Katy Perry is bringing a new take to the phrase “bag lady.”
The “Teenage Dream” singer on Monday showed up to Balenciaga’s summer 2025 Paris Fashion Week show wearing a knee-length black dress from the fashion house – and styled by Tatiana Waterford – that looked more like a piece of luggage than apparel.
The one-piece had six horizontal silver zippers, with the top portion resembling a fanny pack or small carry-on luggage. An adjustable strap kept the look secured around her neck, and what resembled duffel bag straps crisscrossed the front of the skirt.
To top it all off, the devil works hard, but Perry works harder at marketing: She sported a QR code on her hand that directs people to a website for her new album, “143.”
Despite ample storage in her dress, Perry packed lightly for the French fashion house’s event. Inside the top zipper, Perry procured a miniature bottle of Jack Daniels, her phone and a broken macaron, according to a video posted by Perfect Magazine.
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She entered the event hand-in-hand with a fellow KP – Kim Petras, that is – per a video posted by Vogue Magazine. The two collaborated on the song “Gorgeous” on “143.”
Monday’s show featured creations from creative director Demna, who called the collection a “tribute to fashion with a point of view.”
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Since her “American Idol” departure this spring, Perry has been dogged by largely negative reactions to her most recent album. The public flubs “143” experienced started with her widely panned “Woman’s World” music video – which she defended as a work of satire.
Then the Balearic Islands’ Ministry of Agriculture put the “Firework” singer on notice in August because the production company that made her “Lifetimes” music video allegedly failed to request authorization to film in a roped-off area of Ses Salines Natural Park.
Perry’s record label, Capitol Records, maintained in a statement to USA TODAY that the local video production company the singer worked with “assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured.”
“Our local crew on July 22 applied for a permit for this specific location with the Directorate-General For Coasts And Coastline. Our crew received verbal approval on July 26 to proceed with the filming on July 27,” the statement read. However, in a Sept. 5 press release, the government clarified the production company did not request authorization for filming from the regional ministry.
She also received backlash for teaming up again with Dr. Luke as a producer on “143.” When asked about it on an episode of “Call Her Daddy,” Perry dodged the question by saying, “He was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with, but the reality is, (the music) comes from me.”
In 2014, Kesha sued the prolific music producer, alleging he drugged and raped her nine years prior in what she described as an abusive relationship. Meanwhile, Dr. Luke sued the “Tik Tok” singer for defamation. Last year, the two settled the defamation case, with Dr. Luke maintaining his innocence, saying “nothing happened.”
Earlier this month, she celebrated her career as a pop sensation with a mashup performance at the MTV Video Music Awards that included “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls,” “E.T.,” “Lifetimes” and “I’m His, He’s Mine.”
In her speech for the Video Vanguard Award, she thanked MTV for “believing in my weirdness from day 1.” She said that to have a “long and successful career,” many things must align. She also gave the critics a piece of her mind, saying, “There are no decade-long accidents,” before pausing for dramatic effect.
“I learned how to block out all of the noise that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women,” she continued. “I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art. Turn off social media. Safeguard your mental health. Pause. Touch grass. And do what you were born to do, just like I was born to do this.”
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman
