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Although new names at Dior and Chanel created major attention during the ongoing Paris fashion week, it was the debut from the fashion house that completely stole the media spotlight. The show featured a stunning front-row presence: the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, making her first European appearance in three years.

During the Saturday evening in Paris, the glamour and excitement of Dior, Chanel – and even another high-profile guest – could not compete with the sheer impact of the Balenciaga event.

Meghan delivered immense razzle-dazzle to the Parisian runway.

Until that moment, the prevailing sentiment surrounding Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut had been quite calm. The fashion house is a venerated institution, and the creative force is widely recognized as a master of his craft. Additionally, he is beloved for his image of the kindest personality in the business. Many assumed that provocative runway antics had exited the brand's identity with the exit of Demna, known for his bold style to another luxury house. But, even the nicest guys pull off unexpected moves, and the presence of a duchess significantly amplified the media frenzy.

Piccioli views himself as an architect, crafting shapes that avoid direct contact with the body.

Intriguingly, the core concept of what he called his manifesto, as he explained it backstage, was the empowerment of women. His initial inspiration was the iconic sack dress from 1957, a shape that maintains distance from the body, avoiding emphasis on nor limiting a female form. The designer explained that this design was a powerful manifestation of a changing spirit of the times that was beginning to move from the post-war traditionalism towards the liberation of the 1960s. The idea centered on female empowerment. It freed women from the burden of garments that emphasize the physical form and talk about their body. The sack dress enabled women to exist unencumbered.”

Balenciaga’s most iconic silhouettes were included in the show, such as this structured outerwear.

Garments that maintain their own shape are central to the identity of Balenciaga. Piccioli compared this design methodology to being an master builder: constructing shapes that never make contact with the body, while always thinking about the individuals who will wear and move in them. The original designer was fascinated by the physique and with fabric, and with a additional component – the gap separating them.”

First onto the catwalk was a contemporary update of the sack dress, elongated to an ankle-skimming hem, accompanied by elegant gloves – but also with distinctive eyewear that functioned as a direct nod to the futuristic edge of the brand's recent past.

He, who at his current age sports strings of beads and charms and exudes an peaceful, free-spirited demeanor, rejects the idea of seeing fashion as an ego battle. He argues that it is “cooler” for designers to appreciate each other’s abilities. He expressed that he was aiming for a “reconciliation” between the haute couture heritage of the fashion label, and its more contemporary urban phase. Classic designs from the house were prominently featured in the show: a ‘cocoon’ coat, this time in a bold green hue, and a flared dress in a intense purple color.

The phenomenon of Parisian style has become a modern money-spinner. The American designer is an designer from the US, but he masters this style code. He collaborated closely with the renowned designer during her tenure at the house, and then spent six years building Polo Ralph Lauren into a beacon of wearable style. Currently leading Céline, he is bringing the democratic approach of American style to French fashion. He presented classic outerwear, natural accessories, and silk scarves used as accents – all the motifs of Parisian elegance – presented in sunny colors, with an optimistic US influence. This is not an exclusive label, or a brand that wants to exclude people,” Rider stated after the show. My desire is that everyone feels desirable in these clothes. In this clothing, you may not have the strangest thing, but you have the perfect garment, and you have the attitude to wear it.”