The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has recently unveiled the preliminary official schedule for New York Fashion Week, set to kick off with Peter's debut show as the creative director at Helmut Lang on September 8th. The event will come to a close with Raul Lopez, the 2022 CFDA Fashion Awards winner for Accessories Designer of the Year, presenting the Lewis show on September 13th.
The preliminary schedule boasts more than 71 confirmed designers, with some collections being presented digitally and by appointment. Notable brands on the lineup include Altuzarra, Anna Sui, Area, Brandon Maxwell, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Sergio Hudson, Theory, Tibi, Tory Burch, Ulla Johnson, and Willie Chavarria, among others. Notably, Ralph Lauren is making a comeback to the New York runway, alongside Jonathan Cohen and 3.1 Philip Lim.
However, the most notable absence from the event is Meghan Markle, who will not be receiving an invitation this year. It's worth noting that Meghan Markle's first appearance at New York Fashion Week dates back to 2013 when she joined Kelly Rowland and Kerry Washington. Nevertheless, her presence will be conspicuously absent this year and in the foreseeable future, with organizers seemingly unwelcoming her due to various reasons.
The decision to exclude Meghan Markle appears to be influenced by a series of incidents, including a controversial stunt in May that involved a fake car chase and was funded by taxpayers. Furthermore, Meghan Markle failed to secure invitations to high-fashion shows in previous years, reflecting a reluctance among designers to associate their brands with her.
Some industry insiders express concerns that Meghan Markle may attempt to steal the spotlight during the fashion shows, turning the event into a personal spectacle. The fashion industry seems wary of being associated with such distractions, considering how it affected Beyoncé during her tour.
It's important to note that Meghan Markle recently signed with WME (William Morris Endeavor), which could have potentially facilitated her inclusion in New York Fashion Week. However, the fashion industry appears to be maintaining a distance from her.
The timing of Prince William's visit to New York for the Earthshot Summit adds an interesting dimension, as Meghan Markle had planned to coincide her visit with his last year, although circumstances changed due to the Queen's passing.
From a public relations perspective, it's suggested that fashion designers may face backlash if they invite Meghan Markle to sit in the front row of their New York Fashion Week shows. While her presence can generate extensive media coverage, it also raises questions about associations and collaborations, potentially affecting their brands in ways they may wish to avoid.
Meghan Markle's exclusion from New York Fashion Week is a significant development in the fashion industry, with both PR implications and underlying factors contributing to this decision.
