Pierpaolo Piccioli champions female emancipation with loose-fitting Balenciaga collection

<p>‘Nicest man in fashion’ reconciles couture roots with streetwear era, while Céline shows French-girl chic with an American tone</p><p>New names at Dior and Chanel have generated the most noise at this Paris fashion week, but it was Balenciaga’s debut that brought the media storm with a front row coup: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, making her first European appearance in three years. On Saturday night in Paris, Dior, Chanel – and Lauren Sanchez, who also attended the show – were all outdone for razzle dazzle.</p><p>Until that point, the mood music around Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut had felt relatively serene. Balenciaga is a venerated house, and Piccioli a world-leading designer, but he is also beloved for being the nicest man in fashion, and it was assumed that catwalk stunts had left the Balenciaga building with the departure of provocateur designer Demna for Gucci. But even nice guys pull surprises sometimes, and the royal benediction turned up the hoopla. Meghan’s choice of Balenciaga – a French house founded by a Spaniard with an Italian designer -– was notable for the absence of any links to Britain.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/oct/05/pierpaolo-piccioli-loose-fitting-balenciaga-paris-celine">Continue reading...</a>