Matthieu Blazy's Debut SS26 Collection Redefines the Chanel Woman
Set to an out of this world backdrop, with astronomical planets, signalling a shift to spatial freedom for Chanel’s new age.
Summary
- Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel collection is a dialogue with Gabrielle Chanel about freedom.
- It fuses raw-edged masculine tailoring with fluid, seductive silhouettes.
- Classics like the 2.55 bag are intentionally “crashed and cherished” to feel lived-in
Matthieu Blazy has unveiled his inaugural Chanel Spring/Summer 2026 collection, a visionary presentation framed as a three-part conversation between the new Artistic Director and the House’s founder, Gabrielle Chanel. This narrative centers on the ultimate inheritance: the freedom worn and won by women through a wardrobe where functionality is never separate from seduction.
The collection begins by examining the “paradox” of power. It borrows from menswear—raw-edged suit jackets and precisely tailored trousers—to embody a new, active femininity. This theme continues through Chanel’s daywear, where classics feel intentionally utilized and loved: the 2.55 bag is presented as crushed and cherished, revealing its traditional burgundy lining, and crumpled camellias are woven into sophisticated knitted suits. The daywear features clean, fluid lines that recall the precision of Art Deco and the architecture of the House.
The collection culminates in a borderless “universal dress.” Masculine influences are softened by the silhouette of the blouson, while material experimentation abounds, seen in transparent knits and contrasting silk print linings. Accessories are richly layered: jewellery is treasured, featuring baroque pearls and glass planets. This vision, grounded in a familiar contrasting toe-cap on footwear, is designed to propel the wearer securely into a future defined by self-determined elegance.
