At the Grand Palais in Paris, Matthieu Blazy presented his debut collection for the House of Chanel in a show that perfectly balanced grandeur with restraint. The iconic space, once home to Karl Lagerfeld’s elaborate sets, was transformed into a planetarium filled with glowing orbs. This ethereal setting echoed Blazy’s fresh direction for Chanel, now entering a new era under its fourth creative director in 115 years.
Among those in attendance were stars including Nicole Kidman, the new brand ambassador, who arrived with her daughters, alongside Margot Robbie, Penelope Cruz, Ayo Edebiri, Pedro Pascal, Tilda Swinton, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Blazy built the collection around the concept of duality. “She decided for herself what she could be, and she could be both faces of the same coin,” he said after the show, referring to founder Coco Chanel. The collection reflected that tension between structure and sensuality, intimacy and confidence.
Texture led the narrative. Fabrics appeared almost tangible, drawing the eye to their depth and finish. The color palette was rich and concentrated, with red making a striking appearance in sequinned co-ords, ruffled skirts, and sharp tweed separates. Eveningwear stayed in shades of ivory, beige, and black, nodding to Paris’s celebration of a century of Art Deco.
Gold wheat motifs—one of Coco Chanel’s personal symbols—featured prominently on tweed coats and sack dresses, while knits and tweeds were dense and fringed. With tweed, some suits showcased low-slung wrap skirts, while others played with puffed or frayed details. Above all, the focus was on attitude.
“There are Chanel women all around the world,” Blazy remarked. Accessories followed the same principle. The classic Chanel bag appeared without its chain, while new bags were introduced in the collection, including egg-shaped clutches, small top-handles, and soft carryalls crafted from supple leather.
“There was too much beauty. The good thing with the codes of Chanel is you can reduce them. They still look like Chanel,” Blazy explained.
The message was clear: Chanel’s next phase will move with the world and speak to many cultures. “Fashion should be beautiful and enjoyable,” he added. Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel honors the house’s heritage while boldly pushing it forward, bringing the brand back to its very core.
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