Meghan Markle's Paris Fashion Week Outfits Prove The Royals Aren't To Blame For Her Lack Of Creativity

Meghan Markle's Paris Fashion Week 2025 appearances made two things crystal clear: she loves capes, and the royals are not to blame for her lack of sartorial creativity. For years, media outlets and observers alike have excused her minimalist wardrobes, suggesting she had no choice but to follow royal protocol. But honestly? Her recent street-style moments in Paris tell another story. Markle's restrained aesthetic is one she's entirely taken upon herself.

Along with many other celebrities, the actor-turned-duchess was in Paris to attend the very first Balenciaga show by the fashion house's new Creative Director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. While other celebs like Anne Hathaway, who looks so good people can't help but kickstart plastic surgery rumors, went bold and showcased the most unexpected styling, Markle stuck to a formula that's all too familiar. 

A week when most attendees use every opportunity to push boundaries, Markle's approach remained very conservative and vanilla. From safe silhouettes to classic neutral colors, the outfits she donned for her very first Paris Fashion Week made it clear she's partial to choosing caution over creativity. And, it was proof that her "vanilla" wardrobe is very much driven by personal preference. We get that it's her forte, and Meghan is known to slay neutral monochromatic looks, but it's time to step out of the box.

So, what did Meghan Markle wear? Despite having two opportunities to shine — the Balenciaga show and the brand's after-party — the duchess donned a cape not once but twice. For the show, she was in an all-white ensemble that looked crisp, but absolutely swallowed her figure. Then she really went wild ... and showed up in all-black for the show's after party. If only she had traded the capes for something more unexpected or maybe even experimented with some of the unexpected trending colors for 2025, Paris might have taken notice.

The problem wasn't just the capes. Both outfits relied too heavily on modest silhouettes that lacked any of the bold tailoring, unexpected fabrics, or eye-catching details that make fashion week exciting and impactful. Not only did her two looks look nearly identical to one another, but the duchess didn't even bother changing out her shoes, which doubled down on predictability. 

In a city that thrives on daring fashion and bold creativity, Markle decided to play it safe from head to toe. Neither look stood out, and the repeated cape looks added nothing more than monotony to her Paris Fashion Week debut looks. We really wish she had taken a page from Salma Hayek or even reached out to Law Roach — both of whom attended the same show and turned heads in absolute showstopping looks.