Meghan Markle delivered a masterclass in how to take a classic and make it entirely her own. During Paris Fashion Week, the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in a sculptural black Balenciaga cape dress - a look that pushed the boundaries of the little black dress.
The 44-year-old royal elevated the wardrobe staple far beyond cocktail territory, transforming it into something architectural, dramatic and unmistakably modern. With its clean lines, draped shoulders and sweeping silhouette, the dress spoke the language of confidence rather than convention.
Prince Harry’s wife turned fashion’s most enduring symbol of simplicity into a statement of contemporary femininity.
It was an ensemble that commanded attention through precision, not spectacle. The asymmetrical neckline revealed one shoulder, adding softness to an otherwise sculptural form, while the draping traced her frame with architectural exactness.
Every detail felt intentional - the fabric fell like liquid armour, equal parts strength and sophistication.
It’s a look we’ve never seen before from Meghan, who’s never shied away from black, but this iteration marked a bold new interpretation - darker, sharper, and infinitely more assured.
This isn’t Meghan’s first experiment with caped silhouettes. They’ve long been a signature of her style story.
In 2018, she stunned in a sapphire blue Safiyaa gown for a state dinner in Fiji, a look that radiated elegance and optimism.
Two years later, she closed her chapter as a working royal in a vivid red version at the Mountbatten Festival of Music - a farewell that felt as defiant as it was glamorous.
Both moments were bold and bright, anchored in colour and symbolism. But in Paris, the palette turned monochrome, the mood more controlled.
The shift from jewel tones to architectural black signalled a new era of dressing.
One less about diplomacy and more about direction, where fashion becomes not just a reflection of identity, but a tool to define it. It was a visual declaration of a woman no longer dressing for a role, but for herself.
