Balenciaga Designer Reveals How Meghan Invited Herself to Paris Show — and Why He Kept It a Secret
On October 4, Meghan Markle grabbed the spotlight with her surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Her attendance at the prestigious event sparked speculation that she might be eyeing a new career in fashion by rubbing shoulders with who's who of the fashion industry. While her team maintained that she was there to support Balenciaga's new creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, he has since revealed a slightly different story. Piccioli spilled that Markle actually invited herself to the show, an appearance he wanted to keep under wraps.
In an interview with The Cut, Piccioli gave insight into how Markle’s surprise attendance came to be. He said, "Meghan and I met some years ago, and we’ve been texting ever since. 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." The Italian designer went on to add that "in fashion, real surprises are rare, and this one was beautiful."
Piccioli and Markle go back a long time; over the years, the Duchess has worn several of his designs during his time at Valentino.
While Piccioli’s statements confirm that the Duchess did, in fact, attend the event to support him, a source claimed she reportedly only did so for a seven-figure fee. They spoke to columnist Rob Shuter, who shared on his Substack that Markle's debut "wasn’t an invite — it was a transaction." The insider explained, "Balenciaga wanted global attention, and Meghan delivered." They added that she had allegedly also asked for a "private jet, five-star suite, glam squad — all part of the agreement." Her team reportedly treated the event like ‘a movie premiere.’ As to why Piccioli welcomed her, the source spilled that he did so only to build a more refined brand image.
Shortly after the event, a spokesperson for the Duchess explained how Markle’s debut reflected her deep friendship with Piccioli. In a statement, they shared, "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." They further stressed that the evening reflected "the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship," as reflected in her support for Piccioli’s new creative chapter at Balenciaga. Interestingly, her debut had the royal family sweating, as they allegedly believed that it was part of her new plan to edge her way back into Europe with Prince Harry.
Markle’s attendance was also seen as a clever tactic to enter the fashion industry. Given that she has a lifestyle brand, As Ever, many have argued that anyone building one values connections made during fashion month.