At Matthieu Blazy’s debut last fall, he transported us to a literal new CHANEL galaxy. Today, he introduced us to yet another—this one was dripping in pink within a whimsical woodland. The space at the Grand Palais unfolded as a dreamworld synonymous with CHANEL, evoking the same imaginative spirit while gently pushing it forward into a new frontier.
Haute Couture is the Very Soul of CHANEL
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Photos courtesy of CHANEL.
In the show notes, Blazy describes Haute Couture as the very soul of CHANEL, or rather, the pulse of the House itself. On the pieces he shares, “these are clothes that are as much about the wearer as the designer.” Here, clothes serve as a vessel for telling the wearer’s story and memory. It’s not just about the clothes or Blazy, but about how they are embodied. With this collection in particular, Blazy delved deeper into those feelings.
The show started with the iconic CHANEL suit. However, rather than the traditional tweed, it was rendered in layers of sheer silk mousseline. This opening set the tone for a meditation on CHANEL’s layered histories, coupled with the wearer’s personal story, to create an emotionally textured masterpiece.
Haute Couture is the Very Soul of CHANEL
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Photos courtesy of CHANEL.
As the models sauntered, classic house codes adopt a lighter sensibility. A soft spring palette flutters across—mint tones, creamy yellows, delicate pinks—coupled with iridescent sheer fabrics.
Playfulness was also intrinsic. Show invites arrived in a mushroom-shaped charm, alluding to what was to become of the catwalk space. It felt like a step inside Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with lush toadstool mushrooms of all sizes towering over the pastel-pink catwalk with drooping weeping willow trees. It unleashed like a fairytale, feeling both whimsy and grounding.
Haute Couture is the Very Soul of CHANEL
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Photos courtesy of CHANEL.
While this season will see many highly anticipated debuts, few have concluded with a standing ovation as rapturous as this one. Among the spellbound audience were Dua Lipa, ASAP Rocky, Margaret Qualley, and Nicole Kidman, who witnessed the CHANEL universe expand into yet another enchanting chapter.
Feature image courtesy of CHANEL.
