In a season full of anticipated designer debuts, the final is upon us: Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel, which was presented last night at the famed Grand Palais. The iconic Parisian landmark has been home to Chanel’s presentations for years, but the venue has rarely been as bustling with anticipation as last night.
That anticipation soon turned to awe and wonder as Blazy’s first design for Chanel hit the runway—a menswear-inspired shirt and trousers, an ode to one borrowed and worn by Gabrielle Chanel from Boy Capel, her muse lover.
It was the perfect foreshadowing of the collection as a whole—modern yet timeless and bearing references to Chanel’s heritage.
Matthieu Blazy’s Vision: Honoring Chanel’s Heritage with Modern Ease
Relaxed tailoring continued throughout, an homage to Coco Chanel’s boundary-breaking tradition of borrowing from the boys. Chic suiting was juxtaposed by feminine tweeds, soft silks, and feathers, lots of feathers.
While Chanel’s most classic House codes are unmistakable, they are deconstructed and reconstrued in a fresh and entirely new way. This is the magic of Matthiew Blazy.
Deconstructing and Reimagining Chanel’s Iconic Codes
The bags also focus on deconstructing and reconstructing iconic House codes. Take, for example, the classic 2.55 bag. Created in 1955 by Gabrielle Chanel, for Spring 2025, it’s given a relaxed update—crinkled and lived-in, worn open, revealing the iconic burgundy interior.
Elsewhere, Blazy played with other staples like the Classic Flap, blown up in size and softened. Models toted the maxi carryall in soft suede and smooth leather.
Other key shapes include an envelope-like shoulder bag with tiny CC hardware sitting atop the flap, which was seen in smooth and exotic leathers. A chain-flap bag that mimics two bags sewn together and can be carried from the front or back also appeared in multiple looks.
View bags from the runway below.
The Bags of Chanel Spring 2026
Look/featured images are courtesy of Chanel, and detail images via Vogue Runway.
Love how it’s either incredibly precious (the minaudieres) or egregiously underwhelming (everything else)
It’s jaw-dropping alright (derogatory)
Are we witnessing the return of exotics to Chanel?!
Lmao as IF. But I’d LOVE to be proven wrong. They’re the type of company to replace the bags with pleather if they could get away with it.
Which they have with “bonded leather”
It’s likely embossed, they recently tried to play off a cost-cutting measure of using viscose instead of silk for their tweed, so I highly doubt they would shell out for actual croc.
Thank you for the insight. Upon closer look, it really does appear to be embossed croc!
I’m so done with bags being carried upon – like everyone was trying to do a Fendi Peekaboo. Makes you wonder if the designers all went to ChatGPT for inspiration or something. 😹
That said, the miniaudieres ARE lovely.
Because it was bugging me so much… “open”, not “upon”. 🤪