The eagerly awaited debut of Matthieu Blazy, the newly appointed Artistic Director of Fashion Activities, was revealed during a captivating evening at the Grand Palais, marking the grand finale of Paris Fashion Week. Having previously transformed Bottega Veneta into a fashion powerhouse, Blazy’s arrival generated significant buzz and anticipation, and he certainly delivered.

For the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, the runway was transformed into a vibrant, celestial spectacle with a colourful display of planets suspended above to create a CHANEL universe—a solar system that invited guests into a new world and vision for the brand. This universe was accompanied by themes of freedom, a new universal way of dress, and a borderless blending of styles.

“CHANEL is about love. The birth of modernity in fashion comes from a love story, this is what I found most beautiful,” Blazy shares in the show notes. This mantra shone through in a collection organized into three chapters—titled Un Paradoxe, Le Jour, and L’Universel—featuring CHANEL signatures like tweed, florals, pearls, and black and white ensembles that echo Art Deco influences.

Photos courtesy of CHANEL.

Un Paradox began with a menswear tradition: shirts and trousers. They are joined by masculine-style suit jackets, cut with raw edges. Le Jour followed with pieces that feel passed down, yet reinterpreted, such as daywear, a crushed 2.55 bag, and crumpled camellias on knitted silk suits. L’Universel concludes with tweed and suits paired with jewellery synonymous with the brand.

Photos courtesy of CHANEL.

As usual, it was a star-studded front row, featuring Penelope Cruz, Pedro Pascal, Margot Robbie, and Carrie Coon. New brand ambassadors included award-winning American actress Ayo Edebiri and Nicole Kidman—who was previously an ambassador for the N°5 fragrance campaign.

Feature Image courtesy of CHANEL.

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