Leslie Bibb embraces a full-circle moment at her first high-profile fashion event, reflecting on her journey with Balmain and current role in ‘The White Lotus.’
Leslie Bibb made her highly anticipated fashion week debut at the Balmain show, an event that has been two years in the making. This significant moment ties back to her experiences while filming the first season of the acclaimed Apple series “Palm Royale.” During the production, Bibb faced a unique costume challenge. The vintage Christian Dior dress fitted for the finale episode, meant for a pivotal “beach ball” scene, faced a mishap and was unfortunately damaged during alterations.
Bibb recalled, “It was destroyed,” but the show’s costume designer, Alix Friedberg, quickly intervened. With a notable stroke of luck, Friedberg presented Bibb with an exquisite silk peach gown from 1969 that had the signature of Pierre Balmain inside. “I feel like it was probably made for this person to wear, and it was the dress that I wore and it fit me perfectly,” Bibb reflected, highlighting the serendipitous connection to the fashion house she would later visit at Paris Fashion Week.
When she received an invitation to attend the Balmain fall 2025 runway show, it marked her first experience at such a high-profile fashion event, solidifying the full-circle nature of her journey in connection with Balmain. Reflecting on her feelings about the event, Bibb commented, “I just feel so lucky. It sounds so corny, but I do; it’s not lost on me, everything right now.”
For the Balmain show, Bibb opted for a striking ensemble consisting of black pants, a sheer black jacket embellished with shoulder pads, a leather tassel belt, and black and gold chain heels. She expressed her satisfaction with the outfit, stating, “I feel strong and I feel powerful and I feel sexy, and it’s a suit, but it’s feminine, but still masculine, but very feminine. I just loved it.”
In addition to attending the Balmain show, Bibb participated in a Roger Vivier event, where she planned to wear another Balmain outfit, featuring black leather pants and a matching jacket adorned with gold buttons.
Bibb is currently starring in the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” alongside Carrie Coon and Michelle Monaghan, with Episode Three released on March 2. A core moment from this episode that has generated conversation involves her character, Kate, revealing her status as a churchgoer and potential Trump voter. While attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, just hours before the Balmain show, she noted that audience members had not yet seen the episode, but the subsequent discussion online indicated significant engagement with the themes explored in her storyline.
“Mike [White, the show’s creator] writes scenes that are provocative and confronting,” Bibb said during her conversation about the episode. She praised White’s ability to capture the pulse of current societal issues, indicating that the scene was written well ahead of 2022 but ultimately remained topical. Elaborating on the storyline, Bibb mentioned that the depth of the characters begins to emerge with each episode, stating, “It’s not what they’re saying—it’s what they’re not saying.” This nuanced exploration of friendships and divergent viewpoints contributes to the critical acclaim surrounding the series, demonstrating White’s skillful storytelling.
Source: Noah Wire Services
