Paris witnessed a changing of the guard this season as Matthieu Blazy unveiled his debut collection for Chanel Spring/Summer 2026, and with it, a breathtaking vision for the house’s next chapter. Known for his quiet rigor and obsessive craftsmanship at Bottega Veneta, Blazy approached Chanel with both reverence and restraint, delivering a show that was at once impeccably classic and strikingly modern.
The Set: A Dream in Motion
Inside the Grand Palais, guests entered what felt like a reverie—an architectural playground of mirrored columns and luminous light panels that shifted as models moved. The set, imagined as a “reflection of time,” framed Chanel’s evolution through Blazy’s eyes: an unbroken line from Coco to Karl to now. It was an immensely creative mise-en-scène that set the tone for a collection rooted in legacy yet alive with innovation.
Tweed, Tailoring, and Transcendence
The collection opened with the sound of soft jazz and a parade of Chanel’s most iconic codes—reworked through Blazy’s precise, almost sculptural lens. Tweed, that eternal Chanel signature, appeared lighter, looser, and infinitely more tactile. Jackets were cropped and boxy, styled with sheer skirts or slouchy trousers, while gold-threaded boucle suits shimmered like liquid sunlight. The cuts were classic in silhouette but forward in attitude—a whisper to tradition, not a shout.
Charvet and Coco: A Love Story Reimagined
One of the show’s most poetic gestures came in the form of the Charvet collaboration, an homage to Coco Chanel’s lover, Arthur “Boy” Capel, who famously wore shirts only from the historic Parisian shirtmaker. Blazy’s white cotton shirts—sharply tailored yet impossibly soft—embodied that masculine-feminine tension Chanel pioneered. Tucked into tiered lace skirts or paired with pearl-button trousers, they spoke of intimacy, romance, and craftsmanship at its most refined.
Accessories with Attitude
The accessories—always the heartbeat of a Chanel collection—were an instant sensation. Bags took on sculptural new forms, from quilted cubes with curved resin handles to tweed-wrapped minaudières suspended from gilded chains. Blazy also introduced a new hero piece: a woven leather clutch that nodded subtly to his Bottega Veneta past, yet was undeniably Chanel in its polish and poise. Even the footwear—a series of pointed kitten heels and modern Mary Janes—felt made for women who move through the world with purpose.
Craftsmanship, Elevated
Blazy’s hand is evident in every stitch. Each fabric seemed alive: silks that rippled like water, boucle that carried a subtle weight of history. His training in artisanal technique translated seamlessly to Chanel’s ateliers, resulting in garments that felt both couture-level and lived-in. The craftsmanship wasn’t merely displayed; it was felt—a tactile conversation between maker and wearer.
Style Without an Expiration Date
What defined Blazy’s Chanel debut was its refusal to chase trends. Instead, it embraced style as something eternal. A simple cardigan paired with a sculpted midi skirt felt as right for a 25-year-old as for a 65-year-old. It’s a collection that transcends generation and gender, much like Chanel herself once did. In a moment when fashion often feels fleeting, Blazy offered permanence.
The Verdict
Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel collection was a study in controlled confidence. It didn’t scream for attention—it earned it. This was Chanel for the future: thoughtful, sensual, and grounded in craft. Where others might have been tempted to overstate their arrival, Blazy simply let the clothes—and the legacy—speak.
If this was the beginning, the future of Chanel looks brilliantly, beautifully assured.
