(10 August 1927 - 1937) (divorced)
Natalie married Lucien-Camille Lelong, the French fashion designer and war hero; married in October 1927, they were divorced in 1936. They had no children.
Lucien Lelong, born in 1889, had been close to the Paley family. He was a renown stylist, well attended and likable in Paris. After Princess Paley's return to France, she initiated the habit of organizing a charity bazzar every summer in Biarritz in which the funds would be directed to the struggling Russian comunity in Paris. A lot of people took part in them, offering items that would latter be bought or auctioned. Lelong was one of the frequent guests, offering several of his creations. It is thought that this was the way he met Natalie, whilst she was still little more than a teenager, around the early 1920's.
When he met her, Lelong was married to Anne-Marie Audoy, to whom he had a daughter, but, if we believe in the gossip of the era, he left her so he could marry Natalie on the 10th of August 1927, less than a month after his divorce was completed. According to what is known, Natalie's friends and family did not approve the marriage, both due to the age and religious differences amongst them as well as for the rumors about Lelong's homosexuality.
Some say that the first years of marriage were pacific and even happy, but the truth is that Natalie's alleged rape as a young teenager, must have left some scars. The general belief is that the marriage was never consummated and was only a mean to help them both expand their carriers. Although they worked together in Lelong's fashion house, with Natalie posing as model, helping in the administration and even attending her husband's parties and fashion shows, the two lived in different houses and, generally led separated lives.
It's no wonder that eventually Natalie began a series of love affairs, some widely more exaggerated than others. The loveless marriage would eventually come to an end 10 years latter, in 1937,when Natalie established herself.