’s attendance drew criticism due to Balenciaga’s past controversy involving a 2022 campaign featuring children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage-themed accessories. Social media users questioned her decision, accusing her of hypocrisy given her advocacy for children’s rights.
Some critics wrote, “Why would a mother support a brand involved in such a scandal?” and “The Duchess of hypocrisy strikes again.”
Markle also attracted attention for laughing during the show. While some speculated she was reacting to a model’s misstep, a representative denied this, telling the Daily Mail she was not laughing at anyone on the runway.
Markle shares two children—Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4—with husband Prince Harry.
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